Senate President Vicente Sotto III said that they’re not going to allow President Rodrigo Duterte to control privately-owned utility companies amid the rumors that the chief executive is asking emergency powers to Congress to address the COVID-19 outbreak.

Sotto, in a statement, denied that the President is asking emergency powers, but confirmed that there’s a provision that giving Duterte powers to control the privately-owned businesses like utility companies and hotels.

“Not true. Read the title. Nothing there says emergency powers,” Sotto said

“Perhaps one controversial provision in the bill [is] about the takeover of businesses but that won’t fly in the Senate. The main proposal of the bill is to distribute cash to the 16.5 million families badly needing help,” he added.

He also revealed that their meeting on Saturday already decided that they’re not going to pass any measure giving the President emergency powers.

“That was precisely my point in the meeting yesterday that this is not an emergency powers bill. We agreed that it is not,” he said.

According to the still-unnumbered Senate bill which President Duterte certified as urgent, the President is granted authority to “exercise powers necessary and proper” to implement a unified national policy to combat COVID-19 “for a limited period and subject to restrictions.”

It includes the temporary control of the President to some privately-owned companies.

The President could also order speedy procurement of goods, medicines, medical supplies, and establishments that could be used as temporary medical facilities.

House Committee on Ways and Means chair Joey Salceda said that they’re going to support granting the President emergency powers because it’s “necessary”.

“It’s absolutely necessary at this point. That’s why I asked Congressional leaders to call for a virtual session of Congress last week. The country needs it,” Salceda said.

“I will especially support provisions to exempt the purchase of necessary medical supplies and other essential goods from the procurement law, as well as support for our frontliners. Subsistence allowances will also be given to poor families affected by the enhanced quarantine through these powers. I already proposed that a few days ago, so I am thankful that the government is adopting the approach,” he added.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said that the Congress is set to debate today about the proposal.

Bacoor City Mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla asked the national government and private sectors to help her city as they’re already expecting a shortage of budget to feed their constituents amid the enhanced community quarantine being implemented in Luzon.

While their current supply of relief goods was sufficient, Mercado-Revilla admitted that their calamity fund was not enough to feed 100,000 families living in Bacoor City during the whole period of the calamity.

“Six months ang state of calamity, sa totoo lang we have, sa huli naming community-based monitoring system 100,000 households sa buong Bacoor, imaginin niyo po kung ‘yan po ng relief sa loob ng isang buwan, kulang na ang amin pong disaster funds,” Mercado-Revilla said.

“Sa tulong national government, sa tulong po ng private sector hinihingi rin po namin ang tulong nila dahil limitado po talaga ang ating calamity funds,” she added.

Bacoor is currently under city-wide lockdown due to the reported cases of COVID-19 in the city.

Aside from Revilla, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte also asked the national government for additional budget to feed 400,000 families in her territory.

“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.

However, a Senator suggested that the national government should prioritize the poorer places in the Philippines instead of giving additional budget to cities.

Kabataan party-list expressed their opposition over the ‘enhanced community quarantine’ being implemented by the Duterte administration.

On a Facebook post, Kabataan said that the national government should stop the implementation of the community quarantine because it only made the Filipino suffer because of being forced to stay at their homes.

The party suggested that the government should start doing mass testing and distribute financial aid, free medicines and food to the people.

“Itigil ang pangmalawakang lockdown! Sa halip, magsagawa ng mass testing at mamahagi ng financial aid, ng libreng gamot, at ng libreng pagkain!” Kabataan stated.

“Ibigay ang lahat ng pangangailang medikal tulad ng face masks, gwantes, alkohol, at iba pang personal protective equipment ng mga health workers!” they added.

They also launched an online petition titled ‘7-point public health demands: COVID-19 action steps’.

According to their online petition, they’re pushing for:

1. Deployment of health workers to the community instead of sending soldiers and police to the streets. Free sanitary items, food, testing kits and clean water to the people.
   They also argued that lockdown doesn’t work to prevent COVID-19 from spreading.
2. More government support to the local scientist, health workers, and other medical professionals.
3. Ensure the safety and job security of Filipino workers.
   Companies should give the wage of their workers who were affected by the community quarantine and the government should help the people who lost their job by giving them cash transfers.
4. Transfering the P4.5-B budget from the Office of the President, P36-4-B from the National Task Force, and P546 from the Oplan Tokhang to fund the health sector.
5. Declaration of price freeze to all basic needs.
6. Ensure that there’s enough food and medicine supply in the country.
7. Prevent utility companies to increase their charges to its consumers.

As of writing, the petition already reached 13,300 signs.

Kabataan party-list Rep. Sarah Elago also said that the government should stop any attempts from schools to increase their tuition fees and other charges.

“There must also be a guarantee that no tuition, other fees will increase after the disruption of classes. Moreover, Kabataan Partylist urges the Duterte administration to explore options to likewise cushion the impact of the month-long suspension on private schools,” Elago said.

The administration must undertake ways to still pay the salaries of affected teaching and non-teaching personnel. Adjustments to dates for professional licensure exams must also be made to lessen the pressure to graduate based on the current acad calendar. #SuspendOnlineClasses

— Sarah Elago (@sarahelago) March 18, 2020

Meanwhile, netizens gave their comments on the social media post of Kabataan, telling them that they’re only good at complaining.

“Magaling lang kayong bumatikos, pero pagdating sa pagtulong sa mga Kababayan natin, tulad ng ganitong krisis, nganga kayo!” netizen Garry Inofre said.

“Pahirap kayo sa policy ng bansa,,, naiisip niyo yan. Bakit d kayo manguna magbigay ng mga yan.. Kabataan din ako, pero salamat sa Panginoon kasi d ako kagaya niyo.. May goodness,” netizen Rolyline Mina commented.

“Diba may budget kayo as congressman..bakit hindi niyo gamitin para sa maralita..diba sila ang ipinaglalaban niyo..patunayan niyo ngayon kung talagang makamasa kayo!” Flora Anona remarked.

Journalist Karen Davila slammed the politicians who were asking members of the Department of Health (DOH) surveillance team to be tested for COVID-19 at the comfort of their homes.

On her tweet, Davila shared a testimony from a doctor who expressed frustration over the politicians who wanted to be prioritized for COVID-19 testing despite not showing any symptoms.

“This is bogging down the COVID-19 testing. Politicians and their staff are now asking to be serviced in their homes by the DOH surveillance team. We have so many PUIs awaiting their results, and we can’t send (home) the PUMs who have been admitted the week before because we don’t have results yet. Perhaps, if the media can investigate this ‘palakasan’ system, we might be able to alleviate the overburdened emergency rooms. As of yesterday, ER is already full,” the statement reads.

After reading the statement from the doctor, Davila said that “politicians should stop feeling entitled”

“Ibang klase. “Politicians and their staff now asking to be serviced in their homes by DOH surveillance team” THIS. MUST. STOP,” Davila said.

Ibang klase. “Politicians and their staff now askkng to be serviced in their homes by DOH surveillance team” THIS. MUST. STOP. Politicians should stop feeling entitled. (Post from @chiarazambrano) pic.twitter.com/1ZJMF5FTkJ

— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) March 21, 2020

“Nakakagalit. Tumigil na kayong mga pulitiko at staff ninyo na nagpapa-test pa sa bahay pa sa ating DOH surveillance team. Dapat lahat ng pangalan nyo mabunyag sa totoo lang,” she added.

Nakakagalit. Tumigil na kayong mga pulitiko at staff ninyo na nagpapa-test pa sa bahay pa sa ating DOH surveillance team. Dapat lahat ng pangalan nyo mabunyag sa totoo lang.

— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) March 21, 2020

Several followers of Davila then criticized President Rodrigo Duterte and his family for being prioritized to be tested first for COVID-19.

“All of the Duterte family got tested despite not showing any symptoms,” netizen @markyful said.

Why dont we start a thread of all those politicians and their relatives? pic.twitter.com/MTI5dCQj6Z

— Marky (@MarkyFul) March 21, 2020

“Ito…Galing sa news items: Bong Go, head ng PSG, Honeylet, Kitty, Paolo and Baste Duterte, Medialdea, Mark Villar Tugade, Domingues, Sherwin Gatchalian, Nancy Binay, Zubiri and wife, Jonvic and staff nya (nag sorry), Sotto, Pia Cayetano, Grace Poe, Lacson, Tolentino, Marcos,” netizen @daphine commented.

Ito…Galing sa news items:Bong Go, head ng PSG, Honeylet, Kitty, Paolo and Baste Duterte , Medialdea, Mark Villar Tugade, Domingues, Sherwin Gatchalian, Nancy Binay, Zubiri and wife, Jonvic and staff nya (nsgsorry), Sotto, Pia Cayetano, Grace Poe, Lacson, Tolentino, Marcos.

— daphine3 (@daphine36) March 21, 2020

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III defended the first family for getting tested immediately despite not showing any symptoms of COVID-19.

According to Duque, the first family was exposed to a known case.

DOH reported that more than 125,000 test kits from China, South Korea arrived in the country.

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.