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Under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - of which the Philippines is a signatory - in times of a public emergency threatening the life of a nation, the need to protect public health is a permissible ground for limiting certain rights including liberty of movement, freedom of expression, and the right to freedom of association. It has been said that "the people's well-being is the supreme law" and to further facilitate contact tracing, the same can be invoked. We will need a Presidential Proclamation relative to this, not a mere Interagency Resolution, considering its constitutional significance vis-a-vis policy tradeoffs between data privacy protection and the need to enforce more robust health measures. Perhaps technology could be of great help too. I support the proposal subject to certain time bound limitations while respecting the Constitution."


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Sen. Cynthia Villar has included in her relief efforts to help communities under the enhanced community quarantine the distribution of vegetable seeds to encourage home gardening and growing of own food.

Villar, chair of the Committee on Agriculture and Food, started the distribution of packed seeds of tomato, eggplant, pumpkin, ampalaya, sweet pepper, hot pepper, corn, sitaw, and mungbean to 61 different barangays in Las Pinas, Cavite and Bulacan.

"I've always advocated for home gardening as a strategy for food security and for the alleviation of nutrient deficiency. It will be a big help for families to have direct access to nutritious foods that they don't have to buy," Villar said.

The lady senator also said home gardening can be practiced by anybody in small patches of land, vacant lots or in containers, making it appealing to families living in urban areas.

She added that the importance of home gardens are also stressed in times of emergencies like typhoon, volcanic eruption, occurrence of frost and now the COVID-19 pandemic, where there are disruptions in the supply of fruits and vegetables.

The packets of seeds distributed by Villar also come with instructions on how to plant and care for the plants.

"We should take advantage of the quarantine, when we are all mandated to stay home and take care of ourselves, to stay productive by starting to plant seeds, grow food and harvest later on," Villar said.

Earlier, Villar encouraged the use of e-learning sites and online tutorials to learn how to plant easy to grow crops. She also said planting is an activity that the family can do together while on quarantine.



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Umapela si Sen. Nancy Binay na akuin na ng gobyerno ang gastusin sa pagpapa-cremate ng mga labi ng mga biktima ng COVID-19.

Ayon kay Binay, isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit marami ang mga labing di nailalabas sa mga ospital ay dahil na rin walang pantubos o pambayad ang pamilya sa punerarya para sa cremation.

"Sa tingin ko, kayang sagutin ng gobyerno ang gastos sa cremation ng mga pamilyang mahihirap, or the government can extend assistance to families who have immensely suffered financially. Nakakalungkot na walang magawa ang mga pamilyang namatayan dahil maliban sa kailangan nilang bayaran pa ang cremation, nawalan pa sila ng trabaho, at ang mas mabigat ay nawalan sila ng mahal sa buhay," ani ng senadora.

Dagdag ni Binay, para mas maging maayos ang pag-handle ng mga labi na nasa mga ospital, bahay o quarantine centers, maaaring pumasok ang DOH at DILG sa isang Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) sa National Federation of Mortuary Stakeholders para sa sistematiko at mabilisang pagkuha ng mga labi na naaayon sa IATF guidelines.

Makalipas ang isang buwan ng lockdown, kasalukuyan pa lamang pinag-uusapan ng DILG, DOH, MMDA at mga lokal na pamahalaan sa Metro Manila ang "management and disposal" ng mga labi na positibo sa COVID-19.

Binanggit ng senadora na sa ilalim ng DSWD Revised Guidelines on AICS para sa burial assistance, kasama ang pag-ako ng kagawaran ang bahagi ng mga nagastos sa punerya at ibang mga gastusin, at halagang P10,000 ayuda sa naiwang pamilya na di kailangan pang magsumite ng case study report.

"Meron binibigay na P10,000 ang DSWD para sa standard burial assistance. Sa sitwasyon ng mga naulilang pamilya dahil sa COVID, maaaring lakihan ng DSWD. Yung pagsagot ng bayarin ay napakalaking bagay na para matulungan natin silang makapag-move on sa gitna ng pandemya," ani Binay.

Nawagan din ang senadora sa mga LGU na mahigpit na i-monitor at tutukan din ang mga crematorium at funeral parlors kung istriktong tumatalima sa mga patakarang inilatag ng IATF at DOH, at alamin kung magkano ang dapat na serbisyo para sa cremation.

Nakikiusap din si Binay sa mga crematorium at puneraya na huwag naman gawing dahilan ang nangyayaring pandemya para makapagsamantala sa mga pamilyang naulila dahil sa COVID-19.

Ayon kay Binay, "Sa nangyayari sa buong mundo ngayon, it's never a good time to die. Malungkot at wala kang karamay. Di ka makapagpaalam man lang sa iyong mga mahal sa buhay. Wala kang last rites, or proper burial. Kaya nakakagalit yung meron kang mababalitaang mga punerarya at crematoriums na nananamantala para pagkakitaan ang pamilyang namatayan."



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Senator Nancy Binay urged the government to shoulder the cost of cremating the remains of victims of COVID-19.

Binay said one of the reasons why there are many unclaimed cadavers in the hospital is because many families do not have the financial resources to handle the cremation costs of their loved ones.

"Sa tingin ko, kayang sagutin ng gobyerno ang gastos sa cremation ng mga pamilyang mahihirap, or the government can extend assistance to families who have immensely suffered financially. Nakakalungkot na walang magawa ang mga pamilyang namatayan dahil maliban sa kailangan nilang bayaran pa ang cremation, nawalan pa sila ng trabaho, at ang mas mabigat ay nawalan sila ng mahal sa buhay," Binay said.

Binay added that the Department of Health or the Department of Interior and Local Government can enter in a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the National Federation of Mortuary Stakeholders to ensure the proper handling of remains in hospitals, homes, and quarantine centers based on IATF guidelines.

A month after the lockdown, the DILG, DOH, MMDA the different LGUs in Metro Manila are only now discussing the "management and disposal" of the remains of COVID-19 deaths.

Binay said that under the DSWD Revised Guidelines on AICS for burial assistance, the department will shoulder part of the funeral cost and the family can receive up to P10,000 assistance even if they do not submit a case study report.

"Meron binibigay na P10,000 ang DSWD para sa standard burial assistance. Sa sitwasyon ng mga naulilang pamilya dahil sa COVID, maaaring lakihan ng DSWD. Yung pagsagot ng bayarin ay napakalaking bagay na para matulungan natin silang makapag-move on sa gitna ng pandemya," Binay said.

Binay also called on all LGUs to strictly monitor crematoriumss and funeral parlors in their areas to ensure that these establishments are adhering to the guidelines set by the IATF and DOH.

Likewise, the senator appealed to crematoriums and funeral parlors not to take advantage of families affected by the current pandemic.

"Sa nangyayari sa buong mundo ngayon, it's never a good time to die. Malungkot at wala kang karamay. Di ka makapagpaalam man lang sa iyong mga mahal sa buhay. Wala kang last rites, or proper burial. Kaya nakakagalit yung meron kang mababalitaang mga punerarya at crematoriums na nananamantala para pagkakitaan ang pamilyang namatayan," Binay said



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Doctors, nurses, medical technologists, health workers, our brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, daughters, sons and friends in the medical profession; I implore you:

You now hold the power over life and death. In this battle against the virus, you are the frontliners. You are the thin white line that stands between us and catastrophe.

Use that power to demand from government what you need to defeat the enemy.

Make a list of your demands. What you want from government and what you think government needs to do. Whether it is to deliver more PPEs, roll-out a comprehensive mass-testing program, set-up or accredit new testing laboratories, access or produce more testing kits (whether here or abroad), more field hospitals to quarantine PUIs and PUMs, immediate release of daily allowance and other benefits to health workers, an efficient transport system to ferry medical workers, etc.

Whatever you need, whatever you want to fight this virus, put it in writing and send it to the IATF.

Tell them how government should spend our taxes and utilize all other available resources. Tell them to spend it now on things that you need to keep saving lives and to keep protecting yourselves.

We are behind you. Without you, we will have no chance whatsoever to survive this pandemic, not the generals, not the lawyers, not the bankers, not the politicians, not the bureaucrats. No, only you can save us.

You are the most powerful sector in the Philippines right now. Use that power to save lives, and to save your brethren who are falling at the frontlines. Tell government what to do. Tell government you can only continue to fight this battle if they listen and act immediately on your demands. Together, let us make government work for us. Our survival as a people and as a nation depends on it.



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As the country conducts COVID-19 mass testing on Tuesday, Senator Win Gatchalian raised the need to do 10,000 mass testings a day to make the extended Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) reliable. This will identify and isolate those suspected cases of COVID-19 and treat confirmed cases nationwide, according to the senator. If that does not happen, he said, and we lift the ECQ to open the economy, there might be potential COVID-19 cases who could spread the virus and will defeat the purpose of an extended quarantine.

Gatchalian said this will then post the next question, "do we extend it again or not?"

"Kung hindi natin magagawa ang 10,000 mass testings a day at hindi natin mahahanap ang mga suspected, probable at confirmed cases ng COVID-19, sigurado pong kakalat uli ang virus sa buong bansa. Halimbawa, kung pinayagan na natin uling magbukas ang ating ekonomiya, payagan nang mamasada ang mga bus, jeepney o kaya'y MRT. Kapag ganyan ang naging sitwasyon, meron at merong potensiyal na mga kaso ng COVID-19," stressed Gatchalian.

"Halos 50% ng COVID positive ay asymptomatic, ibig sabihin, wala silang nararamdaman. Pero kung tuloy sila sa pag-iikot, siguradong makakahawa sila, lalo na ng mga senior citizen. Duon tayo magkakaroon ng problema dahil almost 80% ng mga senior citizen ay nagkakaroon ng fatalities," he added.

The senator said the challenge in the next two weeks is how the national government can ramp up the volume of mass testing all the way up to 10,000 tests a day. That for him will be a very important milestone.

Gatchalian reiterated the need to capacitate the Local Government Units (LGUs) and provide them with proper guidelines. He said beating COVID-19 starts within the LGUs - test and immediately contain COVID-19 positive patients at the house level or street level. He emphasized this will prevent the spread of the virus in the communities. If the spread is contained, he said, it is only then that we can open the economy.

At the same time, the senator said the Department of Health (DOH) should expedite accrediting hospitals for mass testings so that the existing accredited hospitals won't be overburdened with large number of patients. He said the problem now lies, not with testing kits anymore but, with the limited number of accredited hospitals that will process the tests.

He likewise cited that under the Bayanihan Act, the national government can provide local laboratories with the necessary equipment so they can run their own mass testings.



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As the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and a member of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee monitoring the implementation of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go visited on Monday, April 13, the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Rizal Memorial Sports Complex that was converted into a quarantine site to help isolate patients and control the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Joining Go in the inspection were Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, Bases Conversion and Development Authority President Vince Dizon, Office of Civil Defence Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, and other officials from the health and infrastructure agencies.

An inspection of the World Trade Center, Philippine International Convention Center Forum Hall and other facilities was also conducted by other officials on the same day.

"Isa sa aking panawagan noong mga nakaraang linggo ay ang pagbuo ng quarantine areas gamit ang mga available facilities na pwedeng mai-convert into isolation sites," Go said.

"Ngayon na available na ang mga pasilidad na na-convert into isolation sites, pwede nang gamitin ang mga ito para mas agresibo nating masugpo at ma-contain ang pagkalat ng COVID-19," the Senator added.

According to Health officials, the WTC, PICC and Ninoy Aquino Stadium inside RMSC will cater to mild and asymptomatic patients while Rizal Memorial Stadium will be a COVID-19 step-down facility. With the facilities in place, a total of 1,125 beds are now available to patients from Metro Manila and nearby regions.

"Nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat ng tumulong at nag-facilitate ng conversion ng mga facilities na ito. Malaking tulong ito sa ating mga kapwa Pilipino. Mas maaalagaan dito ang mga kumpirmadong positive sa COVID-19 at mailalayo sila sa komunidad para hindi makahawa ng ibang tao," the Senator said.

The facilities will be managed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police medical corps composed of doctors, nurses and medical staff.

"Ang inspeksyon na ito ay para masigurado natin na tama at may sapat na mga kagamitan tayo para matugunan ang mga pasyente. Higit sa lahat, sinisigurado rin natin ang kapakanan ng ating mga health workers, ang ating frontliners, na mayroon silang maayos na schedule at pati na rin ang kanilang mga gamit, tulad ng personal protective equipment (PPE)," Go explained.

The PPEs for health workers will be provided by the Department of Health. The facilities will also offer free laundry services and food. Utility companies, such as Meralco and PLDT, will provide free electricity and wifi connection, respectively.

Go also turned over to the Ninoy Aquino Stadium quarantine facility various goods from private donors. Donations consisted of 49 boxes of toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo and body soap), and 31 boxes of slippers.

Other than the facilities above, sports and convention areas outside Metro Manila are also being converted into quarantine sites. These are the Philippine Arena, Tarlac Convention Center, and facilities inside New Clark City.

The officials present in the ocular then went to a terminal in Pier 15 South Harbor in Manila to also check on the ships offered by the 2GO Company, that were converted into floating quarantine facilities.

They were met by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Philippine Coast Guard officials in charge of converting the private passenger vessels into temporary floating quarantine facilities compliant with health standards.

Two ships are now readily available to receive patients in need of medical treatment and emergency. The first ship has a 350-bed capacity and can be used as accommodation for medical frontliners, while the other ship has a 1,500-bed capacity.

"Centrally located itong Pier 15 kaya kapag kailangan ng medical treatment o may emergency, ang mga ospital sa Manila ay nasa 1-km to 4-km radius distance lamang," Go said.

"Patuloy ang pagsasaayos ng dagdag na health facilities bilang pagresponde sa COVID-19. Patunay ito na hindi tumitigil sa pagtrabaho ang gobyerno at higit sa lahat, talagang nagtutulungan ang bawat isa para maiahon ang buong bansa mula sa krisis," he added.

Meanwhile, the government continues to enhance more hospitals and medical laboratories to be capable of being COVID-19 testing centers in different parts of the country. With more quarantine facilities and testing centers in place, officials are optimistic that these will help increase recovery rate of patients and control the further spread of COVID-19 in the country.



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At last, the Department of Health leadership is making some adjustments to address the COVID-19 threat, but only now after so much time has been wasted.

For one, through the private sector's initiative in coordination with the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases and other government agencies, massive rapid testing will start tomorrow, April 14, if it is not being done already.

Secondly, contact tracing, hopefully, will now be more efficient with the latest guideline issued by IATF for mandatory disclosure of COVID-19 infected persons for more efficient self-quarantine.

Thirdly, after a long and unnecessary delay, the FDA approved the use of test kits - including at least 10 rapid antibody test kits and 23 PCR-based test kits as of April 8. The delay was amid the willingness of private donors to spend big money to help accelerate mass testing through the use of rapid antibody test kits, and even after we asked the FDA about the usefulness of such rapid test kits as early as our March 24 caucus prior to our 18-hour plenary debates to pass Republic Act 11469 (Bayanihan to Heal As One Act) on the same day, with some Cabinet members in attendance.

What I can't understand for the life of me is why the DOH keeps issuing circulars that seem to circumvent Sec 4(j) of the Bayanihan Act that provides for some leeway for donated test kits that otherwise have already been in use in other jurisdictions, by mandating the turnover of all donations to DOH but would not allow its use. This is compounded by a requirement for accreditation that includes, among others, an application by the manufacturer or distributor of such health products. Since these are donations and therefore not for business purposes, how in the world will these donors look for local distributors, or look for the manufacturer to file for an application? Sec 4(j) specifically states that all donated health products need only a certification from the regulatory agency/ies of the country that allows the use of such health products for FDA to approve the same.

On the other hand, there is no saying that Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. is not doing a good job as chief implementer of the government's national response against COVID-19, by playing catch-up for the inadequacies of some people.



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Senator Imee Marcos said the government should call for a temporary suspension in the payment of the country's debts to increase cash aid for individuals and companies affected by a lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on economic affairs, said that a debt moratorium is a third measure that the Department of Finance can adopt, besides the budget realignments and international loans it has already announced, to continue funding the government's social amelioration program while the true duration of the lockdown remains uncertain.

The budget for interest payments on the country's debts in the General Appropriations Act of 2020 amount to P451 billion, which Marcos said can be used for cash aid by the government under the Bayanihan Heal As One Act.

Marcos added that off-budget payments of P582 billion to amortize the principal amount can also be reserved for cash aid.

More cash aid will be needed if the advance of the global pandemic results in extended lockdowns throughout the world and continues to limit business operations and people's means of earning a living, Marcos said.

Marcos explained that a debt moratorium is in line with the World Economic Forum's call for international cooperation in handling the backlash of the COVID-19 crisis, adding that not even the world's biggest economy, the United States, can deal with the global pandemic on its own.

"Dapat bigyan ng palugit ang mga bansang mas maliit ang ekonomiya at mas mahina ang pamamaraan para sa pagpapagamot ng kanilang mamamayan, lalo na ang mga bansa sa Asya at Africa," Marcos said.



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"Binabati natin ang Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) sa pag-apruba ng Emergency Procurement sa ilalim ng Bayanihan To Heal As One Act, lalo na Section 6 tungkol sa direktang pagbili mula sa mga magsasaka.

Noong nakaraang mga linggo, nabalita kung paano nasasayang ang mga gulay at iba pang mga pananim dahil sa kawalan ng mamimili. Hirap ding ibyahe ang ani ng mga magsasaka papunta sa mga pamilihan dahil sa mga checkpoint dulot ng Enhanced Community Quarantine.

Sa pakikipag-ugnayan ng ating opisina at ng iba pang stakeholder, maagap na umaksyon ang Department of Agriculture upang tugunan ang problema sa logistics. Mas pinadali ang proseso ng pagbyahe ng mga agricultural goods. Tumulong din tayong hanapan ng mga bibili sa produkto ng ating mga magsasaka, lalo na sa mga LGU na maaring isama ang mga gulay sa kanilang pinapamahaging relief goods. Sa ngayon, nakapaghatid ng 8.6 toneladang sari-saring gulay ang PBSP (Philippine Business for Social Progress) sa mga mamamayan ng Makati sa tulong ng AGREA.

Bagama't batas na ang Sagip Saka simula pa noong nakaraang taon at dahil dito ay maaari nang bumili direkta ang mga LGU at tanggapan ng pamahalaan sa mga magsasaka at kooperatiba, mas magpapabilis pa ang prosesong ito sa pag-apruba ng Emergency Procurement sa ilalim ng Bayanihan Act.

Para po sa ating mga magsasaka, samahan ng mga magsasaka, o mga kooperatiba, siguruhin na meron tayo ng anuan mga sumusunod bago mabayaran ng sinumang bibili:

1. Certification mula sa Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA);

2. ID mula sa RSBSA; o kaya ay

3. Certification mula sa barangay na ikaw nga ay isang magsasaka.

Sundin lamang ang pamantayan ng GPPB ukol sa Emergency Procurement. Dahil dito, hindi mawawalan ng kita ang ating mga magsasaka, at mayroong mas mabilis at mas malapit na pagkukunan ng pagkain ang mga LGUs.

Bumili ng direkta. Suportahan ang mga magsasaka."



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The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) should not dissuade grass roots fund-raising activities by individuals seeking to help indigent members of their communities, saying that these efforts help expand the coverage of government-funded relief, according to Senator Joel Villanueva.

Instead of threatening to run after people behind fund-raising activities on social media, Villanueva suggested that the department extend leniency from the prevailing regulation and let grass roots fund-raising drives secure the necessary permits after the government has lifted the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.

The gesture, which Villanueva said is in line with the spirit of the Bayanihan Law, will likewise help provide legal cover for these relief efforts which the lawmaker described as rooted in the Filipinos' "good-natured community fellowship."

"Lahat po ng ating kababayan, nais tumulong sa kapwa natin na nagigipit dahil sa krisis na dala ng COVID-19. Hindi po natin maaalis ito sa ating kamalayan, kaya po hinihiling natin sa DSWD na kung maaari, tumulong gawing legal ang mga fund-raising efforts na ganito," said Villanueva in a statement. "Imbis na takutin ang mga tao gamit ang batas, kalingahin na lang po natin ang mga nais tumulong sa pamamagitan ng pagbigay ng tamang payo sa proseso."

"Ngayong panahon ng krisis, mas nangangailangan tayo ng tulong at pinapakita ng bawat fund-raising drives na ito, na kadalasan ipinaaalam sa pamamagitan ng social media, na handa ang ating mga kababayan na mag-ambag sa kahit na anong halaga upang tumulong sa kapwa," continued the lawmaker, chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resource Development.

Villanueva said he understood clearly what the law, Presidential Decree No. 1564 or the Solicitation Permit law, was trying to achieve, which is to regulate fund-raising activity and prevent nefarious individuals from defrauding others.

But the crisis brought by COVID-19 has made it harder for government to reach out quickly to the vulnerable, that's why some people are helping out others in the most expedient way possible, the lawmaker explained.

"We hope the DSWD considers helping these individuals or groups by providing legal cover to their fund-raising efforts, instead of discouraging future efforts to provide relief to those who need our help," Villanueva said.

Among the requirements under the law's implementing rules and regulations is the need to have the documents notarized. Since notary services are not readily available during this time, Villanueva said the DSWD could instead grant these individuals a 30-day grace period once the quarantine is lifted for them to submit all requirements.

The lawmaker cited Section 4(ee) of the Bayanihan law which authorizes "undertak[ing] such other measures reasonable and necessary to enable the President to carry out the declared national policy subject to the Bill of Rights and other constitutional guarantees."

In the meantime, Villanueva also called on the DSWD to launch a massive information drive on the Solicitation Permit Law, establish an online filing system, streamline the application process and requirements, and expedite the approval process, instead of the average three-day turn-around time of DSWD. In times of crisis, Villanueva noted, there is no time for delay, and bureaucratic processes should not hamper the Filipinos' bayanihan spirit.



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We're glad about this latest development because the sweeping ban on the deployment of health workers, especially those with existing employment contracts, puts them at risk of losing their jobs abroad, as well as the great economic impact to them for their lost income while the ban is in place.

We reiterate that our government should track all unemployed healthcare workers and deploy them to the frontlines with commensurate pay and benefits to augment the number of healthcare workers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.



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Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima welcomes the mounting calls from several government agencies and international organizations to systematically release Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) to decongest detention facilities amid the continuing threat brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

De Lima's statement came after the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the House Committee on Justice and other foreign and local organizations and personalities have expressed support to the proposal to release qualified detainees and inmates to lessen the possibility of a widespread COVID-19 infection in jail facilities.

"I welcome the calls of both the House Committee on Justice and the DSWD regarding the immediate release of qualified PDLs amid the COVID-19 pandemic. From what I have heard, the matter is now under study by the DOJ," she said.

"Pero nandito pa rin tayo, usad-pagong sa mga plano; wala pa ring mapanghawakang kongkretong aksyon ukol sa kalunos-lunos na kalagayan sa mga bilangguan," she added.

It can be recalled that last April 1, De Lima penned an open letter addressed to the Inter Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) listing her recommendations based on available data, studies and endorsements by reputable health and human rights experts.

Apart from the recommendations, which was also directly addressed to the IATF-EID members through a formal letter, there is plea for approval from the Supreme Court to grant medical paroles to elder PDLs and those with severe sicknesses or disabilities; and commuted sentences for both convicted and pre-conviction qualified PDLs.

"Sa usapin ng ating mga PDLs ay may konkreto at mabilisang aksyon tayong magagawa. May mga buhay na masasagip. May kapakanang maaalagaan. Ipakita na sana rito ang tunay na liderato at pagmamalasakit ng pamahalaan," De Lima said.

"Nariyan na ang mga datos, at ang mga pahayag ng mga local and foreign health experts, pati na ng UN, at ang mga ahensya at sangay ng gobyerno. Wag na tayong magpatumpik-tumpik pa," she added.

Since the initial lockdown in the National Capital Region last March 15, the IATF-EID has yet to make a recommendation to decongest jails to prevent mass infections of detainees and inmates. Malacañang has also kept it silence on the matter.

"May namatay na at mga na-isolate dahil sa exposure sa mga pinaghihinalaang may COVID-19. May hinihintay ba tayong bilang ng mga magkakasakit o mamamatay bago kumilos?" the lady senator from Bicol asked.

As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, De Lima has proposed measures to improve conditions in detention centers and solve decongestion issues in these facilities.

Last November, De Lima refiled Senate Bill (SB) No. 1146, otherwise known as "Medical Parole Act of 2020" to grant gravely-ill PDLs the chance to serve out their sentence under their families' care or seek better medical care outside the correctional facilities.

She also filed SB Nos. 180 and 181, known as "Prison Reform Act," and the "Unified Corrections and Jail Management System Act," respectively, in order to legislate the standards of human treatment of the inmates.

The COVID-19 crisis, which disrupted the economies and millions of lives around the world has more than 1.9 million confirmed cases and with a death toll of almost 120,000, as of April 13.

In the Philippines, where mass testing is yet to be rolled out, health authorities have disclosed 4,932 positive cases of contracting the novel coronavirus, with 315 deaths and 242 recoveries, as of April 13.



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The midnight meetings of Mr. Duterte and his Cabinet COVID-19 Team give us a glimpse of his leadership. The whole meeting is light on Mr. Duterte's leadership and heavy on his ego.

The meeting goes as follows: 1) He mentions and reacts on issues; 2) A Secretary sings his praises then gives his report; 3) Repeat #1 & 2.

I do not even understand why the Secretaries felt the need to feed Mr. Duterte's ego. He was not even listening. He was merely waiting for his turn to speak again. Pathetic!

Recent history is clear on his failure to act sensibly, quickly and decisively on the COVID-19 pandemic. He tried to downplay the contagion and failed to initiate any semblance of preparation early on. His subservience to the Chinese government should have allowed us to be informed earlier and prepared better. But it did not. The opposite happened. He bought into the China propaganda-hook, line, and sinker. By the time he appeared to be moving finally, we were already playing catch up. No amount of propaganda will change that.

We are already making great strides towards extending help to our countrymen and preventing the spread of COVID-19. But instead of taking control of these efforts and focusing on ensuring that everything is implemented properly, Mr. Duterte is still finding time for Chinese propaganda. He did not appear interested or even informed of the reports and proposals presented by his Cabinet.

Mr. Duterte kept repeating this idea of selling off properties to fund the COVID-19- related efforts. That should be the last resort. His economic team is already doing a decent job raising funds. Meron ba si Duterte na buyer na pinag-iinteresan ang mga ari-arian ng taumbayan? China ba yan o crony niya?

Meanwhile, as Mr. Duterte continues to spout praises and gratitude to Mr. Xi Jin Ping, China, China is plowing deeper into our sovereign waters, further undermining our hold over the West Philippine Sea. China is now policing the academic papers of their own scholars and experts in an effort seen to prevent the spread of information inimical to their political interests. And many analysts are convinced that China is hiding the true number of their COVID-19 fatalities to project an image of success against the dreaded disease.

Alam na ng buong mundo ang kasinungalingan at kalokohan ng China sa nangyayaring krisis sa COVID-19. Naghahanda na ang mga gobyerno ng ibang bansa na pagbayarin ang China sa kanilang kasinungalingan. Pero si G. Duterte, tuloy pa rin ang pagyuko at pagsamba sa kanila. Pag hindi pa sya tumigil, baka madamay pa tayo sa magiging maaaring parusa sa China.

In order to pursue our COVID-19 measures to complete success, we need to stop being tools to Chinese propaganda. The Chinese government placed us in this situation. We need to focus on our own efforts, and prioritize our own people and our own country.

Tama na po ang pagiging pro-China. Maging pro-Filipino na tayong lahat.

(Access the handwritten copy of Dispatch from Crame No. 770, here: https://issuu.com/senatorleilam.delima/docs/dispatch_no._770)


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With the incidence of new COVID-19 cases growing by the day, Senator Win Gatchalian said Local Government Units (LGUs) should lead in the fight against the dreaded COVID-19, emphasizing that Test, Quarantine and Treatment (TQT) are the steps that LGUs should take to stem the tide.

For one, Gatchalian said LGUs should have more autonomy in procuring testing kits or setting up testing facilities to fast track detection of COVID-19 positive cases from every household living in every street within every barangay.

"Naniniwala ako na ang pinakamabisang paraan para labanan ang virus ay dapat mag-umpisa sa local level. Wag na nating paabutin ito sa ospital dahil marami ang mga pasyente at hindi na kakayanin ng ating mga ospital", Gatchalian said.

The lawmaker from Valenzuela shared what is being done in the city. Valenzuela has started its localized mass testing last Saturday and resumed Monday, April 13. This, after the city has signed a memorandum of agreement with The Medical City to conduct mass testing, the very first Public Private Partnership for mass testing against COVID-19. In its agreement with the hospital, the TMC processes the tests and reserves 25 tests per day for Valenzuela City but can be expanded to 50 depending on a first-come-first-served availability or if the hospital does not have too much to process in a day. Based on the results, authorities will identify persons that need to be quarantined or isolated.

"Sa Valenzuela, ang una naming tine-test ay ang mga may sakit at ang kanilang household, mga kasama nila sa bahay, mga kamag-anak nila, at iba pang nakapaligid sa kanila, pati na mga kapitbahay. Dahil nakita namin na nagkakaroon ng hawaan sa loob pa lang ng bahay hanggang sa kumalat na sa komunidad. Kapag natest agad at nag quarantine ang taong may sakit, sa bahay pa lang hindi na kakalat at hindi na rin aabot sa komunidad," explained Gatchalian.

Gatchalian said that LGUs should innovate to save their own constituents from the onslaught of the virus. With mass testing set to be conducted on April 14, Gatchalian said LGUs should already be procuring their testing kits at this point.

He, however, said that LGUs should have optimum support from the national government to capacitate them and help flatten the curve.

Gatchalian added that LGUs should already be tapping additional sources of funding that they can use in their COVID-19 response, including their 20 percent development fund. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) recently issued Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1 series of 2020, which gives LGUs more flexibility in utilizing their 20 percent development fund to address the COVID-19 pandemic.



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On the Special Amelioration Fund Program

Q: How are you po?

SP Sotto: OK naman, as usual kahit nasa bahay lang, hindi lumalabas, punung-puno pa rin ng trabaho kasi yung mga papeles ng Senado, hindi naman natitigil yun at saka yung kahit papano ay pinakikialaman natin yung mga nangyayari with we are making sure na yung oversight committee ng Senado ay nagtratrabahong mabuti para mamonitor ang mga nangyayari at ginagawa ng Executive Department. Sa hiling din naman ng Executive Department yun na kami ay magsubmit sa kanila ng aming rekomendasyon. So every day, almost twice a day, naguusap kami nila Sec. Dominguez at saka ibang members ng Executive Department.

Q: Ano po ang obserbasyon ninyo doon sa pamimigay ng Executive, pamamahagi po ng Special Amelioration Program Fund para po sa target beneficiary po nito? So far ano ang inyong monitoring?

SP Sotto: So far katatanggap ko pa lang kagabi nung third report ng Presidente, as of now, mga P101.5 billion na ang nadistribute ng Executive Department through the DSWD and the Department of Labor. Yung sa 4Ps, it's about to be completed at saka talaga namang inuna muna yung mga talagang dapat nilang tanggapin. Pero yung totoo nun, yung top off, yung kasunod lang naman nun top off, para kung talagang dapat tumanggap sila nung P5,000, pero dapat kung 4Ps sila, P1,500 sila, P3,500 na lang yung idadagdag. Ganoon yun. So halos makumpleto naman yun, palagay ko mabigyan ka ng report ng DSWD tungkol dito.

Q: Sa 4Ps po, kasi nga yung istraktura if I may say so, yung basic na pangangailangan sa kanilang information at saka yung transfer sa bangko, in place na kaya walang problema? Ang may problema yung isa na, yung pagkakaidentify doon sa mga target beneficiary outside of 4Ps po?

SP Sotto: Oo, yung tinatawag nga nating informal sector. Yung ibig sabihin ng informal sector, yung mga trabaho na hindi empleyado, yung mga nagtitinda ng taho, mga nagtitinda sa palengke or mga taxi driver, jeepney driver, natitigil yung pagtratrabaho. Basta natigil yung pagtratrabaho at walang kikitain, kasama yun doon sa tinatawag na informal sector. Ngayon, para mas maliwanag kasi sinasabi ko rin sa Executive Department, sa LGU at saka sa DILG, kailangan yung information dissemination, panay. Kailangan talaga ipaalam, katulad niyan, sa isang household daw, ang bigayan ay isa sa isang house, eh tatlo yung pamilya roon. Hindi ganoon ang usapan, hindi yun ang nasa batas. Ang sinasabi namin, bawat pamilya kahit lima yung pamilya roon sa isang household, bawat isang pamilya, isa. Hindi posibleng isang household. Kaya ang nangyayari doon sa ibang mga LGUs, at saka doon sa barangay lalo na, ay nagkakaroon ng gulo at merong sinasabi nga namimili daw, hindi daw binibigyan lahat ng listahan, sa listahan pa lang wala na. Sa listahan pa lang magulo na so paano magdidistribute yun kung ang listahan ay mali? So kailangan diinan pa rin yan. Although, at the moment ay talagang P51 billion na ang, mahigit eh, hindi ako sigurado sa exact number noon pero yun ay total, kasama yun at lahat-lahat, P101.5 billion na ang nabigay ng Executive Department sa DSWD, sa DOLE, at sa LGU, sa DILG. The LGU at the DSWD ang magkatuwang diyan. So talagang may delay doon sa ibang mga local areas dahil siguro sa sinasabing hindi nagmamatch yung data base nung LGU, at ng DSWD.

Q: Sa inyong palagay, kasi sa inamin sa akin kahapon ni Sec. Bautista, 4Ps walang problema, yung isa na doon sila ngkakaproblema, yung pagreconcile ng information kasi pag walang mga pangalan, hindi nabibigyan kaagad. Plus, bawat LGU, merong inilalaan lamang na pondo eh marami yung nasa listahan ng LGU. Talagang this is causing delay and we are talking about the first tranche pa lang. First tranche pa lang ito and then we only have about 16 days bago mag April 30. Ano ang inyong suggestion para to ay bumilis?

SP Sotto: Talagang kailangan yung LGU ang makipag-coordinate mabuti sapagkat ito, kasabay pa nung sinasabi mong yan, kasabay pa ngayon yung pinarerelease ng gobyerno at isama, pinagusapan naman natin ito, suggestion din naman ng ibang mga senador at galing din sa private sector, isama yung middle income na tinatawag. Yun yung mga empleyado na natigil din naman kasi hindi naman sila...yung tinatawag naming middle income ngayon, merong available na ang gobyerno, nagpaparelease na ng P51 billion as of today. Para sa mga employees ng SMEs, sila yung matatawag na middle income. Parehong nabanggit kanina, tinatanong ni Chacha kung ano yung middle income. Ang middle income, yun yung mga nagtratrabaho doon sa mga SMEs, at saka nagtratrabaho sa mga, yung regular employee, pero sa ngayon ay hindi kumikita. Kaya kasama sila doon, merong P51 billion na available na, and then doon para sa mga SMEs, para hindi naman sila kabahan, merong available ngayon na (unclear) kaya ako (unclear) wag silang pilit ng pilit na walang pera, malakas ang loob ng Presidente dahil meron. Merong available ngayon na P120 billion na loan, guarantee loan, loan portfolio ibig sabihin, loan portfolio para dito sa mga SMEs na ito. At hindi lang yun, there is more to come para sa kanila. So balik tayo, distribution ang problema. Availability at yung handa ang gobyerno, meron. Ang nagkakatalo, sa distribution. Ngayon pati sa baba, sinasabi rin namin kung dito sa amin sa taas, sinasabi nga namin teka muna, yung mga rules, medyo bend ng kaunti. Luwagan ninyo ng kaunti. Kung pwede nga, ibato na sa bintana yan. Importante yung buhay muna, at saka yung pera. Yung pera, kikitain ulit ng gobyerno, pero yung buhay ng tao, hindi kayang ibalik. Yung pera kayang ibalik. So distribute lang ng distribute. kaya siguro sa LGU, at saka sa DSWD, palagay ko coordination and cooperation mabuti. Wag na masyado yung data base ko wala ito, hindi, basta bawat pamilya, bigyan ninyo kasi may perang ibibigay ang gobyerno sa inyo. Yun ang susi doon.

Q: Ano ang inyong suggestion doon sa problema ngayon na prevalent, ang mga LGUs, maliban sa 4Ps, naghanda ng kanyang listahan, o kaya nag-assume sila ng number of target beneficiaries para sa SAP, eh nagbigay lang ng corresponding amount ang DSWD for each municipality. Kung hindi tugma, kung short, ano ang suggestion ninyo na dapat gawin ngayon para lang bumilis-bilis doon sa sinasabing balanse na hinihingi ng LGU?

SP Sotto: Una, kung kulang dapat sabihin nila sa DSWD. Hindi pwedeng sabihin ng DSWD na yun lang. Hindi pwede. Kung kulang, handa ang gobyerno magbigay. Sabihin nila sa Executive Department. Kulang pala, eh di bigay natin. Ngayon, sa baba naman, tutal delayed ng kung palagay mo may delay, saka sinasabi mo nga, hindi nagtutugma, karamihan naman ng mga LGU kakayanin. Abonohan mo muna, makakasingil ka naman sa gobyerno. Ito pa nga, sinasabi nga natin na pati sa SMEs meron tayong ibibigay, eh di lalo na sa inyong mga LGUs, yung loan portfolio namin available, di ba? Abonohan mo muna, pagalingan din naman ng local officials ito dahil kung magaling kang magremedyo, makikita ng mga kababayan mo yan. Remedyo muna pagka (unclear) na ganito sapagkat...Wag nilang intindihin yung middle income, hindi problema sa distribution kasi yan, ang sistemang gagamitin, through SSS. Ang magdidistribute sa kanila, ay through SSS dahil karamihan dito merong ATM.

Q: May record na sila, madali ng matrack.

SP Sotto: Correct.

Q: But basically po, dito lang sa information, ang sabi ng DOF dito, 3.4 million workers doon po ito, ito yung nandoon nga sa middle income earners. So 106(?) million businesses sa formal sector. Ito po ay binabanggit na target beneficiary nito pong P51 billion na programang ito ng DOF?

SP Sotto: Correct, tama yan. Ito, will pay out through the SSS. May listahan ang SSS, kumpleto yan. Walang problema yan. Doon tayo sa LGU, DSWD na informal sector at bawat pamilya. Kailangan literal nilang kunin yun, per family yun, hindi household. Walang nakalagay na household doon.

Q: So ito nga, ika ninyo abonohan ng bawat LGU. Kapag short, magtuus po ng DSWD kung ilan ang short, abonohan una, pero merong relaxing the rules. Pero itong pinaguusapan nga natin, first tranche pa lang na hindi pa nga nangangalahati. Sabi din naman kahapon, narinig ko rin sa mga balita rin ngayon, before ka mareleasan ng karagdagan doon sa second tranche, meron pang sinasabi na liquidation na natanggap talaga ng mga taong ito. That will really take time.

SP Sotto: Hindi na, wag na. Palagay ko we'll try to make cooperation or communications with the Executive Department, sasabihin natin yun na wag na muna yun, saka na yun. Yung mga target family beneficiaries natin ay emergency subsidy nga ang tawag dito. Hindi na, hindi na siguro, basta yung LGU mananagot later on at saka DSWD kung mali, hindi naman yung nagdistribute sa baba, wag na yun, kung hindi, matatagalan yan. Kaya lang, meron naman tayong assurance from the Executive Department, from the Department of Finance mismo, kagabi lang pinapangako sa akin that yung mga hindi nacover even dito sa first tranche, sisiguruhin pa rin nila na kahit na papunta na roon sa second tranche, ay magiging ano pa rin, icocover pa rin nila even through the second tranche pag hindi nacover nung first tranche.

Q: I'm sure inyo na pong napahapyawan yung report kagabi nung Presidente, yung third report nga nila, pero hindi ganoong kadetalyado. Aking nireview, tungkol nga doon sa percentage ng nabiyayaan na ng Special Amelioration Program Fund na ito. So again, going back, ano ang gagawin ninyo para mapagtulungan ng Executive (unclear) para lang bumilis kasi hanggang ngayon kanina, nainterview ko yung mayor sa Iloilo, ganoon pa rin ang problema.

SP Sotto: Oo nga. We are ready with our counter report. Lagi naman. Oras na mabasa namin yung third report through Viber, meron kaming Viber group n mga senador, kinokolekta kaagad namin yan, and then our chairperson ng oversight committee, Sen. Pia Cayetano, binibigay niya kaagad sa Executive Department pati yung mga feedback na nakukuha namin mula sa mga mayor, pinararating namin agad. So instantaneous ito as far as we are concerned, hindi na pinatatagal ito sapagkat alam na nga natin na hirap sa baba. We try to find out kung ilan ang percent talaga na nadistribute kasi marami pa ring tumatawag, maraming nagrereklamo, maraming sinasabing kulang, ganito. At saka panawagan namin doon sa mga local officials, lalo na sa mga barangay, wag naman kayo namimili. Yung pati listahan, di ba? Yun ang karamihang reklamo, hindi nabibigyan lahat kasi yung listahan ay inuuna yung kung hindi kaibigan, kamag-anak, pagkatapos, hindi ko nilalahat, may ilan lang naman na ganoon pero maraming magaling. Marami rin yung...nakikita naman ng mga kababayan natin, kita nila yan kung sino yung huhusgahan nila pagdating ng araw.

Q: Kung ako naman yung barangay chairman, gusto kong ilista lahat pero ito lang yung pondong inilaan sa akin, talagang mamimili na ako pag ganoon?

SP Sotto: Oo nga, pero paalam mo agad sa mayor mo. Paalam ng mayor sa DSWD, kulang ang binigay ninyo, pamilya dito ganito-ganito, hindi ganito ang pamilya. Sa listahan pa lang nagkakatalo, hindi sa pera. Sa listahan pa lang, kulang na yung listahan. Hindi naman sagot ng, hindi naman problema ng DSWD yun kung yung listahan mo ay hindi nagtutugma.

Q: Para mabigyan kayo ng idea sa ginagawa ng DSWD, babasahin ko lang po yung sagot niya sa aking katanungan sa limitasyon sa pondo ng lokalidad. Sabi ni Sec. Bautista, "pagdating doon sa sinasabi nating list beyond the allocation, ito yung mga sumobra sa indicative target beneficiary, kinukuha po natin ito. Yung mga datos na ito, hiningi natin sa mga LGU, dahil meron naman po kaming ugnayan sa ating mga economic managers na yung mga target beneficiary which is beyond doon sa indicative numbers of target beneficiary allocation sa mga munisipyo, ay pagaaralan po nila ito at hahanapan po ng budget para naman po sa pangalawang buwan na pamimigay ng cash subsidy." So dito po klaro na yun nga nangyayari, merong po lamang inilaan na pondo sa bawat lokalidad, and then yung mga short hahanapan ng budget. Ano po ang inyong reaction?

SP Sotto: Malapad yung word na pagaaralan at saka yung hahanapan. I suspect na nagamit ng salita ni Sec. Bautista yan pero hindi pwedeng pagaaralan ay gaano katagal? (Unclear) niya siguro, fast break ang tira diyan. Hindi pwedeng ibig sabihin ng pagaaralan, ilang yung kulang? Eto pa ba? O, asan ang pondo? Dapat ganoon ka-instant. Ganoon yun palagay ko naman sapagkat yung report niya, even kagabi sinabi sa kanya ni Sec. Dominguez, magreport sa akin, yung binigay niya sa akin na report halos kumpleto na yung payout sa 4Ps, tapos itong mga iniimplement nila, ngayon humihingi na sila ng tulong para sa mga development offices, sa municipal at saka sa city, social welfare development offices, para nga doon sa sinasabing mga pagkukulang. So instant naman yan palagay ko within a day or two, alam na nila kung saan yung may kulang. So kung may kulang na pera, humingi sa Executive Department or sa Department of Finance mismo at through the DBM or DOF, di ba? Palagay ko instant naman yan. Kaya bago siguro mag umpisa yung second tranche or (unclear) meron ng (unclear) yung iba na yun.

Q: So maliwanag dito, sa inyo, number one, hindi kakapusin ang available fund, and then dapat yung kakulangan doon sa ibinigay na pera ng DSWD sa bawat lokalidad agad mabigay yoon, mapunan, para doon sa inilista nilang dapat na mga beneficiary, lahat yun, dapat makatanggap?

SP Sotto: Correct, para klaro. Tama po yun. At saka kahit sobra. Hindi baling sobra, wag lang kulang, ganun ang mentalidad namin, sinasabi namin sa Executive Department. I am sure yun ang mentality ng Presidente diyan kasi katulad nung isang araw, binanggit niya, sabi niya kahit ibenta ko itong CCP, ibenta ko itong ganito, ibenta ko itong ganyan, yung sinasabi niyang yun, literal na kaagad sa iba nating mga kasama, I don't blame them for that, sinabi niya eh, pero sa akin, ang reading ko, he was gust giving the assurance to the people na hindi tayo kakapusin ng pera para ibigay sa kanila kasi marami pang pwedeng gawin, ika niya. Parang dinidiin lang niya yung assurance na hindi kakapusin.

Q: Siguro maganda na yung first tranche na ito maayos at...

SP Sotto: Oo at ang pakiusap naman natin din habang ginagawa namin yang sinabi mong yan, pakiusap naman natin sa mga local officials abonohan ninyo yung kulang at saka natin singilin yung DSWD katulong ninyo kami na maniningil diyan at kung ano ang pondong kailangan, kung kailangan kaming gumawang batas para diyan, gagawin namin. Abonohan ninyo muna. Pag sinabing hindi, wala, ito lang ang calamity fund namin, inalis na nga namin yung cap, doon sa Bayanihan Act, wala na ngang cap sa mga calamity fund, gamitin ninyo lang kahit anong pondo muna, di ba? Boss, ang usapan dito, buhay muna, saka na yung pera, saka na yung gobyerno. Hindi maibabalik yung buhay, pero yung pera, maibabalik yan, kikitain ng gobyerno yan.

Q: Buhay na muna bago konstruksiyon ng ilang mga infrastructure projects?

SP Sotto: Oo, pati yun, kung kailanganing galawin yun para dito (unclear) mapunuan ito, oo. Two to three months lang ang ineexpect natin dito. Hindi naman siguro tayo pababayaan ng Panginoon na katulad nung nangyayari sa America ngayon, sapagkat pabaya sila. Pati sa Italy pabaya sila. Dito naman sa atin ang aga naglockdown. Meron lang tayong mga kababayan na matigas ang ulo, pero sila din yung mapapahamak baling araw. Kung susundin lang natin yung mga patakaran at sinabi ng gobyerno, hindi tatagal dapat ito, katulad nung nangyayari sa Singapore. Mahigpit sa Singapore, sumusunod lahat. Sino ngayon ang number one sa listahan ng mga pinaka wala ng risk? Israel at saka Singapore. Bakit? Sumusunod yung mga tao. Talagang pag sinabi doon one plus one, three. Oo, three. Ganoon, walang kumokontra.



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Sen. Francis "Tol" N. Tolentino lauded the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) for allowing the 1, 500 new medical graduates to be given special authorization as doctors and to be deployed to the public hospitals in the battle against the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), following the recent statement of IATF Spokesperson Karlo Nograles that they have adopted the Interim Guidelines for the Granting of Special Authorization for the Limited Practice of Medical Graduates as presented by the Department of Health (DOH).

For the last several weeks, Tolentino has been calling for the DOH to deploy the graduates of medical schools in the Philippines and authorize them for a limited practice of medicine, without having them finish their licensure examination, pursuant to Sec. 12 ofRepublic Act No. 2382 or the Medical Act of 1959, as amended.Said law provides that"certificates of registration shall not be required of...medical students who have completed the first four years of medical course, graduates of medicine and registered nurses who may be given limited and special authorization by the secretary of health to render medical services during epidemics or national emergencies xxx."

The lawmaker noted that in the Physician Licensure Examination (PLE) scheduled on March this year, the 1, 524 new medicine graduates were only able to the exam on March 8 and 9 but not on March 15 and 16 due to the pandemic.

Furthermore, having already finished one year of their medical internship and having obtained their diplomas, he said that these medical school graduates are sufficiently equipped to support our health care workers in the public hospitals and that they shall be a big help to our fight against the pandemic.

The lawmaker added that they are likewise entitled to compensation and appropriate protective medical equipment from the national government, pursuant to Rep. Act No.11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.

"Sa Italy, ginawa na nila ito. Hindi na nila pinatake ng licensure examination ang 10,000 nilang medical graduates at pinayagan na silang maging ganap na mga doktor para agad silang makatulong sa COVID-19 health crisis nila duon," Tolentino explained.

"Allowing these medical graduates to serve in the frontlines of the war against COVID-19 will be the highest form of patriotism for these young people as they serve not only the nation but ultimately the whole of humanity, as well," he stated



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Not only does the move help keep people in their homes during the quarantine, but providing the wage subsidy for workers in the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector will also allow the restart of the country's economy faster and smoother, according to Senator Joel Villanueva.

In a statement, Villanueva expressed gratitude to the government for considering the proposal he made to provide a wage subsidy to MSME workers on the condition that business owners retain their employment.

"We express our gratitude to our government for considering our proposal to provide a wage subsidy for workers in the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector," said Villanueva, chair of the Senate labor committee. "The subsidy will help our workers in the sector to provide for their families while the quarantine is ongoing."

"Securing the commitment of MSME employers to retain the employment of their workers to be eligible for the subsidy also eases the concern of our people on their job status once the quarantine is lifted. With this condition, we believe this will help smoothen our transition to restarting our economy, and arrest the decline in employment in the country," he continued.

The government said it would provide a wage subsidy to 3.4 million MSME workers, on the condition that business owners would not layoff its people while the quarantine is being enforced. MSMEs registered with the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Social Security System would be prioritized.

Data from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that in 2018, MSMEs employed 5.7 million workers nationwide, representing about 13 percent of the total number of employed workers.

Industries severely affected by the community quarantine enforced in Luzon and other local governments are in the wholesale and retail trade, and food and accommodation sectors which comprise at least 50 percent of the employment generated by MSMEs, according to the PSA.

Villanueva asked MSMEs to "to file applications as soon as our government completes the implementing guidelines on the wage subsidy program, which will include the list of requirements that need to be submitted."

"Complete requirements allow our agencies to process the application within their respective timelines, which helps expedite the release of the wage subsidy for our workers," he said.

The lawmaker reiterated his appeal for the government to provide credit assistance to MSMEs as well, even before the community quarantine is lifted, to help maintain and boost their operations.

Should the government decide to give credit guarantees to MSMEs, banks would likely grant these businesses loans that are needed to finance their recovery, Villanueva explained.



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Do we have enough funds to fight COVID-19?

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon raised this question Tuesday as he urged the government to speed up the implementation of the P200 billion aid to low-income households and the immediate release of funding for programs identified in the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.

On Monday night, President Duterte announced that his administration has allotted a total of P200 billion in assistance to poor Filipino families, including farmers, and fisherfolk, to help them fight the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Marami po sa ating mga kababayan ang nagugutom na. We need to feed the poor and make them healthy," Drilon said.

"We need to augment funding for our healthcare system, buy more test kits, personal protective equiipment (PPEs), mechanical ventilators, among others," Drilon added as he pointed out the number of affected COVID-19 patients continue to rise.

Drilon, however, raised concerns that the lack of sufficient funds will undermine government interventions to fight COVID-19.

Due to the pandemic and the lockdown, Drilon said revenue collections are greatly affected and government disbursements, which account for roughly 20 percent of the Gross Domestic Product, are expected to slow down.

"Our tight fiscal space seriously affects the government's capabilty to address COVID-19," Drilon said.

Drilon said that this would make the government dependent on loan and aid to address the pandemic, hence the slow responses.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has earlier committed to provide P300 billion loan to the Duterte adminitration to address the pandemic on top of the P20 billion it has remitted as advance dividend to the government.

The Department of Finance also said that GOCCS or government-owned and -controlled coporations have committed P100 billion for COVID-19 response.

For their part part, the Philippine Port Authority, the Manila International Aiport Authority, and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, GOCCs under the Department of Transportation, have already remitted in advance P10 billion in dividends to fortify the government spending measures against the pandemic.

During the hearing on the supplemental budget to address COVID-19, Drilon noted that the Bureau of Treasury that only P1.65 billion in excess funds are available to be realigned to the DOH.

"It appears that even before COVID-19 hit the country, our fiscal position is already worsening," he added.

For 2019, the Bureau of Internal Revenue has collected P2.176 trillion, which is lower than the agency's revenue target of P2.271 trillion. Similarly, the Bureau of Customs also fell short by P30.7 bllion of the P661 billion target for the year.

"The government must brace for the worst: our depleting resources and the economic effects of COVID-19," said Drilon, lamenting that the Duterte administration's response to COVID-19 is lacking in many aspects, lacking in coherence.

"We regret to see from that the government has not crafted any new interventions or programs that could help the poor and keep the economy afloat while we are on a lockdown," Drion said.

Worse, he added, some of the much-needed allotments and programs for the poor may even be realigned and tapped to fund COVID-19 response activities.

"There is no additional funding because they did not request for a supplemental budget. That is very clear. The Bayanihan to Heal as One Act utilizes the 2020 General Appropriations Act," Drilon noted.

Drilon emphasized that RA 11469 already authorized the President to reprogram, reallocate and realign funds for the immediate roll-out of measures that will respond to the COVID-19 emergency.

He, however, pointed out that the President's first report stated that as of 27 March 2020, no special purpose funds (SPFs) have been utilized for COVID-19 measures except for the P500 million replenishment of the DOH's quick response Fund.

"We have to see a comprehensive COVID financial package that will cover both the health and economic aspects . The Report does not show us what this looks like," he said.

"For one, has the governent augmented our health workforce? The 2020 budget has funds for the hiring of nurses and doctors under the Miscellaneous and Personell Benefit Fund," he said.

Drilon thus called for the immediate release of funds for programs identified in the law, including the hiring of doctors, nurses, and other health workers; purchase of medical supplies and equipment like testing kits, mechanical ventilators; and establishment of isolation units; the operational budget of the Philippine General Hospital; among others.

Drilon also said that the national government should enhance its collaboration with the local government units.

"This is the best time to harness the local governments as partners of the national government. We must capacitate them to address the issues, as the frontline government institutions," he stressed.

"We have to enhance the participation of LGUs. The Report shows very limited assistance, if at all," he said.



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As Filipinos continue to endure the harmful effects of COVID-19 in the country, opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima urges the government to also attend to the mental health needs of the public and include it in its responses against the pandemic.

De Lima made the call after recognizing that the anxieties brought by COVID-19 is also taking its toll to many Filipinos affected by the crisis.

"As the global COVID-19 pandemic pushes further into 2020, the collective feelings of fear, anxiety and sorrow are beginning to affect many of our countrymen," she said.

"A new concern is surfacing - the mental and psychological health of people. If not immediately addressed, it will be like poison that will creep through the lives of many in ways that could sometimes be more lethal," she added.

Starting March 16, the whole island of Luzon and select other cities in the Philippines have been in lockdown, paralyzing the country's economy and affecting the livelihood of most Filipinos - many of which are daily wage earners belonging to the informal sector.

In Pampanga, there is a report of a suicide attempt of a homeless man, who, according to his friends and relatives, has not been able to feed his family for days because of lack of work during the lockdown period.

Other foreign reports indicated an increase of suicide cases related to the pandemic. In Italy, a healthcare worker took her own life after contracting COVID-19, fearing that she would spread the virus to her family.

Similarly, a finance minister from Germany committed suicide after becoming "deeply worried" about the possible economic fallout in his country because of the novel coronavirus crisis.

In light of this, the lady Senator from Bicol said that the government leaders should also include mental health measures in its national response plan to address the "stress and anxiety that pushes everyone closer to the brink of despair".

"Halo-halong lungkot, kaba, takot, paranaoia at pag-aalinlangan ang nananaig sa bawat mamamayang Pilipino at patuloy pa itong mananaig - hangga't wala pang lunas sa malubhang sakit na ito at patuloy na tumataas ang bilang ng mga kaso ng COVID-19 sa ating bansa," De Lima said.

"Proper and effective implementation of R.A. No. 11036, or the "Mental Health Act" ought to be as an integral part of the national strategy against COVID-19," she added.

The World Health Organization also pointed out that mental health and other psychosocial considerations should be given to those suffering from stress during the COVID-19 outbreak, including healthcare workers and other frontliners, children, the elderly, and those in isolation.

As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, De Lima has championed causes to uplift the welfare of the most vulnerable sectors of society, especially the poor.

As primary sponsor and author in the Senate of Republic Act 11291, otherwise know as the "Magna Carta of the Poor", De Lima reminded that the law now guarantees the rights of the poor to "the highest attainable standard of mental and physical health", among others.

"I pray for all our kababayans - may the Filipino fighting spirit win over the dark thoughts that loom our minds, and may we offer compassion and kindness to one another during these trying times," she said.

"Let's please check on one another, even those who we think are the strong ones. While obliged to keep physical distance from each other, may we not be socially disconnected from one another," she added.



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Sa harap ng patuloy na pagtaas ng bilang ng mga nagpopositibo sa COVID-19, nanawagan si Sen. Leila M. de Lima para sa karagdagang mga testing facilities upang epektibong matugunan ang krisis na dulot ng nakahahawang sakit.

Ipinahayag ito ni De Lima kasabay ng muling pagbibigay-diin sa kahalagahan ng mass testing sa bansa. Hindi rin naitago ng Senadora ang kanyang pagkabahala at pagkadismaya sa hindi pag-apruba ng Kagawaran ng Kalusugan sa nakahanda na sanang dalawang testing facilities sa Lungsod ng Marikina nitong nakaraang linggo.

"Malaki bang kabawasan sa gobyerno kung payagan nito ang mga LGUs tulad ng Marikina na tumulong sa pag-test para sa COVID-19? Imbes na pigilan ay dapat suportahan ng gobyerno ang mga LGUs sa pagtataguyod ng malikhaing mga paraan lalo na ukol sa mass testing sa kani-kanilang lugar," wika ni De Lima.

"Gaya ng nasabi ko na: napakahalagang maipatupad ng mass testing sa lalong madaling panahon. Maiiwasan ang pagkahawa pa ng iba at maililigtas ang maraming buhay kung agarang matutukoy kung sino ang may COVID-19," dagdag niya.

Ayon sa mga ulat, umaabot ng isang linggo bago mailabas ng Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) ang resulta ng mga nagpapatest sa COVID-19, mas mabagal na ito kumpara sa normal na tagal ng kanilang proseso na 24 hanggang 48 oras lamang.

Kaya naman kahit nagdagdag umano ng limang subnational laboratories ang DOH sa Davao, Cebu, Baguio, Manila at Quezon City para magsagawa ng testing, kahaharapin pa rin nila ang parehong problemang nararanasan ngayon ng RITM-ang kakulangan sa manpower, pagkaantala sa mga test, pagtaas ng posibilidad sa pagkakamali, pagdami ng backlog, at kakulangan ng kapasidad para magproseso ng mass testing.

"Dapat pag-aralan at sundan ng Pilipinas ang ginawang hakbang ng South Korea sa paglaban sa COVID-19, kung saan sa 9,332 na nag-positibo, mababa ang naitala nitong pagkamatay na nasa 139 katao," saad ni De Lima.

"Sa estratehiyang 'trace, test, and treat' ng South Korea, naging agresibo sila sa pagsasagawa ng testing sa pamamagitan ng 118 na pasilidad, pati ang ipinatupad din nilang 'drive-thru COVID 19-testing facilities,'" pahayag pa ng mambabatas mula Bicol.

Sa kasalukuyan, ang Pilipinas ay nagtala na ng 78 na pagkamatay dahil sa COVID-19, at 1,546 positibong kaso ng sakit na ito na laganap sa buong mundo.



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Panic-mode triggered.

Sen Nancy Binay expressed disappointment over the apparent lack of urgency and the sluggish distribution of food packs as the nationwide lockdown enters its third week.

According to Binay, the P46-million worth of family food packs the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) distributed in the regions are not enough to even cover the 17.6 million Filipinos--or over 3 million families--who are living below the poverty threshold.

"If the DSWD is really serious in providing immediate assistance to those who are affected by the lockdown, then bilisan naman ang ayuda. Pa-three weeks na tayo pero P46 million pa lang ang nailalabas para sa family food packs nationwide. At the rate things are going, dehado ang mamayang Pilipino," the senator said.

"I wonder where this would bring us if DSWD will only wait for the requests from LGUs for augmentation. Nasa 100 milyon ang Pilipino. Yung paglabas ng P46M, hangga't di nakakarating sa mga nangangailangan ang ayuda, di ibig sabihin ay na-fulfill ang trabaho," Binay added.

As of March 30, the DSWD distributed a total of P46,638,918.97 worth of family food packs to its regional field offices in response to the requests of LGUs for resource augmentation.

"Remember, di na kayang magsustain ng mga barangay. Kailangan ba talagang ubusin muna ang pondo ng munisipyo bago humingi sa national government? May sapat na pera at pondo ang DSWD from the national government, dapat tuloy-tuloy lang ang ayuda. Bigyan na kaagad ang mga LGU bago pa maubos o mawalan ng pondo. Pilay na nga ang mga barangay, mas mapipilayan pa dahil sa red tape," Binay stressed.

The senator said it is unacceptable that LGUs still need to formally request for augmentation from the DSWD before food packs are released to them.

"Sobrang nakakalungkot ang nangyari sa mga nagsakripisyo at namatay para sa bayan. Sa isang banda, ang di katanggap-tanggap ay may mga pamilyang mamamatay sa gutom dahil sa kapabayaan. This is not the way to heal a nation," Binay said.

The senator added the DSWD should review its distribution and implementation policies to fit the extraordinary situation on the ground brought about by the lockdown due to COVID-19.

"The most vulnerable in the barangays must feel the help from the government. Hanggang ngayon maraming mga pamilya ang naghihintay pa rin ng ayuda considering na two weeks na ang nakalipas. The undistributed food packs translates to hundreds of LGUs unserved. Sadly, many families have not felt the help promised on television," she noted.



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It's been five days since the emergency powers, and as required by law, IATF needs to submit to Congress and effectively to the people a progress report every week. The report should answer these questions:

1. On resources: The law specifies savings from the Executive Branch and its special purpose fund, how much resources have been identified for this anti-COVID all-Philippines' effort?

2. On the health strategy: The law focuses on prompt and free testing, has a system been put in place to do this during the lockdown? What about a system for transporting front-liners? Have the donated medical products in the BoC been released? How many test kits, PPEs, medical devices, and medicines have since become available? What seems to be hindering the conduct of these tests? At what stage of preparation for the peak of COVID cases are we?

3. On the economic strategy: The law foresees the continuing need for food and other essential goods, has the DTI lifted its order for food manufacturers to stop operations? How long will the present food supply last? How many food producers (farmers and fishers), food workers (in food, medicine, and medical supply manufacturing), and transport and logistics personnel (drivers, pahinante) have been granted passes? What system is in place to keep them safe (PPEs for them) and to transport them and their goods to their place of work and to the market? How many of the 18 million low-income households have already received their P5,000 to P8,000 in emergency subsidy?

We're almost halfway in our enhanced community quarantine, at katulad ng nabanggit natin sa ating pahayag nang ipasa ng Senado itong batas na ito, gusto nating makita na ipinapatupad ang ang batas at inilalaan ang pondo nang ayon dito at gaya ng inaasahan.



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[start recording]

Q: Hi Senator Win. Kamusta po kayo?

SEN WIN: Okay naman. Good evening sa inyo at sa lahat ng listeners.

Q: Tapos na ho ba ang inyong 14-day quarantine?

SEN WIN: Tapos na, matagal na. In fact, right after naming makalabas sa self-quarantine, kaagad akong bumalik sa Valenzuela upang tingnan ang mga activities dito at importante rin na alam natin kung ano ang mga dapat gawin dahil kung ano ang nagagawa namin sa Valenzuela, kung ano ang experience naming dito, sigurado akong nae-experience rin ito ng ibang LGUs natin.

Q: Speaking of Valenzuela, kamusta po ba ang sitwasyon sa Valenzuela kung saan ay naitala ang pitong taong may COVID-19?

SEN WIN: Actually, umakyat na ang aming cases to nine. Meron na kaming dalawang nasawi by today and ang nakakatakot, meron na kaming mga namatay na hindi pa lumalabas ang resulta. Nakikita natin ito sa iba't-ibang parte ng ating bansa. Pero itong may mga sakit sa aming ospital, meron siyang symptoms ng COVID pero hindi pa sya nate-test. Ang iba, hindi pa lumalabas ang resulta. Nasabi ko itong pangyayaring ito dahil ang mga namatay na hindi pa lumalabas ang test at ang mga may sakit na hindi na-test, ang nakakatakot dito, ang kanilang mga pamilya ay baka infected din. Pinapayagan naman natin sila na lumabas upang bumili ng pagkain o gamot, nakakapaghalubilo ho sila sa iba't-ibang kababayan natin. Although restricted pero pwede pa rin silang lumabas at may risk na maka-infect sila ng ibang mga kababayan natin. Kaya ko nasabi ito dahil napakaimportante ng mga test.

BAYANIHAN ACT

Q: Alam natin na binigyan ninyo ang Presidente ng special powers at nakasaad doon sa inaprubahan ninyo na magrereport ang executive sa inyo kung ano ang nangyayari. So after a week, meron na bang nabigay sa inyo?

SEN WIN: Ito ay naintindihan naman naming dahil sa lawak ng krisis na ito, hindi agad ma-implement ng executive ang Bayanihan Act o ang special power na binigay natin sa Pangulo. You have to understand na ang mga tao nil ana papasok doon, gagawa ng papeles ay skeletal din. We are talking about eight executive departments na sabay-sabay gumagalaw pero limited ang kanilang manpower kaya ini-expect naming sa first week ay malaking challenge yan para sa kanila para ma-implement ang batas na ito. But hopefully, by this week ay magkakaroon na ng specific programs at projects para malabanan ang COVID virus. I'll give you a very specific example, doon sa batas, nakasulat doon na pwedeng bumili ng mga test kits. Ang process dapat ay mas mabilis so itong powers na binigay natin sa Pangulo ay napakahalaga dahil kailangan nating bumili ng maraming test kits ngayon at ang pondo ay pwede nyang kunin sa mga projects na hindi ginagamit kung meron pang savings na natitira doon.

Q: Merong mga usap-usapan na meron nang recession sa mga ekonomista ngayon pa lang. I'm sure, isa rin yan sa mga concern ninyo sa Senado, meron ba tayong safeguard diyan just in case mapunta tayo sa ganyang sitwasyon?

SEN WIN: Ang Luzon is about 70% of our output, ng buong bansa. Ito talaga ang kumbaga nage-generate ng ating economic growth, ang Luzon at ang Metro Manila ay almost half of our economic growth. Napakaimportante ng Metro Manila. Dahil nga tumigil ang Metro Manila, ang output natin ay titigil at marami sa ating mga kababayan ay mararamdaman ito dahil hindi sila kumikita. Ang pinakamahalaga ngayon ay ma-address ay pinaka-vulnerable. Ito ang mga minimum wage earners; ito ang mga no-work no pay; informal sectors o ang mga nagtataho, fishball, market vendors; pangatlo ay ang tinatawag nating job orders sa gobyerno na binibigyan na ngayon ng sweldo. So itong dalawa na lang ag dapat nating ma-address, yung ating mga minimum wage earners as well as yung mga informal sectors natin. But specifically, sa tourism industry. Isa ito sa pinaka-hardest hit. In fact, maraming hotels at airlines ngayon ang nakasara na. Ang iniisip ko pa ang mga driver ng van, tour guides, bangkero na walang kita ngayon. Importante kaagad na mabigyan natin agad sila ng tulong. Kasama ito sa Bayanihan Act na pwedeng magbigay ng minimum P5,000 all the way to P8,000. Ang challenge ngayon is hanapin sila. Madali ang pera eh. Ang importante ngayon is mahanap sila at maibigay ang pera on time dahil ang kalaban natin dito ay oras at importante na mabilis mabigay ng gobyerno. Dito talaga natin makikita ang pagtutulungan ng local government at ng national government. Napansin ko after two weeks ang local government talaga ang gumagalaw para maging effective itong lockdown na ito. All the way down to our barangays, nakikita ko na sila talaga yung nagpapatupad nitong lockdown. Ganun rin yung pagtutulungan, importante rin ang collaboration ng local government and national government.

Q: Senator, magkano po yung budget, while we're talking about workers, magkano po yung budget doon sa DOLE, doon sa cash assistance natin na 5,000 per employee? Yung gagawa ka pa ng establishment report and COVID-19 atsaka yung irereport mo yung mga number of employees mo.. yung payroll mo, magkano po ang budget nito?

SEN WIN: Actually, maliit lang yun Chiqui. There is now a program ng DOLE, ang tawag nila CAMP at ang programa na ito, kung ako ay negosyante, mag-aaply ako sa DOLE at sasabihin ko ilan ang empleyado ko both minimum wage earner at both yung regular, bibigyan ng 5,000 pesos lahat yun. Ang nakikita kong problema dito, optional yun sa employer. Paano kung yung employer nag bakasyon na? Paano kung yung employer walang pakielam sa kanilang mga empleyado, may mga ganun talaga eh nakakalungkot, kawawa naman yung employees. Dapat ang ginawa na lang mandatory ng CAMP. Lahat ng negosyo big and small, especially yung mga maliliit dapat mag apply ng CAMP para mabigyan sila ng gobyerno ngayon ng 5,000 pesos na pwede nilang ibigay sa mga employees, kasama na rin dito yung mga tinatawag natin dito na 'no work, no pay'. Pero Chiqui meron tayong mas malaking programa ito yung sinasabi ko sayo kanina na 5 to 8,000 pesos. Meron kasing 18 million na mga pamilya sa atin na tinatawag nating informal sector at bibigyan sila, depending on the wage scale, bibigyan sila ng 5 to 8,000 pesos. Ngayon ang kakailanganin na pondo diyan is about 200 billion pesos a month at yan ay nakasama na doon sa Bayanihan Act kung saan ang ating pangulo at pwede i-realign yung mga pondo at gamitin yung 200 billion pesos para matulungan yung mga 18 million na pamilya na tinatawag natin na nasa informal sector, yung mga pinakamahihirap natin na mga kapamilya.

MASS TESTING

Q: Kaya po nananawagan ho kayo-sinusuportahan nyo po ang pagsasagawa ng mass testing?

SEN WIN: Ang aking sinusuportahan dito, hindi lang ang testing kung hindi ano ang gagawin natin sa resulta ng testing? Importante ang resulta eh. Ang resulta ay hindi lang para sa DOH para maitala nila kung ilang ang may COVID, ilan ang wala. Ang resulta ay magagamit ng mga local governments sa kanilang strategy sa paglilimita ng infection sa kanilang mga komunidad. Bibigyan kita ng very specific example na ginawa namin two days ago. Dahil nalaman nga naming na meron kaming siyam na patients na merong COVID, ang ginawa namin is "home lockdown". So sabi namin sa kanila, wag kayong lalabas doon at maglalagay rin kami ng tao sa labas para ma-monitor at kung meron kayong pangangailangan, pwede nyong i-text ang tao at kami ang magdadala ng pagkain sa inyo. In effect, hindi namin ni-lockdown ang kanilang community at ang barangay, ni-lockdown lang namin ang bahay at ang mga nakatira doon. Nakita naman namin na may kanya-kanya silang kuwarto, para hindi sila makahawa ng iba. Nasabi ko ito dahil pwede natin itong i-replicate on a bigger scale. Ang kinakabahan ako, by the end of April 12, ang mga kababayan natin na wala pa ring trabaho at kinikita ay magiging malaking problema ng ating pamahalaan at kailangan natin slowly, somehow, itong lockdown na ito ay pakonti-konti nating dapat i-lift sa iba't-ibang parte ng ating bansa. Magagawa lang natin ito kung pwede nating gawin ang "home lockdown" so hindi lahat. Kasi kung lahat, talagang marami ang hindi makakapagtrabaho.

Q: Okay, isang hirit na lamang ako, Senator before we let you go, is this something po talaga na ipu-push natin sa DOH na simulan na po ang mass testing?

SEN WIN: Cheryl, dapat maintindihan ng ating mga viewers, especially DOH na hindi natin ginagawa ang mass testing because ginagawa ng ibang bansa, o ito yung uso o ito yung nababasa natin palagi. Itong mass testing na ito, ang resulta ay para sa local government, para ma-contain yung spread ng virus sa kanila. Itong mass testing, isang kasangkapan ito upang gamitin ng mga local government para hindi na kumalat sa ating mga komunidad. Remember, on the ground ang mga mayors, barangay captains, ang mga governors ang gumagalaw at kailangan nila ng mga tools para makita nila, malaman nila na yung kanilang ginagawa ay effective o hindi at ang importante sa ating mga local governments ay hindi kumalat at para malaman mo kung kumakalat yan dapat alam mo kung sino ang infected o hindi kasi ngayon bulag ang ating mga local government eh. Ang alam namin dito siyam ang may COVID pero siyam ba talaga?... [inaudfible] it's almost 300 ngayon? So baka isa doon sa 300 mayroon sakit? Pero hindi namin alam dahil hindi namin sila nate-test. So itong in-approve ng FDA, game changer talaga ito. Ngayon ang next challenge, I hope ma-resolve na ng DOH this week eh yung processing centers or processing hospitals dahil pag test, dadalhin pa natin yan sa isang ospital para i-process nila at malaman nila kung negative o positive. Ngayon sa kasalukuyan, isa pa lang ang pwede gumawa niyan, yung RITM at ngayon pila-pila ngayon sa RITM kaya ang aking panawagan sa DOH yung mga nag-aaply, narinig ko kanina, may 30 na nag-aaply, i-accredit na kaagad. Kami sa Valenzuela, hindi na kami pipila sa RITM, pupunta na lang kami sa ibang accredited center, accredited hospital para mas mabilis namin makukuha ang resulta.

Q: I understand now we have six centers but sabi nga po ni Secretary Duque ay inaasahan yung tatlumpu na nga po na titignan nila at iche-check para makita kung may kakayanan itong government and also private hospitals na maging isang testing center.

SEN WIN: I would just like to say, kung andiyan na yung test kit at andiyan na rin yung processing center, ako naniniwala ako na by April 12 we can slowly ease the lockdown para makapag trabaho na yung ating mga kababayan, provided na dapat yung local government na alam nila kung saan yung may mga sakit para doon nila i-contain at i-isolate.

Q: Naku hihiritan ko pa ng isa pa yan, sabi niyo po by April 12 ay pwede nang i-ease? Ang ibig-sabihin sa tingin niyo by that time na binigay satin na date, hindi pa po dapat i-lift itong Enhanced Community quarantine sa Luzon?

SEN WIN: Ang aking analysis diyan ay pag andiyan na yung test kits at marami nang testing centers at lumalabas yung resulta within 24 hours para malaman ng local government, pwede nang gawin ng local governments yung lockdown na per house na lang or per family na lang... dahil kung wala kang sakit damay ka eh. Kahit wala kang sakit hindi ka pwede mag trabaho. So ngayon, i-isolate natin yan, yan ang ginagawa ng Korea, ginagawa ng Singapore, ginagawa ng Taiwan dahil alam nila masakit sa bulsa ang lockdown eh. So ang ginagawa nila per house ang nilo-lockdown.

Q: Senator Sherwin Gatchalian marami pong Salamat for joining us.

[end recording]



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Senator Win Gatchalian called on the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to be more liberal in applying certain rules on fringe benefit tax for the duration of the enhanced community quarantine. This will encourage Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in giving additional benefits to their employees so they can stock up on necessities while they stay indoors. These benefits can come in the form of allowances, grocery items, or any financial assistance equivalent to one month pay.

The lawmaker said although fringe benefits or any perks given to rank and file employees are not subject to fringe benefit tax, the tax code requires employers to pay 35% fringe benefit tax on the benefits given to managerial and supervisory employees. Gatchalian pointed out that MSMEs might think twice in giving additional benefits to all of their employees given the hefty fringe benefit tax.

He tells the BIR that these employee benefits can actually be advantageous on the part of the employers because it will ensure the health of their staff during and after this time of health crisis especially if they want to retain the same workforce and won't need to train a new set of employees. Under the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC), if the benefits are given for the convenience of the employer, it is exempt from fringe benefits tax of 35%.

"I appeal to the BIR to do its share and consider these employee benefits so that small and startup businesses can have the reason to provide for their employees", said Gatchalian.

"Marami sa mga empleyado sa bansa ay nagtatrabaho sa mga maliliit na negosyo. Kung hindi natin sila tutulungan at bibigyan ng ayuda, lalabas at lalabas sila ng kanilang mga bahay para maghanapbuhay dahil natatakot sila na kapag hindi sila pumasok sa trabaho ay baka hindi nila matanggap ang sweldo nila. Maliwanag na ang ganitong sitwasyon ay lumalabag sa panuntunan ng gobyerno na mahinto ang pagkalat ng nakamamatay na virus", Gatchalian shared.

The senator said relaxing the rules on fringe benefit tax will encourage more employers to release their employees' benefits at this crucial time, including 13th month pay and others.

MSMEs account for 99.56% of total businesses in the country and considered as the backbone of our economy, that is why Gatchalian said it is important to look after the welfare of their employees to keep the economy running.



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Last Friday, RITM discovered that Rep. Erick Go Yap of ACT-CIS Partylist is actually negative for COVID-19, and later adopted the political version of "proper handwashing technique" by attributing the mistake to an individual who was "enlisted as augmentation staff outside regular workforce of the laboratory."

In another news report, RITM admitted that it is taking them a week before it could release results of COVID-19 tests, compared to their normal processing time of 24 to 48 hours.

Even if DOH has tapped its five (5) subnational laboratories in Davao, Cebu, Baguio, Manila and Quezon City to do their share in testing, these additional laboratories will still face the same problems that RITM is facing - backlogs and delay, high risk of error, lack of manpower and incapacity to process mass testing.

Last week, Marikina City was twice turned down by DOH for their COVID-19 testing efforts. First, Marikina City's whole 6th Floor Health Office was rejected by DOH since it failed to meet safety and biosafety standards, and subsequently, government run-Amang Rodriguez Medical Center in Marikina, was also rejected because it didn't have adequate space to house the testing machines.

Malaki bang kabawasan sa gobyerno kung payagan nito ang mga LGUs tulad ng Marikina na tumulong sa pagtest para sa COVID-19? Imbes na pigilan ay dapat tulungan ng gobyerno na mahulma ang mga creative at resourceful na responses ng mga LGUs lalo na ukol sa mass testing sa kani-kanilang lugar.

Gaya ng nasabi ko na: lubhang mahalaga ang agarang mass testing. A lot of things depend on early detection and identification of as many COVID-19 carriers as possible.

In the case of South Korea, around 9,332 people were infected but with only 139 deaths. What is South Korea's secret? The trace, test and treat strategy. South Korea has been aggressive in testing that it rolled out 118 facilities, not to mention the innovative drive-thru COVID 19- testing facilities.

Our government must imbibe this attitude from the South Koreans in their fight against COVID -19. Let us listen to their Vice Health Minister, who said: "First, public participation must be secured through openness and transparency. Second is to respect creative thinking and use cutting-edge technology to develop the most effective means of response."



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We are in Week 3 of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ). And while the initial period set expires in two weeks, there is still no end in sight. As the global COVID-19 pandemic pushes further into 2020, the collective feelings of fear, anxiety and sorrow are beginning to affect many of our countrymen.

A new concern is surfacing-the mental and psychological health of people. If not immediately addressed, it will be like poison that will creep through the lives of many in ways that could sometimes be more lethal.

In a time where uncertainty fills the atmosphere, stress and anxiety pushes everyone closer to the brink of despair, from our government officials and enforcers of the ECQ, to our frontline health workers, to the people who are forced to stay at home to avoid further spreading of the virus.

Halo-halong lungkot, kaba, takot, paranaoia at pag-aalinlangan ang nananaig sa bawat mamamayang Pilipino at patuloy pa itong mananaig hanggang sa mga susunod na araw, o linggo hangga't wala pang lunas sa malubhang sakit na ito at patuloy na tumataas ang bilang ng mga kaso ng COVID-19 sa ating bansa.

Measures that would ease the mental, emotional and psychological burden that people endure during the period of ECQ should be part of government's crisis response plan. Proper and effective implementation of R.A. No. 11036, or the "Mental Health Act" ought to be as an integral part of the national strategy against COVID-19.

I pray for all our kababayans - may the Filipino fighting spirit win over the dark thoughts that loom our minds, and may we offer compassion and kindness to one another during these trying times. Let's please check on one another, even those who we think are the strong ones. While obliged to keep physical distance from each other, may we not be socially disconnected from one another.

This too shall pass. Kapit lang mga kababayan, malalampasan din natin itong pagsubok na ito. Kasama kayo palagi sa mga dasal ko. Tibayan pa natin ang ating loob at pananampalataya.



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Senator Nancy Binay today appealed to members of the Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP) to donate pillows and beddings to COVID-19 quarantine centers.

"The hospitals and quarantine centers are already too overwhelmed and preoccupied. Broadly speaking, the TCP can be the backline in this fight against COVID-19 by giving out soap, donating pillows and linens, at iba pang kagamitan para sa mga quarantine centers natin," said Binay, who chairs the Senate Committee on Tourism.

According to government quarantine guidelines, all local government units are required to establish isolation units.

"The TCP is in a unique position to help and complement our hospitals and local quarantine centers. They have the backbone in providing viable solutions to quarantine challenges at this very critical time. Even donating soap can already spell hope," Binay pointed out.

The procurement of bedding essentials amid halted production is a key issue that must not be overlooked, said the lawmaker.

Binay noted that tourism establishments are well equipped to respond to the challenge of constantly changing sheets.

"Daily reality ng mga hotel, inn, at iba pang hospitality establishments ang pagsiguro na malinis ang tutulugan ng kanilang customers. They are definitely well-equipped to deal with the issue of hygiene," said Binay.

She expressed confidence that many establishments would answer the call for help, despite the tourism industry also taking a massive hit due to the global pandemic.

"This would require sacrifice on the part of the private sector, pero naniniwala akong marami sa mga partners natin sa Tourism Congress ay willing naman tumulong at gawin ang makakaya para malagpasan natin ang krisis na ito," Binay added.

The TCP is government's private sector counterpart created under the Tourism Act of 2009 (RA 9593). TCP represents tourism establishments like hotels, resorts, theme parks, travel and tour operators and other stakeholders in the country's tourism industry.



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Workers of community-based livelihood projects continue to have a source of income while complying with the restrictions of the enhanced community quarantine, Sen. Cynthia Villar said.

Villar, chair of the Committee on Agriculture and Food and Environment and Natural Resources, said community-based livelihood projects help workers have a steady source of income amid the implementation of quarantine measures.

In Las Pinas, livelihood projects continue its operation including handicraft and blanket weaving, coconet weaving, plastic chairs production, organic fertilizer production, engineered bamboo production, citronella massage oil making, handmade waterlily paper making, urban vegetable gardening, urban aquaculture, and organic livestock raising.

These projects are some of the livelihood projects Villar helped establish in over 7,000 locations nationwide.

"Our workers need not worry about losing their income during the COVID 19 crisis because these community-based livelihood projects can continue while complying with the quarantine measures," Villar said.

Villar added that workers live within walking distance from livelihood centers and observe social distancing.

The lady senator also cited home-based livelihood programs such as the face mask making project launched by the Pampanga government where sewer beneficiaries were paid P3,000 to make 600 masks. These masks were distributed to frontliners in the province for free.

Villar also asked the help of a group of women headed by Kristine Joy Ferrer in Dasmarinas City, Cavite, to sew face masks which the senator will buy and donate to barangay workers in Las Pinas & Cavite.

"In this extraordinary time, we need to provide the people with these opportunities so that they will continue to be productive and contribute to the needs of the family and the society," she said.



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The Filipino ability to adapt and survive amid adversity, colloquially known as "diskarte," is solving the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical frontliners fighting to stop the spread of COVID-19, Senator Imee Marcos said.

Marcos urged the Department of health and the Department of Trade and Industry to speed up approval of a PPE prototype submitted by the garment exports industry, whose 300,000 workers are ready to augment the country's short supply of PPEs amid a global shortage in medical equipment.

The PPE prototype's approval will mean continued employment for garment workers in Taytay and give hope to more sewers in Cavite and other garment-producing communities in the country, Marcos added.

"Diskarteng Pinoy ang pag-asa natin para makaahon at malampasan ang krisis dulot ng COVID-19. Walang mangyayari sa atin kung lagi lang tayo maghihintay ng supply o donasyon galing sa ibang bansa," paliwanag ni Marcos.

Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on economic affairs, said that funding industries badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and helping them adapt their production to crucially needed goods is part of the coping mechanisms of the P750-billion "Pag-ASA: Alaga, Sustento, Angat" program that she proposed via Senate Bill 1414.

Marcos also said that the government can ensure a more reliable supply of food and other basic goods if it does not burden suppliers with documentary requirements and instead allow "substantial compliance."

"Luwagan na ang red tape para mapabilis ang daloy ng pagkain at mga kinakailangang medical supplies. Ang bigas, gulay, poultry na manggagaling sa Norte dapat binibyahe na papuntang Metro Manila," Marcos added.



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Q: Good morning Senator Gatchalian.

SEN WIN: Good morning Weng at sa lahat ng ating mga tagapakinig.

Q: Good news na kayo ay negatibo na at nakikita ko na napaka-active ninyo sa Valenzuela. Parang wala na kayong tulog simula ng nagnegatibo kayo ah.

SEN WIN: Oo nga eh. Binigyan ako ng assignment ni Mayor Rex dahil nagtutulungan kami ditong i-address at maghanap ng solusyon para hindi na kumalat ang COVID-19 dito sa Valenzuela. Nakakalungkot lang na meron na kaming limang cases ngayon at isa ang nasawi. Nabanggit ko lang ito dahil importanteng nalalaman namin kung ilang cases na dito at kung saan dahil ang laban ho dito ay paano mabawasan at mapigilan ang pagkalat. Kasi ang iniisip namin, talagang pupunta at pupunta ang virus dito pero ang hamon sa amin, wag kumalat ang virus sa aming komunidad.

Q: Speaking of that Sir, malalaman nga natin yan Sir kapag may testing. Ano ang posisyon niyo sa massive testing dahil clamour na ito ng iba't-ibang sektor pero ang sinasabi ng DOH ay kulang sa kakayahan so far.

SEN WIN: Magandang tanong yan. Dahil nga may on the ground experience tayo, gusto ko lang sabihin na hindi ho tayo doctor o epidemiologist pero ang aking perspektibo ay sa local government at kung paano lalabanan ng local government ang pagkalat ng virus sa kanilang komunidad at LGUs. Ako, naniniwala na ang panlaban at pinakamabisang paglaban sa virus ay dapat mag-umpisa sa local level. Wag na nating paabutin ito sa ospital dahil kapag umabot ito sa ospital, at marami ang mga pasyente, hindi kakayanin ng ating mga ospital. Dapat sa local pa lang, mapigilan na at wag nang kumalat. Kaya ang posisyon ko dito sa mass testing, importante ang mass testing pero hindi yan ang solusyon. Marami kasi ang nagsasabi na mass testing tayo, tama yun pero hindi yun ang ultimate solution. Ginagamit natin itong mass testing para malaman natin kung sino ang may sakit at sino pa ang nahawaan at ma-isolate itong mga may sakit at nahawaan. Kung nasundan niyo ito sa internet, ang Iceland, tinest nila lahat ang kanilang populasyon at lumabas doon na 50% ng mga tinest nila ay asymptomatic. Ibig sabihin, walang sakit so akala mo wala kang sakit, ikot ka ng ikot, lumalabas ka, pumupunta ka ng mall, hindi mo alam nakakahawa ka na pala. Yun ang dapat nating mahuli at ma-detect dahil karamihan dito sa mga taong ito, hindi nila alam na nakakahawa na sila. Ang problema, kahit wala kang sakit, mahahawaan mo ang isang senior citizen, kawawa naman ang senior citizen na yun.

Q: Kaya ang sikreto doon ay mass testing Senator?

SEN WIN: Ang aking posisyon, mass testing pero unahin natin ang mga may sakit at ang kanilang household. Hindi lahat ng tao. For example, dito sa Valenzuela, ang gusto ho naming itest ay yung mga kamag-anak niya, yung mga taong nasa loob ng bahay at mga nakapaligid sa kanya. Dahil nakita namin na nagkakaroon ng hawaan sa loob ng bahay at sa komunidad. So uunahin naming ang testing sa kanilang komunidad at household, kapitbahay para makita natin kung may hawaang nangyari doon. Kapag sinabi nating mass testing, available ito sa lahat. Pero hindi natin gagawin sa lahat ng tao dahil may iba naman na malalayo naman na barangay. Obviously, hindi naman sila mahahawaan.

Q: So dun tayo sa vulnerable sector?

SEN WIN: Correct. Doon tayo sa mga taong potentially ay nahawaan. Ito yung term na ginagamit nila, "PUM" or "PUI".

Q: Depende na sa DOH na magsasabi kung alin ang vulnerable sector na dapat unahin dahil base rin yun sa limitasyon natin ng resources. Di ho ba Senator?

SEN WIN: Correct, at dapat may sistema tayo sa pagte-testing. For example, gusto ko lang ihambing sa nangyari dito sa aming lungsod. Meron kaming na-detect na isa na COVID-19 patient kahapon. Ang balak namin i-test ang kanilang kasambahay, ang kamag-anak niya sa loob ng bahay like parents, kapatid at gusto rin naming i-test ang kanilang mga kapitbahay dahil malamang nagkahalubilo ito dahil maliit lang ang kanilang lugar. So ang importante rito ay ma-test sila upang malaman natin kung positive o negative. Kapag negative, well and good at least hindi nagkaroon ng hawaan. Kapag positive, balak naming dalhin sa isang centralized facility ho namin para ma-isolate na siya kaagad at hindi makahawa pa sa iba. Ang nangyari kasi, napansin naming, kung hindi mo ma-test, hindi rin nya alam kung positive or negative sya eh.

Q: Kaya nga po so ikot sya ng ikot.

SEN WIN: Correct, kung lumabas lang siya, halimbawa, bumili ng pagkain o gamot, hindi niya alam na nakakahawa na siya. At dahil nga dumadami rin ang mga PUIs, dito sa Valenzuela, meron na kaming almost 71, hindi rin kaya ng gobyerno na bantayan isa-isa physically. So importante na ma-test natin ang 71 na yun para malaman natin talaga kung sino ang positive o negative.

Q: Oo para mapauwi mo na, edi less na sa stress sa iyong resources yun.

SEN WIN: Correct, yun ang right words. Nasi-stretch yung aming resources ngayon dahil hindi namin alam kung sino ang may sakit o wala. So ang testing napakahalaga sa dalawang bagay. Una, para malaman natin kung sino ang may sakit o wala at pwede nating i-isolate ang may sakit. Pangalawa, yung resources ng gobyerno hindi na-stretch. Kasi kung ang assumption natin, lahat ng PUIs, all 71 ay may sakit, talagang kukulangin tayo ng doctors, nurses at sasakyan so importante ngayon ang targeted na tinatawag.

Q: Pero Sir, ang problema kasi ganito. Tama yung nasa local natin sa strategy na ganito kasi kayo ang nasa ground. Pero ang tanong, yung capacity po. Halimbawa, sa testing. Parang ngayon, centralized sa DOH eh. Pero ang health services natin, decentralized di ho ba?

SEN WIN: Tama ka doon. Magandang obserbasyon yan. Na-realize namin dito na--sa ngayon ha, may isang testing center lang sa Pilipinas, yun ang RITM. Kaya kahit gusto naming mag-test ngayon but--?

Q: Naputol si Senator Gatchalian, ang ganda ng punto. Maganda yan eh, kailangan talaga lahat ng magagandang serbisyo. Kaya po dini-devolve yan sa ilalim ho ng local government code dahil kinikilala po ng national government ang kapangyarihan at kakayahan ng lokal para pangasiwaan ang pangunahing serbsiyo ng kanyang nasasakupan.

SEN WIN: Sa ngayon, merong isang testing center lang ang Pilipinas. Ang RITM. Kahit gusto naming i-test ang aming mga kababayan dito, mag-aantay pa kami ng 8 days para makuha ang resulta dahil nakita ko na ang average time para makuha ang resulta ay 8 days dahil nga pila-pila ang mga nagpapatest. Ngayon, ang importante ho ngayon ay centralized ang processing facility at testing kaya for the last seven days, yan ang ginagawa namin dito sa Valenzuela. In fact, by next week, makakakuha na kami ng test kits. Ang problema naman, saan namin dadalhin ang test kits para i-process?

Q: Ang good news, kanina bago kita tawagan, may mga nabanggit po ako na ilang mga ospital at facilities na pwede nang mag-lab ng lahat ng mga nakukuhang sample. So kahit papaano, may kakayahan na. Yun nga lang kapag nag-massive tayo, may imbudo pa rin.

SEN WIN: Actually ang pinakamahalaga dito, lahat ng ospital na merong laboratoryo qualified sila maging center, dapat nga lang lang i-accredit na kaagad ng RITM and DOH. Ang importante ngayon Weng dapat mabilisan na eh. Medyo na frustrate lang ako last week dahil noong kino-contact ko tong mga ospital at mga laboratory, hindi pa sila na-aacredit ng DOH. Ang importante ngayon mabilisan eh, mabilis yung pagkalat ng virus kesa sa galaw natin eh, importante mas mabilis tayo doon sa virus.

Q: Isang atsing lang tapos na tayo eh--

SEN WIN: Correct. So magandang balita na may mga laboratories na ia-accredit na pero sana this coming week, ma-accredit na lahat dahil mabagal ang pagkaka-accredit natin. For the last seven days, sa lahat ng mga tinawagan kong ospital, in the process pa lang sila of getting accredited, hindi pa sila accredited, kaya ngayong araw na ito as we speak, isa pa lang.

Q: Hindi pa naman too late the hero, Senator? Pwede pa naman ihabol, madali naman maglatag ng sistema ang DOH eh?

SEN WIN: Correct, kaya ang aking panawagan sana this week ma-accredit na itong mga ospital na ito para kami katulad namin sa Valenzuela pwede na kami mag localize na mag-test at ipro-process namin doon sa mga accredited hospitals. Hindi na naman dapat dalhin sa RITM at ipipila ho doon. Kung malaman namin ang resulta within 24 hours, maa-isolate na namin yung may sakit na yun at hindi na siya makakahawa. Dahil Ang kalaban natin dito Weng, yung paghawa eh at yun ang gusto at a local level, gusto namin mapigilan yung paghawa ng sakit.

Q: Sir doon sa nabanggit ko kanina, merong labingwalo ng mga test kits na aprubado ng FDA para po ma-import natin at ma-ibenta locally. Dapat ba allowed ang local government units na makabili nito at magamit sa inyong lokalidad?

SEN WIN: Magandang tanong yan, actually walo hindi labingwalo--

Q: Nakalagay dito sa listahan labingwalo na--

SEN WIN: Walong brand ang kanilang in-accredit. Magandang tanong yan dahil tinext ko nga Si Secretary Duque sabi ko nga kay Sec. dapat maglabas na ng guidelines yung DOH para itong guidelines na ito susundan ng mga local government units at para maging safe yung testing na ginagawa ng mg local government units dahil sa ngayon wala pang guidelines. So for example kami sa Valenzuela, gusto namin gumawa ng localized testing pero hindi namin alam yung procedure buti na lang meron kaming local na epidemiologist kaya siya ang nag ga-guide sa amin, pero hindi lahat ng local government merong ganitong kakayahan.

Q: Parang Sir yung nangyari sa Marikina, nasayang ang effort although pwede pa naman ilagay sa ibang lugar kaya lang kung yun ay agad-agad na napaguspan, na bawal sa building, na bawa sa sixth floor edi sana ngayon nagagamit na ang kanilang laboratoryo?

SEN WIN: Not only that, isipin mo to Weng ah, kung lahat ng local government bibili na ng test kits, alam ba nila kung paano gamitin to? Meron ba silang qualified na tao, alam ba nila yung proseso sa pag-deliver? Baka naman kuha ng ng kuha ng samples pero mali pala yung sample. Kaya importante na maglabas na ang DOH ng guidelines para ang mga local government units ay alam ano yung gagawin nila sa testing kasi ngayon as we speak wala pang guidelines. Yun nga ang tinext ko kay Sec. Duque, sabi ko 'Sec. maglabas na tayo ng guidelines' kasi ang nangyari ho ngayon, ang FDA nag-accredit ng test kits, ibig-sabihin ni-liberalize, ginawa na siyang available kahit kanino pero hindi naman klaro kung paano gamitin at yung proseso hindi klaro so dapat malabas na yung guidelines ng DOH.

Q: Senator, maliban po doon, sa ilalim ng Bayanihan Act may malaking pong pondo na pwedeng i-realign at magamit ng Presidente at pakawalan para sa paglaban natin dito sa COVID-19 pero magagamit naman po na ito sa test kit hindi po ba? Dahil sa ngayon parang nakadepende tayo masyado sa donations?

SEN WIN: Correct. Actually, yung donation, maganda ho yan, madaming nagdo-donate pero ang donations dapat dagdag lang yan sa ating sariling resources dahil importante na hindi napuputol yung resources natin sa mga ospital natin, sa mga local government units natin. Sa Bayanihan Act ang ating pangulo ay nabigyan ng kapangyarihan para kunin yung pondo na hindi ginagamit, yung mga pondong hindi naman na u-utilize ng mga departmento at i-realign kaagad sa paglaban sa COVID-19. So malaking pera yan, ang pinaguuspan natin diyan bilyon. In fact, ang unang estimate is about 75 billion para sa mga medical equipment so importante na magamit na kaagad ng pangulo yan. Ngayon pa lang, dapat makabili na tayo ng mga protective equipment, mga masks at mga iba pa at ma deliver na sa ibang mga ospital dahil nakikita ko marami tayong mga public hospitals na humihingi ng donation. Syempre nakakasira ng morale yan ng ating nurses at doctors na makita na ang kanilang ospital walang mga basic requirements kaya importante na magamit ng ating pangulo ang kanyang kapangyarihan sa Bayanihan Act para makabili kaagad ng protective equipment.

Q: Sir, again, dito sa sitwasyon na ito, ano ba talaga, devolve nga ho yung health services eh pero sa ngayon centralized sa DOH ang lahat ng movements. Ang obserbasyon ng marami, parang, saan ba tayo talaga? Ano ba ang dapat sundin natin sa ngayon?

SEN WIN: Hilaw ang devolution ng health, isa yan sa mga functions na hilaw ang devolution. Sinabi kong hilaw dahil ang mga tertiary hospitals, kagaya dito sa amin, bigyan kita ng halimbawa Weng, kagaya dito sa tertiary hospital ay DOH pero yung aming primary care, ito yung mga health center, yung mga emergency hospitals, devolve yan, yung dito yan sa Valenzuela. Yung ating public health policy, hati yan, may devolve, meron ring national pero pag dating sa ganitong epidemiya, no doubt, national ang merong responsibilidad diyan dahil ganun kalaki. Kaya ang importante ngayon, mabilis ang pag-aksyon dahil ang sabi ko nga kanina, Weng ang pagkalat ng virus mas mabilis sa pagalaw natin eh kaya tayo nauunahan ng virus dahil mabagal yung paggalaw natin. Ito lang yung pagapruba ng mga hospitals, napaka bagal, kung noong una pa man naaprubahan na sila, pagdating ng virus meron na kaming dadalahan ng testing kits.

Q: Masasabi niyo ba na parang two weeks late tayo masyado?

SEN WIN: Hindi lang two weeks, almost two months late tayo dahil kung matatandaan natin noong January, tatlo lang yung kaso natin, noong February wala tayong kaso. Dapat noong walang nangyayaring kaso, inaaprubahan na yung mga testing kits at testing center at bumli na dapat tayo ng PPE's, personal protective equipment para pagdating nung kaso, ready na tayo.

Q: Yun yung time na sinasabi ng DOH na handa tayo?

SEN WIN: Hindi ko nakita yung kahandaan na yun on the ground. Sa totoo lang Weng, araw-araw kami andito on the ground at hindi nakita yung kahandaan na yun. In fact I have to give credit sa ating local government kasi kahit na medyo malawak itong paglaban na ito, nakagawa sila ng sarili nilang mga paraan para malabanan itong virus. Tandaan natin Weng, ang spread ng virus hindi nasa national kung hindi nasa local. Ang spread ng virus ay nasa barangay, nasa komunidad natin at para mapigilan yung spread na yun, ang local government at barangay ang lumalaban sa pagpigil doon sa spread na yun. Kaya importante sa local pa lang pigilin na natin yung pagkalat dahil kung hindi natin mapigilan yung pagkalat sigurado ako yung ating mga ospital ay mapupuno at mapupuno yan.

Q: Alright, good luck sa ating lahat, manatili po tayong ligtas lalo na ho kayo na nagsisilbi sa local diyan po sa inyong lungsod. Maraming Salamat po.

SEN WIN: Maraming salamat Weng, thank you very much.



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As the country sees the increasing number of Filipinos contracting the deadly coronavirus, Senator Win Gatchalian has urged all Local Government Units (LGUs) to set up makeshift hospitals and isolation tents where patients with mild symptoms can be isolated and mitigate the risk of spreading the virus.

Gatchalian proposed that these temporary facilities be set up in wide, well-ventilated, and covered spaces like gymnasia, where tents can serve as isolation areas for persons under investigation (PUIs) and those who are recovering from the disease. He said that schools, dormitories and hotels can also be utilized as isolation areas.

Gatchalian warned that hospitals are now overwhelmed with the spike in COVID-19 cases straining medical facilities and triggering some to turn away patients. In Quezon City for instance, three patients who tested positive for COVID-19 were sent home because the facilities where they were supposed to be confined did not have enough space.

The lawmaker cited the example of Wuhan, China, formerly the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, which had 16 makeshift hospitals that treated 13,000 patients. These facilities have closed following a plunge in Wuhan's cases. South Korea, for its part, solved its bed shortage problem by reserving hospital beds for the acutely ill while putting less sick patients in dormitories. The lawmaker added that these would also help hospitals prioritize admission for severely ill patients.

"Kailangang manguna ang ating mga lokal na pamahalaan sa mga hakbang na tulad nito. Kung titingnan natin ang halimbawa ng ibang bansa, makikita natin na posible pala ang paglalagay ng mga pansamantalang pagamutan upang matulungan nating gumaling ang mas marami pang positibo ng COVID-19," explained Gatchalian.

Gatchalian also touted Valenzuela's centralized isolation facilities at the Balai Banyuhay and Valenzuela Astrodome, which has modular tents and military cots for patient use. Balai Banyuhay, the city's unused drug rehabilitation and treatment facility, has 100 beds.

Gatchalian then called on the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to ensure that all barangays comply with its directive to establish "Barangay Isolation Units" (BIUs) and mobilize Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERT).



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Senator Leila M. de Lima has called on the Filipino people regardless of religious affiliations to storm heavens with prayers and sacrifices as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic continues to wreak havoc here and around the world.

De Lima said although she is detained, she feels for the sufferings of the Filipino people, especially among poor families in the National Capital Region who are placed under stringent "enhanced community quarantine" imposed since March 16.

"Even in detention, I cannot help thinking about the suffering of many of our countrymen in these troubling and uncertain times. I hope that even with different religious affiliations, we can unify as one in offering our heartfelt prayers," she said.

"Keep safe everyone! Pray, pray, pray. I encourage everyone, including my staff, to pray daily the Oratio Imperata (Obligatory Prayer) against the spread of COVID-19, as issued by the CBCP (Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines)," she added.

Last March 9, the CBCP called on the Catholic faithful to pray the Oratio Imperata for "those suffering from the coronavirus and to all those who are caring for them". It also halted Masses and gatherings in compliance with the "social distancing" measures.

Since Masses are temporarily placed on hold, including the forthcoming Holy Week, priests like her spiritual adviser Fr. Robert Reyes have taken upon themselves to conduct paraliturgical services at their respective dioceses and parishes.

Similar arrangements are being observed around the world not only to join global efforts to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus but also in solidarity with those who were infected and those who died due to the disease.

Last March 21, Mr. Duterte has issued Proclamation 934 declaring the 4th week of March as National Week of Prayer encouraging the Filipino people to pray in order to "defeat this invisible enemy with the aid and blessing of God."

De Lima, a devout Catholic herself, lauded the creativity and ingenuity of some priests in leading the Catholic faithful to kneel in deep prayers and supplications in time of national crisis in spite of the enhanced community quarantine.

For one, she lauded the initiatives of Fr. Reyes to conduct street tours or visitations, bringing with him the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary to encourage families to pray together for her miraculous intercession to protect them from the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the lady Senator from Bicol, although she will again miss the Lenten tradition for the fourth consecutive year, she will be guided in prayers and sacrifices inside her detention with a limited people attending paraliturgical services.

"Let us continue on offering our prayers and sacrifices to end this global nightmare. I shall pray most especially for our health care workers and frontliners to protect them as they attend to the needs of those who are sick," she said.

Official figures show that COVID-19 believed to have originated in Wuhan, China has killed more than 14,500 people and infected over 323,000 around the world.

To date, the Philippines has at least 68 people who have died and 1,075 others have been infected with coronavirus disease.



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Wala pang COVID-19, hirap na ang rice industry dahil sa Rice Tariffication Act. Mabilis na bumaha ng imported rice, mabilis na bumagsak ang lokal na presyo ng palay, mabilis na nawalan ng kita ang magpapalay pero mabagal na napaabot ang tulong na matagal na nilang kailangan.

Sa kagyat, kailangang bilhin na sa mataas na presyo ang ani ng ating magpapalay. Sa pamamagitan nito, malalagyan ng pera ang kanilang mga bulsa at makakapagtanim ulit sila. Kapag binili natin sa magandang presyo ang ani ng mga magpapalay natin, ma-e-encourage ang mga rice farmers natin na magtanim uli ng palay. Marami na kasi ang nag-shift sa ibang pananim kaya bumababa ang production natin.

Kailangan na ring maghanda ang pamahalaan sa government-to-government rice purchase sa Thailand, Myanmar, India, at Pakistan.

Gaya noong panahon namin sa Office of the Presidential Adviser on Food Security and Agricultural Modernization, dapat ding:

(1) Puksain ang rice smuggling, hoarding, at iba pang pagsasamantala sa panahon ng krisis. Maging bukas (transparent) ang mga transaksyon. Papanagutin ang gumagawa ng krimen.

(2) Pausbungin ang pagpapalay. Siguruhin ng DA na makapagpatuloy sa pagsasaka ang mga magsasaka natin at bigyan sila ng sapat at agarang ayuda (pataba, makinarya, kaalamang pinansyal, atbp). Tulungang makapagpatayo ng maraming kooperatiba para mapagtibay ang bayanihan sa industriyang sakahan.



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Narito po ang nilalaman ng aking sagot sa sulat na ipinadala ng aming Punong Barangay kahapon na nag-uutos sa akin at sa aking pamilya na kami ay mag-self quarantine. Nais ko lang linawin na bago ko pa man natanggap ang sulat, nagsimula na kaming mag-quarantine ng pamilya ko.

Ang ipinagtataka ko lang po ay kung bakit kumalat agad ang kanyang sulat sa social media na hindi niya man lang ako tinawagan upang alamin kung ano ang katotohanan sa naging viral na picture namin ni Sen. Koko Pimentel. Ang naganap po noong March 4 (hindi po March 10 tulad ng napabalita) ay isang political meeting ng PDP Laban at hindi "partying". Nawa'y maging maingat po tayo sa ating mga ikinakalat sa social media.

Ang nais ko po ay makapagsilbi ng maayos at maging inspirasyon sa lahat sa gitna ng mga pagsubok na ating hinaharap. We will fight this pandemic together and we will be victorious, all by God's grace.

****************************************************

March 28, 2020

MS. ROSSANA HWANG
Punong Barangay
Barangay Dasmarinas
Makati City

Dear Ms. Hwang:

Greetings!

Your letter dated March 27, 2020 expressing your concern for my family's well-being is highly appreciated. We fully support the community's effort to address this pandemic.

I write this letter to clarify certain matters that you have raised in your letter .

The picture that you may have been referring to, wherein I was seen interacting with Sen. Koko Pimentel and other officials, was a political meeting with PDP-Laban members in my residence. This event happened on March 4, 2020. I am sure our Dasmarinas Village guards have records of this if only a proper verification was made. Let me also emphasize that it was not "partying" as stated in your letter. It was a political meeting. The word "partying" casts me as someone insensitive to the current crisis of the nation .

Even prior to your DIRECTIVE, the members of my family and I have been observing the proper physical distancing and have once again placed ourselves on quarantine since March 24, Tuesday. We have three designated staff for essential errands and they have no direct contact with this household as they are staying at my house in Forbes. We are grateful for your offer to deliver our needs to our doorstep but we do not wish to burden our community with these matters which are well within our means and capabilities. Rest assured that we have and shall continue to strictly and conscientiously abide by the rules governing the enhanced community quarantine.

It may interest you to learn that I have tested negative for the virus using a Rapid Testing Kit from South Korea. Although such test was not conducted under the guidance of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, I am willing to undergo a confirmatory test only if the need arises because I firmly believe that we have a lot of Persons Under Investigation or PUI who have to be prioritized in terms of testing.

With all due respect, may you please allow a member of my household to go out to buy or do essentials pursuant to IATF guidelines? Accordingly, kindly have the appropriate Home Quarantine Pass delivered to my residence.

Finally, it has come to my attention that your letter has been the subject of several news reports and malicious social media posts. In this regard, I wish to know how this private letter addressed to me went around social media with total disregard to my right to privacy. Meantime, I will refer this matter to the appropriate agency for proper investigation to avoid the same incident from happening.

In this regard, I would like to remind you that it is in the best interest of our immediate community, and of the general public, if we refrain from making assertions or conclusions based on unverified news items and malicious social media posts. We also ask that your office refrain from sending out official barangay communications directed to individuals to news outlets and social media. We do not wish to cause unnecessary panic during these trying times.

Thank you.

Respectfully,

EMMANUEL D. PACQUIAO



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Mga kababayan, nais ko pong linawin na bago ko pa man natanggap ang sulat mula kay Barangay Captain Rosanna Hwang, nakapagdesisyon na po akong mag-home quarantine.

Pagkatapos po ng Special Session sa Senado noong Lunes, March 23, ay hindi na po ako lumabas ng aming bahay.

Excited pa naman sana ako sa turn-over ng 57,600 Test Kits mula sa aking kaibigan na si Jack Ma para sa Manny Pacquiao Foundation ngunit minabuti kong manatili sa bahay.

Nalulungkot po ako na may mga kasamahan ako sa Senado na positibo sa Covid-19. Dahil nakasalamuha ko sila, alam ko na ako ay considered as Person Under Monitoring o PUM.

Huwag po kayong mag-alala. May natanggap po akong Rapid Testing Kits mula sa aking mga kaibigan sa South Korea. Gamit ang rapid test kit na approved sa Korea, ako po ay nag-negatibo. Hindi pa approved ng FDA dito pero yon po ang ginagamit sa Korea.

Matagal na po akong hinihikayat na magpa-test sa RITM ngunit nais ko pong ipaalam na wala po akong nararamdaman na anumang sintomas.

Ibang usapan na po kung meron akong kakaibang nararamdaman sa aking katawan. Once I experience symptoms, I am willing to undergo the swab testing for the sake of my family and my country, but I will go through the regular procedure. Naniniwala po kasi ako na marami tayong Persons Under Investigation o PUI na dapat unahin pagdating sa testing.

Kahit naka-home quarantine, patuloy po akong maghahanap ng paraan upang makatulong sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na sa ating mga magigiting na frontliners. Marami pa pong test kits at medical supplies na darating na magagamit ng ating mga health workers sa buong bansa. Magkakaroon din po ng allocation ang DOH Regional Centers sa Visayas at Mindanao.

Hinihikayat ko ang lahat na makipagtulungan sa ating pamahalaan. Gawin po natin ang nararapat. Patuloy din po tayong magdasal at manalig sa Panginoon. Sa kanya po tayo humugot ng lakas at pag-asa. Malalampasan natin itong pagsubok, mga kababayan. Tiwala lang.



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With Republic Act 11055 or the Philippine Identification System Act still not ready for implementation, it is not easy for the government to trace ordinary citizens who tested positive for COVID-19, as well as those who were directly exposed and symptomatic. Making the job harder is the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (R.A. 10173), which protects the right to privacy and non-disclosure of medical records of patients.

As an admitted oversight of Congress, the recently enacted Bayanihan to Heal As One Act (R.A. 11469) does not authorize the President to direct the disclosure of COVID-19 patients.

But if public figures like Prince Charles, Boris Johnson, Tom Hanks, Christopher de Leon and several of our own legislators had voluntarily and publicly declared they are or were infected, maybe it is time for the "man on the street" - the ordinary Filipinos - to do the same in order to alert those who they had interacted with to take the necessary measures, so that the infection does not spread further.

If their identities are made public voluntarily, even through their barangay bulletins, homeowners' associations or any social media platforms available, then people who they directly got in contact with can come forward to be tested and treated if needed.

As an elected Senator of the Republic, I appeal to our citizens to practice that selfless act of responsibility to society and do our part in hastening to flatten the curve by thwarting the spread of the virus even in our own little way.

COVID-19 may not be like the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), where there is social stigma attached to the afflicted because it is sexually transmitted in most cases. Nevertheless, it does not diminish the threat that COVID-19 poses not only to those vulnerable but those around them.



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With the enhanced community quarantine expected to go beyond April, Senator Win Gatchalian is calling on the government to extend the price freeze on Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) which households commonly use for their day-to-day needs.

Gatchalian made the call as the prevailing price freeze on LPG and Kerosene products is set to lapse on March 31. The Department of Energy (DOE) earlier imposed a 15-day price freeze on LPG and Kerosene products after President Rodrigo Duterte declared a State of Calamity in the whole Philippines due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The Senate Committee on Energy chairman said imposing a 15-day price freeze on LPG does not make any sense since the price determination of the socially-sensitive product is conducted on a monthly basis.

Given the prevailing health crisis situation in the country, Gatchalian urges the DOE to recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte to extend the price freeze while the enhanced community quarantine is in effect. Gatchalian cited DOE's Department Circular 2016-08-0013 stating that prices of LPG and Kerosene will become normal after the 15-day price freeze, unless a mandated price freeze is imposed by the President, upon the recommendation of the DOE.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has earlier announced a nationwide price freeze on all basic goods and necessities for 60 days, unless lifted by the President. The DTI has emphasized that household LPG and kerosene are the basic goods under the DOE. In the commercial sector, LPG consumption rose at a rapid pace of 10.4% annually from 2007 to 2017, as reported by the DOE.

"The DOE should extend the prevailing price freeze until the situation has normalized to ensure that all Filipinos are protected from any price manipulation during the entire enhanced community quarantine period," Gatchalian said.

On March 2, oil companies decreased the price of LPG by P3.90/kg or about P42.90/11-kg cylinder. Auto LPG likewise decreased by P2.20/liter. In Metro Manila, the price of household LPG ranges from P612.10-735.10 per 11-kilogram cylinder.

Aside from calling for a price freeze extension, Gatchalian also urges the DOE to be vigilant against unscrupulous traders who will take advantage of the crisis. He urges the public to immediately report pricing abuses to the DOE.

The lawmaker also calls for a close collaboration between the DOE and local government units (LGUs) to ensure the unimpeded delivery of energy services during the entire enhanced community quarantine period.

Gatchalian reminds LGUs that fuel and petroleum products are included in the Inter Agency Task Force' guidelines on products allowed to be transported.



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3/28/20

It's stupefying to note that our health authorities seem to be downplaying, if not actually scoffing at, the idea of mass testing.

The DOH Secretary himself was quoted as saying: "Do we have to test each and every Filipino? That's 104 million. I think no country would be able to do mass testing to the extent of the population of the [Philippines]."

Of course we know that, Mr. Secretary. When we push for mass testing, we are not asking you to test each and everyone of us. That would be colossal stupidity! We are not asking for the moon.

Mass testing entails the focused and strategic targeting or identification of the segments of the populace, the sectors and communities that need immediate testing. These include the PUIs and PUMs, the elderly, the sick or sickly, those with underlying illnesses or pre-existing conditions, or the vulnerables and high-risks, particularly in high-density areas.

You prioritize them, en masse or in substantial numbers, in proportion to existing and projected capacities, then move on to cover more clusters and areas as capacities improve. Planado, desidido at aktibong pagkilos po ang ating lubhang kailangan sa ngayon.

Fast track all needed processes -- procurement of testing kits and other related equipment; immediate assessment and accreditation of available testing kits, related equipment and facilities, whether procured or donated; distribution to available facilities; and deployment of needed manpower -- to improve capacities.

Aren't all these commonsensical? My goodness!

(Access the handwritten copy of Dispatch from Crame No. 755, here: https://issuu.com/senatorleilam.delima/docs/dispatch_755)



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Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima urges local and national government officials to stop threatening critics of lackluster government response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

De Lima made the call in light of the reports that government officials in some areas are abusing Section 6(f) of the recently enacted "Bayanihan to Heal as One Act" to intimidate citizens who call out incompetence or inaction, threatening them with jail time and exorbitant fines.

"Knowing the vindictiveness of this regime, this provision can be abused by authorities to suit their political agenda and curtail freedoms of expression and opinion of those who call out government's inanities and languid response to the COVID-19 outbreak," she said.

"Virus ang kalaban natin, hindi ang kapwa Pilipino. Takot na ang mga tao, huwag na nating takutin pa. Bukod sa virus, nangangamba rin ang maraming Pilipino sa gutom at lalong paghihirap ng kanilang pamilya," she added.

Days after some public officials claimed that human rights and the writ of habeas corpus are suspended during a state of emergency, other officials announced that they will go after anyone who voices negative comments on social media on the government's response to COVID-19.

Reports said that a Cebu-based rapper was made to swear in public to never criticize the government again before sending him home. The Cebu provincial government is mulling over charges to file against the rapper to set an example for other detractors.

In some areas under the "enhanced community quarantine", De Lima also denounced cruel, inhumane and degrading punishments given to alleged violators of the lockdown, including having them stand or sit for hours under the heat of the sun, or locking them up in dog cages.

"Huwag natin gawing solusyon ang pananakot at dahas. We must treat this crisis more as a public health concern than a peace and order issue," the former justice secretary said.

"What we need now is full transparency from the government, not a measure to suppress rights and freedom of speech. Sagipin, at huwag gipitin, ang kapwa Pilipino," she added.

De Lima, the most prominent critic of extrajudicial killings linked to the Duterte administration - who herself has been in jail for more than three years now - is seen by many as an example of the vindictiveness of a regime that cannot handle criticism.

Since her arrest on 24 February 2017, De Lima has been illegally detained based mainly on concocted accounts of drug lords and other shady personalities rounded up by Duterte sycophants and allies.

Despite the limitations caused by her detention, the lady Senator from Bicol has continued commenting on the national situation regarding the ongoing crisis dealt by the deadly novel coronavirus, which paralyzed economies worldwide.

As of March 27, the Philippines have lost 54 persons to COVID-19, with 803 others getting infected by the highly contagious virus.



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Despite the enhanced community quarantine being imposed in Luzon and other parts in the country, Sen. Cynthia Villar said proper handling of waste products can still be done.

Villar, chairperson of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, said it is important that garbage collection and recycling efforts continue in order to prevent additional health and sanitation woes.

"We continue to generate waste even if we are under quarantine. Garbage will pile up if these are not collected and overwhelm our landfills if not properly segregated and recycled," Villar said.

The lady senator also added that used masks and gloves can easily mix with household waste when these should be treated as hazardous wastes.

Villar urged local government officials to implement environmentally-sound practices alongside measures battling the spread of COVID-19.

In her home city of Las Pinas, Villar said composting and recycling facilities continue operating to properly manage the city's waste and at the same time continue to provide livelihood to residents.

Bio-men, or the barangay-employed collectors of kitchen wastes, continue to bike around the city. They turn over their collection to composting and vermi-composting centers where kitchen wastes were converted into organic fertilizers in their own barangay.

"In a month, we produce 70 tons of fertilizer and give them out to farmers in nearby provinces. In Metro Manila, there are also urban gardeners and vegetable farmers who benefit from this free farm input," Villar said.

Collected soft plastics such as food wrappers were recycled into plastic chairs.It takes 20 kilos of plastic to produce one arm chair which the senator donates to public schools all over the country.

Waste coconut husks are also collected to be turned into coconet and charcoal.

"Our composting and recycling projects helped us recycle 70 percent of waste and enabled us to save on garbage hauling services. This is very important especially now that garbage collection can no longer be brought to the landfill in Montalban, Rizal because of quarantine measures," Villar said.

She added that workers in these composting and recycling centers live nearby and operate on spacious areas where social distancing can be easily observed.



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Some P17 billion in idle funds in the Department of Transportation (DOTr) should be realigned to support public utility drivers who have lost their income due to the enhanced community quarantine to combat the spread of COVID-19, according to Sen. Grace Poe.

"By our estimate, there is about P17 billion worth of programs and projects in the 2020 DOTr budget that cannot be implemented due to the pandemic on top of those not yet sunk in the ground from 2019," noted Poe, chair of the Senate committee on public services.

"We might as well realign these funds for the benefit of our transport drivers whose earnings are severely affected due to the enhanced quarantine," she added.

In enforcing stricter social distancing measures to curb the rapid spread of the disease, the Office of the President had earlier suspended mass public transportation in the entire Luzon. Several provinces have since implemented similar policies to stem the spread of the virus in their jurisdiction.

There are about 130,000 jeepney drivers and some 65,000 transport network vehicle service drivers nationwide. In Metro Manila alone, there are no less than 13,000 public utility bus drivers and roughly 47,000 motorcycle taxi drivers.

Under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, which was signed into law earlier this week, the President is authorized to discontinue programs, projects and activities, and utilize the savings generated to augment items vital in the fight against COVID-19, including amelioration for affected communities.

"Ang pondo na pangtayo dapat ng proyekto ay ipamigay na o ipambili na lang ng pagkain ng mga drayber ng mga pampublikong sasakyan. Surely, no one will contest that the right to food of a PUV driver is more important than some obscure project," said Poe.

She also pointed out that the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law earmarks 30 percent of its incremental revenues for mitigation measures, including fuel vouchers for franchise holders of public utility jeepneys.

"The budget has ceased to be set in stone. The amount for the fuel vouchers should be repurposed as cash or food assistance in this time of emergency. Dapat gamitin ito bilang pantawid sa walang pasada," said Poe.



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When we say mass testing, we do not refer to all the 100-plus million Filipinos. It's only the most vulnerable: those over 60 years old, which constitutes not even 10 percent of the entire population; those who are exposed; and those with symptoms. The rapid test kits can still be useful according to its specificity.

Thus, DOH Sec. Francisco Duque III may not be very responsive when he says mass testing is not possible because there are not enough testing kits. Besides, I asked doctors who are knowledgeable about antibodies and viruses and all the other technical terms in the medical field. Their opinions mostly differ from those of the Secretary of Health.

Testing of all symptomatics and those who are high-risk is ideal. This is where the rapid test kits come in. The rapid test kit will identify the positives early so that they can be isolated to prevent infection spread.

However, this is not to say rapid test kits as a business deal may be allowed. On the other hand, such kits donated from abroad - and even those purchased by local businessmen who will or have donated the same to local government units to help achieve mass testing - should be given some leeway, as long as authorities properly supervise or at least give enough information about their use and usefulness.

True, the test using the PCR is more accurate and reliable. But how many do we have? How many have the expertise to operate, assuming that we have enough PCR machines?

If the DOH does not change its way of handling the crisis, I hate to say, we may be overrun by COVID19 faster than we can imagine.



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Simula noong mayor pa ng Davao City si Pangulong Duterte, hindi siya nagse-celebrate ng birthday. Nasa bahay lang siya. This has been his tradition. To some extent, parang home quarantine ang ginagawa niya palagi sa bawat birthday niya.

Parehas rin lang ngayon dahil inabisuhan siya ng kanyang doktor at ng PSG na magself-quarantine na rin para sa kanyang proteksyon bilang exposed siya sa Malacanang. Gayunpaman, patuloy pa rin niyang tinututukan ang sitwasyon ng bansa at nagbibigay ng importanteng mga utos sa mga opisyal ng gobyerno.

Bilang ama ng bayan, ang nasa isip niya ngayon ay ang kapakanan ng bansa at hindi ang sarili niyang birthday. Sa aking pananaw, the President will only celebrate when we have fully conquered the Covid-19 situation. For now, he is focused on what needs to be done -- at nandito ako para suportahan palagi si Pangulong Duterte.

Isa sa kanyang mga bilin ay para sa DSWD kung saan sinabi niya na dapat mabigyan ng tulong lahat ng pinaka-nangangailangan lalo na ang poorest of the poor. Kasama rin sa bilin ng Pangulo ay ang patuloy na pagdarasal ng taumbayan lalong lalo na para sa kapakanan ng ating mga frontliners -- mga healthworkers, doctors, nurses at pati na rin ang military at kapulisan na ginagampanan ang kanilang mga tungkulin para protektahan tayong lahat. Sabi ng Pangulo na dapat mabilisang maibigay lahat ng suporta at tulong sa kanila bilang mga bayani sa gyerang ito.

Dalawang beses po kami nagkausap sa telepono ngayong araw. Una ay 6:30 ng umaga. Ngayong kaarawan niya, nakakalungkot man na mag-isa siya, isa lang ang pakiusap niya sa mga Pilipino -- ang tanging maireregalo ninyo sa kanya ay ang sumunod sa patakaran and STAY AT HOME.



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Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go is appealing to export-oriented local manufacturers of medical supplies and equipment to retain most of their outputs for use in the Philippines. This is to address the scarcity of certain medical supplies and equipment given worldwide shortage amid the COVID-19 global crisis.

Under present rules, registered manufacturers are required to export a certain minimum percentage of their daily outputs. If they meet this, they are entitled to various duties and tax exemptions and incentives.

"Dapat payagan natin na karamihan ng kanilang mga produkto ay pwedeng ibenta lang muna dito sa Pilipinas kasi nga kinukulang tayo sa mga medical supplies and equipment na gagamitin kontra COVID-19. Pero dapat gagawin natin ito na hindi naman mawawala ang mga insentibo na kasalukuyang binibigay ng gobyerno sa mga kumpanyang ito. Ang ibig pong sabihin nito, mas ma-e-encourage ang mga export-oriented medical supply companies na magbenta rito ng kanilang mga produkto kesa i-export," Go explained.

"At the same time, entitled pa rin dapat sa fiscal incentives, alinsunod sa ating mga batas, ang mga produkto na ibebenta nila locally," he added. The proposal applies to Filipino- and foreign-owned export-oriented medical supply companies.

This comes after the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has also recommended the temporary lifting of these export requirements imposed under various laws. IATF is recommending that local sales of the outputs be deemed as export sales, hence allowing these companies to continue availing of duties and tax exemptions and other incentives.

"Sa pagluluwag na ito, mahihikayat natin ang mga kumpanyang ito na magtalaga ng hindi bababa sa 80% ng kanilang pang-araw araw na produksyon para sa local consumption," Go explained, adding that by encouraging these companies that manufacture much needed medical supplies and equipment amid the global health crisis, the country will be able to secure ample supply of these healthcare items.

"Tinatayang matugunan ang patuloy na lumalaking pangangailangan natin sa mga kritikal na mga gamit kontra sa pagkalat ng COVID-19 sa bansa," Go added.

The Senator also emphasized that while donations of medical supplies and equipment from other countries are appreciated, the country cannot rely on outside sources all the time.

"Around the world, there is shortage of certain medical supplies and equipment, such as face masks and test kits, among others," Go said.

"While we appreciate that some countries have given us those much needed items, we cannot rely on outside sources all the time. We need to enhance our own local production capability," he added.

The proposal came after the enactment of Republic Act (RA) No. 11469 or the "Bayanihan to Heal as One Act" which authorizes the President, among others, as a temporary emergency measure, to liberalize the grant of incentives for the manufacture of critical or needed goods or products, including healthcare equipment and supplies.

Under normal circumstances, the grant to export enterprises of fiscal incentives is subject to conditions under Executive Order 226 or the "Omnibus Investments Code", and Republic Act No. 7916 or the "Special Economic Zone Act".

To avail of those incentives, establishments operating within ecozones are required to register with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority and comply with requirements for registration under existing laws. These requirements include exporting at least 70% of total production for foreign-owned corporations; while at least 50% of the total production should be for export for Filipino-owned corporations.

With relaxed export requirements, these companies will remain entitled to the fiscal incentives while supplying at least 80% of their daily production for local or domestic use.

"Because of the recently enacted Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, we are giving the President certain powers in our bid to strengthen our various measures and increase our resources in defeating COVID-19," Go said, adding that the country must be "responsive to the rapidly evolving situation" due to the COVID-19 emergency.

He also urged all Filipinos to work together and foster the bayanihan spirit to address the threats of the COVID-19 virus.

"In this time of national crisis, let us all contribute for the greater good. Both government and the private sector must work together and do what we can to address and respond to the growing threats of COVID-19," Go said.

"Magbayanihan po tayo. Tulungan nating bumangon ang bawat Pilipino bilang isang nagkakaisang bansa. Together, we can heal as one," he added.

The Senator, who also sits as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, earlier called for faster processing of test kits by the Food and Drug Administration and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine. He also urged the government to make these test kits as well as other medical items, such as personal protection equipment, face masks, etc. to be available even to remote places all around the country.



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As the country races against time to contain the spread of the deadly virus, Senator Win Gatchalian urges the national government to relax the requirements on COVID-19 related transactions to expedite the delivery of relief and services to the public. The national government he says should tap local government units (LGUs) to help make it work, emphasizing that there are complex bureaucratic procedures that hamper the delivery of aid to communities that need them most.

"The virus is spreading fast across our country making major damage in our health, livelihood, and economy. Therefore, we in the government should move the delivery of our services to our kababayans faster than the virus," Gatchalian said.

For one, Gatchalian cited the assistance package of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for the affected workers in private establishments. The problem he said is that the package can only be released in two weeks once all the application of beneficiaries are received at the regional offices. Aside from that, employers are also required to submit their COVID-19 precautionary measure reports.

Another is the Quick Response Fund (QRF) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which is a standby fund for relief, recovery, reconstruction, and other works or services in times of disasters, calamities, epidemics, or complex emergencies. The lawmaker commented that before it gets to the people, LGUs have to meet a long list of requirements to utilize the fund. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has yet to release calamity and quick response funds.

"Red tape will eventually kill Filipinos and not the virus. Government should relax rules and tap LGUs to act fast. Ang tulong na kailangang ibigay sa mga nangangailangang pamilya at komunidad ay ngayon na at hindi na pwedeng paghintayin pa", he said.

"Sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon kasi ngayon, double-whammy ito sa ating mga Pilipino. Hindi lamang tayo dumaranas ng krisis pangkalusugan, ang red tape sa gobyerno ay isang malaking krisis din," Gatchalian added.

The Anti-Red Authority (ARTA) has recently issued Memorandum Circular No. 2020-03 or the "Extension of Deadline of Submission of the Citizen's Charter and Suspension of Processing Times in the Delivery of Government Services in Luzon Area in Light of the Imposition of the Enhanced Community Quarantine.



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As the number of those infected by COVID-19 continues to spike, Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima suggests that medical and nursing graduates and students be enlisted to assist healthcare professionals and reinforce undermanned medical facilities nationwide.

De Lima, who chairs the Senate Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, noted that some hospitals have reportedly refused to accept prospective coronavirus patients not only due to lack of spaces but also of medical workers and staff.

"The situation is getting worse. The number of available health workers to attend to the sick and dying COVID-19 patients, and the PUI and PUM cases, is dwindling as many medical frontliners have to undergo self-quarantine themselves, having been exposed to COVID-19 patients," she said.

"[Let us] call on our nation's second line of defense - conscript the graduates of medical schools and nursing schools who will rise to the occasion," she added.

De Lima pointed out that the Health Secretary has the authority under Republic Act 2382 to empower the medical graduates and students to practice, in a limited capacity, their dream profession during epidemics or national emergencies.

When called upon to serve, De Lima continued, the government should guarantee that the medical and nursing graduates and students will be "equipped, compensated and safeguarded" as they risk their lives for the sake of others.

As of March 26, nine physicians have succumbed due to complications caused by COVID-19. Medical institutions also claim that they are understaffed because many of their healthcare workers have to be quarantined due to exposure to infected patients.

De Lima also stressed that there is an "urgent need to review the country's medical workforce capabilities" and fill the vacancies in the Department of Health (DOH), especially thousands of positions designated for health workers.

"I remind Secretary Duque that per the 2020 National Expenditure Program, there remains 13,058 unfilled positions under the DOH. That is on top of the 26,035 contractual positions for health workers which DBM has authorized to support the implementation of the Human Resource for Health Deployment Program (HRHDP) of the DOH," she said.

"Please don't give the applicants a run around anymore, give those positions to the qualified and competent to help save more lives. By utilizing this option which is already at the disposal of the DOH, our frontline will be manned and strengthened to hold the line until a vaccine or a cure is discovered," she added.

The lady Senator from Bicol have been consistent in calling out the DOH to roll-out mass testing for COVID-19, especially after the health department claimed to have received hundreds of thousands of test kits from foreign donors.

Official figures of the World Health Organization show that COVID-19, believed to have originated in Wuhan, China has killed 20,834 people and infected 462,684 around the world, as of March 26.

To date, the Philippines has reported that 45 people have died due to COVID-19 and 707 others have been confirmed of being infected.



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3/27/20

The Human Rights Watch has expressed their concern on Section 6 (f) of the recently enacted "Bayanihan to Heal as One Act." This section seeks to penalize "individuals or groups creating, perpetuating, or spreading false information regarding the COVID-19 crisis on social media and other platforms, such as information having no valid or beneficial effect on the population, and are clearly geared to promote chaos, panic, anarchy, fear, or confusion..."

Knowing the vindictiveness of this regime, this provision can be abused by authorities to suit their political agenda and curtail freedoms of expression and opinion of those who call out government's inanities and languid response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Days after DILG Usec. Martin Diño said that human rights and writ of habeas corpus are suspended during a state of emergency, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia threatened to go after anyone who voices negative comments on social media on the government's response to COVID-19. She reportedly made a rapper swear in public to never criticize the government again. The Cebu government will also file a case against him.

Bukod dito, sa ibang lugar, may mga dinakip at inilagay pa sa kulungan ng aso at ibinilad sa araw dahil sa paglabag sa curfew.

Huwag natin gawing solusyon ang pananakot at dahas. We must treat this crisis more as a public health concern than a peace and order issue.

What we need now is full transparency from the government, not a measure to suppress rights and freedom of speech. We must learn from what happened to Dr. Li Wenliang who issued the warning about the new virus yet the Chinese authorities subjected him to questioning and threats before he died from COVID-19.

Virus ang kalaban natin, hindi ang kapwa Pilipino. Takot na ang mga tao, huwag na nating takutin pa. Bukod sa virus, nangangamba rin ang maraming Pilipino sa gutom at lalong paghihirap ng kanilang pamilya. Sagipin, at huwag gipitin, ang kapwa Pilipino. ###

(Access the handwritten copy of Dispatch from Crame No. 754, here: https://issuu.com/senatorleilam.delima/docs/dispatch_no._754)



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3/27/20

The urgency of a mass testing program cannot be overemphasized. I am frustrated and alarmed that the national government deferred the COVID-19 testing initiative of Marikina City. Here is a local government unit that is ready to operate and start testing, but what do we do? Delay the efforts to contain this outbreak with too much red tape? Ano pa ba ang hinihintay natin? Request ng mga VIP? This lack of urgency in an emergency situation will kill us all.

Instead of obsessing in terrorizing the people to toe the line, our government should focus on making them feel secured in knowing that the spread of the virus can be contained and that they will not be endangering the lives of their loved ones. Mass testing is a key in the success stories of countries like South Korea and Singapore.

Bakit ang tabang at ang kupad ng response natin sa isang programang magsasalba ng libo-libo, kundi man milyong, buhay ng ating mga kababayan? I shudder at the thought of us waking up someday to people dying in the streets. We've now reached that point where there are reports of people dying in their very own homes. One even went for medical consultation because of symptoms but was advised to stay home.

The worst is yet to come if we do not act decisively and swiftly for our own people, NOW. May itinatago o gustong itago ba tayo sa mga Pilipino at sa mundo?

At the risk of being called a naysayer in a time when hope should spring eternally, it seems to me that the behavior and attitude of some of our top leaders follow China's playbook. Iniiwasan bang masiwalat ang tunay na bilang ng mga apektado ng COVID-19 at kung gayo'y mahayag ang kapabayaan ng administrasyon kaya malamya sila sa pagtulak ng mass testing?

Alam ng gobyerno kung gaano kahalaga ang prosesong ito, nag-unahan pa nga ang ilang opisyales para magpa-test, di ba? Nagawang magpa home service pa nga ang ilan, samantalang yung iba nating kababayan, mamamatay na lang na hindi alam kung ano ang sakit nila. Nakakarimarim na pangitain.

We must continue raising our call for a national mass testing program in all avenues that we can use to reach the most number of people, especially now that there seems to be a dearth of news on this issue, whether in the mass media, social media and other platforms.

Tuloy-tuloy ang pangangalampag! Mass testing saves lives! Walang gulangan. Walang wang-wang. #MassTestingNowPH

(Access the handwritten version of Dispatch from Crame No. 753, here: https://issuu.com/senatorleilam.delima/docs/dispatch_no._753)



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Senator Richard J. Gordon's proposal to give additional compensation for Coronavirus disease (Covid-19)-affected Filipino health workers was adopted by the Senate on Monday, March 23, during a special session to deliberate on Senate Bill No. 1418 or the 'Bayanihan to Heal as One Act'.

As the Senators amended the bill that seeks to give the Chief Executive special powers to address and deal with the pandemic, Gordon, Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Finance, proposed that a compensation amounting to P1 million be given to the families of public and private health workers who contracted Covid-19 and died during the line of duty.

Health workers who are severely afflicted by the virus� on the other hand, shall be given P100,000 each.

"We have to put the money in such a way that it would be spent wisely, it would reach the people. [Iyong] doktor, nurse o medtech, kung mamatay, mabigyan sila, iyong kanilang pamilya ng at least panlaban dahil wala na sila, wala na iyong breadwinner, mayroong P1 million," Gordon said.

During the period of amendments, Gordon also said that government health workers and other frontliners should be given hazard pays and be provided with personal protection equipment (PPE) so that they will be protected against the virus.

"Iyong mga nurse natin, dapat may hazard pay, iyong mga nasa gobyerno natin, may hazard pay. Iyong mga magtse-check sa mga bahay kung magbibigay tayo ng pagkain o pera, dapat diyan mayroong PPE o proteksyon kapag nag-aabot tayo ng gamit. So, lahat iyan kailangang hanapin natin kung papaano natin tutulungan para maibsan na hindi na makadagdag pa na makakuha ng sakit dito sa laban sa Coronavirus," he said.

After a whole day of deliberations, SB No. 1418 was approved on third and final reading early morning of Tuesday, March 24, with 12-0 votes.

The meeting was scheduled after the national government requested the lawmakers to hold a special session to tackle a bill that seeks to realign available government funds and approve a supplemental budget that will be allocated to address the dangers of Covid-19 in the country



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Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go on Monday, March 23, said that it is important for the government to ensure the security of Filipino families through the provision of much needed food and financial assistance while most areas in the country undergo enhanced community quarantine to deter the further spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.

"We want everyone to 'Stay home'. But for that to happen, we have to make sure that we are able to sufficiently provide them with the necessary means to take care of their families and ensure the security they need in order to remain in their homes," Go said in his speech during a special session conducted to deliberate the passage of Senate Bill (SB) No. 1418, also known as the "Bayanihan to Heal as One Act."

As the Senate deliberated to grant the executive branch of the government the authority and flexibility it needs to address the COVID-19 situation with urgency, Go demanded concerned executive departments to continue serving the Filipinos well amid the imposition of the community quarantine measure to safeguard them from the pandemic.

"Tulad sa Department of Agriculture, gawin natin ang lahat para masigurong walang magugutom na Pilipino habang nilalabanan natin itong virus na ito. Make sure we have sufficient supply of food. Aanhin natin ang pondo kung kulang naman ang supply?" Go said.

"Sa Department of Trade and Industry, please ensure the unhampered movement of basic goods and necessities. Bantayan ninyo ang supply, ang presyo, at itigil ninyo ang lahat ng nagsasamantala sa panahong ito.

"Para naman sa Department of Social Welfare and Development, Sec. Rolly, at iba pang ahensya na nakatutok sa mga ordinaryong Pilipino, siguruhin natin na makakarating ang tulong sa mga mahihirap at sa mga taong pinaka-nangangailangan," he added.

The Senator also urged the government agencies to ensure that Filipinos feel its support during the COVID-19 situation, most especially the vulnerable groups.

"Siguraduhin natin na mararamdaman ang tulong ng gobyerno ng mga taong pinaka-apektado sa krisis na ito - ang mga taong walang maaasahang iba, mga walang trabaho, at 'yung mga walang savings. Tutukan natin ang mga vulnerable groups, tulad ng senior citizens, persons with disabilities, at indigent indigenous peoples," he said.

"Alalayan rin natin ang mga informal economy workers - mga vendors at Public Utility Vehicle drivers, tulad ng mga namamasada ng taxi, tricycle, bus, jeep at iba pa. Pati na rin po ang mga trisikad, pedikab, habal-habal at mga nagtatrabaho sa Transportation Network Vehicle Services o TNVS, katulad ng Grab, Angkas, Joyride. Lalong lalo na po ang mga kababayan natin na 'isang kahig, isang tuka' - mga daily wage earners na kinailangang tumigil sa pagtatrabaho para maging ligtas mula sa pagkalat ng sakit na ito," he added.

Citing the burden placed on Filipinos as they go through the enhanced quarantine measures, Go said that it is the responsibility of the government to secure and sustain their needs as their lives grind to a halt.

"Responsibilidad natin na alagaan ang ating mga kababayan natin na pinilit nating hindi lumabas ng kanilang mga bahay," he said.

"Nag-impose tayo ng strict measures para maprotektahan ang kalusugan nila pero hindi dapat doon nagtatapos ang responsibilidad natin sa pag-aalaga sa kanila," he said.

Go also took the opportunity to address the overseas Filipino workers. He said that the Philippines is their home and they will always be welcome and taken care of here.

"Ang stand po ng ating Pangulo ay tanggapin niya ang mga Pilipino na gustong umuwi dahil kung pati sa sariling bansa nila ay ayaw sila tanggapin, saan pa sila pupunta?," Go cited.

"Maglalaan po tayo ng pondo para mailigtas kayo kung asan man kayong parte ng mundo kung nais ninyong umuwi. Sisiguraduhin rin natin na may pasilidad dito sa bansa na komportable na pwede kayong tumuloy pag-uwi ninyo habang naka-quarantine o habang hindi kayo makauwi sa inyong probinsiya dahil sa lockdown. Para ito sa inyong kaligtasan at kaligtasan ng ibang mga Pilipino dito sa ating bansa," he explained.



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"Mahirap maging mahirap. Kaya huwag na natin sila mas pahirapan pa."

These were the words of Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go as he quoted a taxi driver who was interviewed on TV recently explaining the plight of the poor while most areas in the country are under enhanced community quarantine.

The Senator, during the Special Session on Monday, March 23, expressed his support for a proposed measure that further empowers and gives government the flexibility it needs to address the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation in the country and to help Filipinos affected by it.

"Siguraduhin natin na magamit ang pera ng bayan ng tama. Siguraduhin natin na makarating ang tulong sa pinaka-nangangailangan at pinaka-mahihirap nating mga kababayan. Siguraduhin natin na walang pinipiling oras ang ating pagtulong at pagserbisyo sa bayan," Go said during his co-sponsorship speech for Senate Bill (SB) No. 1418, also known as the "Bayanihan to Heal as One Act".

Go emphasized that the priority of the measure is to further equip government to be able to provide immediate healthcare needs to solve the health problem and defeat the virus and, at the same time, to provide cash and food assistance to those who are affected the most in the crisis.

Go reminded concerned agencies, particularly the Department of Social Welfare and Development, to make sure ordinary Filipinos are taken care of, especially those who need government attention the most.

"Siguraduhin natin na makakarating ang tulong sa mga mahihirap at sa mga taong pinaka-nangangailangan. Siguraduhin natin na nararamdaman ang tulong ng gobyerno ng mga taong pinaka-apektado sa krisis na ito - ang mga taong walang maaasahang iba, mga walang trabaho, at 'yung mga walang savings. Tutukan natin ang mga vulnerable groups, tulad ng senior citizens, persons with disabilities, at indigent indigenous peoples,"

"Alalayan rin natin ang mga informal economy workers - mga vendors, Public Utility Vehicle drivers, tulad ng mga namamasadang taxi drivers, tricycle, bus, jeep at iba pa. Pati na rin po ang mga tisikad, pedikab, habal-habal at mga nagtatrabaho sa Transportation Network Vehicle Services o TNVS, katulad ng Grab, Angkas, Joyride. Lalong lalo na po ang mga kababayan natin na 'isang kahig, isang tuka' - mga daily wage earners na kinakailangang tumigil sa pagtatrabaho para maging ligtas mula sa pagkalat ng sakit na ito," Go added.

Go said that as much as the government would want everyone to stay home, concerned agencies have to make sure that government is able to sufficiently provide Filipinos with the necessary means to take care of their families and ensure the security they need in order to remain in their homes.

"Responsibilidad natin na alagaan ang ating mga kababayan na pinilit nating hindi lumabas ng kanilang mga bahay. Nag-impose tayo ng strict measures para maprotektahan ang kalusugan nila pero hindi dapat doon nagtatapos ang responsibilidad natin sa pag-aalaga sa kanila," Go explained.

Meanwhile, Go also appealed to his fellow Filipinos to put their trust in the government and follow the advice of the authorities to combat the spread of the disease.

"I appeal to my fellow Filipinos: magtiwala po kayo sa inyong gobyerno. Sumunod po tayo sa mga patakaran ng Inter-Agency Task Force (on Emerging Infectious Diseases). Wala po kaming ibang hangarin kung hindi ang kapakanan ninyo at kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino," he said.

Citing the situation in other countries, Go also emphasized that COVID-19 spares no one. Therefore, cooperation from the public is needed to fight the disease.

"Nakita naman natin sa ibang bansa na mas mayaman at mas moderno kesa sa Pilipinas, pati sila tinamaan pa rin. Wala pong pinipili ang sakit na ito. Kaya napaka-importante ng kooperasyon ng bawat isa sa atin," he noted.

Ending his statement, Go quoted President Rodrigo Duterte, saying "We are now in the fight of our lives."

"Kung hindi tayo magkakaisa at kung hindi natin tutulungan ang ating gobyerno, siguradong matatalo tayo ng COVID-19," he ended.

Go also reminded fellow servants in the government, particularly those in local government units and those leading our barangays, to set aside politics and be accountable to and united for the Filipino people.

"Unahin natin ang buhay at kapakanan ng bawat Pilipino," Go said.



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[start recording]

SEN WIN: Magandang hapon sa ating mga tagapakinig.

Q: Unang-una, kamusta po ang inyong kalusugan, Senator?

SEN WIN: Okay naman. Medyo napuyat lang kahapon dahil tinapos natin ang Bayanihan Act. Mahalagang batas ito na dapat ibigay sa ating Pangulo para magamit niya kaagad ang lahat ng sangay ng pamahalaan. Ang pinakamahalaga ay magamit niya ang pondo na hindi naman ginagamit para sa paglaban dito sa COVID-19.

Q: So far po, nasaan na po tayo sa ginawa niyong special session? Ito po ba ay aprubado na ho? SEN WIN: Aprubado na ito at effective na. Kahapon ay talagang pinilit tapusin na ang Bayanihan Act para po magamit kaagad ng Pangulo. Tandaan natin na binibigyan lang ng ating Pangulo at ng pamahalaan ng 30 days para labanan ang COVID-19. Ang lockdown na ito ay 30 days at within that 30 days, importante na magamit ng ating Pangulo ang lahat ng pondo na pwedeng gamitin at ang kapangyarihan na pwede nyang gamitin para labanan ang COVID-19.

Q: Bukod po doon sa pondo na dapat magamit ng national government, ano pa ho ang mga salient points na dapat pong intindihin ng ating mga kababayan sa inyong ipinasa?

SEN WIN: Gusto ko maintindihan ng ating listeners kung ano po ang inaprubahan nating batas, ang tawag dito ay Bayanihan to Heal as One Act. Ang tawag ko rito ay Bayanihan Act para mas madaling maintindihan. Ang pinakamahalaga dito ay magagamit ng ating Pangulo ang mga ponding hindi ginagamit para gumawa ng mga hakbang para malabanan ang COVID-19. Ito ang pinakamahalaga. Marami ang nagsasabi na may kapangyarihan na ang ating Pangulo, bakit uulitin pa? Pero kung hihimayin mo ang batas, ang pinakamahalaga rito ay ang paggamit ng pondo dahil binigyan siya ng ganyang kapangyarihan, ang ating mga Senador ay may mga suhestyon kung ano po ang ipa-prioritize. One, dapat mapakain natin ang 18 million na mga pamilyang mahihirap dahil sa estimate ng DOF at NEDA, meron tayong 18 million pamilya na matatawag nating nasa mahihirap na sektor. So in-identify natin doon kung saan kukunin ang pondo at ang balak ng gobyerno ay magbigay ng 5,000 up to 8,000 dito sa mga pamilyang ito at ang gagastusin natin dyan ay almost 200 billion in one month. So napakalaking pondo po ang gagamitin. Pangalawa, naglagay ng pondo para bumili ng mga kagamitan katulad ng testing kits, protective equipment and suits, mga masks, at iba pa na pwedeng gamitin ng ating mga health workers at local government unit. So maraming dinagdag. Ito yung dalawang pinakamahalaga na gusto kong matandaan ng ating mga listeners dahil napakahaba po ng debate at diskusyon para masigurado na lahat po ng pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan at health workers ay mabibigay.

Q: Ang kaigihan naman po dito ay hindi aabusuhin ng national government at ito po ay babantayan ho ng mabuti ng ating Kongreso kung ito po bang pondo ay ginagamit ng tama.

SEN WIN: Dalawa po ang mekanismo para magkaroon ng accountability o pananagutan, Unang-una, may oversight so ang Kongreso ay babantayang mabuti itong pondo at ang executive branch ay mag-rereport sa Kongreso every week kung saan po ginastos ang budget at magbibigay sila ng update. So yun po ang isang check and balance. Pangalawa, limited time lang ito. Ito ay binigay sa Pangulo up to three months at kung kailangan po i-extend, babalik ho sa Kongreso para humingi ho ulit ng extension. So hindi ito panghabambuhay, three months lang ho. Ang gusto nga natin ay matapos ito within one month eh. Wala naman hong may gusto na umabot ito ng more than one month pero para sigurado at hindi pabalik-balik ho, binigyan ho ng three months effectivity ho ito.

Q: Sa inyo pong botohan, bakit hindi po unanimous ang botohan? Bakit marami pa ring ang tumututol sa inyo pong mga kasamahan sa Senado?

SEN WIN: Sa amin, isa lang po ang tumutol at hindi personally, hindi ko alam dahil isa-submit mo sa Senado kung bakit po tumututol pero, as far as I can remember, almost 17 ang bumoto para ho suportahan ito. Ang puno't dulo naman ho nito ay dapat mabilis ang aksyon ng ating Pangulo at meron siyang pondo para umaksyon. Gaya ng sinabi ko, ang kalaban natin dito ay oras eh. Hindi pwedeng pabagal-bagal.

Q: Oho. Ayaw nating matulad sa Italy at America no?

SEN WIN: Correct, marami pong mga bansa ang nakikita nating mas mayaman sa atin, mas progresibo sa atin pero hindi nila nakokontrol ito tulad ng Italy na umabot na ng 40,000. In fact, ang namatay sa kanila ay mas mataas na sa China, so ayaw natin umabot ng ganun. Tayo, habang nasa 500 level pa lang eh dapat labanan na natin kaagad dahil ang kinakatakutan ko kapag ito ay kumalat at dumami hindi na kakayanin ng ating ospital, hindi na rin kakayanin ng ating mga health workers at health professionals at magiging mas mahirap labanan ito kaya habang sumisibol pa, patayin na natin para hindi lumala.

Q: Okay, doon rin po ba sa mga nakapaloob po sa Bayanihan Act, eh nakalagay rin po ba doon, natalakay rin po ba ng mga Senador ho with regards dun sa take-over ng private companies?

SEN WIN: Tinanggal na yun Alex, gusto ko linawin dahil alam ko naging very hot issue yun ang pwede na lang i-takeover ng ating Pangulo; mga ospital at mga events place. For example, may coliseum at kakailanganin natin ng mas marami pang area na paglalagyan po ng may sakit, pwede i-takeover ng ating Pangulo yung isang coliseum o isang ospital. Let's say may isang ospital na hindi nag co-cooperate pero yun lang yung ospital doon, pwede niya i-take over. Importante ang mga kapangyarihan na ito dahil wala na tayong oras sa pakiusapan pa eh. Pag dumating ang punto na kumalat ito hindi na tayo pwedeng makiusap pa at magintay ng sagot. Importante mabilis ang galaw ng ating Pangulo, alam ko yung original version may lulamabas na take-over ng utilities, ng media-wala na ho yun.

Q: Mabuti nalinaw ho diyan, so paano po ito Senator yung inyong version niyo pato version ng Kongreso at lower house papano? Napag-isa na ho yun?

SEN WIN: Nagpapasalamat nga ako sa ating Speaker, kay Speaker Allan Cayetano at mga kaibigan natin sa lower house at pumayag sila na i-adopt ang Senate version so hindi na tayo mag bi-bicam dahil Alex, alam mo naman pag nag bicam matagal na proseso ho yan. Si Speaker Allam Cayetano ay sumang-ayon at in-adopt nila yung Senate version, nakita mo naman maraming importanteng provisions doon.

At gusto ko lang i-share yung aking provision dito sa batas na ito, meron akong kontribusyon sa Bayanihan Act, isang amendment na magbibigay ng 30 days na palugit sa mga utang sa bangko,car loan, housing loan, at kung meron kang utang na ginamit sa pambili mo ng gamit. Marami kasi sa ating mga kababayan, for example umutang sa PAG-IBIG, bumili ng bahay, eh ngayon wala kang trabaho eh, lalo na yung mga 'no-work, no-pay' hindi mo mababayaran yun, baka ma-elite yung condo mo o ma-elite bahay mo. So dahil dito sa lockdown, ang layunin ng aking amendment ay i-mandato ang mga bangko na ipagpaliban muna ang paninigil habang naka lockdown pa rin tayo.

Q: Hindi kaya maiksi ang 30 days po? Senator? Baka pwede pang habaan yun?

SEN WIN: Minimum of 30 days, so pag nakita ng ating Pangulo, let's say, wag naman sanang mangyari to, kung aabutin ang lockdown ng 60 days pwedeng i-extend yan ng ating Pangulo. Depende kung gaano kahaba ang sitwasyon o yung lockdown.

Q: At least, malaking tulong ho yan sa mga wala hong kinikita ngayon, Senator.

SEN WIN: Lalo na ngayon Alex dahil sa panahon ng lockdown hindi sila nakakabayad ng kanilang utang. Baka pagtapos ng lockdown ma-elite na yung kanilang bahay o kanilang mga condominium o sasakyan. Kawawa naman sila kaya dapat sa ganitong panahon bigyan natin sila ng palugit.

Q: Pero meron na ho siguro this Act na ito, itong batas na ito, meron naman hong mga private companies na nagkukusa na rin po Senator no? nagbibigay po ng mga reprieve sa atin pong mga kababayan?

SEN WIN: Meron akong nakuha isang email sa isang bangko, yung Asia United Bank (AUB) at nakita ko sa kanilang announcement na magbibigay sila ng 30-day na palugit or 30-day grace period doon sa mga credit card, or home loans or auto loans. Marami na hong bangko na nagkusang loob na magbigay na ng palugit at tulong sa kanilang- [inaudible]

Q: -Walang Walang kinikita, walang pumapasok-

SEN WIN: Correct, so ibig-sabihin lumalaki utang mo dahil hindi ka din nakakabayad. Marami pong aberya nangyari sa buhay natin dahil sa lockdown na ito; wala tayong kita, hindi tayo makabayad, lumalaki utang natin, at hindi naman ito sa kagustuhan natin, hindi naman natin mapipigilan to kaya sa aking amendment, hinihiling ko dito sa mga bangko at financial institutions na magbigay naman sila ng palugit. Kung kailangan nila ng tulong, gobyerno naman ang tutulong sa kanila.

Q: Siguro pang-huli po Senator, ano po yung mga panawgan ninyo, mga advice na gusto niyo ibigay sa mga kababayan nating nakikinig po?

SEN WIN: Sa akin Alex, isa lang ang advice ko sa ating mga listeners; makinig tayo at makibahagi tayo dito sa lockdown o enhanced community quarantine. Ibig-sabihin magbigay tayo ng cooperation. Wag lalabas ng bahay dahil marami pa ring matitigas ang ulo Alex. Dito sa Valenzuela dami ho kaming nahuhuli tuwing gabi, minsan nag-iinuman pa. kaya sa ating mga kababyan wag na ho tayong lumabas sa ating mga bahay, bigay natin ang ating kooperasyon sa ating lokal na pamahalaan at pamahalaang nasyonal, ito po ay para sa ating kabutihan.

Q: Well said po Senator, maraming salamat po.

[end recording]



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Senator Win Gatchalian is urging both the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to fast-track the release of the last tranche of student subsidies for school year 2018-2019 under their respective programs: the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS VP) and the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES). According to Gatchalian, this would help families who are bearing the socio-economic impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Gatchalian added that aside from bringing financial relief to affected families, the disbursement of these funds would help in the upkeep of private schools, including the advanced salaries and 13th month pay of teachers and other school personnel.

"Kung may tamang panahon para putulin ng DepEd at CHED ang red tape, ito na ang pagkakataong gawin nila ito. Ngayong nasa gitna tayo ng isang matinding krisis dahil sa COVID-19, malaking ginhawa ang maitutulong ng voucher program at TES sa ating mga mag-aaral, mga magulang, mga guro, at mga kawani ng paaralan," said Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education Arts and Culture.

The SHS VP is a financial assistance program for disadvantaged but qualified learners to study in private schools, state and local universities and colleges, (SUCs and LUCs), and technical and vocational institutions. For SY 2018-2019, vouchers amount between P14,000-P22,500, depending on the qualified recipient's location.

The SHS VP has incurred a total deficit of P14.1 billion for fiscal year 2019, which covers fund requirements until the end of SY 2018-2019. This deficit will be charged to DepEd's 2020 budget, which allocates P23.93 billion for the said program. The SHS VP currently supports more than 1.2 million learners.

The TES, one of the components of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (Republic Act 10931) or the free tuition law, provides a maximum of P40,000 per student for education-related costs, including books, transportation, board and lodging, and other allowances. For SY 2018-2019, TES has a P16 billion allocation for 300,000 students and more than P4.7 billion are paid to SUCs and LUCs as of December 31, 2018.

Gatchalian is aco-author and co-sponsor of the free tuition law and has called for its improved implementation.

Gatchalian: tulong pinansyal para sa mga mag-aaral dapat nang ipamahagi

Hinimok ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang Department of Education o DepEd at ang Commission on Higher Education o CHED na madaliin ang pagpapamahagi ng tulong pinansiyal na dapat sana ay ibinigay na sa mga mag-aaral sa pagwawakas ng School Year 2018-2019. Ang tulong pinansyal na ito ay ibinibigay sa ilalim ng mga programang Senior High School Voucher Program o SHS VP ng DepEd at ang Tertiary Education Subsidy o TES ng CHED.

Ayon kay Gatchalian, makakapagbigay ito ng ginhawa sa mga pamilyang apektado ng krisis na dulot ng coronavirus disease o COVID-19. Maliban sa pagsisilbing ayuda para sa mga pamilyang apektado ng COVID-19, makatutulong din ang pondong ito sa mga pribadong paaralan, lalo na sa pagbibigay ng paunang sahod at 13th month pay ng mga kawani at guro.

"Kung may tamang panahon para putulin ng DepEd at CHED ang red tape, ito na ang pagkakataong gawin nila ito. Ngayong nasa gitna tayo ng isang matinding krisis dahil sa COVID-19, malaking ginhawa ang maitutulong ng voucher program at TES sa ating mga mag-aaral, mga magulang, mga guro, at mga kawani ng paaralan," ani Gatchalian, Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

Ang SHS VP ay isang programang nagbibigay tulong pinansyal sa mga mahuhusay ngunit nangangailangang mga mag-aaral upang makapag-aral sila sa mga pribadong paaralan, mga state at local universities and colleges, at sa mga technical and vocational institutions. Para sa School Year 2018-2019, maaaring makatanggap ang mga mag-aaral ng tulong pinansyal na nagkakahalagang labing apat na libong piso (14,000) hanggang sa mahigit dalawampu't dalawang (22,500) libong piso, depende kung saan ang lokasyon ng mga mag-aaral.

Para sa taong 2019, mahigit labing apat (14) na bilyong piso pa ang dapat bayaran ng DepEd para sa SHS VP. Ang halagang ito ay nakatakdang bayaran ng DepEd gamit ang halos dalawampu't apat (23.93) na bilyong pisong kasalukuyang budget para sa programa. Sa kasalukuyan, mahigit isang milyon at dalawang daang libong (1.2) mga mag-aaral ang bahagi ng SHS VP.

Ang TES naman ay isa sa mga bahagi ng Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (Republic Act 10931) o free tuition law. Sa ilalim ng programang ito, maaaring makatanggap ang mga mag-aaral ng hanggang apatnapung (40,000) libong pisong ayuda para sa mga aklat, transportasyon, tirahan, at iba pang mga gastusin. Para sa School Year 2018-2019, may labing anim (16) na bilyong pisong nakalaan para sa TES, ngunit halos limang (4.7) bilyong piso pa lamang ang nagamit dito sa pagwawakas ng taong 2018.

Si Gatchalian ay isa sa mga may akda at nagpanakula ng free tuition law.



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Senate Minority Franklin Drilon on Tuesday said that audit regulations on government agencies and the anti-graft law will remain enforced in the "Bayanihan to Heal as One Act" which would assist the President in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.

On Monday, the Senate, voting12-0, approved Senate Bill1418 or the "Bayanihan to Heal As One Act" authored by Senate President Tito Sotto III and Senator Pia Cayetano.

Drilon, however, made it clear that the move by Congress does not in any way waive audit rules and regulations and the anti-graft law.

"Nais kong bigyang diin na hindi ibig sabihin na isasantabi na natin ang ating auditing rules, ang safeguards, ang anti-graft laws. Hindi po binabalewala iyan," Drilon said in an interview with radio station DzBB on Tuesday.

"It does not mean that we will set aside Commission of Audit rules and our anti-graft law. Kapag hindi natin sinunod ito ay may pananagutan pa rin tayo," he warned.

The minority leader agreed that these are extraordinary times as coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads throughout the country.

"Aminin natin o hindi, talagang may emergency sa ating paligid ngayon. Many are sick and the demand on medical services is very high, and manyhave lost their livelihood and income due to the quarantine," he said.

Drilon said he hopes that the measure will "give enough leeway to the executive branch to do their job" within three months.

Drilon amended the Malacanan bill and put a stop on the desired "perpetual exercise of the emergency powers" by limiting the same to three months, unless Congress extends the same.

Under the proposed measure, the President is given the authority to declare savings within the executive branch in the 2020 General Appropriations Act and use them to augment items that could address the effects of the coronavirus in the country.

Drilon said he proposed amendments to make the provisions of the measure compliant to the Supreme Court rulings on Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

"Ang power to realign ay dapat sang-ayon sa mga reglamento na inilabas ng Korte Suprema doon sa PDAF at DAP cases," he added.

"Ang sinabi ng Korte Suprema ang pwede lang i-realign ay yung within the executive branch, hindi kasama yung sa legislative, judiciary, constitutional commissions, at dapat may savings," Drilon explained.

"We also made sure that the funds will be used to fund programs, projects and activities that directly related to addressing the covid-19 pandemic" he added.

The minority leader also proposed to prioritize several items in the budget which the Senate adopted. These include the following:

Under the Department of Health - operational budgets of government hospitals, primarily those indentified for treatment of COVID-19; prevention and control of other infesctious diseases; eergency preparedness and response; quick response fund;

 Under the University of the Philippines - the operational budget of the Philippine General Hospital;

 The National Disaster Risk Reduction fund or calamity fund;

Programs of the Department of Labor and Employment, such as but not limited to Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disvanvantaged/Displaced Workers and COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program;

Under the Department of Agriculture - Rice Farmers Financial Assistance Program;

The minority leader also expressed full support to the grant of P8,000 to Filipino poor households for two, urging the executive to roll out the program at the soonest time possible to help them cope with the effects of COVID-19.



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SFMD: Alam mo, ako ay handang pumunta, ngunit I was advised by my doctor to avoid going there because I'm a medical risk, mayroon akong pacemaker, hindi naman ako kasingbata ni Igan. Ganunpaman, binigay sa akin ang committee report, pinag-aralan namin at nag-suggest ako ng mga amendments at tinanggap naman ng majority. Kaya marami sa mga nakita kong pagkukulang ay naipasok doon. Halimbawa lang, para maintindihan ng taumbayan, doon sa original bill ay halos perpetual ang emergency power. Pwedeng ulit-ulitin after two months if may be necessary. Kaya ang sabi ko, huwag naman ganon, sige tatlong buwan hanggang end of June. Pero kung kailangan pa habaan, kailangan ng resolution ng Kongreso.

Saka ang power to realign ay dapat sang-ayon sa mga reglamento na inilabas ng Korte Suprema doon sa PDAF at DAP cases. Ang sinabi ng Korte Suprema ang pwede lang i-realign yung within the executive branch, hindi kasama yung sa legislative, judiciary, constitutional commissions, at dapat may savings; kung walang savings hindi pwede mag-realign. Ano ba ang ibig sabihin ng realignment? Ang ibig sabihin nakalaan ang pera sa GAA, halimbawa, sa pambili ng sasakyan, pwedeng i-realign ng Pangulo ang budget sa pambili ng sasakyan dito sa Coronavirus crisis. Iyan po ang pinakasimpleng halimbawa.

Q: Ito pong binanbanggit to authorize yung programs, projects and activities ng ehekutibo, iyan po ay ide-declare as the savings?

SFMD: Iyan po ay dahilan sa pangangailangan. Ordinarily, iyan ay gagawing savings dahilan sa iyan ang proseso na sinabi ng Korte Suprema sa kaso ng PDAF at DAP. Sa aking tingin, iyon naman ay sang-ayon naman sa kasalukuyang kapangyarihan ng Pangulo sa ating Saligang Batas. Kung inyong napansin, walang bagong appropriation dito. Ibig sabihin, walang bagong budget kung hindi yung budget pa rin dati only that ni-realign at binigyang priority yung tungkol sa pangangailangan natin sa Coronavirus.

Q: Yung nasa decision po ba ng SC na dapat naka-breakdown sa line item yung programa?

SFMD: Ang desisyon ng Korte Suprema ay pwede mong ilipat mula sa isang item papunta sa isang item na nandoon na para i-augment mo. Halimbawa, yung budget para sa pambili ng sasakyan ay ililipat mo sa item na pambili ng gamot. Iyan ay pwede po sang-ayon sa Supreme Court dahilan mayroon na ring appropriation na existing.

Q: Sa kabuuang halaga na P275 billion broken down to P200 billion for 8 million households for P8,000 a month for 2 months at P75 billon for health and other services, kayo po ay sang-ayon doon?

SFMD: Yes, basta maayos ang pagdi-disburse, kailangan natin iyan. Ngunit, ito lang ang aking bigyang diin: hindi ibig sabihin na isasantabi na natin ang ating audit rules, ang anti-graft law. Hindi po isinasantabi iyan. Iyan ay umiiral kahit may kapangyarihang malawak, kahit na may kapangyarihang ibinibigay para i-realign ang existing budget doon sa pagdagdag ng pera para sa ibang mga programa.

Q: Kasi yung po na pangamba yung safeguard that is only what is needed will be utilized.

SFMD: Well, that is true. Iyan ay isang risk na we are exposed to, dahilan sa emergency ngayon. Kaya sa akin talagang, aminin natin o hindi, talagang may emergency sa ating paligid ngayon, maraming may sakit and the demands on medical services is very high, marami sa ating mga kababayan ay nawalan ng trabaho at income dahilan sa quarantine. So ito ay extra ordinary times at siguro, sa tatlong buwan, bigyan natin ng enough leeway ang executive branch to do the job. Ngayon, hindi ibig sabihin na isinasantabi natin yung COA rules, anti-graft law. Kapag hindi natin sinunod ito ay may pananagutan pa rin tayo.

Q: Doon sa draft, marami yung umalma dahil doon sa pag-take over ng public utilities. Dito po sa naipasang version, naalis poi yon?

SFMD: Ang naalis doon, I think, doon sa telecommunication. Ang public utility tulad ng transportation ay nanatili. Ngunit iyan pong takeover ng public utilities, unang-una nasa Saligang Batas. Pangalawa, sa amendments na ating pinasok, ang pag-take over ay para lamang tugunan ang problema dito sa Covid-19.

Iyan ay ibinigay dahil iyan ay mga pangangailangan ng gobyerno para tugunan itong Coronavirus. Uulitin ko lang po, I want to emphasize that the rules of the Commission on Audit and the law on the anti-graft are not being waived insofar as the execution of this law is concerned.

Q: Gusto ko lang matanong kung pwede, ang nakikita lang natin sa TV ay Metro Manila. Yung health nasa local bilang bahagi ng devolution of power, pwede bang isantabai muna iyon ay ibigay sa national?

SFMD: Unang-una, yung DOH-operated hospitals at specialty hospitals, marami pa rin po iyan operated by DOH and funded by the national budget. ngayon yung mga provincial hospitals ay funded by the LGUs.

Q: Wala pong pangangailangan sa mga local hospitals?

SFMD: Hindi ko sinasabing walang problema. May problema iyan dahilan sa pera rin. Ibig sabihin, national man o local, ang problema ay kung may sapat bang pera para tugunan itong krisis.

Q: The world is looking at South Korea kung paano tinutugunan itong crisis since noong MersCov in 2015. Were we remised before that we did not prepare for this like what South Korea did?

SFMD: Alam mo, it is all a question of funding. Kapag yung ating ekonomiya maliit at hindi kasinlaki ng Korea, and mas marami tayo in terms of population, the demand on social services is much heavier compared to South Korea. Kaya sa akin, kailangan nating bigyan ng priority yung mga mahihirap, ngunit kailangan din nating palaguin at palakihin ang ating ekonomiya para tugunan itong lahat ng pangangailangan. Iyan po ang basic. Kailangan ay lumago at lumaki ang ating ekonomiya para tayo ay magkaroon ng sapat na pera para tugunan itong problema at bigyan ng priority ang health, education at para rin sa imprastraktura. Wala pong sikreto diyan, simple logic at common sense. Ngunit iyan ay hindi madaling gawin. Maraming polisiya na dapat natin tingnan at isa-isahin. Ang ginawa ng South Korea ay maganda dahilan sa sila ay may sapat na kakayahan para tugunan ang lahat nilang problema.

Q: Sa napagkasunduan na P8,000 kada pamilya, buong pamilya po ba iyon o yung naka-quarantine lang?

SFMD: Sa aking tingin, buong Pilipinas. Unang-una, hindi madali ang imprastraktura diyan, may record ang 4Ps, iyan ay base sa survey na ginawa, may listahan. Doon sa hindi pa nabibigyan ng tulong, ang lahat ng nangangailangan. Ganundin sa DA, may listahan sila kung sino ang hirap dito sa rice tarrifiation. Nakahanda yung mga listahan na iyan. Ang problema ay kung may sapat na salapi ang pamahalaan upang maiabot sa kanila.

Q: Meron daw po.

SFMD: Good, kung meron, dahil isa iyan sa tatanungin natin pagbalik sa Mayo doon sa oversight na binuo. Pangatlo, mabigyan man ng pera eh meron tayong quarantine, paano nila magagastos? Kaya kailangan nang mabilis na pag-execute nito.



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I commend the Mass Testing Now PH group for its initiative. I join their call for a national mass testing program that prioritizes: (a) health workers or frontliners; (b) PUIs and PUMs; and (c) vulnerable sectors like the elderly and those with underlying illnesses.

Urgent and appropriate action is imperative in the race against time to address this pandemic. Mandatory mass testing will save lives. Thus, this should be paramount in our government's battle plan.

PUIs are dying even before they can be tested. This should not be the case. This should never be the case. COVID-19 maybe new and aggressive, but it can be defeated by a collective political and social commitment. Political will ang kailangan lalo na sa gitna ng ganitong uri ng krisis.

With the steady rise in the number of cases in our country, procurement of test kits should be prioritized. With still a limited number of test kits, symptomatic PUIs should be top priority. As soon as we have the test kits in massive quantity, both procured and donated from foreign sources, focused and organized testing should begin immediately in highly-populated or high density areas, especially those with widespread poverty. The most vulnerable members of our society should be protected at all cost. We are in the brink of an outbreak. Walang panahon upang magpatumpik-tumpik pa!

Puwede tayong humalaw sa karanasan ng Marikina LGU sa pagtatayo ng kanilang sariling molecular biology laboratory. Ang mga ganitong inisyatiba ng mga lokal na pamahalaan ay makakatulong upang higit pang mabigyan ng tibay ang ating panawagan.

My office joins various sectors in constantly and persistently demanding from government decisive responses to the crisis and for accountability.

Lubos ang aking paghanga sa mga youth health advocates na bumubuo ng Mass Testing Now PH na buong-pusong naglilingkod sa ating bayan, anumang panganib ang haharapin.



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Iyan ang tunay na pagmamalasakit at bayanihan. Nagbibigay-pugay ako sa Project Ugnayan sa matagumpay na pagkalap nila ng higit ?1.5 bilyon para sa mahigit isang milyong pamilyang Pilipino na apektado ng krisis na dulot ng COVID-19. Malaking ambag ito upang kagyat na maibsan ang paghihirap ng mga pinakaapektadong pamilya.

      I laud and thank all of you for stepping up to the challenges of these trying times, in the face of incoherent and faltering policies of the national government. Your initiative is a concrete proof of what we - in the government, in the business community, and in civil society - can do for the welfare of the least of us.

     Ang maagap at konkretong aksyong ito ng mga nasa pribadong sektor ay paalala rin sa pamahalaan na tumutulong at handang magbukas-palad tayong lahat. Dapat na hinihikayat pa ang ganitong mga hakbang. This is what the government, particularly the Executive Branch, should be doing instead of seeking for unnecessary powers, which is not the responsive solution to the nation's crisis. The national government should consider emulating the initiatives and mindset of the private sector. And it must act swiftly and decisively so that it can save more lives, not just from the fatal pangs of COVID-19, but also from the jaws of hunger.

     Sa mga kasapi ng Project Ugnayan at maraming iba pang gagaya sa inyo: Isang pagsaludo sa inyo, kalakip ang aking dasal na sana'y pagpalain pa kayo ng Diyos sa inyong kabutihan. Mabuhay kayo! Mabuhay ang diwa ng bayanihan sa ating bayan!



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Senator Leila M. de Lima has urged authorities, notably the military, police and barangay enforcers implementing local curfews and lockdowns, to respect the rights of workers and residents as they stem the spread of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19).

De Lima made the call following news reports that arrests were made on citizens - including street dwellers, homeless, and minors, who have purportedly violated curfew periods imposed by the respective local government units (LGUs).

"I have this to say to officials who claim that human rights and writ of habeas corpus can now be dispensed with due to health emergency: Respect human rights!" she said in her Dispatch from Crame No. 745.

"Maging ang WHO (World Health Organization) iyan ang paalala. Please lang, hindi ito panahon para lalong sikilin ang mamamayan," she added.

Last March 21, Interior Undersecretary Martin Diño asserted that human rights and the writ of habeas corpus are deemed to be effectively suspended during national crisis or emergency as they are supposedly inferior to the safety of citizens.

Diño's comments, however, drew flaks from other government agencies and private entities, notably the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), National Union of People's Lawyers and human rights group Karapatan.

De Lima, a former CHR chairperson and justice secretary, reminded authorities that arresting citizens and detaining them in cramped jail cells or detention facilities may do more harm than good in stopping the rise of COVID-19 infections in the country.

"Ang kalaban ay virus, hindi mga Pilipino. Bakit sila aarestuhin na parang kriminal dahil sa curfew? Kung nahuli, pauwiin na lang, balaan at paliwanagan maigi. Kung ikukulong, 'di lalong nagkahawa-hawa sa kulungan," she said.

To curb the spread of COVID 19, the Duterte administration has placed Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon under a month-long lockdown to slow the spread of the new disease that has so far killed 33 people and infected 501 others in the country.

Aside from arrests made to citizens who allegedly violated rules imposed by the lockdown or referred to by the government as enhanced community quarantine, human rights activists also questioned the 24-hour curfew imposed by some LGUs.

The lady Senator from Bicol also noted that Mr. Duterte's allies have called to respect the "humanity" of Chinese nationals following calls to close territorial borders to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus into the country.

She also reminded the public officials that the lockdown is not similar to a martial law, which can only be enacted through specific conditions stipulated in the present 1987 Constitution.

"Noong nanawagan na isara na ang mga paliparan para hindi kumalat ang virus, lalo sa mga flights mula China, binalewala lang. Ngayong kumalat na, bakit naman mga Pilipino na ang gustong alisan ng karapatang pantao at tratuhing criminal?", she said.

"We are not under siege by a foreign military, or under rebellion. We are in a state of health emergency. Kaya please, huwag tratuhing kriminal ang mamamayan!" she added.



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Senator Leila M. de Lima has commended the joint efforts of local government officials, the health force and volunteers from civil society organizations (CSOs) for coming to the aid of residents affected by coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

De Lima, who chairs the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, also acknowledged some local chief executives who swiftly and creatively responded after Luzon was placed under "enhanced community quarantine."

"Because of the efforts of LGUs from the city, municipal and barangay levels, the community quarantine in several areas, especially within the NCR (National Capital Region), has been relatively successful, no thanks to the national government," she said in his Dispatch from Crame 743.

"Not everything is going well, but step by step and day by day, the LGUs and the private sector joined in a bayanihan spirit are making things work," she added.

The unprecedented pandemic that caused anxieties and uncertainties to millions of Filipino people has put to scrutiny the efforts of the national and local government agencies in responding to the global public health crisis.

The Duterte administration has however continuously received public backlash for its mismanagement and incompetence to prevent the surge of coronavirus infections that so far killed 33 people.

Various LGUs, especially those from Metro Manila, are receiving commendations for their quick and decisive efforts to provide assistance to their constituents despite their own limitations in manpower, resources and funding.

"Salamat sa mga magagaling at masisipag na Mayor na katulad ni Vico Sotto ng Pasig, na pilit namang sinisiraan ng mga trolls ng administrasyon sa social media, unti-unti nating nakikita ang mga solusyon at pamamaraan kung paano natin malalampasan ang pagsubok na ito," De Lima said.

"National government must step up. Tulungan dapat nang todo ang LGUs. Tulungan, hindi takutan. Bayanihan, hindi pabayaan na lang. Kalinga, hindi kasuhan o ikulong na lang," she added.

The lady Senator from Bicol also urged every citizen to make honest and sincere efforts to continue supporting health care workers and frontliners, including volunteers who are risking their own lives and safety for the well-being of other people.

"This petty government has no capacity whatsoever in uniting us and moving us forward away from this crisis. But our local leaders, health force, and community workers can, with our help and solidarity," she said.

Mr. Duterte is asking Congress to grant him emergency powers to contain the further spread of the deadly coronavirus disease that killed 33 people and infected 501 others and grant him authority to sequester vital public utilities and other businesses.

Although there are reportedly 19 patients who have recovered, health authorities have warned that the numbers of those infected will rise as more testing kits have arrived in the country.



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Each year, we observe the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims to seek justice for victims and their families, and to pay tribute to those who risk their lives to protect our rights and civil liberties.

      Early on my term as Senator, I filed Senate Resolution No. 9 calling for an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the spate of extrajudicial killings and summary executions under the Duterte regime. Despite the threats, harassments and intimidations led by no other than the President and his henchmen, I pursued the investigation to find the truth behind the brutal killings and to hold those perpetrators accountable. This has caused me my freedom and the relentless political persecution against me by the current government, being unjustly detained for more than three years now.

      I am also pushing for the passage of the Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) Protection Bill, logged as Senate Bill No. 179, which seeks to guarantee the rights and freedoms of HRDs who bravely stand up against the excesses of the powers-that-be.

      Matibay ang ating paninindigan: Walang pinipiling panahon ang pagkilala at pagrespeto sa karapatang pantao. May krisis man o wala, pundasyon ng tunay na kaayusan at makataong lipunan ang paggalang sa karapatan ng bawat isa at agarang pagkamit ng hustisya para sa mga biktima at kanilang pamilya.

      Tyrants will always be determined to suppress the truth - to conceal their abuses, deceive the people with their propaganda and continue their reign. They stifle press freedom and conspire with those who propagate fake news for their advantage. But they will not succeed. We must remember: all power, no matter how seemingly absolute, is fleeting. What is permanent is truth and justice.

(Sgd.) LEILA M. DE LIMA



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Senator Sonny Angara welcomed the grant of hazard pay and a special risk allowance to public health workers who continuously serve the nation at this critical time, but emphasized that volunteers should also be included.

Administrative Order No. 26, which was issued last Monday, authorizes the grant of hazard pay to government personnel and enumerates the coverage and conditions.

Several hours later, Congress approved the Bayanihan to Heal as One bill, that grants President Duterte additional powers to address the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and provides a package of financial aid to health workers and indigent families.

Angara urged the DOH to clarify if the volunteers will be covered by AO No. 26 and the Bayanihan to Heal as One bill, which is en route to the President for signing.

"As the term 'hazard pay' implies, what they are doing is extremely hazardous to their health. They are the individuals carrying the most risk of being exposed to the coronavirus, but in spite of the dangers, both to their lives and the lives of their families, they are responding to the call for help from the government," Angara said.

"Just because they are volunteers doesn't mean that they should be working for free. Under the current circumstances, there is no dispute that they should be compensated just like everybody else in the health sector," he added.

The Department of Health and its hospitals have been asking for volunteers to help in various tasks including contact tracing.

Under Section 21 of Republic Act 7305 or the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers, a hazard allowance is granted to public health workers who are required to work in areas declared under a state of calamity or emergency, "for the duration thereof."

Based on the implementing rules and regulations of the law, all public health workers are "eligible to receive hazard pay when the nature of their work exposes them to high-risk/low-risk hazards for at least 50 percent of their working hours as determined and approved by the Secretary of Health or his authorized representatives."

The hazard pay will be equivalent to at least 25 percent of the monthly basic salary of those receiving salary grade 19 and below, and five percent for those with salary grades 20 and above.

For public health workers exposed to high-risk hazards, they are entitled to receive a hazard pay not exceeding five percent higher than what is prescribed under the law.

Under AO No. 26, the COVID-19 hazard pay was pegged at P500, multiplied by the number of days physically reporting for work during the quarantine period.

Under the final version of the Bayanihan to Heal as One bill, a special risk allowance will be provided to public health workers, on top of the hazard pay.

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will shoulder the medical expenses of all public and private health workers who are exposed to the COVID-19 virus.

In the event that they contract "severe" COVID-19 in the performance of their duties, the public and private health workers will also receive P100,000 each.

In case of death due to COVID-19, the family of the public or private health worker will receive a P1 million assistance. This will have a retroactive effect.



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On the budget for COVID-19

Q: Ano po ang inaasahan natin ngayon sa special session?

SP Sotto: Inaasahan namin na magiging maliwanag yung mga dapat naming ilagay dito sa bill na pinaguusapan kasi masyadong maraming mga fake news na lumabas at saka maraming hindi lang fake news kungdi mga misinterpretation nung gusto naming mangyari. Simple lang ang bottom line nito. Ang bottom line nito, hindi madali na magpakain. Ang mga LGU, hirap na sa pondo so ang iniisip nga natin, mas mabilis ito imbis na magprepare ka, ibabalot mo, ididistribute mo, pera ang ibigay na natin sa tao. Doon sa mga 18 million families na isang kahig isang tuka, yun ang mga hirap. Yun ang bottom line nito. At saka huwag silang matatakot doon sa emergency power, walang emergency powers doon sa bill, ako ang author eh, ito na yung finile ko. Yung pinaguusapan nilang kopya, draft ng kung sinong abogado. Hindi tama yun, ito ang tama. Walang emergency powers na sinasabi dito. Authority ang sinasabi natin to use the funds available and generally. ang pondong gagamitin, hindi manggagaling sa GAA ng 2020, manggagaling sa mga GOCCs. In other words, off-budget, kaya wala dapat kabahan.

Q: Ito pong mechanics ng distribution ng cash assistance, sino ang sasagot sa katanungan po ninyo diyan para po sa detalyeng ito?

SP Sotto: Yung Department of Finance, DBM, DILG, didiretso sa baba yan to the local government units kasi alam na natin ito, yun din ang kailangan (unclear) ng mga LGUs, by today or tomorrow, kapos na kapos na sila.

Q: Kung baga the details po, bahala na itong DOF para doon sa maayos na pamamahagi ng perang ito at kung paano nila magagasta na hindi sila lumalayo sa mga bahay nila?

SP Sotto: Correct, at saka nilagyan namin ng oversight kaya may oversight ang Congress dito, kaya huwag silang mag-alala, safe na safe ito.

Q: Magkano po ang pinag-uusapan natin?

SP Sotto: Approximately, kasama na ang mga augmentation nila, mga P8,000 per family a month.

Q: Hanggang ilang buwan, ilang araw?

SP Sotto: Dalawang buwan.



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"Ika-anim na araw na simula nang magkaroon ng enhanced community quarantine sa buong Luzon. Sa loob ng panahong ito, nakita natin ang ilang katangi-tanging inisyatiba ng mga local na pamahalaan at kabayanihan ng mga ordinaryong mamamayan. Nakita rin natin ang ilang nakakabahalang mga ulat mula sa ating mga front-liners, lalo na ukol sa kakulangan ng mga gamit na pamproteksyon at ng kapasidad para sa testing.

Matinding kalituhan at kawalan ng kasiguraduhan. Iyan ang bumalot sa buong Luzon nitong mga nakaraang araw.

Kaya't kami ay nababahala na sa harap ng epidemyang ito ay dagdag na kapangyarihang maaring maabuso ang ipinapanukala.

Nananawagan kami na bukod sa magpokus sa pagpapatupad ng quarantine, kailangan ding palakasin ang mga social safety net para masigurong makabawi ang bawat isa at sa kabuuan, ang ekonomiya at pamayanan.

Kailangan nating isipin: Paano ang mga nasa laylayan? Paano natin sila matutulungan? Paano ang mga pamilyang umaasa lamang sa araw--araw na kita? Paano ang mga negosyo?

Tinutulak namin ang ilang payo ng mga eksperto:

1. Sapat na personal protective equipment para sa mga front-liners.

2. Sapat na testing kits para sa lahat ng mga nasa laylayan sa mga komunidad.

3. Sapat na medical equipment gaya ng ventilators at oxygen sa mga ospital.

4. Sapat na hospital bed para sa mga pasyenteng may COVID-19.

5. Bagong hospital wing para sa mga pasyenteng may COVID-19 (Ayon sa mga eksperto, pwedeng gawin ito sa Jose Rodriguez Memorial Hospital o Quezon Institute, kung saan meron pang espasyo.)

6. Dagdag na compensation at access sa mga temporary housing facilities para sa mga front-liners.

7. Sapat na isolation area para sa mga persons under investigation (PUI) at under monitoring (PUM).

8. Social safety net tulad ng unconditional cash transfer at food security para sa lahat.

9. Tulong pinansyal para sa mga arawan ang trabaho at kita.

10. Economic package para sa negosyong naapektuhan ng kalamidad.

Nauna nang nagmungkahi ang Minorya sa Senado tungkol sa supplementary budget, food supply, at logistics. Marami na ring mga eksperto sa ekonomiya ang nagsumite ng kanilang mga mungkahi kung paano mapapagaan ang epekto ng epidemyang ito hindi lamang para sa mga mahihirap at mga ordinaryong mamamayan, kundi pati na rin sa mga micro, small, at medium enterprises at mga may-ari nito.

Umaasa kami na papakinggan ito ng pamahalaan at, sa darating na mga araw, ay makakita ng kungkreto at agarang plano ukol dito.

Nandito kaming mga Senador upang tumulong sa pag-aksyon laban sa COVID-19. Ngunit hindi ibig sabihin nito ay kakalimutan na natin ang trabaho ng isa't isa. Pantay-pantay ang tatlong sangay ng pamahalaan at hindi maaring makakalamang ang isa. Kailangang respetuhin ang kanya-kanyang jurisdiction.

Nababahala kami na ang isinumiteng draft bill na nanghihingi ng emergency powers ay may mga probisyong labag sa Saligang Batas. Sa Section 6 on Penalties, hindi pwedeng gumawa ng penal laws ang ehekutibo. Trabaho ng mga senador at kongresista iyan.

Pokus dapat sa mga kagyat na pangangailangan: Personal protective equipment (PPEs) para sa mga frontline workers at free mass testing para sa lahat nang nangangailangan. Mayroon nang probisyon sa mga kasalukuyang batas ang nagpapahintulot ng mas mabilis na produksyon at procurement ng mga ito.

Palakasin din ang kakayahan ng mga LGU na suportahan ang kanilang mga nasasakupan dahil sila ang mas nakakaalam ng kanilang mga pangangailangan.

Inuulit namin: PPEs, mass testing, at social safety nets.

Nanawagan kaming mas maging bukas sana ang pamahalaan sa mga hinaing ng taong-bayan."



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"Mass testing is a fundamental need to defeat the COVID-19 outbreak."

This was the remark of Senator Risa Hontiveros in her call for more COVID-19 test kits for the public, especially for high-risk Filipinos, such as health workers, frontliners, the elderly, and the immunocompromised.

On Monday, the Senator urged the Department of Health (DOH) to facilitate widespread testing and to upgrade diagnostic capacity across the country as soon as possible.

"The logic is simple: To defeat the outbreak, we need to determine more cases, isolate them, and respond to their treatment and care," the senator said.

The current DOH triage only allows those with severe symptoms to get tested. Hontiveros said mass testing is even more crucial when symptoms are mild, as those with undetectable symptoms remain as carriers of the coronavirus.

Hontiveros echoed her proposal for mass testing in her proposed amendments to Senate Bill No. 1413 that seeks to grant President Rodrigo Duterte emergency powers arising from the coronavirus situation.

"Social distancing and the lockdown are not enough to 'defeat the outbreak," said Hontiveros. "We need to follow the World Health Organization's advise for countries to 'test, test, test,", she added.

Hontiveros seeks expedited medical testing and observation through "upgrading diagnostic capacity and mass testing prioritizing high-risk individuals," her proposed amendment reads.

"Kung matetest ang lahat ng dapat i-test, kahit yung mga mild o walang sintomas pero high-risk, our health authorities will be able to isolate infected individuals and do contact tracing right away," she said.

The Senator also called for increased protections for medical personnel and frontliners 'including but not limited to personal protective equipment and adequate hazard pay.'

"Nagkakasakit na yung mga health workers at mga frontliners natin. Pero kahit sila hindi natetest dahil sa current triage," Hontiveros lamented. "Mass testing will protect our healthworkers, frontliners, those who are at-risk and eventually save more lives," she concluded.



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Ngayong may krisis, mas malawakang testing laban sa COVID-19 at dagdag-pondo para sa pagkain, personal protective equipment (PPE), at health facilities ang agarang kailangan ng publiko, hindi dagdag-kapangyarihan para sa Pangulo.

I fully support the allocation of a supplemental budget to boost the government's efforts to immediately contain the novel coronavirus outbreak. However, the proposed grant of additional powers to the Executive Branch are clearly unnecessary to address the most pressing needs of health workers, COVID-19 patients, and poor Filipinos alike in this critical period.

Our existing laws already grant government the powers and other necessary tools needed to mount an effective response against COVID-19. Notably, the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act or Republic Act No. 11332, of which I am an author, provides comprehensive mechanisms during epidemics or other health emergencies.

Likewise, the Government Procurement Reform Act (RA 9184) at present authorizes government agencies to engage in speedier, alternative methods of procurement of resources - such as negotiated procurement - during calamities. In fact, the Government Procurement Policy Board issued Resolution 03-2020 to approve the efficient and expedient procurement procedures during this state of public health emergency.

What needs to be done is the immediate allocation of a supplemental budget that will allow economic safety nets for the most vulnerable affected by COVID-19 and all other programs the government must undertake to expand the capacity of our healthcare system and complement local government initiatives. I also join the public's call for more and speedier mass testing, with priority to those who are at risk such as our health workers, frontliners and the elderly, and to detect and isolate more asymptomatic cases. Temporary health facilities should also be put up as isolation, treatment and rehabilitation centers as we expect a growing number of infected persons.

Furthermore, I reiterate my call for relief packages that include cash assistance and food subsidies for poor Filipino families whose lives have been severely affected by the enhanced community quarantine. The government must also ensure ample funding to complement our local government units' efforts in providing their constituents' basic necessities.

Maraming doktor at health workers na ang nagkakasakit at may ilan na ring nababalitang namatay bilang mga frontliners. Marami na ring pamilya ang nagugutom dahil nawalan ng pinagkakakitaan. These are urgent problems which cannot be solved by more centralization and more executive powers.

The people need real solutions that present an overall health strategy to contain COVID-19 and protect the public's well-being: more funds to expand our health capacity, more economic safety nets, more testing and care for COVID-19 patients.



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Mr. President,

I wish to manifest my intent to co-sponsor this measure and express a few points in this time of crisis.

Our country is confronted with an invisible enemy that is endangering not only our economy and our society but the very lives of the Filipino people. That enemy is COVID-19.

Now, more than ever, we, as the elected officials, must do everything we can to be of service to the Filipino people.

The Executive and Legislative branches of the government must work together to strengthen our efforts in responding to the COVID-19 situation. We, as legislators, must provide the executive branch the authority and the resources to further enhance our government's capabilities to better address this threat.

And that is what we have before us today. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, I wish to express my support for the urgent passage of the "Bayanihan to Heal as One Act". Isa po ako sa nag-suggest na gamitin ang salitang "Bayanihan", para po magkaisa na tayo. Palihug lang.

This bill aims to empower and give the government the flexibility it needs to address the present health emergency. Further, it seeks to grant authority to the President to do what may be deemed necessary in accordance with the law to fund measures to address and respond to the threats of COVID-19 and the economic impact that comes with it.

This measure also allows for needed realignments in the budget of concerned agencies so they can prioritize the provision of immediate healthcare needs, as well as food and cash assistance to affected Filipinos, particularly those belonging to vulnerable sectors.

Katulad ng sinabi ko noon, hindi pwedeng ipagpaliban ang tulong na dapat natatanggap ng mga nangangailangan. Lalo na sa panahon ng krisis, tuloy dapat ang serbisyo natin sa bawat Pilipino.

As a legislator, allow me also to emphasize to my former colleagues in the Executive Branch: We are passing this measure out of trust and we hope that your conscience will guide you in implementing this measure. Nagtitiwala kami sa inyong kakayahan at katapatan.

In line with granting these resources and the authority and flexibility needed to utilize them as deemed necessary, we want the Executive to make sure that this is done in the most transparent manner and that every centavo should be accounted for.

Sa panahong ito, hindi man natin mababantayan ang bawat kilos ninyo, tanging ang konsensya ninyo na lamang ang tututok sa inyo at makapagsabi na gawin ninyo ng tama ang inyong tungkulin. Nakabantay parati ang inyong konsensya.

Sa ating mga government officials, higit tatlong taon ko po kayo nakatrabaho. Alam ko po ang inyong kapasidad at dedikasyon sa serbisyo. May tiwala ako sa inyo na gagawin ninyo ang lahat ng inyong makakaya para malampasan natin ang pagsubok na ito bilang isang nagkakaisang bansa.

Tulad sa Department of Agriculture, gawin natin ang lahat para masigurong walang magugutom na Pilipino habang nilalabanan natin itong virus na ito. Make sure we have sufficient supply of food. Aanhin natin ang pondo kung kulang naman ang supply?

Sa Department of Trade and Industry, please ensure the unhampered movement of basic goods and necessities. Bantayan ninyo ang supply, ang presyo, at itigil ninyo ang lahat ng nagsasamantala sa panahong ito.

Para naman sa Department of Social Welfare and Development, Sec. Rolly, at iba pang ahensya na nakatutok sa mga ordinaryong Pilipino, siguruhin natin na makakarating ang tulong sa mga mahihirap at sa mga taong pinaka-anangangailangan.

Siguraduhin natin na nararamdaman ang tulong ng gobyerno ng mga taong pinaka-apektado sa krisis na ito - ang mga taong walang maaasahang iba, mga walang trabaho, at 'yung mga walang savings. Tutukan natin ang mga vulnerable groups tulad ng senior citizens, persons with disabilities, at indigent indigenous peoples.

Alalayan rin natin ang mga informal economy workers - mga vendors, Public Utility Vehicle drivers tulad ng mga namamasadang taxi drivers, tricycle, bus, jeep at iba pa. Pati na rin po ang mga Trisikad, Pedikab, Habal-habal at mga nagtatrabaho sa Transportation Network Vehicle Services o TNVS katulad ng Grab, Angkas, Joyride. Lalong lalo na po ang mga kababayan natin na "isang kahig, isang tuka" - mga daily wage earners na kinakailangang tumigil sa pagtatrabaho para maging ligtas mula sa pagkalat ng sakit na ito.

Responsibilidad natin na alagaan ang ating mga kababayan natin na pinilit nating hindi lumabas ng kanilang mga bahay. Nag-impose tayo ng strict measures para maprotektahan ang kalusugan nila pero hindi dapat doon nagtatapos ang responsibilidad natin sa pag-aalaga sa kanila.

We want everyone to "Stay home". But for that to happen, we have to make sure that we are able to sufficiently provide them with the necessary means to take care of their families and ensure the security they need in order to remain in their homes.

Tulad nga ng sinabi ng ating Senate President - Cash is Food. Food is security. Security is Peace and order.

Ito ang prayoridad na dapat maibigay kapag inimplementa ang batas na ito - provide immediate healthcare needs to solve the health problem and defeat the virus and, at the same time, to provide cash and food assistance to those who are affected the most in this crisis.

As to the public, the authority to be given to the President must be for a limited period only, subject to restrictions, and solely to be exercised within what is deemed necessary to put an end to this crisis and to support those who are affected by it.

The Constitution and all other laws that protect the rights of the people will remain in full force and effect.

Mr. President, gamitin po natin ang pondong meron tayo para mabigyan ng proteksyon at alaga ang ating mga health workers, doctors, nurses at iba pang frontliners tulad ng pulis at military. Gamitin natin ang pondo para sa PPEs, hazard pay, at pagkain para sa kanila. Our frontliners chose to work and serve their country. This is the least we could do to help them.

Maraming salamat po sa inyong serbisyo. We commend all our frontliners - health workers, doctors and nurses, who have sacrificed their lives to save their fellow Filipinos. Kayo ang mga bayani sa giyera na ito.

To the police and military, I commend you for your patience and hard work; and for always being ready to protect and serve our people. We are facing trying times, so please exercise maximum tolerance.

And, of course, sa mga LGUs, governors, vice governors, mayors, vice mayors, barangay officials na nag-aasikaso sa kanilang mga constituents.

I would also like to take this opportunity to address our Overseas Filipino Workers: The Philippines is your home and you will always be welcome and taken care of here. Ang stand po ng ating Pangulo ay tanggapin niya ang mga Pilipino na gustong umuwi dahil kung pati sa sariling bansa nila ay ayaw sila tanggapin, saan pa sila pupunta?

Maglalaan po tayo ng pondo para mailigtas kayo kung asan man kayong parte ng mundo kung nais ninyong umuwi. Sisiguraduhin rin natin na may pasilidad dito sa bansa na komportable na pwede kayong tumuloy pag-uwi ninyo habang naka-quarantine o habang hindi kayo makauwi sa inyong probinsiya dahil sa lockdown. Para ito sa inyong kaligtasan at kaligtasan ng ibang mga Pilipino dito sa ating bansa.

To my fellow servants in the government, particularly those in local government units and those leading our barangays, this is the time to set aside politics. Let us be accountable to, and united for our people. Unahin natin ang buhay at kapakanan ng bawat Pilipino.

To reiterate the points that I have raised here today: (1) Siguraduhin natin na magamit ang pera ng bayan ng tama. (2) Siguraduhin natin na makarating ang tulong sa pinaka-nangangailangan at pinaka-mahihirap nating mga kababayan. (3) Siguraduhin natin na walang pinipiling oras ang ating pagtulong at pagserbisyo sa bayan.

I appeal to my fellow Filipinos: magtiwala po kayo sa inyong gobyerno. Sumunod po tayo sa mga patakaran ng Inter-Agency Task Force (for Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases). Wala po kaming ibang hangarin kung hindi ang kapakanan ninyo at kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino.

To quote President Duterte: "We are now in the fight of our lives." Kung hindi tayo magkakaisa at kung hindi natin tutulungan ang ating gobyerno, siguradong matatalo tayo ng COVID-19.

Nakita naman natin sa ibang bansa na mas mayaman at mas moderno kesa sa Pilipinas, pati sila tinamaan pa rin. Wala pong pinipili ang sakit na ito. Kaya napaka-importante ng kooperasyon ng bawat isa sa atin.

Like the title of this measure, which is the "Bayanihan to Heal as One Act" dito natin makikita ang tatag at lakas ng Pilipino. Kapag nagkaisa at nagbayanihan tayo para sa ikabubuti ng ating bayan, we can overcome this and we can heal as one.

Gaya nga ng sinabi ni Mang Reynaldo Alcala...

(Plays video of Mang Reynaldo [taxi driver])

Sabi nga niya: Mahirap maging mahirap. Kaya huwag na natin sila mas pahirapan pa.

Thank you, Mr. President.



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A pandemic worse as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis. This is how Senator Win Gatchalian described the persistent spread of disinformation over the Philippines' cyberspace amid a public health emergency.

According to Gatchalian, both the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) should expedite their investigation to track down, sue, and lock up fake newsmongers over the internet who sow panic and confusion in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. Gatchalian said that putting fake news peddlers behind bars would send a message that those who spread disinformation will not get away it.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has already warned the public that fake news peddlers could be charged for violating Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. The law provides for an imprisonment of six to 12 years to those found guilty. A Cebu-based optometrist, for instance, who allegedly spread a false report on COVID-19 was sued for violating Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Section 6 and Section 4 (c) 4 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

Another fake news story that recently went viral is an alleged statement from the United States (US) State Department, which warns of potential looting incidents in Luzon during the month-long lockdown period. The US embassy has since debunked the alleged statement as a hoax, reminding the public that the embassy only releases information through its official social media accounts, website, and distribution to local journalists.

"Imbes na makatulong sa pagbabahagi ng sapat at tamang impormasyon ngayong nasa gitna tayo ng krisis, nagiging sanhi pa ng kalituhan at kaguluhan ang mga nagpapakalat ng maling balita. Hangga't wala tayong naipapakulong sa mga nagpapakalat ng mga kasinungalingang ito, patuloy ang mga taong ito sa kanilang paghahasik ng takot at kalituhan sa publiko," said Gatchalian.

Gatchalian added that different scams, including bogus donation drives, could be thriving now that Luzon is in a lockdown. According to him, authorities should also launch a crackdown on individuals or groups behind these activities.

Meanwhile, Gatchalian cautioned the public to be vigilant about the information they receive and share through their different communication platforms. He reminded the public to get information only from official government channels, websites and social media pages of established media institutions and other legit organizations. The lawmaker concluded that the public can do their part by proactively reporting dubious reports to authorities.



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I have this to say to officials who claim that human rights and writ of habeas corpus can now be dispensed with due to health emergency: Respect human rights! Maging ang WHO iyan ang paalala. Please lang, hindi ito panahon para lalong sikilin ang mamamayan.

Noong nanawagan na isara na ang mga paliparan para hindi kumalat ang virus, lalo sa mga flights mula China, binalewala lang. Ngayong kumalat na, bakit naman mga Pilipino na ang gustong alisan ng karapatang pantao at tratuhing kriminal.

Ang kalaban ay virus, hindi mga Pilipino. Bakit sila aarestuhin na parang kriminal dahil sa curfew? Kung nahuli, pauwiin na lang, balaan at paliwanagan maigi. Kung ikukulong, 'di lalong nagkahawa-hawa sa kulungan.

We are not under siege by a foreign military, or under rebellion. We are in a state of health emergency. Kaya please, huwag tratuhing kriminal ang mamamayan!



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      I read last night the draft bill, or the proposed Bayanihan Act of 2020, entitled "AN ACT TO DECLARE THE EXISTENCE OF A NATIONAL EMERGENCY ARISING FROM THE CORONAVIRUS 2019 (COVID-19) SITUATION, A UNIFIED NATIONAL POLICY IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, AND TO AUTHORIZE THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES FOR A LIMITED PERIOD AND SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS TO EXERCISE POWERS NECESSARY AND PROPER TO CARRY OUT THE DECLARED NATIONAL POLICY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES" as proposed by the Executive Department for enactment by Congress.

    As of the release of this Statement, both the House of Representatives and Senate are holding separate special sessions. On the assumption that what is being tackled is the aforesaid bill, here are my comments:

______________________________________________________________________________________

The proposed bill granting extraordinary powers to the President to deal with the COVID-19 crisis is unconstitutional, unnecessary, and ultimately, dangerous.

Unconstitutional

The Constitution, Art. VI, Sec. 25 (5) states that "No law shall be passed authorizing any transfer of appropriations; however, the President, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the heads of Constitutional Commissions may, by law, be authorized to augment any item in the general appropriations law for their respective offices from savings in other items of their respective appropriations."

This provision of the Constitution has been greatly elaborated upon in the two decisions of Araullo v. Aquino (GR 209287; July 1, 2014 and Feb. 3, 2015). Any re-alignment of the budget in the GAA once enacted can only be accomplished in accordance with Araullo.

Emergency powers cannot include unconstitutional powers. The fact that powers are emergency in nature does not mean that they can be crafted in violation of the Constitution. Quite the contrary, emergency powers are and will always be limited by the Constitution.

Congress cannot grant the President powers that it is not allowed to grant under the Constitution. In this case, the Constitution prohibits Congress from passing a law authorizing the transfer of appropriations. As such, Congress cannot enact Sec. 4 (16) of the proposed Bayanihan Act because it authorizes blanket transfer of appropriations by the President outside of that allowed under the Constitution and by the Supreme Court in Araullo.

The solution therefore is to enact a special appropriation law (SAL) or supplemental budget to the GAA of 2020. This SAL will have to itemize new appropriations for the COVID-19 emergency while repealing appropriations in the 2020 GAA. Although this has the effect of re-alignment, this is not re-alignment because these are new itemized appropriations provided for in a new law, funded by revenue taken from repealed appropriations in the 2020 GAA. What the Constitution prohibits is the re-alignment of funds already provided for in an appropriation law. In order to modify the old appropriations law to add new appropriations, or to re-align appropriations, there always has to be a law, a specific law, not a blanket authority, regardless of the existence or non-existence of a state of national emergency.

Congress cannot simply surrender this power of the legislature to enact appropriation laws and to re-align appropriations to the President without destroying the Republican system of separation of powers and checks and balances.

Unnecessary

Several supposed grants of power in the proposed measure are already available to the President under the present laws. For example, GPPB Circular No. 04-2016 issued by then DBM Sec. Ben Diokno already allows government agencies to do Negotiated Procurement during Emergency Cases. Section 3.2 of the same states that Negotiated Procurement under Emergency Cases modality may be resorted to in the following instances:

a. in case of imminent danger to life or property during a state of calamity; b. when time is of the essence arising from natural or man-made calamities; or c. other causes where immediate action is necessary to prevent damage to or loss of life or property, or to restore vital public services, infrastructure facilities and other public utilities.

The President already has broad powers to implement community quarantine, regulate traffic of goods, enforce laws against hoarding and profiteering, and conduct mass-testing and other public health programs.

The President also is given sufficient supervisory power under the Constitution to ensure that the LGU officials perform their duties in accordance with law.

Finally, even without a supplemental budget, the President already has access to emergency funds under the present GAA. By way of examples, there is still 12 billion remaining balance in the Presidential Contingency Fund, 2.16 billion NDDRM Fund (former Calamity Fund), 600 million DOH Quick Response Fund, 9.5 billion DOLE fund for vulnerable workers, and 1.250 billion DSWD Quick Response fund.

It can be argued that even without any new legislation, the President can already take concrete steps in our fight against COVID-19 if he chooses to. To date, the President and his team have yet to express any statutory obstacle that requires immediate Congressional action.

Dangerous

The proposed Bayanihan Act grants the President power to temporarily take over or direct the operation of any privately-owned public utility or business affected with public interest to be used in addressing the needs of the public during the COVID-19 emergency as determined by the President, including but not limited to, hospitals and medical and health facilities, hotels and other similar establishments to house health workers, serve as quarantine areas, quarantine centers, medical relief and aid distribution locations or other temporary medical facilities; public transportation to ferry health, emergency, and frontline personnel and other persons; and telecommunications entities to facilitate uninterrupted communication channels between the government and the public;

What we need to emphasize here is that the private sector has been nothing but cooperative in our ongoing crisis. In fact, it can be argued that they have accomplished more towards fighting COVID-19 than our government. They should be the one taking over government operations and not the other way around. The leaders of the industry, many of whom has endured countless badgering from our President, have stepped up and introduced concrete plans of action to minimize the effect of COVID-19 on our people. There is no reason to doubt their commitment and cooperation during these times of crisis.

I have serious doubts as to the capacity of our present government to take-over and operate private establishments. In taking over their operations, we will not only lose allies against COVID-19, we will also incur serious losses in our economy, now and in the future.

To grant the President the power to take over these institutions sends the wrong message. It tells them that they are not our partners in our fight against COVID-19 and that they are merely tools to be used by the government whenever it feels like it. And this power, in spite of any assurance from Malacañang, will hang over them like the Sword of Damocles and disincentivize any effort on the part of the private sector.

Social Safety Nets

There is also a clear absence of mention of any social safety nets in the proposed Bayanihan bill. It has always been about our people. Everything we do redounds to our people's welfare. To simply ignore the fact that our people needs assurance that our government will take care of them during the COVID-19 crisis is to invite widespread social anxiety.

We are already in the brink of social unrest. The more our government appears indifferent to the plight of our people, the more our people will become vulnerable to desperate and possibly criminal thoughts. We do not have enough police to fight off criminality borne of hopelessness caused by our government's failure to show our people that we care for, and are ultimately working towards, their welfare.

Conclusion

The LGUs, the private sector, and our people, are our partners. We need but ask and they will come running to our side. Our people, especially the poor, just needs some assurance that they will be taken care of at a time when they do not have any means to support themselves. Our partners should not be made to appear as uncooperative in the eyes of our policymakers. To threaten them with sanctions and heavy-handed government action in the face of this crisis will not operate to inspire them to do their part. If we enact this emergency power bill, we are, in effect, telling our people that they are all burdens, if not criminals, that require government subjugation.

I am against this measure.



*WORK from HOME and START YOUR OWN blog site, business or personal website, or e-commerce store at www.hostwinds.com

      I read last night the draft bill, or the proposed Bayanihan Act of 2020, entitled "AN ACT TO DECLARE THE EXISTENCE OF A NATIONAL EMERGENCY ARISING FROM THE CORONAVIRUS 2019 (COVID-19) SITUATION, A UNIFIED NATIONAL POLICY IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, AND TO AUTHORIZE THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES FOR A LIMITED PERIOD AND SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS TO EXERCISE POWERS NECESSARY AND PROPER TO CARRY OUT THE DECLARED NATIONAL POLICY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES" as proposed by the Executive Department for enactment by Congress.

    As of the release of this Statement, both the House of Representatives and Senate are holding separate special sessions. On the assumption that what is being tackled is the aforesaid bill, here are my comments:

______________________________________________________________________________________

The proposed bill granting extraordinary powers to the President to deal with the COVID-19 crisis is unconstitutional, unnecessary, and ultimately, dangerous.

Unconstitutional

The Constitution, Art. VI, Sec. 25 (5) states that "No law shall be passed authorizing any transfer of appropriations; however, the President, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the heads of Constitutional Commissions may, by law, be authorized to augment any item in the general appropriations law for their respective offices from savings in other items of their respective appropriations."

This provision of the Constitution has been greatly elaborated upon in the two decisions of Araullo v. Aquino (GR 209287; July 1, 2014 and Feb. 3, 2015). Any re-alignment of the budget in the GAA once enacted can only be accomplished in accordance with Araullo.

Emergency powers cannot include unconstitutional powers. The fact that powers are emergency in nature does not mean that they can be crafted in violation of the Constitution. Quite the contrary, emergency powers are and will always be limited by the Constitution.

Congress cannot grant the President powers that it is not allowed to grant under the Constitution. In this case, the Constitution prohibits Congress from passing a law authorizing the transfer of appropriations. As such, Congress cannot enact Sec. 4 (16) of the proposed Bayanihan Act because it authorizes blanket transfer of appropriations by the President outside of that allowed under the Constitution and by the Supreme Court in Araullo.

The solution therefore is to enact a special appropriation law (SAL) or supplemental budget to the GAA of 2020. This SAL will have to itemize new appropriations for the COVID-19 emergency while repealing appropriations in the 2020 GAA. Although this has the effect of re-alignment, this is not re-alignment because these are new itemized appropriations provided for in a new law, funded by revenue taken from repealed appropriations in the 2020 GAA. What the Constitution prohibits is the re-alignment of funds already provided for in an appropriation law. In order to modify the old appropriations law to add new appropriations, or to re-align appropriations, there always has to be a law, a specific law, not a blanket authority, regardless of the existence or non-existence of a state of national emergency.

Congress cannot simply surrender this power of the legislature to enact appropriation laws and to re-align appropriations to the President without destroying the Republican system of separation of powers and checks and balances.

Unnecessary

Several supposed grants of power in the proposed measure are already available to the President under the present laws. For example, GPPB Circular No. 04-2016 issued by then DBM Sec. Ben Diokno already allows government agencies to do Negotiated Procurement during Emergency Cases. Section 3.2 of the same states that Negotiated Procurement under Emergency Cases modality may be resorted to in the following instances:

a. in case of imminent danger to life or property during a state of calamity; b. when time is of the essence arising from natural or man-made calamities; or c. other causes where immediate action is necessary to prevent damage to or loss of life or property, or to restore vital public services, infrastructure facilities and other public utilities.

The President already has broad powers to implement community quarantine, regulate traffic of goods, enforce laws against hoarding and profiteering, and conduct mass-testing and other public health programs.

The President also is given sufficient supervisory power under the Constitution to ensure that the LGU officials perform their duties in accordance with law.

Finally, even without a supplemental budget, the President already has access to emergency funds under the present GAA. By way of examples, there is still 12 billion remaining balance in the Presidential Contingency Fund, 2.16 billion NDDRM Fund (former Calamity Fund), 600 million DOH Quick Response Fund, 9.5 billion DOLE fund for vulnerable workers, and 1.250 billion DSWD Quick Response fund.

It can be argued that even without any new legislation, the President can already take concrete steps in our fight against COVID-19 if he chooses to. To date, the President and his team have yet to express any statutory obstacle that requires immediate Congressional action.

Dangerous

The proposed Bayanihan Act grants the President power to temporarily take over or direct the operation of any privately-owned public utility or business affected with public interest to be used in addressing the needs of the public during the COVID-19 emergency as determined by the President, including but not limited to, hospitals and medical and health facilities, hotels and other similar establishments to house health workers, serve as quarantine areas, quarantine centers, medical relief and aid distribution locations or other temporary medical facilities; public transportation to ferry health, emergency, and frontline personnel and other persons; and telecommunications entities to facilitate uninterrupted communication channels between the government and the public;

What we need to emphasize here is that the private sector has been nothing but cooperative in our ongoing crisis. In fact, it can be argued that they have accomplished more towards fighting COVID-19 than our government. They should be the one taking over government operations and not the other way around. The leaders of the industry, many of whom has endured countless badgering from our President, have stepped up and introduced concrete plans of action to minimize the effect of COVID-19 on our people. There is no reason to doubt their commitment and cooperation during these times of crisis.

I have serious doubts as to the capacity of our present government to take-over and operate private establishments. In taking over their operations, we will not only lose allies against COVID-19, we will also incur serious losses in our economy, now and in the future.

To grant the President the power to take over these institutions sends the wrong message. It tells them that they are not our partners in our fight against COVID-19 and that they are merely tools to be used by the government whenever it feels like it. And this power, in spite of any assurance from Malacañang, will hang over them like the Sword of Damocles and disincentivize any effort on the part of the private sector.

Social Safety Nets

There is also a clear absence of mention of any social safety nets in the proposed Bayanihan bill. It has always been about our people. Everything we do redounds to our people's welfare. To simply ignore the fact that our people needs assurance that our government will take care of them during the COVID-19 crisis is to invite widespread social anxiety.

We are already in the brink of social unrest. The more our government appears indifferent to the plight of our people, the more our people will become vulnerable to desperate and possibly criminal thoughts. We do not have enough police to fight off criminality borne of hopelessness caused by our government's failure to show our people that we care for, and are ultimately working towards, their welfare.

Conclusion

The LGUs, the private sector, and our people, are our partners. We need but ask and they will come running to our side. Our people, especially the poor, just needs some assurance that they will be taken care of at a time when they do not have any means to support themselves. Our partners should not be made to appear as uncooperative in the eyes of our policymakers. To threaten them with sanctions and heavy-handed government action in the face of this crisis will not operate to inspire them to do their part. If we enact this emergency power bill, we are, in effect, telling our people that they are all burdens, if not criminals, that require government subjugation.

I am against this measure.



*WORK from HOME and START YOUR OWN blog site, business or personal website, or e-commerce store at www.hostwinds.com

Thank you, Mr. President.

Una sa lahat, sa ngalan ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Durterte, gusto kong iparating ang taos-pusong pasasalamat, kasama ng aking mga kasamahan sa Senado, sa lahat ng ating mga kababayan na nagkaisang sumunod sa mga pahayag ng ating Pangulo hinggil sa Enhanced Community Quarantine at nanatili sa kanilang mga bahay upang hindi na lalong kumalat pa sa ating bansa ang Coronavirus. Nagpapasalamat din po kami sa lahat ng ating mga health workers at frontliners na walang tigil na naglilingkod sa bayan, mapaaraw man o gabi.

Ang panukalang batas na ito ay para sa ikabubuti ng ating bansa - para mabigyan ang gobyerno ng sapat na awtoridad na maglaan ng pondo ng bayan para tugunan ang mga pagsubok na dala ng COVID-19.

Saan kukunin ang pondo? Yan ang magandang balita ko sa inyong lahat. May pera po tayo. Huwag po kayong mangamba, naging responsable ang ating gobyerno sa pamamahala ng ating pera.

Kung ihahambing ko ang kalagayan ng ating gobyeno sa isang pamilya, sa isang mabahay, ganito po iyon: Ang pamilya natin ay naging responsable nitong nakaraang mga taon, mayroong sapat na ipon, at nagplano nang maigi para sa ating mga gastusin. Kung kailangan mang umutang sa tindahan, walang problema. Tayo po ay pahihiramin dahil nakakabayad tayo nang maayos.

Kaya huwag po kayong mabahala. Ang kailangan nalang ay ipasa ang batas na ito para bigyan ang administrasyon ng awtoridad lipunin ang pera sa iba't ibang departamento at ibigay sa mga taong nangangailangan at sa mga programang nararapat.

And this is where I go into the details of what needs to be done:

We must be able to secure the welfare of the 24.6 million Filipino families, particularly the 18 million families who are poor or from the informal sector. Our immediate goal is to provide each of these 18 million with 5,000 to 8,000 pesos a month for the next two months. This will provide for their food and other daily needs, and will increase the chances that they will stay home and keep themselves safe and other Filipinos safe.

Our enhanced community quarantine in Luzon is designed precisely, and if done properly, to slow the spread of the transmissions, to save lives, and allow us to expand our health system to test and treat our people. This enhanced community quarantine is coupled with numerous measures, which need to be carried out at all levels of government, by the private sector, and civil society. These are urgent and extraordinary actions because this virus spreads fast. We need to slow it down and eventually halt it for good.

However, these necessary actions do not come without economic cost. The island group of Luzon accounts for 72 percent of our gross domestic product or GDP. Without additional intervention, our positive GDP growth rate may reverse to negative 0.6 percent. If we are able to beat this virus in three months and redouble our efforts to recover our growth trajectory in the second half of the year, the economy can still grow by up to 4.6/4.3 percent,according to NEDA.

Para sa milyon-milyong pamilyang Pilipino, nakasalalay sa mga numerong ito kung kanilang malalagpasan o hindi ang krisis at sakripisyo na kanilang dinaranas ngayon.

We must prepare for challenging times. Given the likely contraction in GDP growth, this year's budget deficit will surely exceed the 3.6 percent threshold that our economic managers estimated before the enhanced community quarantine was put in place. It is crucial, however, for the government to keep fighting COVID-19 and to keep investing in our infrastructure program and our people so that economic sectors are jumpstarted and jobs are created as quickly as possible once the outbreak is behind us.

HINDI TAYO NAG-IISA. Economies around the world are taking a hit, and governments will spend beyond their means to protect their people from this menace. Where we differ from many are in our strong macroeconomic fundamentals and effective debt management. A large part of this strength comes from the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, which we passed and has allowed us to raise revenues in advance as assurance against these kinds of risks. At dahil nagkaisa tayo para ipasa ang Comprehensive Tax Reform Package, nakalikom tayo ng dagdag na pondo para makatugon sa mga 'di inaasahang banta sa ating bayan, gaya ng pandemic na kinakaharap natin ngayon.

Secretary of Finance Sonny Dominguez recently shared that we are now in talks with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank for concessional financing of up to 2 billion dollars (or around 100 billion pesos). We have also received a grant of 3 million dollars from ADB and a loan of 100 million dollars from the World Bank to fight COVID-19. We will work with other sources to finance the balance. The confidence that the financial sector places in our country signifies that they are confident in our ability to reenergize the economy and pay back what we borrow.

It was a very different fiscal picture back in 1997, during the Asian Financial Crisis, when it was much harder to borrow from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The national government was in a difficult fiscal position, which led to a fiscal crisis in 2003.

In 2009, during the global financial crisis, we tried to gather idle cash from various national government agencies to mobilize a decisive response, but we were prevented by various laws.

The lessons must be learned: we cannot address new challenges with tools designed for old ones. This health emergency is a "black swan," and our current budget does not account for a challenge of this magnitude--one that is having this much impact on our way of life.

We must have the ability to ensure that all 24.6 million families in the Philippines do not fall below the standard needed to survive. The government has done its best within its present means to support low-income families and we clearly need to do much more. Congress has the power to make this happen. Nakasalalay sa ating pagpapasya ang gagawing pagtugon ng pamahalaan para maprotektahan at matulungan ang ating mga mamamayan.

Some 6.6 million families, or about one in four, belong to the formal economy and can avail of their savings and other benefits from their places of work to survive. We ask the private sector to take care of their employees and their contractual staff during this difficult time, and many have responded generously. Hindi ko na sila iisa-isahin. Pero batid natin at ng ating mga mamamayan ang positibong pagtugon ng mga pribadong kumpanya, malaki man, katamtaman, o maliit, para ayudahan ang kanilang mga manggagawa, gayundin ang iba pang mga nahihirapang sektor.

The remaining 18 million families work in the informal economy, or are poor or near-poor. If they do not work, they have no income. "No work, no pay", "isang kahig isang tuka," ika nga. These are excruciatingly difficult times, especially for them, and we must do what we can to help. Hindi natin pababayaan ang ating mga kababayan.

The bill that I sponsor today proposes to raise enough money to support families for two months, so that each of these 18 millionhousehold gets between 5,000 to 8,000 pesos per month from various national government and local government programs, whether in cash or kind. The exact amount is determined in proportion to the minimum wage of their respective region. There is a chart that shows the details:

Region

Daily min wage

Monthly minimum wage (26 days)

Subsidy amount

NCR

537

13,962

8,000

CAR

350

9,100

5,500

1

340

8,840

5,500

2

370

9,620

5,500

3

420

10,920

6,500

4A

400

10,400

6,500

4B

320

8,320

5,000

5

310

8,060

5,000

6

395

10,270

6,000

7

404

10,504

6,000

8

315

8,190

5,000

9

316

8,216

5,000

10

365

9,490

6,000

11

396

10,296

6,000

12

326

8,476

5,000

CARAGA

320

8,320

5,000

ARMM

325

8,450

5,000

Among these 18 million families, 4.4 million households are current beneficiaries of the 4Ps or conditional cash transfer or CCT program. They receive, on average, around 2,150 pesos per month, so we will just top-up their subsidies to reach the proposed 5,000 to 8,000 pesos, depending on their region, so that they can avail of basic food, medicine, and toiletries. Ang dagdag na mga sabsidiyang ito para sa 4.4 milyong pamilya sa ilalim ng CCT ay magkakahalaga ng 15.5 bilyong piso bawat buwan.

The balance of 13.5 million non-CCT households will get 5,000 to 8,000 pesos in total also from various national and local government programs, so that they can avail of basic food, medicines, and toiletries. Ang ayuda naman sa 13.5 milyong mahihirap na pamilyang ito na wala sa CCT ay aabot sa 82 bilyon kada buwan.

The total Emergency Subsidy Program will require a total of 97.4 billion pesos per month, or roughly a little bit less than 200 billion pesos for 2 months for all households working in the informal sector, plus 5.1 billion of administrative cost.

Tulad nga ng aking nabanggit, ang ayudang ito ay maibabahiga sa pamilyang Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng national and local government social programs, both in cash and kind, lalo na para sa mga pangunahing pangangailangan tulad ng pagkain.

The cost is clearly significant but we have the cash available. What we do not have is the flexibility to use the available cash to beat this virus. This bill that I sponsor today will precisely do that.

In consultation with the economic managers, we will keep the 2020 spending program of 4.1 trillion pesos intact, and give the President the power, as needed, to move funds within the General Appropriations Act or GAA from non-essential to essential items that are required for fighting COVID-19.

Moreover, our accounting of the financial situation shows that we have some 175 billion pesos of available cash and its equivalent in various GOCC accounts. We also have some 100 billion pesos in various national government agencies' accounts outside the Treasury Single Account (TSA). The total amount available off-budget is about 275 billion pesos. This can be made available quickly to finance the Emergency Subsidy Program. This scheme will allow us to deliver emergency subsidy to the people without affecting our national government's fiscal position.

These actions can protect our people and ensure their survival.

Looking ahead, the economic team has assured us that they are crafting an economic stimulus plan. The additional public resources that we have identified will, for now, go directly to Filipino families. Wala pong ibang pupuntahan ang ayudang ito kundi direkta sa mga pamilyang pinaka-nangangailangan nito.

To get this done, we in the Senate and our counterparts in the House of Representatives must immediately enact special law to allow the President to move and reallocate funds to where they are most urgently needed and create new budget items for new programs, so that we can deliver emergency aid to our people without delay.

The proposed bill, among others, will accomplish the following:

First, it will authorize the President to reprogram, reallocate, and realign any appropriation in the 2020 GAA as may be necessary and beneficial to fund measures that will respond to the COVID-19 emergency, including social amelioration for affected communities and the recovery and rehabilitation therefrom; and,

Second, allocate cash, funds, and investments held by any government-owned or controlled corporation (GOCC) or any national government agency as necessary to address the COVID-19 crisis.

Under the proposal, any unobligated amount, whether released or unreleased in the budget, shall be considered to have their purpose abandoned or fulfilled, as of the date of the declaration of the State of Emergency. The balance of these funds as of the effectivity of this Act will be appropriated as needed to address and respond to the COVID-19 emergency, including the recovery and rehabilitation therefrom.

Upon passage, the authority granted under this bill shall be effected for 3 months, unless extended by Congress. Bawat linggo, magsusumite ng report ang Pangulo sa Kongreso. Ito'y bahagi ng pagsisiguro sa transparency at pagkilala sa checks-and-balances.

Finally, the President shall be authorized to undertake such other measures as may be reasonable and necessary to enable the government to carry out the mandates of this proposal.

The proposal also carries other measures to ensure that the President can act swiftly to address the needs of our people in times of crisis.

The proposal empowers the President to continue to adopt and implement measures to prevent or minimize further transmission and spread of COVID-19 and to continue testing and observation of persons under monitoring and persons under investigation. We need to sustain these efforts.

In these extraordinary circumstances, where adherence to the national strategy is crucial to contain COVID-19, the proposal also authorizes the President to ensure that local governments adhere to the declared national policy and strategy, while allowing them to continue exercising their autonomy in matters undefined by the National Government.

The President shall also be authorized, when the public interest so requires, to temporarily direct the operations of certain facilities necessary to address the needs of the public during the COVID-19. Ang panukalang ito ay hindi bago o kakaibang konsepto. Atin itong inihahain alinsunod sa Article XII, SECTION 17 ng ating kasalukuyang Konstitusyon.

The President shall have the power to continue to protect the people from hoarding, profiteering, injurious speculation, manipulation of prices, product deceptions, as well as cartels and monopolies. This will ensure that our people are not taken advantage of by unscrupulous individuals under strenuous market conditions. Nakalulungkot at nakakagalit isipin na sa gitna ng pagsasakripisyo ng lahat, ay may mga kababayan pa rin tayo na nakukuhang magsamantala sa kanilang kapwa Pilipino.

As time is of the essence in combating this disease, the President may also procure essential goods and services such as medical supplies, rented venues for quarantine centers, and other services needed by the public healthcare system during the health emergency as exceptions to the Procurement Law.

Other powers include extending credit to productive sectors of the economy, liberalizing the grant of incentives for the manufacture and importation of necessary goods and equipment, requiring businesses to prioritize and accept contracts for goods and services necessary to deal with the health emergency, regulating the operation of public and private transportation, regulating traffic on all roads, authorizing alternative work arrangements for employees in the Executive branch, and if necessary in the private sector, and regulating the use of our energy supply.

The best way to defeat this disease is to be ahead of it, and these powers will allow the President and our public health authorities to act as swiftly as they need to.

Fellow Senators of the Republic, these are extraordinarily trying times. This virus does not differentiate on party, creed, or wealth. It's an impersonal, invisible enemy. Without fear or favor, it infects, and without intervention, it moves very quickly. But I am confident that if we sustain and enhance the measures that we have taken, and if all of us do our part, we will be able to defeat this virus, together.

Health workers are manning the frontlines in this battle, some have sadly lost their lives. As was said in the past, never has so much been owed by so many to so few. We thank them for their selfless and courageous services. To our factory workers, truck drivers, storekeepers, and our peacekeepers, we send our deepest gratitude. To those who keep essential services running, the farmers, the fishermen, maraming salamat po. To the many heroes we see and are able to thank, and to the many other warriors who toil without rest or recognition, our collective efforts will not succeed without your invaluable work. Sa mayorya ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na yung mga nasa informal sector, sa mga tricycle driver, jeepney driver na nawalan ng pasada, sa mga vendors na nawalan ng mga suki, mga manggagawa, sa mga namamasukan sa arawan, batid namin ang lahat ng inyong sakripisyo, at lubos kaming nagpapasalamat sa inyong pag-unawa at pakikiisa sa ating pamahalaan.

Let us in the Senate do our duty to aid them in this time of great need, and may this country come out of this hour of challenge stronger, more compassionate, and more united.

We have the funds necessary to address COVID-19. What we do not have much of is time. By passing this bill, we give the administration the authority to access these funds and move quickly to save more lives. Panawagan ko ang suporta ng bawat isang miyembro ng Kapulungang ito. Let us pass this bill with urgency, Bayanihan to Heal as One.

Thank you very much, Mr. President.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Una sa lahat, sa ngalan ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Durterte, gusto kong iparating ang taos-pusong pasasalamat, kasama ng aking mga kasamahan sa Senado, sa lahat ng ating mga kababayan na nagkaisang sumunod sa mga pahayag ng ating Pangulo hinggil sa Enhanced Community Quarantine at nanatili sa kanilang mga bahay upang hindi na lalong kumalat pa sa ating bansa ang Coronavirus. Nagpapasalamat din po kami sa lahat ng ating mga health workers at frontliners na walang tigil na naglilingkod sa bayan, mapaaraw man o gabi.

Ang panukalang batas na ito ay para sa ikabubuti ng ating bansa - para mabigyan ang gobyerno ng sapat na awtoridad na maglaan ng pondo ng bayan para tugunan ang mga pagsubok na dala ng COVID-19.

Saan kukunin ang pondo? Yan ang magandang balita ko sa inyong lahat. May pera po tayo. Huwag po kayong mangamba, naging responsable ang ating gobyerno sa pamamahala ng ating pera.

Kung ihahambing ko ang kalagayan ng ating gobyeno sa isang pamilya, sa isang mabahay, ganito po iyon: Ang pamilya natin ay naging responsable nitong nakaraang mga taon, mayroong sapat na ipon, at nagplano nang maigi para sa ating mga gastusin. Kung kailangan mang umutang sa tindahan, walang problema. Tayo po ay pahihiramin dahil nakakabayad tayo nang maayos.

Kaya huwag po kayong mabahala. Ang kailangan nalang ay ipasa ang batas na ito para bigyan ang administrasyon ng awtoridad lipunin ang pera sa iba't ibang departamento at ibigay sa mga taong nangangailangan at sa mga programang nararapat.

And this is where I go into the details of what needs to be done:

We must be able to secure the welfare of the 24.6 million Filipino families, particularly the 18 million families who are poor or from the informal sector. Our immediate goal is to provide each of these 18 million with 5,000 to 8,000 pesos a month for the next two months. This will provide for their food and other daily needs, and will increase the chances that they will stay home and keep themselves safe and other Filipinos safe.

Our enhanced community quarantine in Luzon is designed precisely, and if done properly, to slow the spread of the transmissions, to save lives, and allow us to expand our health system to test and treat our people. This enhanced community quarantine is coupled with numerous measures, which need to be carried out at all levels of government, by the private sector, and civil society. These are urgent and extraordinary actions because this virus spreads fast. We need to slow it down and eventually halt it for good.

However, these necessary actions do not come without economic cost. The island group of Luzon accounts for 72 percent of our gross domestic product or GDP. Without additional intervention, our positive GDP growth rate may reverse to negative 0.6 percent. If we are able to beat this virus in three months and redouble our efforts to recover our growth trajectory in the second half of the year, the economy can still grow by up to 4.6/4.3 percent,according to NEDA.

Para sa milyon-milyong pamilyang Pilipino, nakasalalay sa mga numerong ito kung kanilang malalagpasan o hindi ang krisis at sakripisyo na kanilang dinaranas ngayon.

We must prepare for challenging times. Given the likely contraction in GDP growth, this year's budget deficit will surely exceed the 3.6 percent threshold that our economic managers estimated before the enhanced community quarantine was put in place. It is crucial, however, for the government to keep fighting COVID-19 and to keep investing in our infrastructure program and our people so that economic sectors are jumpstarted and jobs are created as quickly as possible once the outbreak is behind us.

HINDI TAYO NAG-IISA. Economies around the world are taking a hit, and governments will spend beyond their means to protect their people from this menace. Where we differ from many are in our strong macroeconomic fundamentals and effective debt management. A large part of this strength comes from the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, which we passed and has allowed us to raise revenues in advance as assurance against these kinds of risks. At dahil nagkaisa tayo para ipasa ang Comprehensive Tax Reform Package, nakalikom tayo ng dagdag na pondo para makatugon sa mga 'di inaasahang banta sa ating bayan, gaya ng pandemic na kinakaharap natin ngayon.

Secretary of Finance Sonny Dominguez recently shared that we are now in talks with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank for concessional financing of up to 2 billion dollars (or around 100 billion pesos). We have also received a grant of 3 million dollars from ADB and a loan of 100 million dollars from the World Bank to fight COVID-19. We will work with other sources to finance the balance. The confidence that the financial sector places in our country signifies that they are confident in our ability to reenergize the economy and pay back what we borrow.

It was a very different fiscal picture back in 1997, during the Asian Financial Crisis, when it was much harder to borrow from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The national government was in a difficult fiscal position, which led to a fiscal crisis in 2003.

In 2009, during the global financial crisis, we tried to gather idle cash from various national government agencies to mobilize a decisive response, but we were prevented by various laws.

The lessons must be learned: we cannot address new challenges with tools designed for old ones. This health emergency is a "black swan," and our current budget does not account for a challenge of this magnitude--one that is having this much impact on our way of life.

We must have the ability to ensure that all 24.6 million families in the Philippines do not fall below the standard needed to survive. The government has done its best within its present means to support low-income families and we clearly need to do much more. Congress has the power to make this happen. Nakasalalay sa ating pagpapasya ang gagawing pagtugon ng pamahalaan para maprotektahan at matulungan ang ating mga mamamayan.

Some 6.6 million families, or about one in four, belong to the formal economy and can avail of their savings and other benefits from their places of work to survive. We ask the private sector to take care of their employees and their contractual staff during this difficult time, and many have responded generously. Hindi ko na sila iisa-isahin. Pero batid natin at ng ating mga mamamayan ang positibong pagtugon ng mga pribadong kumpanya, malaki man, katamtaman, o maliit, para ayudahan ang kanilang mga manggagawa, gayundin ang iba pang mga nahihirapang sektor.

The remaining 18 million families work in the informal economy, or are poor or near-poor. If they do not work, they have no income. "No work, no pay", "isang kahig isang tuka," ika nga. These are excruciatingly difficult times, especially for them, and we must do what we can to help. Hindi natin pababayaan ang ating mga kababayan.

The bill that I sponsor today proposes to raise enough money to support families for two months, so that each of these 18 millionhousehold gets between 5,000 to 8,000 pesos per month from various national government and local government programs, whether in cash or kind. The exact amount is determined in proportion to the minimum wage of their respective region. There is a chart that shows the details:

Region

Daily min wage

Monthly minimum wage (26 days)

Subsidy amount

NCR

537

13,962

8,000

CAR

350

9,100

5,500

1

340

8,840

5,500

2

370

9,620

5,500

3

420

10,920

6,500

4A

400

10,400

6,500

4B

320

8,320

5,000

5

310

8,060

5,000

6

395

10,270

6,000

7

404

10,504

6,000

8

315

8,190

5,000

9

316

8,216

5,000

10

365

9,490

6,000

11

396

10,296

6,000

12

326

8,476

5,000

CARAGA

320

8,320

5,000

ARMM

325

8,450

5,000

Among these 18 million families, 4.4 million households are current beneficiaries of the 4Ps or conditional cash transfer or CCT program. They receive, on average, around 2,150 pesos per month, so we will just top-up their subsidies to reach the proposed 5,000 to 8,000 pesos, depending on their region, so that they can avail of basic food, medicine, and toiletries. Ang dagdag na mga sabsidiyang ito para sa 4.4 milyong pamilya sa ilalim ng CCT ay magkakahalaga ng 15.5 bilyong piso bawat buwan.

The balance of 13.5 million non-CCT households will get 5,000 to 8,000 pesos in total also from various national and local government programs, so that they can avail of basic food, medicines, and toiletries. Ang ayuda naman sa 13.5 milyong mahihirap na pamilyang ito na wala sa CCT ay aabot sa 82 bilyon kada buwan.

The total Emergency Subsidy Program will require a total of 97.4 billion pesos per month, or roughly a little bit less than 200 billion pesos for 2 months for all households working in the informal sector, plus 5.1 billion of administrative cost.

Tulad nga ng aking nabanggit, ang ayudang ito ay maibabahiga sa pamilyang Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng national and local government social programs, both in cash and kind, lalo na para sa mga pangunahing pangangailangan tulad ng pagkain.

The cost is clearly significant but we have the cash available. What we do not have is the flexibility to use the available cash to beat this virus. This bill that I sponsor today will precisely do that.

In consultation with the economic managers, we will keep the 2020 spending program of 4.1 trillion pesos intact, and give the President the power, as needed, to move funds within the General Appropriations Act or GAA from non-essential to essential items that are required for fighting COVID-19.

Moreover, our accounting of the financial situation shows that we have some 175 billion pesos of available cash and its equivalent in various GOCC accounts. We also have some 100 billion pesos in various national government agencies' accounts outside the Treasury Single Account (TSA). The total amount available off-budget is about 275 billion pesos. This can be made available quickly to finance the Emergency Subsidy Program. This scheme will allow us to deliver emergency subsidy to the people without affecting our national government's fiscal position.

These actions can protect our people and ensure their survival.

Looking ahead, the economic team has assured us that they are crafting an economic stimulus plan. The additional public resources that we have identified will, for now, go directly to Filipino families. Wala pong ibang pupuntahan ang ayudang ito kundi direkta sa mga pamilyang pinaka-nangangailangan nito.

To get this done, we in the Senate and our counterparts in the House of Representatives must immediately enact special law to allow the President to move and reallocate funds to where they are most urgently needed and create new budget items for new programs, so that we can deliver emergency aid to our people without delay.

The proposed bill, among others, will accomplish the following:

First, it will authorize the President to reprogram, reallocate, and realign any appropriation in the 2020 GAA as may be necessary and beneficial to fund measures that will respond to the COVID-19 emergency, including social amelioration for affected communities and the recovery and rehabilitation therefrom; and,

Second, allocate cash, funds, and investments held by any government-owned or controlled corporation (GOCC) or any national government agency as necessary to address the COVID-19 crisis.

Under the proposal, any unobligated amount, whether released or unreleased in the budget, shall be considered to have their purpose abandoned or fulfilled, as of the date of the declaration of the State of Emergency. The balance of these funds as of the effectivity of this Act will be appropriated as needed to address and respond to the COVID-19 emergency, including the recovery and rehabilitation therefrom.

Upon passage, the authority granted under this bill shall be effected for 3 months, unless extended by Congress. Bawat linggo, magsusumite ng report ang Pangulo sa Kongreso. Ito'y bahagi ng pagsisiguro sa transparency at pagkilala sa checks-and-balances.

Finally, the President shall be authorized to undertake such other measures as may be reasonable and necessary to enable the government to carry out the mandates of this proposal.

The proposal also carries other measures to ensure that the President can act swiftly to address the needs of our people in times of crisis.

The proposal empowers the President to continue to adopt and implement measures to prevent or minimize further transmission and spread of COVID-19 and to continue testing and observation of persons under monitoring and persons under investigation. We need to sustain these efforts.

In these extraordinary circumstances, where adherence to the national strategy is crucial to contain COVID-19, the proposal also authorizes the President to ensure that local governments adhere to the declared national policy and strategy, while allowing them to continue exercising their autonomy in matters undefined by the National Government.

The President shall also be authorized, when the public interest so requires, to temporarily direct the operations of certain facilities necessary to address the needs of the public during the COVID-19. Ang panukalang ito ay hindi bago o kakaibang konsepto. Atin itong inihahain alinsunod sa Article XII, SECTION 17 ng ating kasalukuyang Konstitusyon.

The President shall have the power to continue to protect the people from hoarding, profiteering, injurious speculation, manipulation of prices, product deceptions, as well as cartels and monopolies. This will ensure that our people are not taken advantage of by unscrupulous individuals under strenuous market conditions. Nakalulungkot at nakakagalit isipin na sa gitna ng pagsasakripisyo ng lahat, ay may mga kababayan pa rin tayo na nakukuhang magsamantala sa kanilang kapwa Pilipino.

As time is of the essence in combating this disease, the President may also procure essential goods and services such as medical supplies, rented venues for quarantine centers, and other services needed by the public healthcare system during the health emergency as exceptions to the Procurement Law.

Other powers include extending credit to productive sectors of the economy, liberalizing the grant of incentives for the manufacture and importation of necessary goods and equipment, requiring businesses to prioritize and accept contracts for goods and services necessary to deal with the health emergency, regulating the operation of public and private transportation, regulating traffic on all roads, authorizing alternative work arrangements for employees in the Executive branch, and if necessary in the private sector, and regulating the use of our energy supply.

The best way to defeat this disease is to be ahead of it, and these powers will allow the President and our public health authorities to act as swiftly as they need to.

Fellow Senators of the Republic, these are extraordinarily trying times. This virus does not differentiate on party, creed, or wealth. It's an impersonal, invisible enemy. Without fear or favor, it infects, and without intervention, it moves very quickly. But I am confident that if we sustain and enhance the measures that we have taken, and if all of us do our part, we will be able to defeat this virus, together.

Health workers are manning the frontlines in this battle, some have sadly lost their lives. As was said in the past, never has so much been owed by so many to so few. We thank them for their selfless and courageous services. To our factory workers, truck drivers, storekeepers, and our peacekeepers, we send our deepest gratitude. To those who keep essential services running, the farmers, the fishermen, maraming salamat po. To the many heroes we see and are able to thank, and to the many other warriors who toil without rest or recognition, our collective efforts will not succeed without your invaluable work. Sa mayorya ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na yung mga nasa informal sector, sa mga tricycle driver, jeepney driver na nawalan ng pasada, sa mga vendors na nawalan ng mga suki, mga manggagawa, sa mga namamasukan sa arawan, batid namin ang lahat ng inyong sakripisyo, at lubos kaming nagpapasalamat sa inyong pag-unawa at pakikiisa sa ating pamahalaan.

Let us in the Senate do our duty to aid them in this time of great need, and may this country come out of this hour of challenge stronger, more compassionate, and more united.

We have the funds necessary to address COVID-19. What we do not have much of is time. By passing this bill, we give the administration the authority to access these funds and move quickly to save more lives. Panawagan ko ang suporta ng bawat isang miyembro ng Kapulungang ito. Let us pass this bill with urgency, Bayanihan to Heal as One.

Thank you very much, Mr. President.



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The main objective of Senate Bill No. 1413 is to provide immediate assistance to 18 million Filipinos who belong to the poor and informal sectors. They are also the most vulnerable in this time of crisis. We need P200 billion to ensure that the most basic necessities are provided to them, including food, medicine, and other subsidies. When we look after them and care for their needs, these people would be encouraged to remain in their homes, not worry about how or where to get their next meal, and be one with our government in fighting the COVID-19 virus.

The bill also provides emergency funding to allow the government to adopt and implement measures to suppress the spread of the virus. This will be done by expanding access to testing centers, providing adequate support, including PPEs for our health workers, strengthening support to medical facilities, and intensifying education campaigns for prevention.

We have the funds. Our economic managers have assured us on this. Some P175 billion cash and its equivalent can be accessed from various GOCC accounts. We also have some P100 billion in various national government agencies' accounts outside the Treasury Single Account.

This brings the total amount available - off-budget - at around P275 billion. This can be made available quickly to finance the Emergency Subsidy Program without affecting our national government's fiscal position.

The 2020 spending program of P4.1 trillion will therefore remain intact, but we are ready to give the President the power, as needed, to repurpose funds within the General Appropriations Act from non-essential to essential items that are required for fighting COVID-19.

Other world leaders have already called for urgent emergency measures because this virus has been projected to infect anywhere between 40 percent and 70 percent of the world's entire adult population. That's at least three billion people, according to experts at Harvard University.

It is time to put our political affiliation aside and act together fast. Let us not sit idly and argue endlessly, lest we let COVID-19 overwhelm us.



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Much as I wanted to participate in today's Special Session, I am still on an extended quarantine period given the fact that I have been exposed twice to persons who have been confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus.

Having a pre-existing condition, I have been advised to avoid being exposed, as much as I do not wish to risk the health of my colleagues.

Nevertheless, I'm currently monitoring today's business online, and am in constant consultation with my fellow senators. Should there be an opportunity to take action through the tools technology provides, or whatever is practicable, I will gladly participate.



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We support the government's move to provide more funds to combat and mitigate the impact of COVID-19.

We have to ensure that adequate funds are earmarked for social assistance. These funds need to reach the poorest of the poor, not only in Luzon, but all over the country.

We need to support our frontline healthcare workers, who are now dealing with the impact of the disease.

We should also extend assistance to affected entrepreneurs and businesses which are bearing the weight of the inactivity of the economy.

As part of our mandate, we will continue to perform our oversight function to ensure that these funds will benefit the people.

We are pulling out all the stops to make sure that the people remain healthy, supported, and safe.



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Sen. Grace Poe is urging the Department of Education (DepEd) to tap the barangays for the continuation of its school-based feeding program to ensure that students can still access free nutritious meals in their homes during the monthlong Luzon-wide expanded quarantine.

"In light of this unprecedented public health crisis that forced all public schools to close, it is crucial that the government is still able to feed millions of students with healthy food while it implements the enforced community quarantine throughout Luzon," said Poe.

In this way, poor households will be assured of their children's health and have one fewer thing to worry about as they find ways to secure their essential needs amid the outbreak, she said.

Poe championed Republic Act No. 11037 or the Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act, which institutionalized a national feeding program for about 12 million public elementary school students and children in daycare centers to address hunger and malnutrition in the country.

One of its three components is the school-based feeding program implemented by the DepEd, which ensures undernourished children from kindergarten to Grade 6 at least one fortified meal for a minimum of 120 days in a year.

Poe pointed out that the halted feeding program for students was among the unexpected consequences of public schools shuttering and the school year abruptly ending to give way to the monthlong quarantine to stem the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Poe emphasized that this can still be continued by the DepEd with the help of the barangays. "Higit kailanman, ngayon ang panahon na dapat pagtuunan ng pansin ang tamang pag-aaruga sa mga bata upang matiyak ang kanilang maayos na kalusugan. Makakamit ito kung masisiguro natin na mabibigyan pa rin sila ng masustansiyang pagkain habang umiiral ang enhanced community quarantine," she said.

"Sa naputol na pormal na edukasyon ng mga bata, kailangan magkaroon ng paraan upang matugunan pa rin ang kanilang pangangailangang nutrisyon. Iparamdan natin sa mga bata na apektado rin ng krisis na ito ang gobyernong nagpapahalaga ng kanilang kalusugan," added Poe.



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Today, we are fighting an unseen, mobile, rapidly-reproducing enemy invading our homes and communities, killing the weakest and most vulnerable. The real battle is in the frontlines, in the grassroots, and at that level every able-bodied citizen's contribution and sacrifice will be decisive in defeating the pandemic and its impact across the nation.

Lubos at patuloy tayong nagpasasalamat sa mga taong nakikiisa para labanan at pigilan ang COVID-19, ang ating mga front-line worker -- in clinics, hospitals, and laboratories; in food production; and in delivering these essential items and services to them and the most vulnerable.

Nagpapakita sila ng tapang, at kailangan nating palawakin at pagtibayin ang tapang ng ating suporta.

While the national government will be allocating more funds through the special session of Congress, we should do whatever we can to help survive this pandemic. Kailangan nating magsama-sama at magtulungan.

Magsimula tayo sa ating sariling pamayanan. Focus on our front-liners: doctors, nurses, and other medical staff healing the sick and preventing the spread of the disease; workers in local government (including barangay), agriculture and food manufacturing, transport and logistics, farmers and fisher folk ensuring our daily sustenance and preventing food shortages and hunger in lockdown areas; and soldiers and policemen enforcing the quarantine.

All our front-liners -- health workers in the hospital nearest us, our LGUs and barangay officials, our sari-sari store owners, and those who bring these life support systems -- must be equipped, funded, capacitated, organized, and effectively mobilized.

Supporting them in our respective localities either in our individual capacities or through our clubs, civic groups, and organizations is CRITICAL.

We call on those who are able: Contribute food and help distribute PPEs and other medical supplies to hospitals and communities in need. Give money or provide logistics so that we can help our frontline workers help us.

(Here is a list of hospitals and civic groups' efforts we can support under the heading FRONTLINERS, prepared by a volunteer: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mIY9cAz1d0GVuaFGH3Rgxcj8JWfIJzjZVekzGHT7bKw/htmlview?pli=1&fbclid=IwAR3aDdjQeSjHiVlrW_SMwgbW1mlJKotZBVs_PQCJeONdo4j-7QnoMS6qGRU# )

Walang katiyakan ang panahong ito. But the collective human spirit, organized and mobilized toward a common goal, to overcome challenges is more powerful than any virus. How we work together will define how we will survive. Ito ang ating People Power.

Nawa'y gabayan, pagpalain, at protektahan tayong lahat ng Diyos.



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COVID-19, calling an emergency budget to be taken up in a special session of Congress on Monday the most crucial investment in our country's future.

Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on economic affairs, has drawn up an emergency package of almost 750 billion pesos called Pag-ASA: Alaga, Sustento at Pag-Angat, which seeks immediate and sustained protection of health workers, provision of food and cash aid for marginalized communities, and stimulus packages to badly hit industries employing millions of workers.

Marcos will pitch the Pag-ASA emergency package in a Senate bill on Monday, fearing public panic may ensue in coming months if the government's proposed emergency budget of only P200 billion is approved.

Possible sources of the first P300 billion of the Pag-ASA emergency package can be squeezed from funds left over from the 2019 budget; calamity funds in the 2020 budget; intelligence and social funds of the Office of the President; PhilHealth's emergency reserve fund; and contingency funds from the departments of education, agriculture, labor and employment, social welfare and development, and public works and highways, Marcos said.

Marcos added that the government can take advantage of the recent upgrades in its investment ratings and the prevailing low interest rates of close to 0% to borrow funds of up to P440 billion, an amount still within a manageable debt cap of 5.4% from the present 3.2%.

"Ilokana man ako, hindi ito ang tamang panahon para mag-kuripot ang gobyerno. Itodo na ang tulong kung talagang tutulong para sa proteksyon ng mga mga health workers, pagkain sa mahihirap, at sustento sa mga nawalan ng trabaho," Marcos said.

Marcos warned that local government units(LGUs) are likely to run out of funds in the next two weeks but added that they should be able to download funds directly from the national government, in accordance with Section 87 of the General Appropriations Act.

A lockdown to stem the spread of COVID-19 has slowed down Metro Manila's food supply from agricultural producers all over Luzon, with checkpoints set up to support the social-distancing measures imposed by the government.

The daily income of wage earners and monthly salaries of the middle-class have been disrupted by the lockdown, with the possibility of lay-offs looming large in the export, travel and tourism sectors most affected by the global health crisis.

Marcos added that the Department of Health has not yet been able to predict when cases of COVID-19 infection will peak, so the government must provide a budget responsive to health and food security in case the ongoing lockdown is extended beyond April 12.

The lockdown may also be replicated in other parts of the country, if the spread of COVID-19 worsens, Marcos also said.



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Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go lauded on Sunday, March 22, President Rodrigo Duterte's order to grant hazard pay to government personnel who physically report for work while the enhanced community quarantine is being implemented to address the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation.

According to Go, he was informed that President Rodrigo Duterte signed an Administrative Order that will be released on Monday morning, granting the request of Department of Budget and Management for the issuance of this order to benefit government workers who continue to fulfill their duties despite being exposed to the risks of this health emergency.

"Let us do what we can to support our government frontliners and other workers on duty. These personnel, who risk their lives during this time, deserve to be recognized and be given proper compensation. They continue to work to protect our families. Let's do our part to protect theirs," Go said.

"Imbes na uunahin nila ang kapakanan nila at ng kanilang pamilya, ninais ng mga personnel na ito na patuloy na magtrabaho para gampanan ang kanilang tungkulin at upang hindi maputol ang mga serbisyo ng pamahalaan. Granting them hazard pay is the least that we can do for them," he added.

The administrative order authorizes national government agencies, including state universities and colleges and government-owned and -controlled corporations, to grant hazard pay not exceeding P500 per day per person to personnel who occupy regular, contractual or casual positions in the National Capital Region and other local government units. Personnel who are engaged through contract of service, job order or similar schemes are also qualified.

The personnel, however, must have been "authorized to physically report for work at their respective offices on the prescribed official working hours" by the head of the agency or office.

The order also states that "personnel who are already entitled to Hazard Pay, Hazardous Duty Pay, Hazard Allowance or other similar benefits under existing laws, issuances, rules, and regulations, such as public health workers, public social workers, science and technology personnel, and military and uniformed personnel, shall continue to be entitled to such benefits or the COVID-19 Hazard Pay, whichever is higher."

For NGAs, including SUCs, the hazard pay will be charged against their own funds without need for prior authority from the DBM. For GOCCs, the amount required will be charged against their budget and, in case they do not have sufficient funds, they may grant a lower but uniform rate for all qualified personnel.

Employees in LGUs and local water districts may also be entitled to the hazard pay but, as with GOCCs, the amount may be at a lower but uniform rate in case of insufficient funds.

"Hindi natin mapipilit kung hindi kaya ng pondo na makaabot ng P500 ang hazard pay. Pero sana magawan ng paraan at maibigay sa lalong madaling panahon," Go said.

Hazard pay may also be granted to employees in the Senate, House of Representatives, the Judiciary, Office of the Ombudsman, and other constitutional offices vested with fiscal autonomy.

Go again urged the public to support government workers who are reporting for work. "Let us stay at home and follow the authorities. If we have the resources, let us extend help to our health workers, uniformed personnel and other frontliners," he said.

"Isipin din po natin ang kalusugan at kaligtasan nila. Nananatili sila sa kanilang mga trabaho para maprotektahan tayo, kaya manatili rin tayo sa ating mga bahay at sumunod sa mga patakaran para maprotektahan rin sila," he added.



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Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go lauded on Sunday, March 22, President Rodrigo Duterte's order to grant hazard pay to government personnel who physically report for work while the enhanced community quarantine is being implemented to address the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation.

According to Go, he was informed that President Rodrigo Duterte signed an Administrative Order that will be released on Monday morning, granting the request of Department of Budget and Management for the issuance of this order to benefit government workers who continue to fulfill their duties despite being exposed to the risks of this health emergency.

"Let us do what we can to support our government frontliners and other workers on duty. These personnel, who risk their lives during this time, deserve to be recognized and be given proper compensation. They continue to work to protect our families. Let's do our part to protect theirs," Go said.

"Imbes na uunahin nila ang kapakanan nila at ng kanilang pamilya, ninais ng mga personnel na ito na patuloy na magtrabaho para gampanan ang kanilang tungkulin at upang hindi maputol ang mga serbisyo ng pamahalaan. Granting them hazard pay is the least that we can do for them," he added.

The administrative order authorizes national government agencies, including state universities and colleges and government-owned and -controlled corporations, to grant hazard pay not exceeding P500 per day per person to personnel who occupy regular, contractual or casual positions in the National Capital Region and other local government units. Personnel who are engaged through contract of service, job order or similar schemes are also qualified.

The personnel, however, must have been "authorized to physically report for work at their respective offices on the prescribed official working hours" by the head of the agency or office.

The order also states that "personnel who are already entitled to Hazard Pay, Hazardous Duty Pay, Hazard Allowance or other similar benefits under existing laws, issuances, rules, and regulations, such as public health workers, public social workers, science and technology personnel, and military and uniformed personnel, shall continue to be entitled to such benefits or the COVID-19 Hazard Pay, whichever is higher."

For NGAs, including SUCs, the hazard pay will be charged against their own funds without need for prior authority from the DBM. For GOCCs, the amount required will be charged against their budget and, in case they do not have sufficient funds, they may grant a lower but uniform rate for all qualified personnel.

Employees in LGUs and local water districts may also be entitled to the hazard pay but, as with GOCCs, the amount may be at a lower but uniform rate in case of insufficient funds.

"Hindi natin mapipilit kung hindi kaya ng pondo na makaabot ng P500 ang hazard pay. Pero sana magawan ng paraan at maibigay sa lalong madaling panahon," Go said.

Hazard pay may also be granted to employees in the Senate, House of Representatives, the Judiciary, Office of the Ombudsman, and other constitutional offices vested with fiscal autonomy.

Go again urged the public to support government workers who are reporting for work. "Let us stay at home and follow the authorities. If we have the resources, let us extend help to our health workers, uniformed personnel and other frontliners," he said.

"Isipin din po natin ang kalusugan at kaligtasan nila. Nananatili sila sa kanilang mga trabaho para maprotektahan tayo, kaya manatili rin tayo sa ating mga bahay at sumunod sa mga patakaran para maprotektahan rin sila," he added.



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Amid the ongoing crisis due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go appealed to the Government Service Insurance System on Saturday, March 21, to help ease the burden of Filipinos, especially the institution's members and pensioners.

Go, the chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, requested GSIS to waive penalties for delayed remittances, release pensions early and grant emergency loans.

"Hinihiling ko sa pamunuan ng GSIS na tulungan ang ating mga kababayan. Kung maaari ay bigyan ng palugit ang pagbabayad ng contributions. Huwag na munang maningil ng penalties. Dahil sa community quarantine, maraming finance units ng mga ahensiya ng gobyerno ang nahihirapang gumalaw ngayon. Tulungan natin silang maibsan ang kanilang mga problema," Go said.

He added, "Kung maaari din sana, i-release nang mas maaga ang mga pension. Ayon sa mga datos, mas mataas ang fatality rate ng mga matatandang nahawaan ng COVID-19. Kailangan nating tulungan ang ating mga retirees na makaiwas at makapaghanda sa sakit."

"Kung mayroon namang sapat na pondo o kung maaaring gawan ng paraan, sana ay mabigyan ang mga miyembro ng GSIS ng pagkakataon na makapag-apply ng emergency loan. Kahit may suweldo pa rin sila ngayon, kailangan nila ng dagdag na pondo para alagaan ang pamilya."

The Senator shared that he has personally communicated his appeal to GSIS President and General Manager Rolando Macasaet. "Handa naman daw tumulong ang GSIS. Nagmamalasakit sila sa kanilang mga members, pensioners at beneficiaries," Go said.

"Macasaet confirmed that they are ready to release pensions earlier and they will not penalize agencies which might be late with their remittances. For emergency loans, pinag-aaralan na nila nang mabuti paano gawin, pero may pondo naman," the Senator added.

He has made similar appeals to other government agencies as well. On March 17, he requested the Department of Finance and the Bureau of Internal Revenue to extend the deadline for the filing of Annual Income Tax Returns after BIR released a memorandum circular stating that the deadline would be on April 15, the usual schedule. On March 18, DOF and BIR granted such appeal and stated that they would release the new guidelines soon.

Go also appealed to the Department of Social Welfare and Development to provide assistance to the vulnerable sectors of the society, such as persons with disabilities, pregnant and lactating women, solo parents, and indigent indigenous peoples, as well as informal economy workers such as PUVs and tricycle drivers, among others. The agency is currently considering Go's request.

Go also commended the Department of Budget and Management for the joint circular they released with the Commission on Audit which temporarily allows agencies to compensate contractual and job order workers during the lockdown period as an exception to the 'no work, no pay' principle for this occasion only.

"Gawin natin ang lahat ng pwede nating gawin sa panahong ito. Kailangang maging mapagmalasakit ang mga ahensiya ng ating gobyerno, at tiyakin natin na lahat ng sektor ng lipunan ay protektado. Kailangan nating maibsan ang hirap na pinagdadaanan ng ating mga kababayan dahil sa sitwasyong ating kinakaharap ngayon," Go added.



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Senator Win Gatchalian said the government has failed to mention how it intends to help drivers of public utility vehicles (PUVs) who are reeling too from the imposed month-long enhanced community quarantine due to COVID-19. PUV drivers are left with no choice but to stop operating while all modes of public transportation have been suspended.

Citing data from the 2018 PUV modernization program report of the DOTr, Gatchalian said a jeepney driver, for instance, usually takes home ₱14,685 a month. Each driver has up to seven family members on the average who entirely depend on the driver's daily take home pay for their expenses. The same data showed that 40 percent or 84,443 out of the total 209,124 jeepney drivers in the country are in Metro Manila.

That is why Gatchalian said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) should roll out the Pantawid Pasada Program (PPP) to financially aid these jeepney drivers.

The DOTr has earlier confirmed to the Office of Senator Gatchalian that there will be no Pantawid Pasada this year as concluded by the interagency committee for social mitigating measures under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

"Ngayong mayroong enhanced community quarantine, isa sa mga naapektuhan ay ang ating mga public utility vehicle drivers. Gaya ng karamihan dito sa bansa, sila rin ay masasabing namumuhay ng arawang kita. Kung may tigil pasada, ano na lamang ang ipapakain nila sa pamilya nila," Gatchalian said.

The PPP was initiated in 2018 to cushion the impact of higher fuel excise tax through the TRAIN law which funds the fuel subsidy given to jeepney drivers.

Gatchalian also proposes for the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to have these displaced drivers covered by the department's emergency employment program where they can help in disinfecting their community.



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Today, we join the international community in the observance of World Water Day and in taking action to achieve our collective goal of ensuring access to safe and adequate water, while guaranteeing sanitation for all.

Access to water is a basic human right, not just a privilege of the wealthy few. We have a big task at hand: To provide sustainable supply to the millions of Filipinos who still do not have access to safe and clean water. This is especially needed during this time of global health crisis, when washing hands and good personal hygiene are among the best practices to fight and contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus and other infectious diseases.

Paano malalabanan ang sakit, kung wala na ngang tubig na pamatid uhaw, ay wala ring panghugas ng kamay?

We call on the concerned government agencies and private concessionaires to do their part in addressing water scarcity. We do not want to repeat the past mistakes or negligence of not providing an ample warning for water shortage that could have easily been mitigated or avoided if the families were properly informed. Governments and leaders around the world should also work double time in developing and implementing humane projects and infrastructure that can facilitate the supply of water and reduce the harmful effects of climate change.

Tandaan po sana natin ang halaga ng tubig bilang bukal ng buhay. Alalahanin natin ang ating mga kababayan na nagkakapaltos ang paa at nagkakandakuba sa layo ng nilalakad, makapag-igib lang ng tubig. Sa bawat basura o duming itinatapon sa mga ilog at estero, isipin natin ang peligrong hatid nito sa panahon ng sakuna gaya ng pagbaha at delubyo. Sa halip na pagsasayang at pagkakait sa mas nangangailangan, hayaan naman nating umagos sa matagal nang mga nagdurusa ang pag-asa para sa isang marangal na pamumuhay.

(Sgd.) LEILA M. DE LIMA

PNP Custodial Center, Camp Crame

22 March 2020



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Senator Leila M. de Lima has sought for the immediate passage of a measure granting compensation and incentives to health workers who are at most risk during public health crisis, such as the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that so far killed 19 people and infected 307 others in the country.

De Lima, who chairs the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, said the country's barangay health workers (BHWs) are risking their own safety and lives as they attend to the health needs and demands of their communities.

It is then appropriate, she continued, that the government should provide these BHWs with proper compensation and incentives as they go about providing quality health care and services in the grassroots level, especially those assigned in dangerous areas or risky situations.

"With all the undeniably heroic roles and myriad responsibilities that BHWs play in our health sector, especially during a public health crisis that is gripping our country today, it is only right and important that we also take care of them by providing them just compensation and incentives they deserve," she said.

Official figures show that as of 2009, there are 196,562 barangay health workers, also commonly referred to as barangay health volunteers, who are servicing 42,044 barangays across the country.

Although ideally, a BHW is expected to work with an average of around 20 families in their respective local community, the lack of trained individuals has cut down the number of volunteers where one or two volunteers service an entire barangay.

The lady Senator from Bicol pointed out that these barangay health workers have long been treated as volunteers and do not get fixed allowances, despite the very crucial role they perform in attending to the health needs of the local communities.

"BHWs act as primary health care providers and educators in our local communities especially in far-flung areas. They constitute a vital part of the community's efforts of providing quality health care and service in the grassroots level," she noted.

Under the law, BWHs are tasked to implement nutrition programs, basic nursing care like assisting in maternal services, immunization and regular weighing of children. They also respond to accidents caused by calamities by providing first-aid assistance.

"Given the nature of their work, they are also more prone to contracting various sickness and contagious diseases. They are also our first line of defense in times of national crisis such as the coronavirus infection that hit us," the lady lawmaker said.

De Lima, a former justice secretary, said there is a need to revise and repeal Republic Act 7883 which governs barangay health workers by instituting the "Magna Carta for Barangay Health Workers," prescribing their just compensation and incentives.

Under her measure, logged as Senate Bill (SB) 185 which she filed at the start of the 18th Congress, De Lima is proposing that all BHWs should be allowed to complete a six-month education and training program where they would receive a proper accreditation.

This education and training program, under SB 185, shall be credited as units earned in higher education institutions with step ladder curricula that entitle BHWs to upgrade their skills and knowledge for community work or to pursue further training as midwives, pharmacists, nurses or doctors.

Other salient features of her measure include:

Mandatory appointment of at least five BHWs in each barangay, instead of the current one BHW per barangay, to be appointed by the local chief executive upon recommendation of the local health board;

A minimum honorarium of PhP6,000 and a transportation allowance of at least PhP500 every month;

A hazard allowance for those BHWs exposed in a work environment that endangers their life or health;

A subsistence allowance (e.g. for meals) for those in isolated barangays;

A mandatory PhilHealth coverage with contribution to be paid by local government unit; and

Civil Service Eligibility (2nd grade) for those who have rendered two years of continued service.



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On Saturday, March 21, I went to Malacañang to discuss the urgent legislation needed in the time of COVID-19. A lot of people live day-to-day and the loss of income hits them the hardest.

We will work towards legislation that will make available P200 billion, mostly as financial assistance to the 16 million families - mostly coming from the informal sector like street and market vendors, agri workers etc., to allow them to buy food and other essentials.

We also discussed the funds available for medical supplies and equipment.

We ended the day with hope knowing that we can beat COVID-19 if we all work together. God bless and protect the Philippines and our people.



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Senator Joel Villanueva has sought to clarify a portion of the guidelines covering the salary continuance for contractual workers in government which was contained in a recent circular issued by the Commission on Audit (COA) and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Friday morning.

In a statement, Villanueva said he wrote Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado on Friday afternoon to request for either a separate set of guidelines or an advisory covering institutional contract of service (COS) workers, so that they could also continue to receive their salaries even if they do not report for work because of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon and other areas due to COVID-19.

"These workers have been working alongside us in serving the people, and we believe that it is right and just to give them peace of mind, too, during this period," said Villanueva, chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resources Development.

Villanueva sought the clarification after the COA and DBM released a joint circular specifying the interim guidelines on the payment of job order (JO) and COS workers in government for the duration of the state of calamity the national government declared recently due to COVID-19.

The circular stated that all JO and COS workers directly engaged by government offices are covered by the guidelines, excluding institutional COS workers, who are essentially third party service providers such as janitorial, security, and other similar support services.

"Will the third-party service contractors that deployed their workers in government agencies still be paid in full, and consequently, the deployed workers, even when the deployed workers are not reporting to work due to the community quarantine?" Villanueva wrote.

At the very least, agencies which engaged the services of institutional COS should honor the contracts it entered into with service providers, and keep paying the affected workers despite the quarantine prevailing in parts of the country, the lawmaker explained.

He understood the predicament of agencies, who might run into an issue with COA since offices need to show proof that services of third-party providers have been rendered before payments are processed.

"This is why we asked Secretary Avisado for another set of guidelines so that we can resolve problems that might arise. Our intention is for our workers to be able to provide for their families, and give them peace of mind as we face this mounting health crisis," Villanueva said.



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"We are on our third day of the enhanced community quarantine. The 60 million in Luzon, especially the 12 to 14 million in Metro Manila, most of whom are no-work-no-pay workers, are starting to feel the pressure of not earning a living and not having enough food to eat.

We laud the efforts of government and private sector in working together to allow medical workers to perform their crucial task in this time of health crisis.

The selfless courage of the people in the health sector are being complemented by free rides, meals, protective gear, and other supplies as they continue to be at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19.

To avert food shortage, hunger, and even looting, we believe it is time to focus the spotlight as well to the other people on the frontline who are similarly critical in our day-to-day survival.

They are the farmers and fisher folk who are not able to farm, fish, and sell their produce and catch due to the lockdown. If they are not earning from their produce, farmers will not till the land anymore. As they cannot immediately harvest what they sow, farmers need to continue farming and earning off farming.

They are the workers in the food, medicine, and medical supply manufacturing sector who order raw materials from their suppliers, run their operations, and distribute their products. They ensure adequately filled food shelves in sari-sari stores, groceries, supermarkets, pharmacies, and hospitals.

They are the drivers and logistics personnel who ferry and deliver food and other essential supplies. They are helping keep our economy -- and our people -- on life support during these uncertain times.

We thus call on the national government to treat our food, transport, and logistics sector workers as anti-COVID front-liners too.

Like our health workers, their work is essential to containing the disease.

They, including our workers in the public mass transport system, should also be provided with protective gear and given hazard pay as they carry on with their jobs.

Especially with suspended importation, the national government must provide both the budget and the system to keep the food supply going. It needs to ensure and beef up the food supply chain.

Our unity, cooperation, and compassion for each other are the most powerful weapons against this disease.



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As the enhanced community quarantine due to the COVID-19 threat continues, a grim reality is becoming more felt: it is not just lives that are at stake, but also livelihoods. For many, survival is indeed a priority, but what good is survival if they face the prospect of starving?

While we must concede that our individual rights and freedom must yield to our survival as country and people, creativity still plays a major role in balancing both sides of the equation and still satisfy both concerns.

For instance, daily wage earners - including drivers of public utility vehicles such as jeepneys, taxis and pedicabs, as well as vendors, construction workers, waiters, and even caddies - are hit hard by the public transport ban. Without wages for even just a week, how will they feed their families? Parents may go hungry for the sake of the children. But when their children go hungry, God knows what they will do next.

Our authorities may consider creative solutions. There are options - such as deputizing them even on a rotational basis to help ferry front-liners or those needing emergency transport, or even performing other jobs not related to their job descriptions while ensuring they follow protocols like social distancing, etc.; or advancing whatever benefits are due them such as compensation and other subsidies, so they will not completely rely on government dole-outs which are also limited.

For example, Davao City has implemented the TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers) program of the Department of Labor and Employment. They provide allowance but made the drivers earn their keep by doing work for the city. The e-trikes for front-liners in Manila is another. There could be more. No need to be rocket scientists to be creative.

Having said that, does the government have a reliable database to determine how many are vulnerable, and more importantly, who they are? Since the National ID system - which would have helped greatly in situations like this - has not gotten off the ground after the passage of the Philippine System Identification Act in 2018, there should be a system to address this concern.

While our national government agencies and local government units try to find a balance between the health of the public and the immediate needs of constituents during this critical time, a little flexibility - and creativity - might help. Better to be flexible so those affected can make ends meet, than to have them resort to crime and anarchy.



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Amid the rising number of Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in the Philippines, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), chaired by Senator Richard J. Gordon, put up a medical field tent at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) in Quezon City as part of its efforts to provide assistance to hospitals that cater to patients with Covid-19.

"The NKTI has requested us to provide a tent that will serve as an isolation ward for suspected carriers of the virus. With this, the medical staff can receive those patients at the tent and they no longer have to bring them inside the emergency room. As we know, the NKTI caters to patients with kidney problems, mostly elderly patients who are having dialysis treatment, and they are one of those who are most susceptible to the disease. We want to ensure that they will not get infected and we want to help prevent further spread of the virus," said Gordon.

The facility at the NKTI is the first medical tent being set-up by the PRC as part of its response to Covid-19. It will serve as an additional ward for persons under investigation (PUI). Aside from the tent, the PRC has also provided 9,700 pieces of face masks for frontliners and healthcare workers in Quezon City.

With 34 confirmed cases, the city is now considered the epicenter of Covid-19 in the country.

Earlier, the Department of Health (DOH) has requested the PRC for tents so that the Covid-patients will be isolated from patients who are not carrier of the virus.

"The Red Cross is actively participating in the nation's fight against Covid-19. We want to assure the public that we will never get tired of helping our people especially in times of crisis. We are one with the hospitals in catering to the needs of our people," Gordon said.



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Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go has expressed his support for a proposed proclamation to hold a National Week of Prayer on the fourth week of March.

The proposal outlines that the National Week of Prayer would unite all Filipinos, regardless of religion, to pray for all medical professionals, frontliners, the sick and coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-stricken Filipinos, as well as the rest of the country.

"Marami na tayong pinagdaanang pagsubok. Pagputok ng bulkan, lindol, pagkaroon ng iba't ibang kalamidad at lagi nating nalalampasan ang mga ito dahil sa ating pananalig sa Diyos para sa mga kababayan nating Kristiyano, Allah para sa ating mga kababayang Muslim," Go said.

The Senator highlighted that now more than ever, Filipinos need to pray. He also highlighted that this is one of the ways to encourage and promote unity among Filipinos to achieve a common purpose.

"Ang National Week of Prayer ay isinusulong para magkaisa tayong lahat, kahit iba man ang ating mga relihiyon. Ang panalangin na iaalay natin ay para sa ating mga doctor, nurses, at iba pang health professional, mga frontliners, military, pulisya, mga kababayan nating elderly at persons with disabilities, at mga maysakit at mga naapektuhan ng COVID-19, at higit sa lahat, bawat isang Pilipino na sana'y malampasan na natin ang problemang ito sa lalong madaling panahon," Go added.

In the proposed proclamation, the National Week of Prayer will underscore the commitment and sacrifices of all health workers and medical professionals who are at the forefront of the response, police, the military and the government, and "all Filipinos who work tirelessly to protect the community."

It will also enjoin people of all faiths, religious traditions and background to offer prayers to overcome the COVID-19 situation in the country.

As of March 20, 230 confirmed cases have already been reported by the Department of Health, with 18 deaths and eight recoveries. As the country faces uncertain times with the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon and the state of calamity nationwide, Go deemed it fit that a week of prayer can be a useful weapon to fight the epidemic.

"Alam niyo, sadyang relihiyoso ang mga Pilipino, at ito ang isa sa pinakamagandang ugali at sandata natin para masugpo na natin ang pandemic na ito sa ating bansa - ang laging paglingon sa Diyos sa hirap man o sa ginhawa," Go said.

With the quarantine measures in place, Go also reminded Filipinos to follow protocol, such as staying at home as much as possible and washing their hands frequently. In addition, the Senator has encouraged public officials to help their constituents through assistance and other needed necessities to prevent transmission of COVID-19.

Go also assured that the government is working tirelessly, exhausting all efforts to stop the outbreak as soon as possible.

"Sinisigurado ko naman sa ating mga kababayan na ginagawa namin at ng gobyerno ang lahat para matigil na itong virus na ito at masiguradong ligtas ang bawat Pilipino," Go said.

"Magtulungan po tayo. Ang pagsunod sa protocol ay isang civic action na kinakailangang sundin hindi lamang para sa kapakanan mo kundi para sa lahat ng taong nakapaligid sa inyo," the Senator added.



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3/21/20

On Day 7 of the lockdown, which started as an NCR-wide Community Quarantine, then expanded to cover the whole of Luzon, the following things are clear:

The Duterte Administration is ill-prepared to face the crisis. Its agency heads are not coordinating among each other. While the DOTr lifted travel bans on foreign nationals, the DFA announced that foreigners will no longer be allowed entry. The DOTr responded that the ban on foreigners will take effect only on March 22, or Day 8 of the NCR lockdown or Day 7 of the Luzon lockdown. The inconsistency and flip-flopping on this matter only serve to imperil the effectiveness of the lockdown.

POGOs continue to operate. POGOs are still allowed to ferry their workers from their residences to the POGO facilities. Whether on minimal capacity or not, their reported exemption from suspension of gaming operations gives the impression that POGOs are being treated as an essential industry, like the medical services, the utilities sector, and food production and distribution. Kailan pa ba naging "essential" ang pagsusugal sa panahon ng kalamidad?

The government would rather still waste valuable resources on social media trolls than maximize spending on combatting the spread of the contagion. It seems to give more priority to spinning its crisis management than to actually managing the crisis. Foremost of its troll operations are focused on performing LGU executives, after Duterte dumped most of the work on them. Now that some of them have actually shined in delivering to their constituents, Duterte would rather put them down by threatening them with criminal and administrative cases.

The national government bannered the release of 27 billion pesos for the COVID-19 crisis, yet 14 billion is allotted to tourism. In case Duterte and his officials have not noticed, being a tourist is not the priority of either Filipinos or foreigners at the moment. They just want to pull through this quarantine stage and resume their normal lives. And to be able to reach that, the country needs that 14 billion pesos for actual anti-COVID19 efforts, like testing kits, PPEs, medicines, hospital equipment, community kitchens, etc. We do not need that reserved for some future tourism drive galore. Simple lamang po ang dapat pag-iisip diyan. Aanhin pa ang turismo kung patay na ang mga turista?

The Health Secretary is on a 14-day quarantine. The question then arises: who is leading us in this public health emergency? Sino ang nagpapatakbo at namumuno ngayon ng DOH? Sino ang nagdedesisyon at nagmamando sa buong pwersa ng DOH? In a time of crisis, government has to be clear who are the leaders on top of the crisis. Government should be categorical on who is our top health official now in charge of responding to the health emergency since Sec. Duque is not fully functional, if not virtually immobilized.

Buti na lang nandyan ang mga LGUs at private sector...

(Access the handwritten copy of Dispatch from Crame No. 744, here: https://issuu.com/senatorleilam.delima/docs/dispatch_744)



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Senator Leila M. de Lima has denounced the surge of fake news and hate speech directed against the opposition and other local officials who are actively working to help the public cope up with the impact of government-imposed enhanced community quarantine due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in the country.

De Lima made the statement after she learned that online trolls have intensified their efforts to spread fake news in order to discredit the efforts of opposition leaders, including Vice President Leni Robredo and members of the Senate minority bloc.

"Manufacturing fake news and trolling the 'woke' netizens are just as destructive during ordinary days. But to ramp up such despicable operations during national emergencies and public health crisis is beyond evil," she said.

"Habang nagdurusa ang ating mga kababayan sa sakit, gutom at pangambang dala ng COVID-19 dahil sa kakulangan ng tulong mula sa gobyernong nacional, nasisikmura ba ninyo ang paggawa at pagpapakalat ng mga pekeng kuwento laban sa mga taong tumutulong at nagbibigay serbisyo?" she added.

As the entire country was placed under a state of national calamity due to the COVID-19 outbreak, reports have shown a surge of fake news and oft-repeated false narratives populating various social media platforms.

Rabid supporters of the Duterte administration, some of whom are holding high-ranking positions in government, have also ramped up their social media presence in attempting to discredit the good work of other leaders not allied to the administration.

News organizations, such as the Philippine Daily Inquirer, News 5 and Rappler have also reported that shady online personalities manipulated their published social media cards with fake quotes from opposition leaders and local executives.

"Because these leaders actually make sense and are doing remarkably well in their own capacities without government support, the growing approval of their constituents makes the traditional politicians feel threatened and insecure," the lady Senator from Bicol said.

"The most glaring victims of these fake news and hate speech are VP Leni and Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto, to name a few, who are steps ahead of the rest of the government bureaucracy in implementing genuine public service measures against the spread of COVID-19," she added.

In order to curtail the spread of fake news in times of a national crisis, De Lima urged "woke" netizens to block fake news and their peddlers from their online feeds and report them to social media platforms under their respective community standards.

"Kilala naman ninyo kung sino talaga ang mga hari't reyna ng fake news sa Pilipinas. I urge everyone to follow credible media outfits only and to block and report these fake news peddlers as soon as you see them creep up on your feed," she said.

To date, local health authorities have reported a surge of COVID-19 infections across the country, with at least 17 people who have already died while 217 others are confirmed to have contracted infection.

Last March 16, the whole island of Luzon has been placed on strict "enhance community quarantine" where residents are urged to stay within the confines of their homes and practice "social distancing" measures to stem the spread of the deadly virus.



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I am one with our brothers and sisters around the world in the observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination.

We remember the millions of victims who suffered slavery, physical and emotional abuse, stigma and trauma due to the inequality inflicted by racism. We also recognize that although racist practices have already been abolished in many parts of the world, there are still many individuals who experience extreme injustice, lack of opportunity, limited access to social services and poverty because of their color and race.

Even during this time of global health crisis, one of the issues that emerged was racial discrimination. Because the coronavirus originated from Wuhan, China, there were reports that Chinese citizens or Filipinos who looked Chinese were harassed abroad.

I call on my fellow Filipinos and all peoples of goodwill not to fall into racial profiling or discrimination. Let equality and our humanity prevail, especially during these challenging times. Let us educate the public and reinforce measures to fight racism. It is our obligation to respect each other, as everyone deserves recognition, justice and development.

As Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner, said: "No human race is superior; no religious faith is inferior. All collective judgments are wrong. Only racists make them."

Anuman po ang ating lahi, kulay, kasarian, edad, rehihiyon o estado sa lipunan, lahat tayo ay mga taong nagsasalo at magkasamang namumuhay sa iisang mundo. Sa kabila ng mga pagkakaiba, kayang manaig ng pagkakaisa.

#FightRacism #Standup4HumanRights

(Sgd.) LEILA M. DE LIMA

PNP Custodial Center, Camp Crame

21 March 2020



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Today, we celebrate World Down Syndrome Day not just to raise awareness about the syndrome but more especially, for all of us to show our solidarity in facilitating programs for the empowerment, personal growth and meaningful participation of persons with this condition.

With this year's theme, "'We Decide': all people with Down Syndrome should have full participation in decision-making about matters relating to, or affecting, their lives," we are called upon to pave the way for a better future and dignified life for them.

As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development and as a mother and grandmother of children with autism, it is all the more that I advocate for the well-being of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). I urge the government to exhaust all efforts in providing equal protection for them to ensure that they are free from abuse and discrimination.

According to a 2016 study by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), there are 3.3 million children with disabilities in the Philippines. Just think: How many of them are also homeless and do not have access to proper care, nutrition, health services and education?

This is why as part of our effort to establish institutional and social mechanisms to support persons with developmental disabilities and their families, I filed Senate Bill No. 855, instituting a national comprehensive program for the prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment of persons with autism and other developmental disabilities.

May krisis man o wala, huwag sana nating kalimutan silang nangangailangan ng higit na pang-unawa at kalinga. Patuloy po natin silang mahalin, arugain, bigyang lakas at pag-asang paunlarin ang sarili upang maging kapaki-pakinabang na bahagi rin ng komunidad at lipunan.

(Sgd.) LEILA M. DE LIMA

PNP Custodial Center, Camp Crame

21 March 2020



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3/21/20

Ang mga LGUs ngayon ang tunay na maaasahan. Because of the efforts of LGUs from the city, municipal and barangay levels, the community quarantine in several areas, especially within the NCR, has been relatively successful, no thanks to the national government.

Not everything is going well, but step by step and day by day, the LGUs and the private sector joined in a bayanihan spirit are making things work

Salamat sa mga magagaling at masisipag na Mayor na katulad ni Vico Sotto ng Pasig, na pilit namang sinisiraan ng mga trolls ng administrasyon sa social media, unti-unti nating nakikita ang mga solusyon at pamamaraan kung paano natin malalampasan ang pagsubok na ito.

The question is--Given their limited resources, would the LGUs be able to sustain their laudable efforts if, God forbid, this becomes a protracted crisis?

National government must step up. Tulungan dapat nang todo ang LGUs. Tulungan, hindi takutan. Bayanihan, hindi pabayaan na lang. Kalinga, hindi kasuhan o ikulong na lang.

Pagpugay sa mga nakikilalang mga bayani, hindi inggit.

This petty government has no capacity whatsoever in uniting us and moving us forward away from this crisis. But our local leaders, health force, and community workers can, with our help and solidarity.

Sumainyo pong lahat ang biyaya ng Panginoon na maayos na kalusugan at diwa ng pagtutulungan sa panahon ng kalamidad.

(Access the handwritten copy of Dispatch from Crame No. 743, here: https://issuu.com/senatorleilam.delima/docs/dispatch_no._743)



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Senator Sonny Angara called on the various agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to find ways to get the cash grants and other aid to the families affected by the enhanced community quarantine immediately.

At this time when almost all businesses have closed and movement of people is restricted due to the enhanced community quarantine to combat the spread of COVID-19, Angara noted that "people are becoming desperate and in need of assurance from its government that they will be taken care of."

"We must ensure the uninterrupted implementation of programs such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which are even more critical to marginalized families at this time when most likely some, if not all, of their members are not being paid any wages," Angara said.

Under the 2020 General Appropriations Act, a total of P108.765 billion was allocated to the DSWD for the 4Ps program.

The 4Ps involves the provision of cash grants to the poorest of the poor amounting to P1,350 (health and nutrition and rice subsidy) per family per month plus P300/month/child attending day care or primary school; P500/month/child for junior high school; and P700/month/child attending senior high school. This will serve 4.4 million households nationwide.

Apart from the 4Ps, the DSWD also provides social pension to indigent seniors (P23.184 billion under the 2020 GAA) and unconditional cash transfer (P36.488 billion).

Under the social pension to indigent seniors program, indigent senior citizens receive a month stipend of P500.

With the unconditional cash transfer program, poor households are provided with P300 per month in cash grants to cope with the impacts of rising prices of goods and commodities.

Recognizing the challenges in the delivery of these benefits to the beneficiaries during the quarantine period, Angara urged the DSWD to coordinate closely with the local government units, who have been undertaking their own initiatives to deliver food and other assistance to their constituents while they are stuck inside their homes.

"Marami na sa ating LGUs are nagdodoor-to-door sa paghatid ng pagkain at iba pang benepisyo sa ating mga kababayan na nangangailangan ng tulong sa panahon na ito. Pwede itong gamitin ng DSWD para maihatid ang ayuda sa mga family beneficiaries, lalo na yung wala pang EMV (Europay, Mastercard, Visa) cards," Angara said.

"Wag din natin kakalimutan ang mga tsuper ng jeep, tricycle at taxi na matindi din ang naging tama ng quarantine at walang ibang pinagkukuhanan ng kita para sa kanilang mga pamilya," he added.

Under Section 87 of the general provisions of the 2020 GAA on the implementation of nationally-funded projects, "the national government may designate LGUs as implementing agencies" for projects, services and other programs appropriated in this Act of agencies, including the DSWD.

With no alternative income or savings to go to, Angara said the poor families have no means to purchase food, which is why it is even more important for the national government to work with the LGUs in ensuring they have meals every day.

Angara said the setting up of community soup kitchens, just like what some LGUs have already done, should be considered for all the areas under quarantine.

These cooked meals can either be delivered to the households door-to-door or people can congregate in small controlled batches, based on the discretion of the LGUs concerned.

"We need to look after the welfare of our people in these very challenging times. A significant portion of our population relies heavily on the government to give them support. We must make them see and feel that they are being cared for. We must find ways to help. They are the ones who need it the most now," Angara said.



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Over 660,000 contractual workers in government stand to benefit from its decision to continue paying for salaries of those classified as job order (JO) and contract of service (COS) workers, according to Senator Joel Villanueva.

Villanueva, chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resource Development, hailed the issuance of the joint circular covering the salary continuance of government contractual workers while an enhanced community quarantine prevailed in Luzon and other parts of the country due to COVID-19.

"Higit sa 660,000 na mga JO at COS na manggagawa po ang matutulungan natin sa hakbang na ito. Mapapanatag ang kalooban ng ating mga kasamahan na JO at COS dahil makakaya nilang tustusan ang pangangailangan ng kani-kanilang mga pamilya habang umiiral ang quarantine dito sa ating bayan," Villanueva said in a statement.

Villanueva said the move will also help the government keep workers and their families at their homes because of the assurance that people will still be able to provide for their basic needs in the next few weeks.

Given that JO and COS workers do not get paid if they do not report to work, Villanueva said workers might not be able to cover the needs of their families even if their offices or agencies are implementing alternative work arrangements such as skeletal staffing and work from home, among others.

"While some still report to work, their pay could significantly shrink because no work means no pay. This circular provides relief for our JO and COS workers and eases their concerns of providing for their families," Villanueva said. "This gesture truly is a step in the right direction as we need the entire government to move in unison to manage the impact of COVID-19 to our country."

Joint Circular No. 1, issued by the Commission on Audit and Department of Budget and Management, covers all JO and COS workers engaged by "Departments, Bureaus, Offices, and Agencies of the National Government, including Constitutional Offices, [State Universities and Colleges], [Government-Owned and -Controlled Corporations], [Local Water Districts], for the duration of the State of Calamity and Community Quarantine due to COVID-19."

Data from the Civil Service Commission shows that of the 2.4 million workers in government, over 660,000 workers fall under job orders or contract of service. Some 360,000 government contractual workers are in Luzon, where the national government ordered an enhanced community quarantine until April due to COVID-19.



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Senate Committee on Health and Demography Chair Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go said on Friday, March 20, that it is important to identify and capacitate select hospitals that can exclusively handle COVID-19 cases in order to have a more unified approach, maximize limited resources, protect health workers, and avoid exposure of patients in hospitals with non-COVID-19 health concerns.

"Mahirap kung kalat-kalat sa iba't ibang mga ospital ang mga pasyente na positibo o posibleng may COVID-19. By designating specific hospitals, it is easier for the government to monitor the progress of the patients and in positioning logistics and other resources. It also lessens possible exposure of COVID-19 positive patients to other non-infected individuals in hospitals," Go explained.

Go said that this approach will also avoid unnecessary possible exposure of health frontliners in other hospitals to COVID-19. He further explained that health professionals working in hospitals that are not one of those designated to specialize in COVID-19 cases can focus on treating other patients who are facing non-COVID-19 but equally high-risk diseases and conditions.

"Tuloy-tuloy dapat ang serbisyo maging sa mga may sakit sa puso, cancer, high blood, diabetes at iba pang karamdaman," he said adding that other hospitals must remain steadfast in their duty to serve and cater to the needs of patients with various medical concerns aside from COVID-19.

The Department of Health has announced that in compliance with the instructions of the President, the government will be dedicating hospitals in Metro Manila to specialize and provide services solely for PUIs and patients who tested positive for COVID-19.

As of this time, DOH is considering two hospitals, namely Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in Caloocan and the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital in Manila to be designated as medical facilities exclusively for COVID-19 cases.

Furthermore, Go noted that a similar measure has been earlier implemented in Davao City. Mayor Sara Duterte assigned the Southern Philippines Medical Center to handle PUIs showing severe COVID-19 symptoms.

"Ginawa nila ito para maiwasang ma-contaminate ang ibang hospitals doon at maasikaso nila ang mga non-COVID-19 patients at mga emergency cases," Go said

In line with this, a statement was released by an alliance of eleven private hospitals in Metro Manila requesting the government to identify and capacitate hospitals that will be dedicated to handle cases related to the COVID-19 outbreak. The appeal was also endorsed by the Philippine College of Physicians and the Philippine College of Surgeons.

Go responded to the statement by expressing that he supports the intent of the appeal of several hospitals for "a unified approach to the COVID-19 pandemic."

"Nakikinig ang gobyerno sa mga payo at hinaing ng medical professionals at health experts. As a legislator, I personally believe in the wisdom of this policy approach as expressed in their appeal and so does the President," said Go.

The hospitals that issued the appeal to the government include the Adventist Medical Center, Asian Hospital Medical Center, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Fatima University Medical Center, Makati Medical Center, Manila Doctors Hospital, Medical Center Manila, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, The Medical City, St. Luke's Medical Center and University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Medical Center.

"Joint effort dapat ito ng medical community, public and private. Now is a time for us to all work together to find the right solutions to this crisis," Go reiterated.

Meanwhile, Senator Go also reminded the public that the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation has special packages for COVID-19 cases and patients may go to any of the 71 Malasakit Centers in the country to apply for financial and medical assistance from PhilHealth, DOH, Department of Social Welfare and Development and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.



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Earlier, I echoed the appeal of concerned sectors and fellow legislators, particularly Senators Joel Villanueva and Pia Cayetano, for the government to release the compensation of job order (JO) and contract of service (COS) workers affected by the lockdown imposed to deter the further spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Today, the Department of Budget and Management issued Joint Circular No 1, s. 2020, together with the Commission on Audit, which states the general guidelines granting this appeal.

The interim guidelines state, among others, that "COS and JO workers who will not be required to report for work due to work suspension and those who are not part of the agency skeletal force shall be paid their corresponding salaries/ wages during the community quarantine period as an exception to the 'no work, no pay' principle for this occasion only."

Moreover, it further provides that "COS and JO workers who will be part of the agency skeletal force and will be able to physically report for work during the quarantine period may be granted appropriate additional benefit, as may be authorized by the Office of the President.

"COS and JO workers who will be required to work from home shall be paid their corresponding salaries/ wages during the community quarantine period," the interim guidelines further provide.

We would like to thank the DBM, COA, and other concerned agencies for their immediate action in granting our appeal and for prioritizing the welfare of all COS and JOs workers affected by this crisis.



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Senate Committee on Health and Demography Chair Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go said on Friday, March 20, that it is important to identify and capacitate select hospitals that can exclusively handle COVID-19 cases in order to have a more unified approach, maximize limited resources, protect health workers, and avoid exposure of patients in hospitals with non-COVID-19 health concerns.

"Mahirap kung kalat-kalat sa iba't ibang mga ospital ang mga pasyente na positibo o posibleng may COVID-19. By designating specific hospitals, it is easier for the government to monitor the progress of the patients and in positioning logistics and other resources. It also lessens possible exposure of COVID-19 positive patients to other non-infected individuals in hospitals," Go explained.

Go said that this approach will also avoid unnecessary possible exposure of health frontliners in other hospitals to COVID-19. He further explained that health professionals working in hospitals that are not one of those designated to specialize in COVID-19 cases can focus on treating other patients who are facing non-COVID-19 but equally high-risk diseases and conditions.

"Tuloy-tuloy dapat ang serbisyo maging sa mga may sakit sa puso, cancer, high blood, diabetes at iba pang karamdaman," he said adding that other hospitals must remain steadfast in their duty to serve and cater to the needs of patients with various medical concerns aside from COVID-19.

The Department of Health has announced that in compliance with the instructions of the President, the government will be dedicating hospitals in Metro Manila to specialize and provide services solely for PUIs and patients who tested positive for COVID-19.

As of this time, DOH is considering two hospitals, namely Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in Caloocan and the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital in Manila to be designated as medical facilities exclusively for COVID-19 cases.

Furthermore, Go noted that a similar measure has been earlier implemented in Davao City. Mayor Sara Duterte assigned the Southern Philippines Medical Center to handle PUIs showing severe COVID-19 symptoms.

"Ginawa nila ito para maiwasang ma-contaminate ang ibang hospitals doon at maasikaso nila ang mga non-COVID-19 patients at mga emergency cases," Go said

In line with this, a statement was released by an alliance of eleven private hospitals in Metro Manila requesting the government to identify and capacitate hospitals that will be dedicated to handle cases related to the COVID-19 outbreak. The appeal was also endorsed by the Philippine College of Physicians and the Philippine College of Surgeons.

Go responded to the statement by expressing that he supports the intent of the appeal of several hospitals for "a unified approach to the COVID-19 pandemic."

"Nakikinig ang gobyerno sa mga payo at hinaing ng medical professionals at health experts. As a legislator, I personally believe in the wisdom of this policy approach as expressed in their appeal and so does the President," said Go.

The hospitals that issued the appeal to the government include the Adventist Medical Center, Asian Hospital Medical Center, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Fatima University Medical Center, Makati Medical Center, Manila Doctors Hospital, Medical Center Manila, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, The Medical City, St. Luke's Medical Center and University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Medical Center.

"Joint effort dapat ito ng medical community, public and private. Now is a time for us to all work together to find the right solutions to this crisis," Go reiterated.

Meanwhile, Senator Go also reminded the public that the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation has special packages for COVID-19 cases and patients may go to any of the 71 Malasakit Centers in the country to apply for financial and medical assistance from PhilHealth, DOH, Department of Social Welfare and Development and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.



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