News Roundup 16 May 2020
May 16, 2020 • 3 min Read
‘Ambo’ accelerates north over West Philippine Sea | PHILSTAR.COM – Tropical storm “Ambo” (international name: Vongfong) is now over the West Philippine Sea and is moving northward at a faster pace of 30 kilometers per hour as of late Saturday afternoon, state weather bureau PAGASA said. The storm’s center was estimated 110 km northwest of Laoag City in Ilocos Norte as of 4:00 p.m., according to PAGASA’s 5:00 p.m. severe weather bulletin on Saturday. Meanwhile, its maximum sustained winds remain at 65 kph near the center with gustiness of 80 kph. Light to moderate with at times heavy rains are forecast over Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley and the northern portion of Aurora province in Central Luzon. Later tonight until tomorrow evening, moderate with at times heavy rains are expected over Batanes and Bayuan Islands.
More businesses to operate in Subic Freeport as SBMA adopts MECQ | INQUIRER.NET – More businesses were allowed to open in this freeport as it joined other neighboring communities in implementing the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until May 31. In a statement on Saturday, Wilma Eisma, chair and administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, said they would adopt the MECQ status imposed over Bataan and Zambales pending a separate quarantine classification by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID). Eisma said the basis for the self-imposed quarantine classification is that 65.25 percent of the total land area of the freeport is located in Bataan, and 24.48 percent is located in Zambales. She said the agency appealed to IATF-EID as early as April 28 to extend the ECQ status over the freeport due to the lack of health facilities to contain a possible surge of the coronavirus disease in the area.
Group hits ‘budget cut’ in education amid COVID-19 pandemic | Manila Bulletin – A federation of teachers on Saturday slammed the “budget cut” in education amid the COVID-19 crisis – noting that more funds will be needed by schools this coming school year as the Department of Education (DepEd) implements its learning continuity program. The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines, in a statement, denounced the administration’s “purchase of P70 billion worth of war materials from the US State Department while it has resorted to at least 10% budget cuts on education and other essential services to fund its COVID-19 response.”
‘Little time left to tackle ABS-CBN bill’ | The Manila Times – Congress might not have enough time to act on measures for the renewal of ABS-CBN Corp.’s 25-year franchise, a House leader said on Friday. Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte, who reminded that Congress adjourns sine die on June 5, raised the concern. The bill was approved on second reading when the House convened into a committee of the whole last Wednesday. It will be up for third and final reading when session resumes next week. But Congress could be wrapped up in tackling priority legislation relating to the coronavirus during the remaining two weeks of session, Villafuerte said. Among the coronavirus measures are the HB 6623 setting the “new normal” protocols; HB 6709 proposing a three-year, P1.5-trillion infrastructure spending package focused on health, education, agriculture, local infrastructure and livelihood; and the consolidated bill providing a P1.3 trillion economic stimulus package. Villafuerte stressed that the ABS-CBN franchise is also an urgent issue since as it involves possible violations of labor, tax and constitutional laws.
