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PH suspends Saudi hiring Labor order leaves 403 KSA-bound OFWs stranded at NAIA Terminal 1
Full capacity for staycation hotels; curbs lifted soon
By Joel E. Zurbano, Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta
H
UNDREDS of Filipino workers were left stranded at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Friday, as two Philippine Airlines (PAL) flights flew practically empty to the Middle East after the government suspended the deployment of workers to Saudi Arabia.
VOL. XXXV • NO. 103 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 SATURDAY, MAY 29, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
By Willie Casas THE Palace on Friday said staycation hotels are now allowed to operate at 100 percent capacity even as the government is considering lifting more restrictions in specific bubbles despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In a press statement, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) approved the recommendation of its technical working group to allow staycation hotels to operate up to 100 percent of their venue capacity. “On tourism-related matters, Department of Tourism (DOT)-accredited accommodation establishments with certificates of authority to operate for staycation may accommodate guests for staycations up to 100 percent venue capacity,” Roque, who also serves as IATFEID spokesperson, said. Roque said staycation hotels may also forgo the Covid-19 testing of guests as a prerequisite for accommodation, so long as their guests are aged 18 to 65. Roque said hotels in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) without a certificate of authority to operate for staycation may accommodate guests for leisure purposes for up to 30 percent of their venue capacity, subject to DOT guidelines and other conditions. Meanwhile, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said health
PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said the airline regrets that it was unable to accept overseas Filipino worker (OFW) passengers on its flights PR-5654 (Manila-Riyadh) and PR-5682 (ManilaDammam) because of the suspension. Villaluna said 283 OFWs were unable to board PAL's Manila-Riyadh flight, while 120 OFWs were not accepted on the Manila-Dammam flight on Friday. "As a result, our flights to Riyadh and Dammam departed empty except for three Dammam-bound non-OFW passengers," she said. PAL said it decided to continue the flights so it can serve hundreds of Filipinos who urgently need to fly home to Next page
DOJ invokes Bayanihan vs. erring LGUs By Maricel V Cruz
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ASIDE from the Revised Penal Code provision on dereliction of duty, the Department of Justice said barangay captains who will allow super spreader events to take place in their respective areas will also be held accountable for violating the Local Government Code and the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act. Justice Undersecretary Adrian Sugay said the guideline for the arrest of barangay captains was contained in the joint memorandum circular crafted by the DOJ and the Department of Interior and Local Government. “The guidelines provide that the DILG shall hold accountable all local government officials for violation of, among others, the Local
COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE
(AS OF 4 PM MAY 28)
1,209,154 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES
8,748 53,770 NEW
ACTIVE
20,566
187
1,134,818
187
DEATHS
RECOVERIES
NEW
Hundreds of OFWs bound for Saudi Arabia were left stranded at the Naia Terminal 1 after the Labor department imposed a temporary suspension of deployment in that country. An OWW representative arrived later to explain the situation to the OFWs. Two Philippine Airlines flights departed for Riyadh without passengers except for the crew.
NEW
• US vax surplus for PH, other allies • More sectors added to A1 priority "It's free, it's part of the help they are giving to their allies," Romualdez said in a radio interview. Romualdez THE United States said the number of government will doses that will be distribute among shared to the Philits allies, includippines will be deing the Philippines, termined in the coming days. its surplus of Moderna and AstraZenThe ambassador made the discloeca COVID-19 vaccine doses, Philippine sure after he was informed by the White Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel House that the Philippines will be among Romualdez said on Friday. Next page
By Rey Requejo, Othel Campos and Willie Casas
LOCAL ROUNDUP
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Marcos, Robredo top choices in separate polls FORMER Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is now the leading choice for president of registered voters based on the latest Luzon-belt survey of the Magdalo group. In a face-to-face survey last May 19-20, 2021, Marcos garnered 22 percent, followed by Sara Duterte-Carpio, who got 18.9 percent. Congressman Manuel Cabochan, Magdalo party-list representative, explained that Marcos had the biggest bump in terms of voter preference from the previous survey in February, which was topped by Duterte-Carpio. Cabochan, however,
stressed the survey covered only Luzon Belt areas, which include vote-rich Regions 3 and 4, Pangasinan, and the National Capital Region, and which comprise 40 percent of the voting population. “If we are going to project this nationally, Sara Duterte can still catch up with Marcos because of her strong Mindanao voter base. But based on the trajectory, Mayor Sara’s voter preference has been declining the past three surveys,” Cabochan said. Following Marcos and Duterte are: Grace Poe with 17.9 percent; Isko Moreno with 10.3 percent; Manny Pacquiao with 8.0 percent; Leni Robredo with 7.3 percent; Alan Peter Cayetano with 4.9 percent; Next page
Former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo
Have jab, win a prize: House, cow, rice on offer By Joyce Pangco Pañares
VACCINEES. Health workers check the blood pressure of vaccinees after being
inoculated with the second dose of Sinovac vaccine at the covered court of Bagong Silang Elementary School, Caloocan City Friday (May 28, 2021). Plans are afoot in the United States to donate its surplus vaccines consisting of Moderna and AstraZenaca. Ben Briones
WITH incentives ranging from cows to sacks of rice to house and lot packages, local government units are pulling out all the stops to convince Filipinos to get vaccinated against COVID-19. In Las Piñas, inoculated residents have the chance to win a brand new house as well as groceries and mo-
torcycles under the program “May Bahay sa Bakuna: Bakunado Ka Na, May Bahay Ka Pa.” “We want to reinforce the importance of getting vaccinated for people, their families, and the community. It will not only protect people but help our economy slowly recover. Through this effort, we also have a chance to increase awareness and confidence
in vaccines," Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar said. Monthly draws will be held starting in July for 50 winners of a livelihood package worth P5,000. The grand draw on December 24 will have one lucky winner of two motorcycles and a house and lot package from Bria Homes. Next page