Economy may lose P5 trillion on shutdown of SICs ByTYRONE JASPER C. PIAD MARCH 18, 2021 Passengers in protective suits are seen at the almost-deserted arrival lounge at the Terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City on Wednesday (March 17, 2021). The National Task Force Against Covid-19 has suspended travel into the Philippines of foreigners and returning overseas Filipinos who are non-overseas Filipino workers, limiting the number of inbound international passengers/arrivals to only 1,500 a day, from March 20, 2021, to April 19, 2021. THE economy stands to lose P5.41 trillion if the 15 strategically important companies (SICs) identified by the government will fold up as business activities have remained generally muted during the pandemic, a state-run bank’s study revealed. Land Bank of the Philippines economist Guian Angelo S. Dumalagan said that the potential loss—which represents SICs’ total economic linkages—would also affect their related businesses, including the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) if ever. He did not name the companies. https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/03/18/economy-may-lose-p5-trillion-on-shutdown-of-sics/ Philippines to shut border to foreigners as virus cases surge PUBLISHED : 17 MAR 2021 AT 13:40 WRITER: AFP MANILA: The Philippines will close its border to foreigners and restrict the number of Filipinos entering the country as authorities battle to contain a spike in coronavirus infections. The temporary measures come after the number of daily cases hit a seven-month high of 5,404 on Monday and experts predict the figure could double by the end of March. Most of the active infections are in Metro Manila where targeted lockdowns, night-time curfews and a stay-at-home order for all children are being used to curb the spread. The ban on overseas arrivals was announced late Tuesday by the government's Covid-19 task force and takes effect March 20. Overseas Filipino workers will be exempt, but the number of passenger arrivals will be limited to 1,500 a day, it said. Authorities have blamed the infection surge on poor compliance with health protocols, such as wearing a mask and face shield in public, and more contagious variants of the virus. A year after ordering the first lockdown that crippled the country's economy, threw millions out of work and triggered record hunger, President Rodrigo Duterte urged Filipinos to "not despair". "It's a small thing in our lives. We went through (things that) are more severe, more difficult and brought more tears," Duterte said Monday. His remarks sparked anger among social media users and opposition lawmakers who accused him of belittling the suffering of health workers and people who have lost loved ones to the disease. Duterte's government has been flayed over its handling of the pandemic, which has infected more than 630,000 people. Nearly 13,000 have died. The hospital bed occupancy rate is at 59% in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces, presidential spokesman Harry Roque -- who has tested positive for Covid-19 -- said Tuesday. But at the Philippine General Hospital, one of the country's main facilities treating Covid-19 patients, 80% of beds for patients diagnosed with the disease were occupied and its intensive care wards full, a spokesman told local media. The government hopes to inoculate 70 million people by the end of this year. More than a million doses of vaccines developed by China's Sinovac and British-Swedish drug maker AstraZeneca have been delivered in the past two weeks. The government hopes to have "a stable supply of vaccines starting April or May", said retired general Carlito Galvez, who is overseeing the effort. About 216,000 health workers have received their first jab so far, he said. Authorities aim to inoculate 1.7 million medical staff by mid-April before distributing vaccines to the elderly and poor. https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/2085183/philippines-to-shut-border-to-foreigners-as-virus-cases- surge House of Representatives placed under lockdown By CNN Philippines Staff Published Mar 18, 2021 5:33:36 AM Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 18) – The House of Representatives announced on Thursday a four-day lockdown in its main complex in Quezon City starting today until March 21. In a statement posted on its official social media page, the House said the lockdown is a precautionary measure amid the rising COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila. Congressmen and other House employees were advised to stay at home and will have access to its livestreaming platforms during scheduled committee meetings, public hearings, and other events during the lockdown period. House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez confirmed on Wednesday night he tested positive for COVID-19. Negros Oriental 1st District Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong and Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor also announced this week that they tested positive for COVID-19. House Secretary General Mark Llandro Mendoza earlier said there are 29 active infections in the House of Representatives. The Senate is also on lockdown for a week after 24 employees contracted COVID-19. Their session will resume on March 24, the last plenary session before Congress takes a two-month recess. OCTA experts said the 2,231 infections recorded in the capital region on March 16 pushed the virus reproduction number to 1.96, its highest since May 2020. The number means nearly two people are getting infected by each COVID-19 patient. Its daily attack rate, which tracks the day-to-day increase or decrease of cases, is 15.9 per 100,000 in the past seven days, making it a high-risk area. The Philippines has recently been recording more than 4,000 to over 5,000 new infections per day. The country recorded 4,387 new COVID-19 infections on Wednesday, lifting the total number to 635,698, of which 61,733 are active cases. Some 12,866 persons died and 561,099 patients recovered from coronavirus. https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/3/18/House-of-Representatives-placed-under-lockdown.html Commissioning of BRP Antonio Luna set March 19 By Priam Nepomuceno March 17, 2021, 9:29 am BRP Antonio Luna (Photo courtesy of Naval Public Affairs Office) MANILA – The country's second missile frigate, the BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), will be formally commissioned on Friday, the Philippine Navy (PN) said. In an advisory on Wednesday, PN public affairs office chief Commander Benjo Negranza said the commissioning ceremony would be held at Pier 13, South Harbor, Manila at 8:30 a.m. with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana as guest-of-honor and speaker. Earlier, PN chief, Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo, said the missile frigates BRP Jose Rizal (FF- 150) and BRP Antonio Luna would be deployed only to specific missions, as ordered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines' top leadership. "They will still conduct sovereignty patrols and show-the-flag missions covering the whole archipelago with a focus on external defense. They will participate in naval exercises here and abroad in order to hone the skills of her crew in naval warfighting," Bacordo said. The frigates are capable of surface, sub-surface, air, and electronic warfare using state-of-the-art electronic sensors, long-range missiles, acoustic guided torpedoes, and an embarked anti- submarine helicopter. The prospective BRP Antonio Luna left Ulsan, South Korea last February 5 and arrived in the Capones Island in Zambales on February 9. The contract for the two ships was placed at PHP16 billion, with PHP2 billion for weapon systems and munitions. (PNA) https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133857 UP scientist aims to be the first Filipino to reach Earth’s third deepest spot Published March 17, 2021, 9:02 PM by Ellalyn De Vera –Ruiz Microbial oceanographer Dr. Deo Florence L. Onda is set to make history as the first Filipino to reach the third deepest spot on Earth located in the Philippine Trench, called the Emden Deep. Dr. Deo Florence L. Onda Onda started his voyage from the port of Guam to the Philippine Trench, while onboard the DSSV Pressure Drop last March 15. DSSV Pressure Drop is the only marine vessel in the world capable of launching the deep- sea submersible DSV Limiting Factor that can carry humans and repeatedly dive to the deepest parts in the world’s oceans. Onda will be descending about 10,400 meters or 34,100 feet deep, along with American undersea explorer Victor Vescovo, who currently holds the record for the deepest manned descend in the Marianas Trench in 2019. “The Philippine Trench is a unique feature found within the EEZ (exclusive economic zone) of the Philippines, and it is only appropriate that a Filipino scientist be one of the first to hold this record in the Emden Deep,” UP-MSI said in a statement on Wednesday, March 17. It said part of the goal is to wave the Philippine flag in the Emden Deep during its record- setting voyage. “Dr. Onda, as the sole Filipino researcher representing the country, will also be given a unique opportunity to be exposed to state-of-the-art vessels capable of deep-sea activities, which can enrich our experiences and knowledge as the Philippines builds its own National Academic Research Fleet (NARFleet), an ongoing national project funded by the Philippine government,” UP-MSI said. “This endeavor can spark interest and passion for many other young Filipinos who would want to make a career in the sciences and bring more attention to the protection, preservation, and conservation of the Philippine marine environment,” it added. Onda was invited by the organization Caladan Oceanic to join the Emden Deep Expedition scheduled on March 22 to 28, 2021.