Former Congressman Ted Failon criticized Mayor Joy Belmonte for not trying to find a way to get an emergency budget from Quezon City’s.

On his radio program on DZMM, Failon questioned why Belmonte who’s the Mayor of the second richest city in the Philippines is asking additional budget to the Duterte administration.

It can be remembered that Belmonte said that their quick response fund was not enough to feed 400,000 families in Quezon City for four weeks.

“Sa ika-apat na linggo, medyo magkukulang na po ang pondo ng lungsod, sapagkat ang quick response fund po natin ay mauubos na, at ang halaga nito ay P400-M lang ata, and we have other things to take care of katulad hospital equipment,” Belmonte said.

“We are now appealing to the DSWD, national government na sana tulungan naman nila kami sa lungsod ng Quezon,” she added.

According to Failon, Belmonte has the power to realign its budget to help her constituents who were affected by the enhanced community quarantine.

“Magpakatotoo tayo. ‘Yung mga nagyayabang na sila ang pinakamayan na city ‘pag walang kalamida.’Pag may kalamidad, kailangan namin ang tulong, nasaan na ang gobyerno. ‘Pag may kalamidad, iba na ang usapan,” Said Failon.

The radio host revealed that Belmonte during her time as the Vice Mayor of Quezon City presided a realignment of P1.673-B in QC’s budget for the beautification of the streets of QC and also renovating the offices in their city hall.

“Gaano mo kabilis itong naipasa? Alam niyo ba kung saan inilaan yung pera? Office of the Mayor 504 million pesos, Engineering Department 571 million pesos, ano itong mga engineering department na mga project ito?” Failon said.

“Buildings, 264 million infrastructure program, fixtures?! Lamesa, upuan, 331 million furniture, ano po ito? Ito ang bilis n’yo magpasa ng suppemental budget tapos ito pangangailangan ng inyong constituents, kesyo ganito, kesyo ganyan,” he added.

Failon after seeing the documents, said that if Belmonte could realign the budget in the past for beautification of her city hall, she could definitely get a supplemental budget to feed her constituents for one month.

“Kaya niyo to gugustuhin ninyo, nagawa niyo na ito eh,” he said.

Failon then urged Belmonte to stop her ‘beautification’ projects like putting ‘Welcome to QC’ signs and instead spend the money of her city to help her people.

He also mentioned that some of the Barangays in Quezon City are earning more compared to the third-class municipalities in the Philippines like Barangay Pasong Tamo (P144 million), Barangay Commonwealth (P133 million), Barangay Batasan (P109 million), and Barangay Holy Spirit (P74 million).

“Irealign n’yo kesa magpatayo pa kayo ng paso!” he said.

A man almost clashed with the authorities after he tried to violate the community quarantine being implemented by the government.

On Sunday, netizen Justin Erns Leysa posted a video showing a man arguing with two soldiers about the community quarantine.

It can be heard that the man was shouting at the cops and even revealed what religion he belongs to.

“Iglesia ni Cristo ako, pakita ko sayo? Iglesia ni Cristo ako taga saan ka?” the man told the cops while pointing his fingers at them.

The authorities suspected that the man was very drunk despite the advice from the government to avoid drinking alcohol amid the community quarantine.

“Ang ginagawa ay pangkahalataang sa tao, umuwi ka na!” the soldier told the man.

Fortunately, the man listened to the authorities’ request to travel back home without forcing him.

He also seems suddenly changed his attitude and apologized to the soldiers.

A member of Iglesia ni Cristo gave their comment on the video, apologizing to the netizens for the action of their alleged member.

“Bilang isang kaanib din ng INC. Humihingi ako ng paumanhin sa gnawa ng tao to. Hindi itotolerate ng sambahan yung mga ganitong taong ganito. Hindi lahat ng kaanib ganito. Pasensya na. Ingat kayo lage,” netizen Glenmore Fabros said.

Other netizens also urged the people to be cooperative with the authorities because they only wanted them to be safe from getting infected by COVID-19.

“Intindihin nyo rin sana ang sitwasyon nila tyo nasa bahay lang safe pero nag pupumilit pang lumagay sa alanganin, sila dahil kailangan sumunod sa utos kaya sila andyan kahit na alam nila na malalagay sila sa alanganin! May mga pamilya den sila na nag aalala kya sana pumirmis na lang tyo sa bahay at sigurado makakatulong pa tyo!” Allan Catinding commented.

“Hirap sa ating mga pinoy matitigas ulo ung mga sundalo nagsasakripisyo imbis na pamilya nila kasama nila ngayon nagbabantay sila sa mga pasaway na pinoy simpleng utos lng na magstay sa bahay gano ba kahirap na maging save ng isang bwan!!” netizen Rikazikuta Ilabu remarked.

The Manila City Government rescued the street dwellers that could also be infected by COVID-19 amid the ‘enhanced community quarantine’ being imposed in Luzon.

In a Facebook post, the Department of Tourism, Culture, and Arts of Manila(DTCAM) shared photos of showing members of Manila Department of Social Welfare (MDSW) reaches out to the homeless and street dwellers.

They were brought to Delpan Sports Complex and asked to stay there temporarily as the community quarantine is still active.

The Manila City Government vowed to give their needs, including a meal three times a day, during their stay at the sports complex.

To give make them more comfortable and protected, the government also set up modular tents for them.

On Friday, Mayor Isko Moreno together with Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna visited the temporary shelter of street dwellers.

Moreno said that the people who messaged him about the condition of the street dwellers don’t need to worry anymore.

The Mayor assured that there’s enough food supply in Manila City.

“Wag po tayong papatalo sa virus, mas magaling tayo sa virus,” Moreno told his followers in his Facebook live video.

The whole Luzon, including Metro Manila, was put under enhanced community quarantine since Tuesday to control the spread of the virus.

Yesterday, the Philippines recorded the biggest single-day increase of COVID-19 after 77 more have tested positive.

There are now 307 cases of COVID-19 in the country.

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV joined the Vico Sotto craze, but he never forgot to criticize his favorite political enemy, President Rodrigo Duterte.

On a social media post, Trillanes claimed that President Duterte’s warning against Local Government Units (LGUs) on early Friday morning was really meant for Pasig City Mayor Sotto who previously allowed the operation of tricycle in his territory.

Duterte on his statement warned the LGUs to face charges if they try to make the lockdown more difficult.

“I am ordering all LGUs that are doing this to stand down and abide by the directives of the IATF, not mine, but the task force,” President Duterte said.

“The national government needs your help at this time. But I have to tell you, do not make this quarantine more difficult for our people than it already is…There is only one republic here, the Republic of the Philippines, and therefore you should abide by the directives of the national government,” he said.

According to Trillanes, Duterte’s recent statement only showed that he wanted Sotto to become “incompetent” and “uncaring” like him.

“The presscon of duterte last night was basically about preventing Mayor Vico Sotto from doing productive initiatives to serve his constituents. duterte wants the mayors to be as incompetent and uncaring as himself,” Trillanes tweeted.

The presscon of duterte last night was basically about preventing Mayor Vico Sotto from doing productive initiatives to serve his contituents. duterte wants the mayors to be as incompetent and uncaring as himself. pic.twitter.com/8RIdYVkKWN

— Sonny Trillanes IV (@TrillanesSonny) March 20, 2020

Vico Sotto has gone viral on the inter and also became the media’s favorite after his activities as Mayor in Pasig City was featured and praised by the people.

However, Sotto seems raised the eyebrows of some government officials after he ordered the tricycles in Pasig to operate.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) refused the request of Sotto, explaining that people cannot practice social distancing inside a small vehicle like a tricycle.

They also fear a possible domino effect if they allow Pasig City tricycles to operate.

“We respect the opinion of mayor Vico Sotto in Pasig ngunit pasensya na po mayor hindi po talaga namin kayo pwedeng pagbigyan,” DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said Thursday in a press briefing.

“Kasi po if we allow mass transportation in Pasig…magrerequest na po ang lahat. Pag ginawa po natin yan, we give an exemption, it will defeat the entire purpose of the quarantine,” he added.

The chairman of Barangay Canagahan San Remegio, Cebu raised the eyebrows of the netizens after she made disrespectful remarks against her own chief executive, President Rodrigo Duterte.

On March 18, Barangay Captain Nicole Cambal criticized President Rodrigo Duterte after the latter asked the chairman of their respective places to take care of their constituents during the period of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Cambal in a now-deleted Facebook post said that President Rodrigo Duterte is making the barangay chairman as a “scapegoat” for being responsible for the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

She claimed that the national government didn’t allocate enough resources to the barangays, including Canagahan.

The chairman said that her barangay doesn’t have enough funds to fight COVID-19.

“Saying that keeping the COVID-19 virus under control is our job and if we fail to keep the virus under control, it’s our fault because we are tamad! Hello mister president, with that resources have you provided our office in order to contain this pandemic? Anyway please stop using us as a scapegoat,” Cambal said.

“Your administration has handled this issue poorly, don’t blame us. ALSO AS BARANGAY CAPTAIN, I HAVE CANCELLED MY ASSEMBLY AND FIESTA. NO FUNERAL GATHERINGS NO ONE IN THE COCKPITS. THERE. WITH NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO CONDUCT PROPER HEALTH INSPECTION. THIS IS ALL I CAN DO,” she added.

When President Rodrigo Duterte said that he’s going after irresponsible Barangay Captains, Cambal dared the chief executive to come to her place.

“Hala sige Duterte come to my barangay,” she said.

She also complained how poor is her barangay, and how Duterte gave more problem to her.

“Poor na poor na nga ang barangay ko tapos now this President is causing dispute within my constitutents g*go giving me more problems,” she said.

After her public post has gone viral, Nicole Cambal deactivated her Facebook account and other social media pages.

One Facebook page described Cambal as a “role model” who aside from doing her job as a Barangay Captain, was also serving the community through a literacy foundation.

“Even with her busy schedule, Nicole takes care of herself by working out regularly, eating well, and maintaining great hair. Her hair transformation to fifty shades of gray remains one of our favorites!” MIRA Beauty by Design wrote.

On March 12, President Duterte ordered all Barangay captains to take care of their constituents or else face charges and dismissal.

“Especially the barangay captains and the kagawads. You have been elected there. You sought the position. Hindi naman tayo — pinili natin ‘to eh. Nobody ordered us for us to be to where we find ourselves now. At tapos tatamad-tamaran ka. That’s not the way how to do it. One is you go to… If there’s a case — a good case against you, you lose the position and you are dismissed. And maybe in the worst-case scenario, you will be detained. Better be always be reminded of that duty. Pinili mo ‘yan. Huwag kang magtamad-tamaran kasi matatamaan ka. Ginusto mo ‘yang position, magtrabaho ka,”

We are asking the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) about their comments on Cambal’s criticisms against President Rodrigo Duterte, but they’re still not responding to our letter.

An electric bus company lent their vehicles for free to the Pasig City government as part of their mission to help the frontliners and other people who are in need of public transportation amid the community quarantine in Metro Manila and Luzon.

Global Electric Transport (GET) in an Instagram post showed the two electric buses they sent to the government of Pasig to provide free rides for essential frontline government personnel and health workers.

“Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto and the Pasig Transport Department were quick to recognize the issue the ban posed and formulated what we saw as an appropriate crisis management response. Pasig City rolled out emergency transport initiatives for essential personnel and those within Pasig’s borders. This includes providing free bus and shuttle services from major pickup points to the city’s hospitals, as well as repurposing bicycles from its Bicycle Share Program,” the company stated.

“The city government was vocal on social media and offline, encouraging people to help however way they could. We at GET will be working in conjunction with Pasig City Hall to provide our COMET electric minibus service free of charge for the Pasig Public Market to Shaw Boulevard route, aiding frontliners reach hospitals such as Rizal Medical Center,” they added.

According to them, instead of paying for a tricycle fare, people are going to enjoy free rides in their bigger vehicles.

Sotto previously proposed to allow tricycles to operate to serve the health workers, frontliners and other people who are required to visit the hospital, but it was rejected by the government because of social distancing issues.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Solidarity is not an act of charity, but a mutual help between forces that fight for the same goal. -Samora Machel. ‎ ‏‏‎ The COMET will be assisting Pasig City in ferrying front liners to the hospitals and city hall and other key areas in Manila (Philippines).?? ‎ ‏‏‎ There are no rides available. People riding the comet would have had to pay $1.50 to $2.00 a ride on a tricycle (they are allowing only one passenger). Remember this is in a county where the minimum daily wage is $10.00 ‎ ‏‏‎ From @qevtech we feel proud about this, it’s amazing see how our technology crosses borders and contributes acts like these. But we do not forget that the real heroes are the @cometride drivers and service team who are doing this possible and are giving this magnific service without rest. ‎ ‏‏‎ For all of each of you, today all our team from Barcelona is with you. We’re all in this toGETher! ?? ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ #covid19 #stopcoronavirus #goelectrictoday #qevtechnologies #emobility #race2road #ebus #ekit

A post shared by ??? ???????????? (@qev_tech) on Mar 18, 2020 at 3:28am PDT

Sotto cited that the Pasig City government’s lack of service vehicle was the reason why they’re considering allowing tricycles to operate.

Despite being rejected, Sotto said that they’re going to follow the orders of the government and going to find other ways to provide temporary means of transportation to its frontliners.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is set to release the one-time financial assistance worth ₱5,000 to the workers affected by the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon and Metro Manila.

In an interview, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello said that all employees, whatever their employment status are eligible to get financial assistance.

Bello clarified that the people who would receive the one-time assistance would be based on the payroll list submitted by the employers to DOLE.

According to DOLE, people who are eligible to apply must be working to a private establishment that affected by the COVID-19.

Employers are also required to submit the following via online to DOLE’s regional office or its provincial/field offices:

• Establishment Report on the COVID-19 pursuant to Labor Advisory No. 9 Series of 2020
• Company payroll for the month prior to the implementation of flexible work arrangement or temporary closure

Within three working days, employers/applicants should receive the following email from DOLE.

• For approved application: Notice of Approval
• For denied application: Notice of denial

If DOLE approved the application of the employer/applicant, the agency shall issue the financial support directly to the beneficiary’s payroll account.

Aside from the cash assistance, DOLE also announced that they’re going to launch a ‘Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa displaced/underprivileged workers’ (TUPAD)’ financial assistance program for informal workers.

Bello said that the program was aimed to give temporary jobs to the informal workers.

Informal workers that eligible to join the program are going to receive a minimum wage salary.

Tricycle drivers, taxi drivers and street vendors are part of the informal sectors.

Doctors and nurses who are fighting the COVID-19 in the Philippines are asking the public to stay at home if they really want to help the health workers who are busy fighting the virus.

Several health workers posted photos on social media and while holding a paper with a message “We stayed at work for you, stay at home for us!”.

According to the experts, the most effective prevention against COVID-19 is social distancing or avoiding getting near with other people who may be carrying the virus.

The fewer the people getting infected, the more time the nurses and doctors could take a rest.

As of writing, there are already 202 cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines and it’s still expected to increase.

Meanwhile, a new study from the United States claimed that COVID-19 could stay longer in the air than what the experts thought before.

That’s why the government ordered a enhanced community quarantine in the whole Luzon and put the Philippines under state of calamity as a way to fight the virus.

Several LGUs helped the health workers and other frontliners to get a mode of transportation as the government suspended all public vehicles from operating until next month.