SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) have ordered temporary restrictions in the entry of persons to the Subic Bay Freeport Zone to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) within the zone.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the order was unanimously approved by the members of the SBMA board of directors late Saturday in response to an immediate need to protect the safety and well-being of stakeholders in the Subic Bay Freeport in face of increased COVID-19 infection in nearby areas.

She said the entry restrictions will be effective for about a month, starting 12:00 a.m. on Monday, March 16, until 12:00 a.m. of April 14, or while the State of Public Health Emergency declared by Malacañang is in force.

“I know that this is a bitter pill to swallow, as it would hugely impact on business operations in the greater Subic Bay area. But the welfare of everyone in the community should always be our primary consideration,” Eisma stressed.

“The entry restrictions serve as a safety and preventive measure to check the spread of COVID-19 and minimize the danger of infection that each of us face today,” she added.

While the SBMA order temporarily restricts the entry of individuals into the Freeport, Eisma said the agency had identified exceptions who would be allowed to get in, among them Subic Bay Freeport residents.

Eisma said the SBMA ruled, however, that SBF residents who come from Metro Manila and other areas with local COVID-19 transmission should undergo mandatory self-quarantine for 14 days under the supervision of the agency’s Public Health and Safety Department (PHSD).

She said that SBF locators, employees, and students will be allowed entry provided they exhibit no signs or symptoms of possible COVID-19 infection and that they shall exit the Freeport on the same day of their entry.

This guideline applies as well to accredited service providers, logistics enterprises delivering or picking up goods or supplies, port users, employees of government agencies operating within the SBFZ, suppliers, manpower and logistics providers of ongoing SBMA projects, and emergency service personnel.

Eisma said the SBMA began enforcing health safety measures early last month when the coronavirus outbreak was spreading from China into other countries. These measures included a temporary ban on the entry of persons, vessels and aircraft coming directly from COVID-hit countries and thermal scanning and screening at Freeport gates.

Last week, the SBMA began disinfection protocols and enforced a one-door policy in SBMA offices after local transmission of COVID-19 was reported in Manila.

Meanwhile, Eisma urged all Subic business locators to conduct business with non-SBF enterprises via videoconferencing or teleconferencing, and encouraged SBMA clients to submit documents online to minimize personal contacts.

“These measures, like frequent handwashing and maintaining proper hygiene, may seem puny at first, but these actually enable us to keep safe and to be strong for others,” Eisma pointed out.

“Our system might be deficient and we might be ill-prepared for an emergency like this, but if we cooperate and support each other and exercise malasakit for our community, then we can survive this ordeal,” she added.

Source: Punto

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The Palace wishes to inform the public that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has been apprised by our health officials about the decision to raise the Code Alert System for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country to Code Red Sublevel 2.

Following discussions with health officials, as well as with members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), the Chief Executive has decided to approve the imposition of Stringent Social Distancing Measures in the National Capital Region (NCR) for thirty (30) days, effective March 15, 2020, with the salient directives discussed below.

First, the suspension of classes in all levels in Metro Manila is extended until April 12, 2020, with students remaining in their respective homes for the said duration.

Second, mass gatherings, defined as events where the number of people attending could strain the planning and response resources of the community hosting the event, shall be prohibited during the aforesaid period.

Third, community quarantine is imposed in the entire Metro Manila. Local Government Units (LGUs) in other areas are advised to abide by the following guidelines:
• A barangay-wide quarantine is advised when there at least two (2) positive COVID-19 cases belonging to different households in the same barangay;
• A municipality/city-wide quarantine is advised when there at least two (2) positive COVID-19 cases belonging to different barangays in the same municipality/city;
• A province-wide quarantine is advised when there at least two (2) positive COVID-19 cases belonging to different municipalities, component cities or independent component cities in the same province; and
• LGUs, which have imposed community quarantine in their respective jurisdiction/s, upon the declaration of a State of Calamity, shall be allowed to access their Quick Response Fund.

Fourth, work in the Executive Branch shall be suspended during the same period, without prejudice to the formation of skeletal workforces by government agencies. The Congress and the Judiciary are encouraged to adopt the same policy. Law enforcement agencies, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, as well as health and emergency frontline services shall continue in full operation.

Fifth, flexible work arrangements shall likewise be encouraged in the private sector, following guidelines from the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Trade and Industry designed to safeguard the welfare of the workers. All manufacturing, retail and service establishments shall remain in operation during the same period, provided that strict social distancing measures are observed.

Sixth, mass public transports, such as the Light Rail Transits, the Metro Rail Transits, and the Philippine National Railway shall continue in operation, following guidelines by the Department of Transportation intended to ensure social distancing.

Seventh, land, domestic air, and domestic sea travel to and from Metro Manila shall be suspended until April 14, 2020.

All the aforementioned measures shall be subject to daily monitoring and reassessment by the IATF.

In addition, LGUs outside of the National Capital Region are advised to exercise sound discretion in suspending classes in their respective localities.

The President likewise approved that Balik-Manggagawa Overseas Filipino Workers may be allowed to travel to mainland China, except to Hubei Province, upon their execution of a declaration signifying their knowledge and understanding of the risks involved in their travel. A health advisory pamphlet shall similarly be handed to them upon their departure.

Finally, entry travel restrictions shall be imposed upon those traveling from countries with localized COVID-19 transmissions, except for Filipino citizens including their foreign spouse and children, if any, holders of permanent resident visa, and holders of diplomatic visas issued by the Philippine Government.

To be clear, and to allay the fears and apprehension of the public, the government is essentially calling for a stricter implementation of preventive measures in order to slow down and put a halt to the further spread of COVID-19. While a total and absolute lockdown is considered by some as a valid preventive measure, current circumstances do not warrant such an extreme course of action.

While the Duterte Administration remains resolute in combating this disease, the Palace asks affected entities and individuals for their cooperation in properly observing the foregoing adopted measures.

Salvador S. Panelo
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel
& Presidential Spokesperson

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TWO members of the University of the Philippines (UP) faculty have been placed under investigation for coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

UP said in a statement posted on its website that the two faculty members have been considered patients under investigation (PUI) as they showed fever and respiratory symptoms of Covid-19 after attending an academic conference in Japan.

With this, UP has strictly carried out protocols and coordinated with the UP Diliman Health Service (UPHS), a primary hospital on campus.

UPHS Director Jesusa Catabui assured the community that protocols were followed in isolating the patients and disinfecting the premises and the ambulance that was used to carry them to a referral hospital.

UP administrators instructed all constituents who have come into close contact with a confirmed case, or have been exposed to potential infection during travels, to seek consultation with the University Health Service on campus, or at the nearest health facility, and undergo a health assessment before resuming their daily routine.

The UPHS and the Quezon City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit also coordinated the monitoring of the persons with whom the PUIs had been in close contact.

“Buildings that have been visited by the PUIs are now being disinfected,” UP said.

On March 9, the UP Diliman administration suspended classes and limited work to a skeletal force on campus until Saturday, March 14, 2020.

It also met with experts from the UPHS and the UP Manila-Philippine General Hospital to come up with specific protocols on travel, events and academic programs, which it released on March 10 to the UP Diliman community.

Among the guidelines agreed are the following:

* Official travel, whether local or international, will be prohibited indefinitely… All members of the community returning from travel overseas will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days.

* All big events on campus will be called off, until further notice.

* UP is moving towards online platforms in place of conventional classroom delivery.

UP Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo also formed a Covid-19 Task Force, which can be contacted at uhs.updiliman@up.edu.ph (with “Covid-19” as subject), 0947-427-9281 (mobile) or 8981-8500 local 2709, to answer questions and receive relevant information.

Source: Sunstar

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Concerns over the spread of COVID-19 continue to impact a string of sporting events around the world. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is one of those, having just announced the decision to shift the Asia Championships from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, to Manila, the capital of the Philippines. 

The badminton showpiece event, which was originally scheduled to be held from April 21-26 in Wuhan, is one of the last opportunities for shuttlers to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics this summer.  

With the coronavirus raging in China, Indonesia was initially considered by the BWF as an alternative candidate to be the new hosts, but the Southeast Asia giants declined to step up, citing shortage of funds. After weeks of negotiations, the Philippines eventually came to the rescue.

Several badminton competitions, which were to serve as qualifiers for the Tokyo Games, were either canceled or postponed in recent weeks due to COVID-19, but the BWF insisted that it will not extend the qualification period to add more ranking events in the lead up to the Olympics as it will affect different players “either positively or negatively.”

Jia Yifan (L) and Chen Qingchen pose with their medals after winning the women’s doubles title at the 2019 Badminton Asia Championships, Wuhan, April 28, 2019. /VCG

The top 16 singles players in the qualification race, limited to two athletes from the same nation, are guaranteed spots in the Tokyo Games, which begin on July 24. 

The BWF stressed that it had been working closely with the Philippine Badminton Association to secure visas for all athletes for the individual championships. 

“We have been trying to secure visa approval for all players and officials so they can be granted entry into Manila for this important and prestigious tournament,” a BWF statement read. 

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the president of the Philippine Badminton Association and relevant staff, together with the Government of the Philippines for assisting on this matter,” it added. 

The ramifications of the coronavirus have spread to nearly every sport and cycling was no exception. The two French cycling teams kept in the United Arab Emirates following the outbreak that ended the UAE Tour, will be quarantined for 10 more days, team officials confirmed on Wednesday.

“We have just learned that we are officially quarantined, in theory until March 14,” Thierry Vittu, the president of Cofidis’ competition team, posted on Facebook. The 12-member Groupama squad, which includes four riders, also remains under quarantine.  

Cofidis riders will be quarantined in UAE for 10 days following the outbreak of the coronavirus, March 4, 2020. /VCG

“We’re officially in quarantine with a probable return on March 14,” said Arnaud Demare, a one of the Groupama-FDJ riders. We’ve learnt that some people who tested positive for coronavirus were occupying the same floor as us.” 

There was no immediate comment from the other two teams which were in lockdown, UAE Team and Russian-backed Gazprom. 

The UAE Tour was abandoned last Thursday after two Italian staff members with one of the teams tested positive for the disease. On Tuesday the UAE announced six more related cases, saying that two Russians, two Italians, one German, and a Colombian had been infected. 

In Italy, the hardest-hit European country with 107 deaths, it was announced that all matches — as well as all major sports events — will be played behind closed doors until April 3. 

“Closing doors but continuing matches is the right thing to do, so people aren’t put at risk,” Inter Milan chairman Steven Zhang told the BBC. 

This week’s Italian Cup semi-finals were postponed to a date to be arranged while a number of league games were cancelled over the last two weekends. 

Morocco also announced on Wednesday that all football matches in the north African country will be played without fans after a 39-year-old man coming from the northern Italian city of Bergamo became its first registered case of coronavirus.

Juventus’s top-of-the-table clash with Inter Milan has been called off because of the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy. /VCG

Meanwhile, the FIBA 3×3 Olympic qualification tournament that was scheduled to take place in India later this month has also been postponed .

The International Basketball Federation said on Wednesday its decision to postpone the March 18-22 tournament in Bengaluru was made after careful consideration regarding the outbreak of the coronavirus.

The event was set to include 40 teams – 20 for each gender – who would battle it out for six tickets to Tokyo 2020, where 3×3 basketball will make its Olympic debut.

FIBA said it is working in close collaboration with the International Olympic Committee on the best solution possible since the event needs to occur before the April 24-26 FIBA 3×3 Universality Olympic Qualifier Tournament in Budapest.

The governing body also said its 3×3 Asia Cups have been rescheduled with the May 13-17 competition in Changsha, China moved to September from May and the 3×3 Under 17 event in Cyberjaya, Malaysia, moved to October from June.

In addition, the governing body said the men’s and women’s FIBA Under 16 Asian Championships, which were due to take place in Beirut and Canberra, respectively, have both been canceled.

(With input from agencies)

Reference: CGTN

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CONVERGE ICT Solutions Incorporated is planning to establish a smart city inside the Subic Bay Freeport.

This is after a recent meeting between Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chair and administrator Wilma Eisma and Converge ICT Solutions Incorporated Chief Executive Officer Dennis Uy inside the freeport.

The telecommunications firm is eyeing the creation of the smart city with plans to establish cable landing stations and data center infrastructure that will modernize the freeport.

Converge presently provides fiber optic internet access to its subscribers in Metro Manila and the provinces of Pampanga, Tarlac Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, and Pangasinan.

In 2009, the Congress of the Philippines enacted Republic Act 9707 to grant Converge ICT Solutions Incorporated the franchise to construct, install, establish, operate and maintain telecommunication system throughout the country.

Converge ICT Solutions, the broadband services provider behind the country’s first pure end-to-end fiber internet network, has been cited as the fastest-growing provider by the International Finance Award.

The London-based magazine stated that Converge is recognized for being true to its mission to upgrade the overall digital experience of the country.

Reference: Sunstar

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