General Info

[WestCoast1]

A different take on disease. An opinion article in today's Manila Bulletin, regarding the cash (the 20 and 50 notes) being terribly old and not taken out of circulation, as a possible cause of disease spread.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/03/12/dirty-money/

Im more concerned with the dirty money that I received as change during my Saturday and Sunday outings. I shopped a bit, had lunch, merienda, dinner at different shops, and each time the change I was given came in the form of diseased, filthy, germ-ridden bills, in 50s and mostly 20s. There were so many 20s when it could have been a few 100s! The overflow of small change was not a coincidence, it could only have been because the storeowners had been given a ton of 20s by their bank to dispose of.

Are the banks in general, and Bangko Sentral in particular, aware that dirty paper money can be a carrier of the dreaded CoVid-19? In the US, bills from China are being quarantined for 7 to 10 days instead of the usual 5 to 7 as a precaution against the spread of the virus. Lets hope that President Duterte, whose presidential security (inner circle) are now trying to shield him from the virus with a no touch policy, wont need to touch the small change in his wallet (or Kittys).

[Beavis]

International flights will continue except from countries with confirmed local transmission of COVID-19. A list of these countries has yet to be made public so nothing is certain right now.

[TurdyCurdyOne]

I just don't understand all the drama over Covid19. Like the flu if you catch it, you will 98% get well, then you are immune. Folks with other poor heath issues "might" die but that has always been the case with virus illnesses. Our Fearless leaders are getting press time telling us how concerned for us they are. Chicken Littles.

This mass hysteria for what is essentially another flu strain is a bad sign. IMO it shows how many anxious and crazy people are out there and how many corrupt and dishonest politicians and media outlets are willing to exploit their anxieties for personal gain.

[Engine Driver]

It's not about you, it's about the health care system as a whole. I don't really care that much about nursing home residents, prisoners, or the homeless, but when they get deathly sick (and they will), it will paralyze the hospitals. It's happened in Italy. I mean, I think you'll change your tune if you're in a car crash, or shot, or fall off a roof and there're no ambulances, no respirators and not doctors.

You are spot on. The lives of millions of people are being disrupted through illness, death, job losses, school closures, hospital meltdowns and general fear of the unknown. The stock market has crashed 30% in a month. Further global disruption will continue because of the Wuhan virus.

Meanwhile, a bunch of septuagenarian mongers from white man land are deeply concerned they won't be able to travel to Flipsville to find a place to stick their shriveled, marshmallow cocks into. I'm glad the mongers have their priorities right.

[Mdemde]

For those contemplating a visit here, I'the urge you to reconsider postponing your travel. Manila goes into lockdown mode tomorrow. GE.

"The Ninoy Aquino International Airport will remain open for international flights but passengers must be from and are going to stay in Metro Manila. For those who will go to the provinces, passengers must fly via the Clark International Airport, Nograles said. ".

So Clark Airport will still be open for domestic flights.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/13/...la-philippines

[John Clayton]

...Our Fearless leaders are getting press time telling us how concerned for us they are. Chicken Littles.

It's not about you, it's about the health care system as a whole. I don't really care that much about nursing home residents, prisoners, or the homeless, but when they get deathly sick (and they will), it will paralyze the hospitals. It's happened in Italy. I mean, I think you'll change your tune if you're in a car crash, or shot, or fall off a roof and there're no ambulances, no respirators and not doctors.

[ForkTruck]

Its over!

No more Tourists allowed from countries with Corona to enter the Philippines.

https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020...nsmission.html

I just don't understand all the drama over Covid19. Like the flu if you catch it, you will 98% get well, then you are immune. Folks with other poor heath issues "might" die but that has always been the case with virus illnesses. Our Fearless leaders are getting press time telling us how concerned for us they are. Chicken Littles.

[GoodEnough]

For those contemplating a visit here, I'the urge you to reconsider postponing your travel. Manila goes into lockdown mode tomorrow. Davao and General Santos City are already in lockdown. Angeles City has imposed severe restrictions on who gets into or out of the city. In Davao, where I live, the official proclamation From the local government mandates that no residents may leave; that all visitors must leave, and that those considering travel here are urged to postpone the travel until the emergency ends. My guess is that many cities are going to follow this lead and attempt to seal themselves off from the rest of the country for a month or two. According to the most recent announcement from the President, "social distancing" will be rigidly enforced by the PNP and AFP, which doesn't create a happy situation for bars encouraging social closeness.

Here is Davao, which I assume to be at least somewhat representative of the other larger cities in the country, serious hoarding has already begun, and I'm guessing that it won't be long before we witness perturbations of the supply chains that allow restaurants and food sellers to restock. My impression, for whatever it's worth, is that the national government here is serious about trying to contain this virus and it's not messing around. I note as well that per President Duterte, the AFP is now authorized to make arrests of those who do not comply.

Again, just my opinion as someone who's noting the changes to daily life here in Davao.

GE.

[Radical Guy]

Its over!

No more Tourists allowed from countries with Corona to enter the Philippines.

https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020...nsmission.html

It is unclear what countries are included. US? So far, United hasn't canceled my flight from Houston to Manila.

[DzikaBomba]

Its over!

No more Tourists allowed from countries with Corona to enter the Philippines.

https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020...nsmission.html

[GoodEnough]

My girlfriend just hit me up and said President Duterte just ordered the lock down of Manila starting March 15 until April 14. Land, domestic air and sea travel coming in and going out of Manila is not allowed starting March 15.

Here's a link verifying the above:

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/12/...anila-lockdown

[Mr Enternational]

My girlfriend just hit me up and said President Duterte just ordered the lock down of Manila starting March 15 until April 14. Land, domestic air and sea travel coming in and going out of Manila is not allowed starting March 15.

[Kabul Guy]

Extended in a Mindanao province recently. Decided to go early, when they opened up at 8 am. ...... Total less than 15 minutes. Not a single other customer walked in while I was there.

I have always beenn and out quick at government pffoices if I can get there as soon as they open. People here are just not morning people.

Renewed my SRRV, in and out in less than 45 minutes, good to go for 3 years, most of that time was waiting for them to print the plastic card.

[Mr Enternational]

I know y'all love Jolibee:

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south...es-us2-billion

[Engine Driver]

Go to BI website for locations. One time I extended in Davao and it was a very pleasant experience.

I guess at the BI queue, there will always be an errant DH to entertain.