News Roundup 17 May 2020
May 17, 2020 • 3 min Read
Mall management warned: Enforce physical distancing or face closure, charges | PHILSTAR.COM – The quarantine enforcement arm of the government’s COVID-19 task force warned the public that they would oversee the closure of malls if social distancing and quarantine rules continue to be broken amid the easing of the enhanced community quarantine. Reports flooded social media over the weekend of congested highways and crowded malls on the very first day of their re-opening as many flocked to public spaces. Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, commander of the Joint Task Force COVID Shield said in a statement issued Sunday afternoon warned that the task force would facilitate the closure of malls that failed to ensure health measures are followed, along with slapping them with charges.
Drilon, Pangilinan to DILG: Focus on COVID-19, not Cha-cha | INQUIRER.NET – Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senator Francis Pangilinan on Sunday criticized the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for its reported move to push for Charter change (Cha-cha) amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, dismissing talks about Cha-cha as the “height of insensitivity” and an “insult” to Filipinos who have lost their jobs because of the health crisis. For Drilon, DILG’s action amid the coronavirus pandemic is “a total waste of time and resources.” “Habang ang mga Pilipino ay wala nang makain at nawalan ng trabaho, isusubo natin itong Cha-cha? (While Filipinos no longer have anything to eat and are jobless, we will instead give them Cha-cha?)”, he said in a statement. “We are in the middle of a pandemic. The country is grappling to contain COVID-19 and deal with its aftermath. To talk about Cha-cha is the height of insensitivity,” he added. The DILG reportedly directed its regional offices and supporters to continue gathering up to 2 million signatures over the next two months to back amendments to the Constitution or what the department calls constitutional reform (CORE).
Robredo warns public not to be complacent on COVID-19 | Manila Bulletin – “Huwag po tayong kampante. Hindi pa po tapos iyong ating problema. (We should not complacent. Our problem is not yet over).” Alluding to the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Vice President Leni Robredo issued this reminder to the public and her fellow government officials. Robredo said while the quarantine measures may have eased somewhat, now it is not the time for complacency, because a second wave of COVID-19 infections is possible. “Agree ako na mayroong nang pakonti-konti na pagbukas [pero] iyong implementation, hindi pwede mangyari ulit iyong nangyari kahapon,” she said on her Sunday radio show. (I agree there is a gradual reopening of some industries, but in the implementation, the incidents yesterday should not happen again.) Robredo said she was afraid a second wave of the COVID-19 infection could hit the country when safety protocols are not well implemented and followed.
Lawmaker seeks suspension of PhilHealth contribution hike | The Manila Times – A lawmaker is asking President Rodrigo Duterte to suspend the increase in Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) contributions amid “economic hardships” due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. Bulacan Rep. Florida Robes filed Resolution 862, which seeks to defer the implementation of PhilHealth Circular 2019-0009, which raises the rate of direct contributors to 3 percent of their basic salaries starting 2020. The circular released in accordance with Republic Act 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act also prescribes an increment of 0.5 percent every year thereafter until it reaches the 5 percent limit in 2025.
