Tuesday, April 27, 2021
Are You Part Of the Cultural Battle?
With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.” Genesis 19:15
Cultural battles are far more extensive than whether or not your child’s teacher embraces gender fluidity or if parents should be notified when a teenager requests contraceptives from a clinic.
The battle over culture began in the Garden of Eden when a husband and wife had to decide whether they listened to the voice of God or chose to put their backs to Him and do what they pleased. When Adam and Eve made the decision that forever altered humanity, the playing field was level. Today, however, when you are confronted with a choice, the choice is simply up to you. What is right for you, is the standard of the world. You’d be hard pressed to find many places today where God’s Word and His plan is the benchmark for human behavior.
The entire history of humanity is really a centuries old story of cultural conflict. Does Noah listen to the voice of his culture laughing at the thought of a flood, or quietly set out to build an ark that would save his family? Did Abram ponder the difficulty of the journey when God said it was time to leave for a land He would give to Him, or did he simply obey? And then could not Lot, living in Sodom, have rationalized the moral behavior of fellow citizens and ignored the pleading of the angelic messengers who said God was about to destroy the wicked city?
No sooner had God given deliverance to the 3 million descendents of Abraham who found themselves slaves in Egypt, than they began to say, “It would have been better to stay in Egypt than to come out here and die.”
Should you visit London, take the City Road bus to a cemetery known as Bunhill Fields, and there you will find a tomb with the remains of a 17th century man, the son of a tinker or a welder in today’s terminology, by the name of John Bunyan. In his youth he was a rebel, living a wicked life—but certainly no worse than most people in his day. Then Bunyan was converted and began preaching without a license. For this he was arrested and spent the next 12 years of his life in the jail at Bedford where he lived. There Bunyan had plenty of time to think through both history and life, and during that time he wrote the most widely printed and distributed book in the English language (with the exception of the Bible) known as Pilgrim’s Progress.
It’s an allegorical story of the pilgrim who journeys through life constantly battling forces that would destroy him. That, friend, is a picture of the person who strives to listen to the voice of God, obey the counsel of His Word the Bible, and defy the voices of culture and our sinful natures in doing the will of God.
Take time to read Hebrews 11 in your New Testament, and there you read biographical sketches of the lives of large numbers of people who fought cultural battles, often being isolated and persecuted, and, at times became martyrs, but never gave in or capitulated, choosing rather to walk alone with God than to walk in the light with men.
Most of the time the challenges come in small things, and we are often prone to say, “Well, this doesn’t really matter,” but the small compromises then form the foundation for the major ones. It is better by far to walk the lonely path with integrity and a clear conscience than to embrace the good life which leaves you empty and shallow and spiritually bankrupt. The cultural is a battle for your soul, for your family, and your very life. Never forget it.
Resource reading: Hebrews 11:4-39
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/are-you-part-of-the-cultural-battle/
DFA seeks ban on travelers from India due to COVID-19 surge
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said on Tuesday he has sought a ban on travelers from India as it continued to grapple with record-high COVID-19 infections, which already killed and infected several Filipinos there.
In a tweet, Locsin said he recommended the travel ban to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on COVID-19 for Filipinos' safety.
Philippine Ambassador to India Ramon Bagatsing Jr. earlier in the day said 2 Filipinos there have died due to COVID-19 this week, while 20 others are currently infected by the respiratory disease.
"I have suggested to the IATF that a travel ban be imposed on all our good friends in the entire Indian subcontinent," said Locsin.
I have suggested to the IATF that a travel ban be imposed on all our good friends in the entire Indian subcontinent; it’s not personal; it’s for everyone’s safety for now; we’ll be able to be together again and we can recall the time when we had to be apart to live.
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) April 27, 2021
"It’s not personal; it’s for everyone’s safety for now; we’ll be able to be together again and we can recall the time when we had to be apart to live," he added.
Malacañang spokesman Harry Roque, meanwhile, earlier said that the proposal is being discussed with authorities.
“Iyan po ay pinag-aaralan at tatalakayin din po sa IATF (inter-agency task force on COVID-19),” Roque explained.
(That is currently being discussed by the IATF)
The task force will meet later in the day, he said in a press briefing.
The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday also said it was mulling a travel ban on India over its reported new variant.
The new variant — B.1.617 — added more than 300,000 fresh infections last week to the global total, with patients appearing mostly in India and some in the United States, Australia, Israel, Singapore and parts of Europe.
It has not been detected in the country so far, according to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.
On Monday, India reported more than 352,000 new COVID-19 cases, a global record for the rise in daily cases on the fifth straight day, eclipsing even the United States at the height of its pandemic last year.
More than 2,800 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours, an all-time high.
— With reports from Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News
PH logs 7,204 new COVID-19 cases
Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News
For 9 straight days, daily tally has been fewer than 10,000
(UPDATE) — The Philippines logged 7,204 new COVID-19 cases a day after the country's total went past the 1 million mark, the health department announced on Tuesday.
The day's tally raised the country's cumulative total to 1,013,618, with 71,675 as active infections — the lowest since March 18, according to the ABS-CBN data analytics team.
According to the Department of Health, the relatively low number of new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday is due to the failure of 22 testing laboratories to submit data last Sunday.
The ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group (IRG) pointed out that this is the lowest number of fresh infections announced in nearly 3 weeks, or since April 7’s 6,414 cases.
This is also the 9th straight day that new cases counted fewer than 10,000.
Of those still battling the respiratory disease, 95.2 percent are experiencing mild symptoms, 1.5 percent are asymptomatic, 1.3 percent are severely ill, while 1.1 percent are in critical condition.
The DOH also logged 63 more COVID-related fatalities, bringing the death toll to 10,916.
For the 2nd straight day, the health agency recorded less than 100 fatalities.
Tuesday's newly-reported deaths is the lowest announced in a single day in almost 3 weeks, or since April 8, the ABS-CBN IRG said.
A total of 26 recoveries, meanwhile, were reclassified as fatalities after the final validation of the DOH, it said.
Total recoveries from COVID-19 increased by 10,109 to 925,027, said the DOH, accounting for 91.3 percent of the Philippines' overall tally.
It has been over a week since the DOH recorded thousands of new recoveries daily, as it stopped its weekly "mass recoveries" tagging to supposedly address skewed data.
Two laboratories were not operational on Sunday.
Fourteen duplicates, 8 of which were recoveries, have been removed in the cumulative total, according to the DOH.
The growth of daily infections has slowed down in the past 2 weeks due to stricter lockdown restrictions in Metro Manila and 4 surrounding provinces Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan, and Cavite — so called "NCR Plus" bubble, but some hospitals remained in full capacity.
Because of this, experts and government officials have recommended the extension of the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in the bubble, to decongest hospitals still grappling with the disease.
Based on the health department's latest bulletin, 69 percent of dedicated intensive care unit (ICU) beds, 64 percent of ward beds, and 59 percent of COVID-dedicated isolation beds in Metro Manila are currently occupied.
Nationwide, the figures are lower at 63 percent for ICU beds, 53 percent for ward beds, and 47 percent for isolation beds.
President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to announce new quarantine classifications on Wednesday for the month of May, as lockdown levels are set to expire by end-April.
The Philippines has so far received 3.525 million COVID-19 vaccine doses and inoculated some 1.5 million people against the virus.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/27/21/philippines-new-cases-covid19-updates-april272021
Lacson, iginiit na dapat alisin si Parlade sa NTF-ELCAC
Iminungkahi ngayong Martes ni Sen. Panfilo Lacson na isama sa resolusyon ng Senado na tanggalin na si Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade, Jr. bilang tagapagsalita ng National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
“Iminungkahi ko kay Sen. [Franklin] Drilon na isama sa resolution, kasi hindi naisama yung pagiging apolitical, yun apolitical nature ng armed forces. Sabi ko, importanteng maisama yun,” sabi ni Lacson.
Isa si Lacson sa 14 na senador na suportado ang resolusyon ni Drilon na kumakastigo kay Parlade matapos silang tagawing “stupid”.
“Mostly, ang resolution ay censure. Yung senado mismo, ise-censure dapat si Gen. Parlade. Pero, sabi ko nga, mas importante na i-recall siya sa armed forces para bahala yung armed forces mag-censure sa kaniya o defense department,” sabi ni Lacson sa panayam sa TeleRadyo.
Giit ni Lacson na paglabag sa Konstitusyon ang pagkakatalaga kay Parlade bilang tagapagasalita ng NTF-ELCAC. Ito rin ang sinabi ni Drilon, isang dating Kalihim ng Department of Justice.
“Unconstitutional, eh. Pangalawa, unconstitutional na nga, ginugulo pa niya," ani Lacson.
Umani ng batikos si Parlade at Communications Undersecretary Lorraine Marie Badoy sa pag red-tag sa community pantry organizer.
“Wala talaga sa katwiran, sabihin na nating ganun. Hindi natin alam kung anong motibo nilang dalawa, kung bakit sinisilip pa nila nang pilit at iniuugnay sa CPP-NPA yung community pantry,” sabi ni Lacson.
Pero batid ni Lacson na ang may huling kumpas sa isyu ay si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte bilang chairman ng NTF-ELCAC.
“Anong magagawa ng Senado, Kongreso? May panawagan na i-zero budget namin sa isang taon. Yung iba, ang panawagan i-defund. Pero, pag i-defund, ang pwede lang mag-realign ng item sa budget, yung Pangulo rin kasi naipasa na yung budget. 'Pag zero budget next year, kaya naming gawin yun; walang ire-realign kasi 'pag zero budget, walang item,” sabi ni Lacson.
Iginiit naman niyang tamang bigyan ng pondo ang development programs sa barangay para tuluyan nang mawakasan ang insurgency.
“First time na napondohan ang Barangay Development Program. Pang 2021 lang yan. Hindi pa ito nagkaroon ng pondo noong nakaraang taon. Hindi pa ito nai-implement kasi kaka-first quarter pa lang natin. Ngayon pa lang nagre-release ang DBM (Department of Budget and Mangement). Yan ang subaybayan natin kung talagang naimplementa nang maayos yun, once na ma-release ng DBM yung pondo sa mga LGUs. 'Yan ang dapat i-monitor kung napunta ba talaga sa mga items na nakalista,” sabi niya.
Ani Lacson, gumawa ng controversial issue si Parlade na ikinagalit ng mga senador, na nagbunga sa panawagang i-defund ang anti-communist insurgency council.
“Sa akin naman, pwedeng gamitin ito sa next, para kung hindi ihe-heed yung call na recall siya, mas maganda nga na 'wag na lang pondohan next year. Para bang ipakita natin na hindi pwedeng kabig na lang sila nang kabig,” sabi ni Lacson.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/04/27/21/lacson-iginiit-na-dapat-alisin-si-parlade-sa-ntf-elcac
Fire Parlade? Duterte does not micromanage, says spokesman
President Rodrigo Duterte "does not micromanage" and is leaving it up to the the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTC-ELCAC) to decide whether or not to fire its spokesperson for allegedly red-tagging community pantry organizers, Malacañang said on Tuesday.
This after Sen. Panfilo Lacson said the defense department should have heeded the Senate's earlier call to remove Parlade from the task force. A gag order on NTF-ELCAC spokesman Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. is "not the appropriate response," he added.
"Hindi naman po nagma-micromanage ang ating Presidente," Palace spokesman Harry Roque said of the lawmaker's statement.
"Bahala na po ang NTF-ELCAC kung susundin nila o hindi ang rekomendasyon ni Senator Lacson," he said in a press briefing.
(Our President does not micromanage. It's up to the NTF-ELCAC whether or not they would follow the recommendation of Senator Lacson.)
The constitution bars an active member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines like Parlade from holding a civilian post in the task force, Lacson said.
"He should be censured for dabbling in politics instead of just focusing on his inherent mission as commanding general of the Southern Luzon Command–that is, to fight threats such as terrorism and insurgency," he added.
Parlade previously made headlines for linking several female celebrities, Senate workers, and lawmakers to the communist movement, without presenting proof.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/04/27/21/elcac-duterte-parlade-lacson-red-tagging-fire
Registered voters who died from COVID-19 to be removed from Comelec list, says agency
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday said its list of registered voters must be updated to exclude those who have died, including those due to COVID-19.
In an interview on ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said relatives of those who succumbed to COVID-19 must provide the information to their offices to help the agency remove the names from its list of registered voters.
“Yan po ang namumuong problema dahil nakikita natin, sobrang dami ng pumapanaw dahil sa COVID, pero hindi naman natin naririnig na nagre-report sila sa Comelec office,” Jimenez said.
(That's a looming problem because while we see that many have died due to COVID, they are not being reported to the Comelec).
“Ako, halimbawa, I had a death in the family. Ayokong mangyaring on election day, makita ko pangalan ng kamag-anak ko. Kailangan po makipag-ugnayan tayo sa Comelec office kung saan nakapagparehistro yung pumanaw, para matanggal na po natin sa lalong madaling panahon,” he said.
(For example, I had a death in the family. I don't want that on election day, I will see the name of my dead relatives. So, the public must coordinate with the Comelec office where the dead person is registered, so the name can be removed from the list soonest.)
Jimenez said relatives need to provide Comelec with the death certificate of the deceased.
“Ayaw naman nating magamit ang paraan na 'yan para magtanggal ng tao na hindi naman karapat-dapat na matanggal. We need to be sure na authentic yung kanilang death certificate,” he said.
(We don't want to remove the names of those still alive and qualified to vote. We need to be sure that the death certificate presented is authentic.)
Voter registration for the 2022 polls will end on September 30, 2021.
As of Monday, a total of 1,006,428 COVID-19 cases have been reported, including 16,853 deaths.
Palace denies PH missed chance to get 200 ICU beds amid COVID-19 surge
Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News
Malacañang on Tuesday denied a report that the Philippines lost its chance to acquire 200 beds for intensive care units, the utilization of which spiked as COVID-19 cases surged.
The alleged bungled deal with an Austrian firm for the "deliver-now-pay-later" ICU beds caused a shouting session in a Cabinet meeting where Health Secretary Francisco Duque III was allegedly rebuked, according to an Inquirer report quoting sources.
"Wala pong katotohanan 'to," said Palace spokesman Harry Roque.
(There is no truth to this.)
The deal covers 200 hospital beds, including only 15 ICU beds, he said in a press briefing.
"Wala pong shouting match kasi ang talagang kinakailangan ng Pilipinas ngayon ay ICU beds, at patuloy po ang pag-uusap sa pamumuno po ni Secretary Duque para dito sa additional 200 ICU beds, and the same proponent po na Austrian company is involved," Roque said.
(There was no shouting match because what the Philippines needs are ICU beds, and negotiations led by Secretary Duque are ongoing for these 200 ICU beds.)
The Austrian firm is expected to submit a proposal on this next week because authorities have identified where the ICU beds are needed, he said.
The Philippines has confirmed 1,006,428 COVID-19 infections, of which 74,623 were active as of Monday.
In Metro Manila, home to some 12 million people, about 71 percent of ICU beds were occupied as of April 25.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/27/21/philippines-missed-200-icu-beds
Palace says community pantry queues must follow curfew
Malacañang said on Tuesday those lining up for free food and other essentials at communities pantries are not exempted from curfew hours.
At least 5 individuals were recently fined for lining up before dawn at a community pantry in Quezon City.
"Hindi po pupuwede maging dahilan iyong pagpila sa pantry para magkaroon ng exception sa curfew," said Palace spokesman Harry Roque
"Ninanais naman po natin na itong bayanihan sa pamamagitan ng community pantry ay maibsan ang kagutuman sa panahon ng pandemya, pero ayaw rin natin na ang mga community pantries ang maging dahilan para kumalat po ang COVID-19." he said in a press briefing.
(Lining up at the pantry cannot be a reason for exception from curfew. We want solidarity though the community pantries to ease hunger during the pandemic, but we do no want our community pantries to become a reason for the spread of COVID-19.)
Malacañang urges pantry organizers to coordinate with local authorities, Roque added.
Metro Manila authorities set curfew hours from 8 PM to 5 AM, while the capital region and 4 surrounding provinces are under the second strictest quarantine level at least until April 30.
President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to announce on Wednesday whether or not the area's modified enhanced community quarantine will be extended.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/04/27/21/malacanang-community-pantry-curfew
Roque: Duterte is 'my modern-day Lapu-Lapu'
Malacañang spokesman Harry Roque said on Tuesday President Rodrigo Duterte was his "modern-day Lapu-Lapu", as the Philippines marked the 500th anniversary of the datu's victory against foreign invaders.
Lapu-Lapu and his warriors defeated Western firepower led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in Mactan island, Cebu on April 27, 1521. While Lapu-Lapu won the battle, Spain still eventually colonized the Philippines, ruling the country for over 300 years.
"President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is my modern-day Lapu-Lapu, lalong-lalo na po sa kaniyang polisya na independent foreign policy," Roque said in a press briefing.
"Ibig sabihin po n'yan kaibigan nating lahat, wala po tayong kaaway, wala po siya sinasantong mga dayuhan."
(President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is my modern day Lapu-Lapu, especially his independent foreign policy. It means that we are friends to all, we have no enemy, he doesn't cower before any foreigner.)
https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/04/27/21/roque-duterte-is-my-modern-day-lapu-lapu
Duterte spox says Battle of Mactan should be 'warning' vs would-be invaders
Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News
President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman said Tuesday the Filipino victory against Spanish forces in the Battle of Mactan 500 years ago should serve as "warning" to foreign powers that seek to occupy Philippine territory.
Datu Lapu-Lapu and his warriors defeated Western firepower led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in Mactan island, Cebu on April 27, 1521.
Lapu-Lapu “reminds one and all of what it is to be a Filipino, to be great, to stand up against colonizers, and to offer our lives for country and our people,” said Duterte's spokesman Harry Roque.
“Let this be a warning to foreign powers that seek to occupy territories that belong truly to the Filipino,” Roque said during the opening on Monday of a Cebu museum that commemorates the Victory at Mactan.
“As President Duterte has said, we want to be friends with everyone, but make no mistake, 500 years ago, we made Lapu-Lapu into a hero. And today, many of our Filipinos would become heroes defending territory that is truly ours,” he added.
Foreign powers should perhaps “learn from the Filipinos’ past,” he said.
“It was here in Cebu that we had initial contacts with our Spanish brothers and sisters, but it was also here in Cebu that the Filipinos told the whole world, ‘We will die for our country,’” said Roque.
The Spanish colonization of the Philippines did succeed despite Magellan's slay in Mactan, and the country was under Spain's rule for over 300 years.
Roque's statement came following the government's diplomatic protests against a swarm of 240 Chinese ships in the West Philippine Sea.
Roque declined to expound on his statement, saying he was not referring to any particular incident. He said “history itself speaks for itself, and we do not need to make any further pronouncement.”
“I’m not referring to any particular issue, I’m just reminding the whole world of Philippine history, the proud moment when the Philippines stood up and prevailed against colonizers,” he added.
Duterte “will do what he thinks is best for the country,” Roque said, when asked if the President would consider a foreign policy shift away from China.
“Importante po na ang Presidente ay gumawa ng tamang desisyon maski ito po ay hindi popular,” he said.
(It is important that the President makes the right decision even if it's not popular.)
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/27/21/battle-of-mactan-invaders-malacaang
Battle of Mactan reenactment pushes through despite pandemic
LAPU-LAPU CITY — The reenactment of the historic Battle of Mactan pushed through in this city on Tuesday to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the event despite the continuing threat of COVID-19, with the actors wearing face masks during the performance as a precaution against the virus.
Clad in traditional costumes of chieftains and warriors, the people of Lapu-Lapu City reenacted the April 27, 1521 clash which saw Lapu-Lapu, one of the datus of Mactan, and his warriors defeat the forces of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.
This year's show was different from the annual reenactment as everyone on stage had to wear a face mask.
In his speech, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan urged the public to "become worthy heirs to Lapu-Lapu’s legacy of heroism."
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier described Lapu-Lapu's victory as "an exemplary display of firm leadership and extraordinary courage [that] defeated and drove away the colonials."
This year, the Philippines is commemorating the 500th anniversary of the landing of the Spanish expedition in the country.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/27/21/battle-of-mactan-reenactment-pushes-through-despite-pandemic
DOH develops health budget calculator for LGUs
Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News
The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday said it was developing a budget calculator to help local governments know how much they could spend for health services once a Supreme Court ruling that would expand internal revenue allotments takes effect next year.
The DOH has been encouraging local government units (LGUs) to invest more in primary health care units in barangays where the public can avail of medical services instead of trooping to already congested hospitals, said Health Director Beverly Ho.
"'Yung direction natin ngayon is to work on a budget calculator that's more on per capita," she told reporters in an online press conference.
(Our direction now is to work on a budget calculator that's more on per capita.)
"Kung they have a way to run their LGU (local government unit), we have very little power to change that. The resources are just not really in one's full control," she said.
The budget calculator for health is being developed in anticipation of the enforcement of the high court's Mandanas ruling, which would allow local governments to get a share from the income of tax and tariff-collecting offices within their respective jurisdictions.
The ruling is expected to hike the budget of the capital city by as much as P90 billion, according to Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso.
The DOH is also encouraging provincial governments to coordinate with their city and municipal counterparts to ensure that health facilities would not be clustered in one part of a province, Ho said.
"We want them to have access to more primary care facilities rather than going to the hospital," she said.
"Hindi dapat mangyari 'yung magkakatabi 'yung laboratory, at 'yung mga hospital na sobrang magkakalapit," she said.
(Laboratories should not be located in one place, nor should hospitals be concentrated in another place.)
The Mandanas ruling is deemed effective only after the finality of the high court's ruling, which means, the adjusted amounts will be given to LGUs starting with the 2022 budget cycle.
The effort to build and strengthen primary health care units in villages comes as the Philippine hospitals, especially in the capital region, remain congested due to the influx of COVID-19 patients a year since the pandemic began.
The national government has placed Metro Manila and nearby provinces on a second lockdown in March to curb the spread of COVID-19, which has infected at least 1 million Filipinos since last year.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/27/21/doh-develops-health-budget-calculator-for-lgus
Philippines' COVID-19 death rate lower than global average, Palace notes
Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News
The Philippines' COVID-19 mortality rate remains lower than the global average, Malacañang said on Tuesday, after the country's total tally of coronavirus infections breached 1 million.
Of the Philippines' 1,006,428 COVID-19 cases, 914,952 are recoveries and 16,853 are deaths, said Palace spokesman Harry Roque.
"Kailangan tingnan natin ang buong larawan at hindi lang isang numero," Roque said in a press briefing.
(We need to look at the whole picture and not just one number.)
"Kung ikukumpara n’yo po ang ating 16,000 deaths, napakababa po talaga ng ating mga death. Nasa 1.67 [percent] lang po ang ating case fatality rate, samantalang sa buong mundo, ang case fatality rate po ay pumapalo sa 2.1 percent," he added.
(If you compare our 16,000 deaths, the number is really low. Our case fatality rate is at 1.67 percent, while around the world, the case fatality rate hits 2.1 percent.)
The recoveries, meanwhile, prove that medical frontliners are good with their job and the country is "managing" COVID-19 cases, he said.
But while daily infections have eased slightly, they have still averaged more than 9,000, against 5,525 in March and 213 per day in April 2020, health ministry data showed.
In the capital region, an urban sprawl of 16 cities and a municipality home to at least 13 million people, intensive care unit (ICU) capacity is above 70 percent while 57 percent of isolation beds and 64 percent of ward beds for COVID-19 patients were occupied as of April 26.
In a bid to admit more patients, tents were turned into COVID-19 emergency rooms at the National Kidney Transplant Institute, a government hospital in Manila.
"All in all, we waited for almost six hours. It's a long, difficult wait," COVID-19 patient Roel Galan told Reuters, speaking outside a makeshift emergency room.
Roque said on Monday that 289 additional ICU beds would be made available in the capital.
To free up beds for severe COVID-19 patients, the Philippine Red Cross said on Monday it has set up field hospital tents and converted unused classrooms and buildings into quarantine facilities to care for patients with moderate and mild symptoms.
Dr. John Wong, a member of the government's coronavirus task force's data analytics team, said authorities must ramp up vaccinations to contain the virus and allow the economy to reopen.
He said 350,000 people needed to be vaccinated a day so the government could meet its target of immunizing 70 million, or a third of the country's population, this year.
Since the Philippines started its vaccination drive in March, 1.5 million people have received a first dose of vaccine, with close to 231,000 people getting two doses, officials said.
– With a report from Reuters
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/27/21/philippines-1-million-covid-cases-deaths-palace
Solon files bill to make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory
RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News
A bill was filed in the House of Representatives seeking to make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory.
House Bill No. 9252, filed by Cavite 4th District Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, aims to amend Republic Act 11525 or the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021.
Section 3 of the bill states, “The COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021 shall be mandatory for persons as may be determined by the DOH and shall be given for free at any government hospital or health center, and as provided in Republic Act No. 11525, PROVIDED, That inoculation must, at all times, be science and evidence based.”
In a Zoom interview, Barzaga said he filed the bill for the benefit of the general public.
“Of course, lagi unang ipupuna sa atin, this will be discriminatory because it will affect the public health of the individual. Of course, we recognize the right to public health of every individual. Unfortunately, it must be subservient to the general public health kasi alam naman nating COVID naita-transmit sa general community," he said.
"Until and unless there will be vaccination, then we would not be able to solve this problem," he said.
“Eh paano tayo magkakaroon ng herd immunity kung konti lamang o marami sa ating mga kababayan ang hindi magbabakuna?”
Exempted from his proposed mandatory vaccination, as stated in the bill's Section 4, are persons with medical conditions, as determined by the DOH or by a licensed medical doctor.
The bill states that medical doctors will have the discretion, subject to disciplinary action by the Philippine Medical Association, to determine whether a person should get a medical exemption and will issue a medical certificate that will be attached to the Vaccine Card.
Barzaga justified his proposal by citing the benefits of vaccination both to individuals and the economies of countries.
"Consequently, a mandatory mass wide COVID-19 Vaccination Program is imperative to solve the present COVID-19 pandemic and achieve 'herd immunity' or 'population immunity'. The World Health Organization supports achieving 'herd immunity' through vaccination, not by allowing a disease to spread through any segment of the population that would result in unnecessary cases and deaths," he said.
"In order to safely achieve herd immunity against COVID-19, a substantial proportion of a population would need to be vaccinated. This would lower the overall amount of virus able to spread in the whole population. One of the aims with working towards herd immunity is to keep vulnerable groups who cannot get vaccinated especially those who due to health conditions become safe and protected from the COVID-19 virus," he added.
Herd immunity, the lawmaker said, can be achieved "by enacting legislation to mandate and promote COVID-19 vaccination, address vaccine hesitancy and instill public confidence in the personal, family and community benefits of immunization."
"The present Republic Act No. 11525 otherwise known as “An Act Establishing the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program Expediting the Vaccine Procurement and Administration Process, Providing Funds Therefor, And For Other Purposes” should be made mandatory to persons who are eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccination as determined by the DOH," he said.
Barzaga noted that vaccination laws are not novel, citing precedents in England, the United States and even the Philippines which enacted Republic Act No. 10152 for the mandatory basic immunization services for infants and children.
Malacañang said there might be no need yet to make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory.
The country's stock of COVID-19 shots are not yet enough for all those who want to get vaccinated, said Palace spokesman Harry Roque.
Former Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, speaking on ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo, said she is not favor of the proposal for now, saying that should be the last resort if ever, and that authorities should first exhaust all means to convince people to take the vaccine.
Sergio Ortiz-Luis, President of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, said none in the business sector he has talked to supports mandatory vaccination against COVID-19.
"Tingin namin, hindi magpo-prosper (ang bill na 'yan). Unang una, I think, kahit makalusot sa Kongreso, eh palagay ko, ive-veto o aprubahan din ng Presidente yan dahil sinabi ng Presidente na walang pilitan diyan eh," he told TeleRadyo in a separate interview.
It is also unconstitutional, according to him.
The Philippines aims to inoculate up to 70 million this year to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19.
So far, over 1.7 million vaccine doses have so far been administered in the country since the inoculation drive began on March 1.
On Monday, total COVID-19 cases in the Philippines breached the 1 million mark, of which, 74,623 are active.
'By June, things will be better': Gov't adviser says more COVID vaccinations ahead
A presidential adviser believes things will improve in the second half of the year as more COVID-19 vaccines from different manufacturers arrive by the month of June.
Presidential adviser on entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said vaccine maker AstraZeneca has confirmed the arrival of 1.5 million doses of its vaccine by the first week of June.
He said he expects an order of 17 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to be completed by the end of 2021 to February 2022.
Another 100,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine will also arrive by the first week of June while a shipment of Novavax vaccines will arrive in August-September.
The government is also set to meet with Bharat Biotech for the purchase of its COVID-19 vaccines COVAXIN, which can arrive by June.
"Ang maganda dito - by June, things will be better because we will start vaccinating a lot of people," he told ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo.
Concepcion said vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. has also agreed to prioritize the private sector in the next round of AstraZeneca vaccinations. He said that of the 17 million AstraZeneca doses set to arrive, 11 million will go to local government units while 3 million will go to the national government.
The final 3 million doses will go to the private sector.
"So about 1.5 million employees will be able to get the AstraZeneca vaccines," Concepcion said, adding that companies should ensure 100 percent participation of their employees.
The presidential adviser also acknowledged the tough decision ahead on whether or not to extend the modified enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces.
He said that while the COVID-19 infection level has decreased, hospitals in Metro Manila are still at critical qualification level due to the influx of COVID-19 patients
He noted that the rise of community pantries also shows how the pandemic has negatively impacted the people.
"Nakikita na rin na nahihirapan na ang mga mamamayan," he said.
14 senators want Parlade censured after 'stupid' remark
Majority of senators have signed a resolution denouncing Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade, the spokesman of the country's anti-insurgency task force, who earlier called senators "stupid" for threatening to defund his agency next year.
"I have been almost 24 years at the Senate. This is the first time I hear of a member of the armed forces who called the senators stupid," Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon told ANC Tuesday.
Drilon said he would file the resolution Tuesday.
"It is a certainty that Gen. Parlade will be censured by the Senate for this kind of a conduct when we come back on May 17," he said.
Among the senators who backed Drilon's resolution against Parlade are:
- Senate President Vicente Sotto III
- Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto
- Sen. Maria Binay-Angeles
- Sen. Leila de Lima
- Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian
- Sen. Richard Gordon
- Sen. Ana Hontiveros-Baraquel
- Sen. Panfilo Lacson
- Sen. Manuel Lapid
- Sen. Francis Pangilinan
- Sen. Mary Grace Poe-Llamarzanes
- Sen. Emmanuel Jose Villanueva
- Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III
- Sen. Pilar Cayetano
In a press briefing Monday, Drilon said, "It's not a matter of appeasing the Senate. It's a matter of upholding the dignity of the Senate."
"His statements are very disrespectful, derogatory against Senate. We do not deserve that kind of language calling us stupid," he added.
The Senate Minority Leader underscored that Parlade's appointment as the NTF-ELCAC's spokesperson was also a violation of the constitution.
Under the law, military officials who are still in active service are not allowed to occupy positions in the executive branch as the Constitution upholds the "civilian supremacy within the government," Drilon told ANC.
In March, the Senate also adopted a committee report calling for Parlade's removal as spokesman of the task force.
"The official act of the Senate has been ignored. It would appear that he's indeed untouchable," the senator said.
Parlade is also the chief of the military's Southern Luzon Command.
National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon earlier said that the spokespersons of the anti-communist insurgency council have been ordered to stop making remarks on community pantries, but Parlade said no such order was issued.
"No gag order. Just gave an interview a while ago," Parlade told ABS-CBN News in a text message.
Several senators earlier pushed to give the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) either a zero budget or reduced its funding next year after Parlade accused some community pantry organizers of being communist supporters.
Last year, Drilon pushed for the realignment of the anti-communism panel's P19-billion budget to fund COVID-19 programs, but was outvoted in plenary.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/27/21/14-senators-want-parlade-censured-after-stupid-remark
Sekyung nagpanggap na miyembro ng Philippine Army tiklo
Lady Vicencio, ABS-CBN News
Simpleng traffic violation lang sana ang ipapataw sa isang 32-anyos na lalaki pero 4 na kaso ang haharapin niya ngayon matapos mahuli ng pulisya sa Paco, Maynila, Lunes ng gabi.
Sakay ng itim na MPV ang lalaki nang masita sa checkpoint dahil sa pagka-counterflow sa Leon Guinto Street sa Paco.
Pero imbes na makipagtulungan sa mga pulis, arogante pa umano siyang nagpakilalang miyembro ng Philippine Army ayon kay Police Lt. Col. Evangeline Cayaban, commander ng Ermita Police.
Naka-uniporme ng sundalo ang lalaki pero naghinala ang mga pulis dahil ibang sapatos ang suot niya para sa naturang uniporme. Paliwanag ng suspek, wala na umano siyang masuot na damit.
Lalong nagduda ang mga pulis kaya hiningan na siya ng ID pero pumalag pa ang lalaki dahil nagmamadali umano at kabaro naman pero tinetiketan pa.
Nang makapagpresenta siya ng pagkakakilanlan, ID ng security guard ang hawak niya at wala nang maipakitang lehitimong proweba ng pagiging sundalo.
May hawak din siyang 3 passport pero walang nakapangalan sa kaniya.
Ayon sa lalaki, taga-Pampanga siya at ngayon lang pumunta sa Maynila.
Pero sa dashcam video ng sasakyan, ilang beses nang pabalik-balik ang sasakyan sa Maynila.
Wala rin siyang maipresentang rehistro ng sasakyan na ayon sa kanya ay nirentahan lang.
Iniimbestigahan pa ng mga pulis ang background ng lalaki at kung sino ang may-ari ng sasakyan.
Kakasuhan siya ng paglabag sa Land Transportation and Traffic Code, resistance and disobedience to a person in authority, usurpation of authority, at paglabag sa Philippine Passport Act.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/27/21/sekyung-nagpanggap-na-miyembro-ng-philippine-army-tiklo
Cauayan isinailalim sa GCQ bunsod ng pagdami ng COVID-19 cases
Isinailalim sa general community quarantine bubble ang lungsod ng Cauayan, Isabela, nitong Lunes para matugunan ang lumalalang kaso ng COVID-19.
Alinsunod sa executive order ni Mayor Bernard Dy, magtatagal ang implementasyon ng nasabing bubble hanggang Mayo 2.
Sa huling tala ng Cauayan health office, nasa 327 ang aktibong kaso ng COVID-19 sa lungsod. Mayroong 55 na suspected cases habang 76 naman ang probable cases.
“Ayon sa assessment ng ating mga doktor, kumpirmadong may community transmission na po dito sa ating lungsod particularly household and work transmission,” ani Dy sa public address sa Facebook.
Sa ilalim ng GCQ bubble, lalo pang hihigpitan ang pagpapatupad sa mga mimimum public health standard, kagaya ng pagsusuot ng face mask, face shield, pagpapanatili ng social distancing at proper sanitation.
Bawal lumabas ng bahay ang mga edad 18 pababa at 65 pataas, mga buntis, at mga may dati nang karamdaman o nasa panganib ang kalusugan.
Papayagan naman na lumabas ang mga may mahahalagang lakad o transaksyon at mga nagtatrabaho sa mga establisyemento o opisina na pinayagang mag-operate sa ilalim ng GCQ, pero dapat ay may dala silang identification card o anumang magpapatunay ng kanilang edad at sila ay residente sa lungsod.
Ang mga hindi residente na gustong makapasok sa lungsod ay kinakailangan na magpresenta at mag-iwan ng ID sa mga itinalagang major checkpoints gaya sa Barangay Alinam, San Fermin, Tagaran, Alicaocao at District 3.
Ang mga manggagaling sa Metro Manila at iba pang itinuturing na high-risk areas sa labas ng Region 2, gayundin ang mga locally stranded individuals at OFWs, ay kailangang dumaan muna ng mandatory triage sa Isabela State University sa Cauayan.
Ang mga uuwi naman sa lungsod sakay ng eroplano ay kailangang magpresenta ng negative RT-PCR test o antigen swab test result pagdating sa airport.
Mahigpit din na ipatutupad ang number coding scheme sa lahat ng uri ng sasakyan maging ito man ay motorsiklo, tricycle o pribadong behikulo na papasok at mag-iikot sa loob ng Cauayan.
Pero exempted dito ang mga negosyante at empleyado sa mga opisina o establisyemento na pinapayagang mag-operate sa ilalim ng GCQ bubble, gayundin ang mga frontliner, essential workers at mga dadaan lang sa lungsod gamit ang national highway.
Istriktong ipinatutupad ang liquor ban at curfew mula alas-9 ng gabi hanggang alas-4 ng madaling araw.
Mahigpit ding ipagbabawal ang mass gathering at limitado sa 10 katao ang papayagang dumalo sa lamay o libing.
Maaari namang magbukas ang mga kainan o restaurants, pero bawal ang dine-in sa halip ay delivery at take-out lang.
Ang mga bangko ay pinapayagang magbukas mula alas-9 ng umaga hanggang alas-2 ng hapon lamang habang ang ibang establisyemento ay hanggang alas-7 ng gabi.
Ang mga pampubliko at pribadong opisina ay kinakailangan din na magpatupad ng skeleton operation para masiguro ang kaligtasan ng mga empleyado. — Ulat ni Harris Julio
500,000 doses of Sinovac jabs in PH still waiting for manufacturer's certificate
Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News
The administration of the additional half a million doses of Sinovac vaccine, which arrived in the Philippines on April 22, has yet to begin 4 days since they were delivered.
The Department of Health explained it is still waiting for a “certificate of analysis” or COA from the manufacturer for the delivered batch.
“COA kailangan talaga ‘yan para patunay ‘yan na ‘yung bakuna is in accordance with the EUA (emergency use authorization) specification,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.
“Ito ay dapat makita ng FDA at vaccine cluster na itong batch na ito, OK for distribution,” Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega added.
The COA for the latest batch of Sinovac's COVID-19 jabs is expected to arrive on April 29, but the DOH did not mention the cause of the delay.
“’Yung Sinovac COA darating sa April 29. ‘Yun na ang panahon ng pagdi-distribute sa allocated sites ng Sinovac vaccines,” Vega said.
The shipment of the 500,000 doses earlier brought the Philippines' COVID-19 vaccine stock to 3.525 million, of which at least 1.6 million doses have been administered.
Sinovac jabs form the bulk of the Philippines' vaccine inventory so far, a million of which were donated by China.
Besides the Chinese-based vaccine, the government also expects half a million doses of Sputnik V, which it procured, and 195,000 doses of Pfizer jabs from the COVAX facility this April.
The Philippines aims to vaccinate 70 million people this year or two-thirds of its people this year to achieve herd immunity against the coronavirus.
The country has one of Asia's worst COVID-19 outbreaks and has faced difficulties securing vaccine supplies.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/26/21/500000-doses-of-sinovac-jabs-in-ph-still-waiting-for-manufacturers-certificate