Thursday, April 29, 2021
'Mas magandang ikumpara ang PH sa mga bansang may mabuting pandemic response'
Maraming bansa ang higit na mas malala ang sitwasyon sa Pilipinas pagdating sa kaso ng COVID-19, base sa datos ng Johns Hopkins University.
Pero paano nga ba dapat ihambing ang Pilipinas lalo't magkakaiba ang katayuan ng mga bansa?
Sa datos ng Johns Hopkins University, nasa ika-26 na puwesto ang Pilipinas pagdating sa dami ng kabuuang bilang ng mga kaso ng COVID-19.
Karamihan sa mga bansang napakataas ang bilang ng kaso ng sakit ay may matataas ding populasyon tulad ng Amerika, India at Brazil.
Mataas din ang bilang ng mga kaso sa mga bansa sa Europa na mataas ang testing gaya ng Italy, Spain, Germany pati United Kingdom.
Para sa dating adviser ng National Task Force Against COVID-19 na si Dr. Tony Leachon, mas maganda sana kung ikukumpara ang Pilipinas sa mga bansang maganda ang naging tugon sa pandemya o sa mga bansang hindi nalalayo ang estado sa Pilipinas.
"If we compare ourselves with the worst cases, may mga ulat na kino-compare natin ang sarili natin with India or Brazil, para maging ang feeling natin ay maging maganda ang pakiramdam natin," ani Leachon.
"I think ang dapat, compare with the best of the best and get their best practices para ma-adapt natin sa ating situation," sabi ni Leachon. "Ang ka-match natin should be the areas in the Southeast Asian region."
Pinakanalalapit umano ang estado ng Pilipinas sa bansang Vietnam, na may halos 100 milyong populasyon.
Pero napakababa ng Vietnam sa listahan pagdating sa dami ng kaso: pang-167 sa tala ng Johns Hopkins dahil mayroon lamang silang halos 3,000 kaso.
"Basically dahil sa pag-adhere [ng Vietnam] sa sicence," ani Leachon.
"Border control nila, isa sila sa pinakamatindi sa buong mundo... Isa sa best practice nila, 'yong clear messaging, innovative, plus transparent and open communication," dagdag niya.
Kung ihahanay ang lahat ng bansa sa Southeast Asia, pangalawa ang Pilipinas sa Malaysia na may pinakamaraming bagong kumpirmadong kaso sa bawat 1 milyong populasyon.
May higit 60,000 testing output kada araw ang Malaysia, na may higit 32 milyong populasyon.
Naglalaro naman sa 50,000 ang testing output kada araw ng Pilipinas na may 110 milyong populasyon.
Sa Indonesia naman, kahit may 1.6 milyong kabuuang kaso na sila, nagsimula nang bumaba ang naitatalang mga bagong kaso kada araw sa 5,000.
Isa naman ang Pilipinas sa mga nangungunang bansa sa Southeast Asia pagdating sa vaccine rollout.
Base sa datos ng Department of Health, sa higit 3 milyong doses ng bakunang natanggap ng Pilipinas, 1.8 milyon na ang naituturok sa priority sectors.
Halos 247,000 pa lang ang fully immunized o nakatanggap ng 2 dose ng bakuna, malayo pa ito sa target na 70 milyon para makamit ang herd immunity.
Nagpaalala naman si Guido David ng OCTA Research Group sa publiko na patuloy na mag-ingat.
"We encourage pa rin to minimize 'yong going out because marami pa rin ang cases. We're still averaging 3,300," ani David.
"Until bumaba 'yong number of cases, mapupuno pa rin ang hospitals and that's why we're targeting mga less than 2,800 cases per day. Hospitals will start to ease din once we reduce the number," ani David.
Tantiya ng OCTA Group, kung maipagpapatuloy ng mga Pilipino ang pag-iingat at limitadong galaw, maaaring makitang mabawasan ng 2,800 ang kaso kada araw sa buong bansa sa loob ng 1 o 2 linggo.
Maaari ring mabawasan ng 2,000 ang kaso sa Metro Manila kada araw pero baka raw abutin pa ito ng isang buwan.
-- Ulat ni Raphael Bosano, ABS-CBN News
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/mas-magandang-ikumpara-ph-mabuting-pandemic-response
IATF allows barbershops, beauty parlors to reopen in MECQ areas
The inter-agency task force leading the country's COVID-19 response has allowed barbershops and beauty parlors in Metro Manila and nearby provinces to reopen in areas under modified enhanced community quarantine in a bid to boost the pandemic-hit economy, Malacañang said Thursday.
The task force granted them to resume their operations, along with nail spas and other personal care establishments, under the condition they will operate on 30% capacity to avoid crowding and observe physical distancing, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.
He noted that "these establishments shall only provide services that can accommodate the wearing of face masks at all times by clients and service providers."
Dine-in services in restaurants will also be allowed at 10% venue or seating capacity.
"These food preparation establishments, however, may operate their indoor dine-in services beyond this limitation, provided that they comply with Joint Memorandum Circular No. 21-01 (s. 2021) or the Safety Seal Certification Program," Roque said.
This will take effect on May 1, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said.
Metro Manila and surrounding Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal are under MECQ, the second strictest quarantine level until May 14.
The capital region alone accounts for about a third of the country's gross domestic product.
"Itong additional na mga negosyong bubuksan ay para po maibsan ang pagbaba nng ating ekonomiya," Roque said.
About 500,000 people will be able to return to work with the reopening of hair salons and indoor dining services, the trade department earlier said.
The Philippines has tallied a total of 1,028,738 COVID-19 infections with 17,145 deaths and 942,239 recoveries. Active cases stand at 69,354.
Duterte told about China's control of Scarborough Shoal; Beijing breached pull-out deal
China's seizure of the Scarborough Shoal west of the Philippines in late 2012 was due to Beijing's non-compliance with a U.S.-brokered agreement with Manila to jointly pull out their ships at a certain time, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said Thursday.
Del Rosario issued the statement a day after President Rodrigo Duterte suggested that the former administration's strategy resulted in China taking effective control over the shoal that the UN-backed arbitration court in The Hague declared as a traditional fishing ground of Filipinos and other nationals.
"On the unfortunate loss of Scarborough, as previously discussed, there was an Agreement with China in settling an impasse in 2012 which was brokered by the United States. It involved the withdrawal of all ships on both sides by a certain hour," Del Rosario said.
"Accordingly, if my memory serves me correctly, we withdrew our one ship while China deceitfully breached our Agreement by not withdrawing their 30 or more ships," he added.
In his Talk To The People on Wednesday night, Duterte said the government at that time should have stood its ground.
"Sana, sinabi mo 'yong (You should have said), 'We will stand our ground. We will not retreat. We will not get out of the West Philippine Sea because it's ours'," Duterte said, addressing Del Rosario.
Help from the United States, with which the Philippines has a Mutual Defense Treaty, should have also been sought, he added.
Duterte's rant against Del Rosario, as well as of retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, were revived after the chief executive has been asked to make a bolder move in challenging Beijing's continuing incursions in the West Philippine Sea and disregard for the 2016 arbitration award.
Del Rosario said the government sought a "peaceful and durable solution" by bringing China before the Arbitral Tribunal, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, of which the China and the Philippines are signatories.
"After our efforts in securing this victory (in July 2016), we were expecting the then new administration to enforce the Arbitral Award for the benefit of the Filipino people," he said.
"Unfortunately", Duterte set it aside, noted Del Rosario and Carpio, in exchange of up to $24 billion pledge in Chinese investments and aid.
"Today, less than 5 percent of those loans and investments have materialized as President Duterte is already leaving office next year," lamented Carpio.
He said Duterte "even allowed China to fish in our exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea despite admitting that there is not enough fish stock there for both Filipino and Chinese fishermen. We even import galunggong now from China, the same galunggong that Chinese fishermen take in the West Philippine Sea."
Del Rosario said that was "in patent violation of our Constitution."
In 2017, Duterte "remained absolutely silent when China seized Sandy Cay from the Philippines," said Carpio, a feature located 2 nautical miles from Pagasa Island in the Spratlys.
According to the former magistrate, "China’s seizure of Sandy Cay has resulted in the loss of one-third of our territorial sea in Pagasa, a loss of a maritime area three times larger than the land area of Quezon City."
"Still, President Duterte has declared, 'I simply love President Xi Jinping'," Carpio said.
"Filipinos deserve, and should demand, a President who loves Filipinos first and foremost, and who will uncompromisingly defend Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea."
Del Rosario urged Duterte "to do his utmost to protect the West Philippine Sea and be most wary of China's duplicity."
While the Philippines, according to him, owes China a debt of gratitude for its aid, including the donated 1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, Duterte said during his latest televised public address that the country's territorial waters "cannot be bargained."
“Kung paalisin tayo nang ganoon lang, umalis kayo—‘wag kayong umalis. Bakit kayo alis d’yan? Atin ‘yan,” said Duterte.
(If they turn us away just like that, telling us to leave, you shouldn't follow. Why will you leave? That is ours.)
But Duterte conceded that the Philippines is "at a loss of how to get back physically the West Philippine Sea."
Hundreds of Chinese ships were sighted at the West Philippine Sea since March, and have refused to leave despite a number of diplomatic protests and repeated demands for their withdrawal.
On Monday, a spokesman of China's foreign ministry reiterated their illegal claim over the West Philippine Sea.
- with reports from Willard Cheng and Joyce Balancio, ABS-CBN News
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/duterte-told-about-chinas-control-of-scarborough-shoal-beijing-breached-pull-out-deal
4 Reasons Why You Should Challenge Culture
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:14-15
Have you ever asked yourself what prompts a mom who leads her three grade school kids to the school bus to become a leader in a cultural battle? Or an unremarkable seamstress in the back of the bus to defy the law of the land? Quiet and unassuming people who become passionate for a cause, and to the great surprise of even themselves, often lead the fight for right. How does that happen? What makes some strong enough to lead the fight while others, far better equipped and prepared, are marginalized or give up?
First, you make a difference when you believe in the rightness of a cause. These individuals are driven with passion for what is moral or right. Take, for example, the story of a remarkable woman named Rosa Parks, called the “first lady of civil rights” by the United States Congress. In 1955, Parks refused to give up her seat in the colored section of a bus when the white section of the bus was filled.
Solely the fact that a person believes in a cause doesn’t make it right. But Parks was a devout Christian and was convinced that giving up that seat would be wrong–and she refused to get up. “Since I have always been a strong believer in God,” she says, “I knew that He was with me, and only He could get me through that next step. In her book, entitled Quiet Strength, Parks said her belief in God developed early in life. “Every day before supper and before we went to services on Sundays,” Parks said, “my grandmother would read the Bible to me, and my grandfather would pray. We even had devotions before going to pick cotton in the fields. Prayer and the Bible,” she recalled, “became a part of my everyday thoughts and beliefs. I learned to put my trust in God and to seek Him as my strength.”[1]
Whether it was Rosa Parks or Jose Rizal, each was motivated by a higher cause than just changing society. They believed they fought for what God decreed.
Second, you make a difference in a cause when you are willing to pay the price. That price includes ridicule, being the target of lies and slander, isolation, loneliness, and, at times financial loss and pain. Or perhaps being arrested.
Third, you make a difference in a cause when you don’t give up but continually do battle for what you believe is right. Parks lived long enough to see civil rights gains which she fought for, but she inspired many after her to continue to stand up for right. In the fly leaf of my Bible is a quote by Edward Everett Hale that goes, “I am only one, yet I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something, and what I can do, I will do by the grace of God.”
Fourth, you make a difference when you put your cause in the hands of God who is sovereign and never takes a backseat to wrongdoing. At times we are intimidated by strong individuals whose lives and commitment have resulted in sweeping changes and are overcome by the helplessness of believing, “I can’t do anything,” and fail to do what we can.
Never minimize the fact that God can still take you, and the small spark you ignite may well produce a raging inferno that can consume dross and make a difference in our world. God will never hold you responsible for what you cannot do, but he will hold you accountable to do what you can. And when you do your utmost for His highest, that’s enough. Never forget it.
Resource reading: 1 Peter 3:13-16
[1] Colson, Chuck, The Woman on the Bus: The Faith of Rosa Parks, http://www.leaderu.com/critical/colson-parks.html, June 25, 1999. Accessed February 25, 2017.
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/4-reasons-why-you-should-challenge-culture/
Compostela town mayor, daughter test positive for COVID-19
Mayor Lema Bolo of Compostela town in Davao del Oro on Thursday revealed that she and her daughter, who is also her executive assistant, tested positive for COVID-19 following a swab test.
In her Facebook post, Bolo said she may have contracted the virus after having a close contact with a COVID-stricken person who attended a meeting recently, which they also attended.
The Provincial Health Office on Tuesday told all personnel who attended the meeting about the COVID-positive patient and asked them if they experienced symptoms.
Bolo has placed Compostela Municipal hall on temporary lockdown until Friday, for disinfection and contact tracing.
"Ginahangyo pud nako ang akoang mga naka-close contact nga wala maapil ug identify sa atong mga contact tracers, sa pag-report dayon sa inyong mga BHERT ug pag-self-isolate labi na gayud ang mga adunay gibati nga simtomas sa COVID-19," she said.
(I also appeal to those who have close contact with me to immediately report to BHERT or Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams and to self-isolate, especially those who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.)
The mayor also said she is currently in good condition as they strictly follow orders from the municipal health officer.
- report from Hernel Tocmo
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/compostela-mayor-covid-19-positive
'Utang na loob' di rason para palampasin ang mga ginagawa ng China: eksperto
"Utang na loob," partikular na sa COVID-19 vaccines, ang isa sa mga dahilan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte kung bakit hindi niya magawa na maging mas matapang kontra China sa isyu sa West Philippine Sea, aniya sa talumpati noong Miyerkoles.
"I'm stating it for the record, we do not want war with China. China is a good friend. Mayroon tayong utang na loob na marami, pati 'yong bakuna natin. So China, let it be known, is a good friend, and we do not want a trouble with them, especially a war," ani Duterte.
Halos 80 diplomatic protests na ang naihain ng bansa kontra China mula sa buong Duterte administration, ayon sa Department of Foreign Affairs.
Sabi ng Pangulo, hihintayin na lang niya ang magiging tugon ng China sa protesta, pero aminado siyang hindi niya masisi ang China sa ginagawa nito dahil umano sa ginawa ng nakaraang administrasyon.
Nagdududa rin aniya ang Pangulo sa sinseridad ng Amerika sa pagsabing sumusuporta ito sa laban ng Pilipinas sa isyu sa West Philippine Sea.
"In so many instances, puro salita lang, that they will stand by you. That could have been the moment to show to the world that they were with us by sending their superior ships, bakit hindi nila ginawa?" ani Duterte.
Samantala, hindi naman ikinagulat ni maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal na tumatangging makipaggiyera ang Pangulo sa China dahil sa tinatanaw na "utang na loob."
Pero giit ni Batongbacal, hindi dapat rason ang utang na loob para basta na lang payagan ng Pangulo na angkinin ng China ang teritoryo ng Pilipinas.
"Hindi rason 'yung pagiging magkaibigan para payagan mo na basta na lang kukunin 'nung kabila 'yung karapatan mo at mga likas-yaman mo. So hindi tayo dapat matakot din na maging matapang, maging firm tayo, manindingan tayo sa ating karapatan. Nasa diskarte naman 'yan kung paano mo ipapahiwatig ang iyong posisyon at papaano mo paninindigan ang iyong karapatan," giit ni Batongbacal.
Sinabi naman ni retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Caprio na ang kailangan ng taumbayan ay isang pangulo na hindi magkokompromiso pagdating sa paglaban sa soberaniya ng bansa.
"Filipinos deserve, and should demand, a president who loves Filipinos first and foremost and who will uncompromisingly defend Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea," ani Carpio.
Giit naman ni Sen. Risa Hontiveros, ang China pa nga ang may utang sa Pilipinas dahil aniya sa bilyon-bilyon halaga ng likas na yaman na nasisira dahil sa kanilang mga aktibidad sa karagatan ng bansa.
—Ulat ni Joyce Balancio, ABS-CBN News
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/utang-na-loob-di-rason-palampasin-ginagawa-china
Vaccine orders ng Pilipinas apektado ng COVID-19 crisis sa India
Dahil sa patuloy na pagsipa ng COVID-19 cases sa India, apektado na rin ang schedule ng pagdating sa Pilipinas ng bakuna mula roon.
"Because of what’s happening in India, they have stopped muna 'yung kanilang commitments to other countries. Hindi lang tayo ang nagkaroon ng ganiyang issue," ani Health Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire.
Nitong Huwebes, naitala sa India ang pinakaraming bilang ng namatay sa COVID-19 sa isang araw na pumalo sa higit 3,645.
Nasa 379,257 naman ang naitalang bagong kaso, isa ulit record-high.
Walang tigil ang trabaho ng mga sepulturero sa Mumbai para ilibing ang mga namamatay dahil sa COVID-19.
Sa mga bakanteng lote at parking lots naman sinusunog ang ibang mga bangkay dahil puno pa rin ang mga crematorium.
Nasa higit 18 milyon na ang kabuuang bilang ng nagka-COVID-19 sa India.
Dumating naman mula Russia ang ilang tulong, kabilang ang mga oxygen concentrator, ventilator at mga gamot.
Sa Mayo darating sa India ang unang batch ng Sputnik V, ang bakunang gawa sa Russia.
Ang Amerika, magpapadala naman ng mga oxygen cylinder, N-95 masks, test kits at mga sangkap sa paggawa ng bakuna.
Hindi pa rin kasi sapat ang suplay ng bakuna sa India para sa 600,000 milyong katao na maaaring makatanggap nito.
Siyam na porsiyento pa lang ng higit 1.3 bilyong populasyon ng India ang nababakunahan.
—Ulat ni Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/vaccine-orders-pilipinas-apektado-covid-19-crisis-india
500,000 pang doses ng Sinovac vaccine dumating; Sputnik V inaasahan sa Mayo
Dumating na ang 500,000 pang doses ng mga bakuna ng Sinovac mula China nitong umaga ng Huwebes.
Ito ang kumumpleto sa 1.5 milyong doses ng Sinovac na ipinangako para sa buwan ng Abril, matapos dumating noong nakaraang linggo ang 500,000 doses ng Sinovac vaccines.
Ang 500,000 doses ay kasama sa mga vaccine dose na binili ng gobyerno.
Ayon kay vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., hawak na nila ang certificate of analysis para sa suplay na ito, at prayoridad sa distribusyon ang mga nasa National Capital Region (NCR) Plus.
Sa dalawang milyong doses na inaasahang ide-deliver sa Pilipinas ngayong Abril, 1.5 milyon lang ang dumating.
Ang 500,000 doses ng Russian COVID-19 vaccine na Sputnik V, naurong ang delivery sa Mayo.
"Hirap tayo sa mga pagdala kasi wala nang eroplano na makuha natin na direct Russia to Philippines, China to Philippines. Maraming daanan na transshipment, dito lang hanggang Hong Kong tapos ilipat, that is why sabi niya (Galvez) mahirapan tayo minsan mag-tailor na madali ipadaan sa madaling panahon and that the integrity at iba ng bakuna is protected," paliwanag naman ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.
Ayon kay Galvez, inaasahang darating sa Mayo 1 ang unang 15,000 doses ng Sputnik V.
Nagsabi na rin aniya ang Philippine Airlines at Cebu Pacific na handa na silang magbiyahe nang direct mula Moscow patungong Pilipinas para sundin ang malalaking shipment ng bakuna.
Bukod sa 500,000 doses ng Sputnik V, may 2 milyong doses pa nito na nakatakdang dumating sa Mayo.
May ide-deliver din na dagdag na 2 milyong doses ng Sinovac, kung saan 1.5 milyon ang darating sa Mayo 7.
Inaasahan ding darating sa Mayo ang mga AstraZeneca vaccine mula sa COVAX facility ng World Health Organization, pero nakikipagnegosasyon na rin anila ang Pilipinas para mabili ang sumobrang AstraZeneca vaccines ng Amerika, Israel, at United Kingdom.
Makakatanggap naman ang Pilipinas ng higit 2.3 milyong doses ng Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine mula sa COVAX bago matapos ang Hunyo.
Hunyo na rin inaasahan ang dating ng mga bakuna ng Moderna.
Ayon naman kay Galvez, bandang Agosto pa magsisimula ang pagbabakuna ng karamihan ng populasyon.
Inaasahan naman niya na pagdating ng 2022 ay tuluyan nang mapupuksa ng bansa ang COVID-19 at makakarekober na ang ekonomiya. — Ulat ni Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/500000-doses-sinovac-vaccine-dumating-sputnik-v-mayo
Panukalang batas para sa dagdag health care facilities, specialty hospitals tinalakay sa Senado
Johnson Manabat, ABS-CBN News
Sumalang sa pagdinig ng Senado ang mga opisyal ng Department of Health, Department of Public Works and Highways at mga kinatawan ng iba’t ibang ospital para talakayin ang panukalang magdaragdag ng health care facilities at specialty hospitals sa bansa.
Sa hearing ng Senate Committee on Health and Demography na pinangunahan ni Sen. Pia Cayetano, vice chairperson ng komite, kanya-kanyang latag ng mga plano at pangangailangan ang DOH gayundin ang mga opisyal ng iba’t ibang government hospital para mapagbuti pa ang kanilang serbisyo sa mga pasyente.
Ito'y sa harap ng lumutang na kakulangan sa health facilities sa bansa sa gitna ng patuloy na COVID-19 pandemic.
Sa presentation ni Dr. Lilibeth David, Undersecretary for Facilities and Infrastructure ng DOH, kaugnay ng Philippine Health Development Plan 2020-2024, sinabi nito na bagama't mayroon nang 2,593 na primary care facilities, 1,500 dito ay pribado, 50-porsiyento pa ng populasyon sa mga rural areas ang walang access sa health facilities na kayang maabot sa loob ng 30 minuto, lalo na sa malalayong probinsya.
“If you look at the primary health care of our country, half of our population still do not have access to primary care facilities within 30 minutes. When we talk of primary care facilities, we’re talking about the rural care unit and the health center," ani David.
"So 'yung goal po natin is sana all our population will have access to a primary care facility within 30 minutes. So this gaps are usually in BARMM, Bicol and MIMAROPA,” sinabi ni David.
Dagdag niya, may mga health care facilities na kulang naman sa personnel.
Suportado naman ng pamunuan ng iba’t-ibang ospital ang Philippine Health Development Plan ng DOH.
Aminado ang pamunuan ng Lung Center of the Philippines na apektado ngayon ng COVID-19 pandemic ang kanilang operasyon dahil maraming kama ang nakalaan sa mga COVID-19 patients.
Ayon kay Dr. Vincent Balanag, Executive Director ng ospital, apektado ng COVID-19 ang paggamit sa kanilang 250-bed capacity para sa specialized services. Nasa 150 na lang aniya ang nagagamit at kailangan ng expansion nang 250 pang dagdag.
“..[W]e need to expand for additional, another 250 beds for us to be able to provide the full set of specialized services, like lung transplant, robotic surgery and all those specialized services that we can offer,” ani Dr. Vincent Balanag, Executive Director ng ospital.
Para sa pamunuan ng UP-Philippine General Hospital, magiging malaking tulong sa mga programang pangkalusugan ng pamahalaan ang pagkakaroon ng isa pang ospital na kahalintulad ng PGH sa ibang lugar.
Bagama't hindi aniya bahagi ng DOH ang UP-PGH, suportado nila ang pangangailangan sa serbisyo ng kagawaran sa pagbibigay ng serbisyong medikal sa publiko.
“Currently the concern of course is this pandemic, maybe will have 2 or 3 buildings in the next 5 years and all of them to be pandemic ready. We are also in the process of establishing the institute of emerging infectious diseases," aniya.
Nagtatayo rin ng isang 15-story neuroscience facility at isa pang 15-story cancer care building. Balak din ng PGH, na nakabase sa UP Manila, na magtayo ng medical school sa UP Diliman sa Quezon City para mas marami pang makapag-aral na mga doktor at espesyalista.
"We envisioned that PGH is not only UP but the PGH that belongs to everyone from all over the country. I think in that aspect, putting up another PGH in strategic areas in the country for education and research purposes will benefit more trainees and students. We maintain our function as university hospital in line with improvement of services to our patients,” paliwanag ni Dr. Gerardo Legaspi, Medical Director ng UP-PGH.
Binigyang diin naman ni Cayetano na sa ilalim ng kanyang panukala, hindi isinasantabi ang basic health care para sa mga Pinoy, bagkus nais lamang nitong tutukan ang mga specialty hospital na makapagbibigay ng mas malawak na serbisyo para sa mga nangangailangan.
“Just to let you know, it is not lost on us on the need to emphasize support for the 4th, 5th, 6th class municipalities given 'yon, this bill really was focus on specialization which would tend then to be in the cities but exactly meant to reach out to the far-flung areas within those regions, but basic health care would be the bigger expense, the budget, it’s part of the plan itself,” ani Cayetano
Ayon kay Cayetano, magkakaroon pa ng mga susunod na hearing para plantsahin ang marami pang isyu kasama na dito ang paglalaan ng pondo sa mga inilalatag ng programa at plano ng mga specialty hospital sa bansa.
A first since pandemic lockdown: Workers to march the streets for Labor Day 2021
Josiah Antonio, ABS-CBN News
Hundreds of laborers and members of left-leaning groups are expected to march the streets to commemorate the day of workers on Saturday, a first since the imposition of quarantine protocols last year.
Workers' groups will conduct a protest at Liwasang Bonifacio to highlight the need for government aid and immediate response to arrest the rise of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country.
Kilusang Mayo Uno Chairperson Bong Labog told ABS-CBN News that around 5,000 participants from the metro and other provinces are expected to join the protests.
He noted that marshals will be assigned to ensure that participants wil follow health protocols and physical distancing.
“Maghihigpit kami and mag-aassign kami ng mga marshal para parating nagbabantay at nagre-require ‘yung social distancing. Upang matiyak ‘yung health safety ng participants mismo, ire-require natin ang lahat na i-follow ang health protocols tulad ng [pagsuot] ng facemask at face shield at pagbabaon ng mga alcohol,” Labog told ABS-CBN News in a phone interview.
(We will tighten and assign marshals to constantly monitor and require ‘social distancing’. To ensure the health safety of the participants themselves, we will require everyone to follow health protocols such as [wearing] of facemask and face shield and bringing of alcohol.
“Although, magkakaroon kami ng protest, ipapatupad namin ‘yun health protocols. ‘Yun na ‘yung mayorya na nasa Liwasang [Bonifacio] and then the rest is sa iba’t ibang area muna,” he added.
(Although, we will have a protest, we will implement health protocols. That’s the majority in Liwasang [Bonifacio] and then the rest will be scattered in different areas.)
Labog said that they will cap the event will last for only an hour and they will negotiate with authorities should police aim for a dispersal.
“Makikusap kami sa kanila na bigyan kami ng pagkakataon na makapag-address sa crowd and at a certain time among our organizations the soonest time na mailahad naman namin ‘yung mga kahilingan namin ay nais na naming matapos agad, maximum of one hour,” he said.
(We will ask them to give us the opportunity to address the crowd and at a certain time among our organizations the soonest time we can express our requests that we want to finish immediately, maximum of one hour.)
LACK OF AID
The workers’ group chairperson said that many workers had lost jobs and the lack of aid has been an issue since the pandemic started.
“Mahalagang mapakinggan na malaki ‘yung pangangailangan sa ayuda kaya ‘yun ‘yung sa aming kahilingan sa darating na Mayo Uno. Malaki ‘yung bilang ng walang hanapbuhay … ito’y mahalagang usapin na dapat mailahad sa publiko.”
(It is important to hear that there is a great need for aid, so that is our request for the coming May 1. So many people lost their jobs - this is an important issue that must be brought to the public.)
Unemployment worsened in February 2021 compared to the previous month as the Philippines continues to grapple with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, based on government data.
The Philippine Statistics Authority earlier said that the unemployment rate rose to 8.8 percent in February from 8.7 percent in January, which translates to 4.2 million jobless Filipinos.
Meanwhile, BAYAN secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr. echoed Labog noting that the lack of action from the national government have pushed them to bring their action back to the streets.
“The significance of the [physical] protest pertains to the severity of the crisis. If this was not this bad, if the economic situation was not this severe, maybe there would be other forms of protests but considering the state of [the country] like the lack of response, the growing number of people lining up everyday [at community pantries], the lack of government aid all these are factors which are considered of the holding of a physical protest,” Reyes told ABS-CBN News in an interview.
“The issue of economic aid should be addressed by the president. It has not been taken out in the previous cabinet meetings or talk to the people. The president has not spoken nor given a clear commitment on the granting of economic aid,” he added.
Community pantries have sprouted across the country after Ana Patricia Non started the movement in Maginhawa in Quezon City.
Non started the initiative over a week ago to offer free food to people in need, as government aid had not been sufficient to feed many people who lost their jobs due to the pandemic.
After getting support from other officials for her “Bayanihan” initiative, Non resumed her pantry, which has already been replicated in many parts of the country.
Reyes said that the pandemic response should be reoriented and not just be restricted to the livelihood of the Filipino people.
“‘Yung COVID response natin (Our COVID response) has to be drastically reoriented. Our COVID response has tampered on restricting the movement of people, restricting the livelihood of people,” he said.
“How can you fight COVID when the most basic tool which is testing is not being ramped up, umaasa lang talaga ang national government na i-lockdown ang mga tao hoping that infections will go down but what happened when you reopened the economy, infections may rise again, there will be an outbreak again, we will end up with the same problem umuulit lang tayo if we are going to stick to the same plan mauulit lang ‘yung mga problema and it will take a fall to the livelihood of the people,” he added.
(How can you fight COVID when the most basic tool which is testing is not being ramped up, the national government is really just hoping to lock down people hoping that infections will go down but what happened when you reopened the economy, infections may rise again, there will be an outbreak again, we will end up with the same problems if we are going to stick to the same plan.)
The Philippines on Thursday reported 8,276 new COVID-19 cases, as the capital region and 4 nearby provinces remain under stricter lockdown levels until mid-May.
Out of 49,003 individuals who underwent testing for COVID-19 on April 27, some 16.9 percent were found positive.
Transactions under PSA's Civil Registration Service slump by nearly 50 pct in 2020
Arra Perez, ABS-CBN News
The volume of transactions under the Philippine Statistics Authority's (PSA) Civil Registration Service slumped in 2020, and only reached half of those recorded in 2019, an official from the agency said Thursday.
Based on the data presented by the PSA, there were 11,725,106 million transactions last year, declining by "almost 50 percent" from 2019's 22,480,673 million transactions.
Marizza Grande, officer-in-charge and assistant national statistician of PSA's Civil Registration Service said the decline in transactions last year could be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, but noted that their online services also saw a boost because of this.
"Based on this, makikita niyo po talagang dumadami, a lot of our clients are now availing of the online filing of their requests. So it's safer, meron siyang additional fees because it includes the delivery and service fee, but it's safe and zero contact yan sa aming clients," Grande explained.
With the increase in online transactions, Grande said PSA has also intensified efforts to topple fixers, who are now also gone online and have also "leveled up their marketing strategies".
She said the PSA is investigating such incidents, and emphasized that a task force for such is underway.
"We are also in the process of creating a task force, inter-agency task force, to capture these online fixers. Initially, nakapag-meet na kami (we have already met) with National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Department of Justice (DOJ). Iyong right now, we're discussing for the MOA on how we can strengthen. Kasi kami wala po kaming police power, it's the NBI and PNP that can, manghuli ng mga iyan," she said.
(We are currently discussing for the MOA... because we don't have any police power to catch them)
"The only thing that we can do is to inform the public. It's the risk actually because they also been encountering many problems kung nakikipag-transact sila with these online fixers."
The agency has been releasing advisories to warn the public about fixers, also calling on subscribers to report to them anomalous transactions, according to the official.
PSA Serbilis and PSA Helpline
Grande said PSA has only two authorized online sites - PSA Serbilis and PSA Helpline.
The official said that both can be used to request for certificates of live birth, marriage, death, and certificate of no marriage (Cenomar) or advisory on marriage.
Their main difference, however, is on who will be allowed to request for these documents.
Grande said that for PSA Serbilis, documents may be requested by "the owner or through a duly authorized representative; spouse, parent, direct descendants, guardian or institution legally in charge; the court or, in case of person's death, the nearest of kin."
On the other hand, PSA Helpline has "stricter" measures on who can request documents - the owner can request certificates of live birth, marriage, and Cenomar for him/herself, his/her child, and his/her parent.
A person can request for the death certificate of his/her spouse and his/her parent.
PSA Serbilis also delivers documents to local and international addresses - certificates of live birth, marriage, and death cost P330 per copy for local addresses, and US$20.30 per copy for delivery abroad, she said.
Cenomar or advisories on marriage costs P430 per copy for local addresses, and US$25.30 per copy for delivery abroad.
The estimated delivery for Metro Manila is from 6 to 8 working days after payment, while it may take from 7 to 9 working days after payment for other provinces.
PSA said that the availability and schedule of delivery to other countries would also depend on the services of the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) and restrictions in each destination country.
A client may avail of special courier services through FedEx for delivery addresses outside the Philippines.
For PSA Helpline, certificates of birth, marriage, and death certificates cost P365 each, while Cenomar costs P420.
The estimated delivery for this is from 3 to 4 working days for Metro Manila, and from 7 to 8 working days outside the region.
Payment options for PSA Serbilis and PSA Helpline include online banking, credit card, virtual wallet, and over the counter transactions. Cashless transactions are also available at the Civil Registry System Outlet in East Avenue, Quezon City.
Grande asked for the public's understanding, as there might be delays in the delivery due to quarantine restrictions and varied lockdown situations in various areas.
PSA Serbilis can be accessed through https://www.psaserbilis.com.ph.
For PSA Helpline, users may visit https://www.PSAHelpline.ph (formerly NSOHelpline.ph) or call 8737 1111, which is "open 24/7".
The agency also offers online and phone appointments as outlets in the capital region and 4 nearby provinces -- "NCR plus bubble" --remain closed.
"You can have walk in in our central outlet but you need to secure an appointment and present that your request is urgent or emergency, like concerns on OFW claims, VISA, passport," said Grande.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/transactions-psa-civil-registration-office-went-down-pandemic
PH posts 8,276 fresh COVID-19 cases, pushing total to 1.028 million
Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News
(UPDATE) — The Philippines on Thursday reported 8,276 new COVID-19 cases, as the capital region and 4 nearby provinces remain under stricter lockdown levels until mid-May.
Thursday's newly reported infections bring the country's cumulative total to 1,028,738 million, with 69,354 remaining as active cases, the latest bulletin of the Department of Health showed.
It is the 11th straight day that new cases counted fewer than 10,000. The Philippines' single-day tally had peaked at over record-15,000 on April 2.
The ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group (IRG) noted that the number of active infections went up by 1,526 from Wednesday — 10 days since it started declining.
The number of active cases in the past few days has been adjusted for duplicates, according to the IRG.
Of those still recovering from the respiratory disease, 94.9 percent have mild symptoms, 1.6 percent are asymptomatic, 1.4 percent are severely ill, while 1.1 percent are critically ill.
Fatalities due to the virus rose to 17,145 after the DOH logged 114 new COVID-related deaths.
Except for April 26 and April 27, the country has been posting more than 100 fresh fatalities for the past week.
Sixty-eight cases initially tagged as recovered also turned out to be deaths after DOH's final validation.
Total recoveries, meanwhile, increased by 6,636 to 942,239, accounting for 91.6 percent of the country's overall recorded cases.
The new recoveries for the day is considered the lowest announced in 12 days, during which the DOH started the daily recovery tagging, according to the ABS-CBN IRG.
New recoveries announced from April 18 to 28 ranged from 9,266 to 72,607, the research unit pointed out.
Out of 49,003 individuals who underwent testing for COVID-19 on April 27, some 16.9 percent were found positive for it.
A testing laboratory failed to submit data on time, according to the health agency.
Thirty-three duplicates, 24 of which were recoveries, have been removed from the overall tally, said the agency.
President Rodrigo Duterte extended the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan, and Cavite — so-called the NCR Plus bubble — until May 14, noting the healthcare capacity in these areas.
The new wave of virus infections pushed hospitals in the bubble near the breaking point in late March, even prompting the government to distribute modular tents and send medical workers from low-risk areas.
While the health department said the virus transmission rate partially slowed down in recent weeks, monitoring would still be needed.
The OCTA Research forecasts the number of daily COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila to decline to 2,800 in two weeks' time.
The Philippines has so far been able to administer about 1.8 million COVID-19 vaccine doses as of Tuesday.
The government aims to vaccinate 70 million of its 108 million population to achieve herd immunity and safely reopen the economy.
Nearly 60 million are still battling COVID-19 worldwide, data from US-based Johns Hopkins University showed.
The virus has so far killed 3.1 million people globally, while almost 87 million people have recuperated from it, according to the running tally.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/philippines-covid19-cases-update-april292021
'Buy 1, donate 1' na bakuna kontra COVID-19, mungkahi ng PH Red Cross
Hinahanapan na ng paraan ng Philippine Red Cross (PRC) kung papaano makakakuha ng mas maraming suplay ng COVID-19 vaccine para sa mga Pilipino.
Ayon sa chairman nito na si Sen. Richard Gordon, pursigido ang Red Cross na makakuha ng suplay ng bakuna hindi lamang para sa mga may pambili nito kundi pati na rin para sa mga mahihirap sa pamamagitan ng kanilang "buy 1, donate 1" na programa.
Ito ay sa gitna ng sinasabing kakulangan sa suplay ng bakuna sa maraming mga bansa hindi lamang sa Pilipinas dahil sa iba't-ibang isyu gaya ng logistics at availability nito.
“Hindi kami nagva-vaccinate ng AstraZeneca, Nag-order kami pero hindi pa dumadating. Kausap ko 'yung British Embassy kahapon, we have a special order 1 million, babayaran namin 'yon," paliwanag ni Gordon.
"So ‘pag ganon na ang labanan syempre ang laro ko d'yan you buy one for yourself and you buy for somebody who is poor," dagdag niya.
Ayon pa sa PRC, bukas ang kanilang buy 1, donate 1 campaign hindi lamang sa mga taga-Metro Manila dahil target nito ang 100 vaccination centers na accredited ng Department of Health (DOH) sa buong bansa.
Nilinaw din ng PRC na hindi garantiya ang bakuha para sa mga nakapagparehistro lamang dahil kailangan ng bayad para dito.
"So 'yung 1 million na 'yun magiging 500,00, 'yung Moderna ganon din, we bought 200,000 so 100, 000 will go to the people who will buy for themselves and other 100,000 will be paid by them," dagdag ng senador.
Sa mga bibili raw ng bakuna at mag-sponsor ng ikalawang bakuna para sa mas mahihirap na benepisyaryo nito, sinabi ng PRC na sila ang pipili ng magiging beneficiaries ng programa base sa guidelines ng Department of Health sa mga priority target groups.
Pero kung titingnan ang link ng PRC para sa kanilang vaccination program, puno na ang mga slots na inaalok nito dahil sa mataas na demand sa bakuna.
Mayroong vaccination campaign ang PRC na nag-aalok ng available na bakuna kabilang na ang Moderna vaccine.
Ang halaga ng pagbabakuna ay P600 kada tao para sa dalawang doses. Ang presyo mismo ng bakuna ay P1,320 o kabuuang 2,640 para sa dalawang dose ng bakuna.
Pinaplantsa pa sa ngayon ang guidelines sa pagbabayad subalit maaari nang magsumite ng reservation form sa Red Cross.
Ayon sa non-profit organization, inaasahan nilang darating ang mga in-order nilang bakuna sa Hunyo o Hulyo ngayong taon, bagama't aminado ito na depende pa rin ito sa polisiya ng pamahalaan at iba pang mga kadahilanan kung kailan talaga magiging available sa bansa ang bakuna.
Nilinaw din ng PRC na kahit dumating na sa bansa ang bakuna, hindi pa ito agad-agad maituturok sa bumili dahil kinakailangan pa ng scheduling para sa mga matagumpay na nakapagparehistro at nakapagbayad na.
Sa mga kumpanyang nakabili na ng saring suplay ng bakuna, maari namang kunin nalang ang serbisyo nito para sa administration o pagtuturok ng bakuna.
- Ulat ni Johnson Manabat, ABS-CBN News
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/buy-1-donate-1-covid19-vaccine-philippine-red-cross
Slain Fil-Am woman's last wish to sister: 'Tell my kids I love them'
Steve Angeles, ABS-CBN News
SAN DIEGO, California - The family of a Filipina who was stabbed to death by her husband earlier this month hopes her case may inspire action against domestic abuse.
Rhona Fantone was a dedicated certified nursing assistant at Sharp Coronado Hospital and was on her way to becoming a nurse.
But even as helped save those battling COVID-19, she couldn't be saved from what authorities and her family believe was a case of domestic abuse.
"She’s a frontliner. She survived taking care of COVID patients and in general, sick people. But she didn’t survive this tragedy. It's very sad," said her sister Rhoda.
According to her family, Rhona had been having marital problems with her Filipino-American husband of four years, Jay Barcelon.
She was planning to spend the night of April 16th at her sister's house and picking up clothes from her home about 15 minutes away, but she never made it back.
Police said Barcelon had stabbed Rhona to death that evening.
One of four sisters who immigrated from Zambales, Philippines about 20 years ago, the 30-year-old had two children from a previous relationship.
But behind Rhona's smile and sense of humor she was also confiding in her family that she and her husband were having marital issues.
"You never could tell na meron siyang problema (that she had a problem) because she was always smiling. Even at work, they know her for being positive and very energetic, ganon, and very caring sya as a friend (she was very caring as a friend)," said Rhoda.
Authorities have yet to release details on the events leading up to her death.
One sister who convoyed with Rhona to her home the night of the tragedy was in her car waiting for her to come out.
Rhona called her and their other sisters telling them about another conflict that ensued inside their home.
While the sister who was outside Rhona's home was calling the police, Rhona had this request from Rhoda.
"I received a call from her. She was telling me to tell her 2 kids that she loves them so much like repeatedly telling me to 'tell my kids I love them so much.' Please tell them, she kept reiterating those words," said Rhoda.
Police had to force their way into Rhona's home and transported her to the hospital where she died.
Since her death, a GoFundMe page has raised over $15,000 towards her funeral expenses and for her children who are currently with their biological father.
Rhona's family hopes her death could push others in similar situations to take action before it's too late.
"Unfortunately, in this case she rode it out to her death and now everything is being revealed after the fact. We wish we knew before, she still would’ve been here," said her cousin Krissy Flauta.
Barcelon, a US Navy sailor, was booked into prison and charged with first degree murder, which carriers a sentence of 25 years to life.
He entered a not guilty plea at his arraignment and is expected to return to court next week for a bail hearing.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/pinay-slain-by-husband-us
Government eyes mental care for COVID-19 survivors
The government is looking into providing mental care for COVID-19 survivors, an official said on Thursday.
One in 3 people who overcome COVID-19 suffer from a neurological or psychiatric diagnosis six months on, according a recent study.
Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, said he also received reports of suicide and mental breakdown among COVID-19 survivors.
"We have talked to the experts so that we can explore iyong tinatawag nating (what we call) further mental care and social healing after this pandemic," he said in a press briefing.
At least 942,239 people have recovered from COVID-19 in the Philippines.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/04/29/21/government-eyes-mental-care-for-covid-19-survivors
Patay na sanggol natagpuan sa tambakan ng basura sa Baguio
Patay na nang matagpuan ang isang sanggol na inabandona sa tambakan ng basura sa Loakan Proper sa Baguio City, Huwebes ng umaga.
Tinatayang nasa 8 hanggang 9 na buwan ang sanggol na nakalagay sa isang asul na bag.
Isang mangangalakal sa lugar ang nakakita sa sanggol na nasa loob ng isang kahon at nakabalot ng puting kumot.
Agad na ini-report sa pulisya ang insidente. Sinubukan pang dalhin sa isang ospital ang sanggol para sa assessment at medical report pero hindi ito tinanggap.
Pinabasbasan na lang sa simbahan ang sanggol bago inilibing.
Patuloy naman ang imbestigasyon ng awtoridad para mabatid kung sino ang nag-iwan sa sanggol.
- Ulat ni Micaella Costales Ilao
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/patay-na-sanggol-natagpuan-sa-tambakan-ng-basura-sa-baguio
Iba't ibang quarantine classification sa Pilipinas 'magulo' na: eksperto
Hindi napigilan ng isang public health expert na punahin ang aniya'y "nakakalito" nang mga termino na inimbento ng pamahalaan para sa quarantine classifications ng bansa.
Matatandaang noong Miyerkoles ay pinalutang ng Metro Manila mayors ang pagsasailalim sana sa NCR Plus sa "MECQ Flex," na ikinalito naman ng netizens.
Sabi ni public health expert Dr. Aileen Espina sa TeleRadyo nitong Huwebes, nakalilito lang ang iba-ibang quarantine classifications na ang pakay naman ay higit na nakapokus sa economic activities na papayagan ng gobyerno, at hindi sa health system.
"To be candid and to be honest about it, magulo talaga siya. Kahit sa amin po, ako personally, I can only speak for myself, hindi ko po talaga memorize kung ano 'yung pagkakaiba ng ECQ, MECQ, GCQ, MGCQ, at ngayon meron pang flexible MECQ," ani Espina.
Para kay Espina, higit na mas mahalagang maituro sa mga tao ang level of alertness at practices na dapat sundin depende sa sitwasyon at hindi ang mga bagay na may kinalaman sa pagbubukas ng ekonomiya.
Noong Miyerkoles ng gabi, napagdesisyunan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na ituloy ang modified enhanced community quarantine ang NCR Plus, na sakop ang Metro Manila, Laguna, Rizal, Cavite at Bulacan.
Tatagal ang MECQ sa NCR Plus hanggang Mayo 14.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/confusing-quarantine-terminology-philippines
DFA reports 12 new COVID-19 cases among Filipinos abroad
The number of Filipinos abroad who have contracted COVID-19 rose to 18,325 as 12 new cases were recorded Thursday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
The DFA also reported 13 new recoveries and no new fatality.
This is the fourth straight day that the number of new cases is in the double digits.
Those currently being treated abroad for the disease are at 5,947 as 11,233 of those infected have recovered, while 1,145 have died.
There are currently 94 countries/territories with Filipinos stricken with COVID-19.
Those undergoing treatment are broken down as follows by region: 1,120 in the Asia Pacific, 927 in Europe, 3,804 in the Middle East and Africa, and 96 in the Americas.
In the Philippines, COVID-19 has so far sickened 1,028,738 people. The tally includes 17,145 deaths, 942,239 recoveries, and 69,354 active cases.
The new coronavirus is believed to have first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019.
Variants of the virus have since emerged in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil and the Philippines.
Data from US-based Johns Hopkins University showed that more than 149.6 million people globally have contracted COVID-19, with the United States, India, Brazil, France, and Russia leading countries with the most number of cases.
More than 3.1 million have died worldwide because of the disease, while some 86.8 million already recovered.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/dfa-reports-12-new-covid-19-cases-among-filipinos-abroad
Palace says 'only right' to honor 'utang na loob' to China for COVID-19 vaccines
Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News
Palace says Philippines has debt of gratitude to COVAX, too
Malacañang said on Thursday it was "only right" for Manila to honor its "debt of gratitude" to Beijing for its COVID-19 vaccines, which President Rodrigo Duterte said was why he would not go to war with the Asian superpower despite its incursions in Philippine waters.
Duterte had said in a public address on Wednesday: "We do not want war with China. China is a good friend."
"Mayroon tayong utang na loob na marami pati ‘yong bakuna natin," he added.
(We have a huge debt of gratitude that we have vaccines.)
International law bans any country from starting war, which is a "crime of aggression," said Palace spokesman Harry Roque, a former law professor.
"Pagdating po sa utang na loob, alam mo naman tayong mga Pilipino, hindi po tayo bulag sa mga tulong na natatanggap natin," he said in a press briefing.
(When it comes to debt of gratitude, you know that we, Filipinos, we are not blind to the help that we receive.)
"Hanggang ngayon naman po, ang naaasahan lang natin, Sinovac, aminin po natin 'yan. Ilang buwan na tayong nagsimula, Sinovac lang naaasahan talaga natin. Tama lang po na tumanaw ng utang na loob," added the official, referring to the Chinese made vaccine.
(Until now, we only rely on Sinovac, let's admit that. It has been months since we started our vaccination, it's only Sinovac that we rely on. It's only right that we honor our debt of gratitude.)
The bulk of the Philippines' 4.025 million COVID-19 shots came from Beijing-based Sinovac Biotech. China donated 1 million of these doses.
Aside from China, global vaccine-sharing COVAX Facility will donate 33 million vaccine doses to the Philippines, on top of securing 10 million jabs that the government would pay for.
"Hindi naman natin sinasabi na wala rin tayong utang na loob doon sa mga bansa na nag-contribute sa COVAX Facility. Pinasalamatan nga rin po sila ni Presidente," said Roque.
"Tumatanaw din po tayo ng utang na loob sa kanila."
(We are not saying that we have no debt of gratitude to the countries that contributed to the COVAX Facility. The President has thanked them. We honor debt of gratitude to them, too.)
Among the hardest hit by the pandemic in Asia, the Philippines aims to vaccinate up to 70 million people or two-thirds of its population this year.
Its procurement of COVID-19 vaccines from China continues amid unresolved disputes over the South China Sea, which saw fresh tensions recently over the presence of over 200 ships in the country's exclusive economic zone in the waters.
During his presidential campaign in 2016, Duterte vowed to ride a jetski and plant a flag at the Spratlys— islands within the Philippine EEZ in the South China Sea— to assert Philippine sovereignty. In the same breath, he said he won't wage war against China.
The Philippines is sourcing a total of 25 million COVID-19 shots from China's Sinovac. Officials earlier said the vaccine was a separate issue from the maritime dispute.
Manila has filed several diplomatic protests against a recent swarm of 240 Chinese boats in the waterway. Beijing refuses to obey the 2016 ruling of a United Nations-backed court that junked its "historical" claims to almost the entire South China Sea, including the Philippines' EEZ or the West Philippine Sea.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/duterte-china-utang-na-loob-sinovac
6 katao arestado sa magkakahiwalay na buy-bust sa Lucena
LUCENA CITY, Quezon-- Arestado ang 6 na drug suspect sa apat na magkakahiwalay na buy-bust operation sa lungsod noong Miyerkoles.
Naaresto ang mga suspek sa pagkasa ng joint buy-bust operation ng Lucena City PNP at PIB.
Pasado alas-5 ng madaling araw nahuli sina Reniel Magdangal at Renson Magdangal sa Barangay Isabang matapos makuhanan ng 8 piraso ng sachet na may hinihinalang shabu na nagkakahalagang P20,000.
Pasado alas-6 naman ng umaga kanina nahuli ang 68 anyos na si Joven Guinto, residente ng Purok Rainbow, Brgy Ibabang Iyam, Lucena City.
Nakumpiska ang 7 piraso ng sachet na may lamang shabu na may street value na mahigit-kumulang P32,000.
Pasado alas-10 ng umaga nahuli sina Regie Villa at Dominick Marquez.
Nakumpiska sa dalawa ang anim na sachet ng hinihinalang shabu na nagkakahalagang P18, 300.
Nahuli naman matapos ang isang oras ang tricycle driver na si Daniel Dela Cruz, na dati nang naaresto sa kasong droga, matapos mahulihan ng umano'y droga na nagkakahalaga ng P26,520.
Sinampahan na ng kasong violation sa RA-9165 ang 6 na suspek at kasalukuyang nakakulong sa custodial facility ng Lucena City PNP.
-- Ulat ni Andrew Bernardo
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/6-katao-arestado-sa-magkakahiwalay-na-buy-bust-sa-lucena
Sandra Cam surrenders to police over murder case, now under hospital arrest
(UPDATE) — Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office board member Sandra Cam surrendered to police Thursday and is in hospital after a Manila court issued an arrest warrant against her over the fatal shooting of a vice mayor in Masbate.
She surrendered to the Calabarzon field unit of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, police said.
She is currently under hospital arrest, police said, as she undergoes treatment for an undisclosed condition.
Cam, her son Marco Martin and 5 others were tagged in the killing of Masbate Vice Mayor Charlie Yuson III.
Yuson, whose family clashed with Cam in the 2019 elections, was gunned down in Sampaloc, Manila in October 2019.
In 2020, the National Bureau of Investigation filed murder and frustrated murder charges the suspects.
Cam earlier denied involvement in the crime.
"Hindi kami mamamatay-tao," she told Teleradyo.
(We are not murderers.)
More details to follow.
- With a report from Raffy Santos, ABS-CBN News
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/sandra-cam-surrenders-to-police-over-murder-case
Solons' ivermectin distribution does not have 'sound legal basis': DOJ
(UPDATE) —Two lawmakers' decision to distribute ivermectin as treatment against COVID-19 does not have a "sound legal basis," the Department of Justice said Thursday.
The anti-parasitic drug is currently registered at the Food and Drug Administration for animal use. FDA earlier said ivermectin may be used under a compassionate special permit (CSP), or when licensed pharmacists compound it using doctors' prescription.
Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor and SAGIP Rep. Rodante Marcoleta on Thursday distributed the anti-parasitic drug to patients with prescriptions.
"Personally I'm not too sure whether these 2 exceptions cited by the FDA director general have a sound legal basis. That is something for further study. I’m not too sure about the soundness of the legal basis for the exemptions," Justice Secretary Menardo Gueverra told ANC's Headstart.
"I wouldn’t really blame Representatives Defensor and Marcoleta if they would proceed . . . They’re well-meaning in what they want to do. The legal consequences is something for us to see at a future time."
FDA Director General Eric Domingo said he saw no problem with the distribution of ivermectin as long as there were doctors who would monitor the patients.
"I believe they will be sourcing it from a licensed compounding pharmacy. As long as they have doctors there who will take a look at patients and prescribe their medicines, then that's not a problem. It's the responsibility now of the doctors," he said.
The administration of ivermectin to COVID-19 patients can only be done by the five hospitals granted CSP by the FDA, the Department of Health earlier said.
Philippines to release list of industries allowed to open under MECQ
The inter-agency task force leading the country's COVID-19 response is set to release a list of industries that are allowed to stay open during the modified enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces to curb increasing infections.
"Magkakaroon ng listahan ng mga industriya at negosyo na pwedeng pabuksan bagamat MECQ pa rin. Naiintindihan namin na kailangang bumalik na ang mga mangaggawa sa kanilang hanapbuhay," Presidential Spokesman Harry told TeleRadyo.
He added: "We are looking at a gradual reopening."
Restrictions to curb the spread of the disease have taken a painful toll on the Southeast Asian economy, which suffered its worst contraction on record due to the pandemic last year.
In the interview, Roque said the IATF voted unanimously to extend the MECQ in the National Capital Region Plus to preserve the gains of the month-long lockdown.
He noted that the arrival of more COVID-19 vaccines will help lower infections in the country. "After April, it can only be better," he said.
The Philippines is battling one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in Asia, with hospitals and medical workers in the capital Manila overwhelmed, while authorities face delays in the delivery of vaccines.
Non-essential movement, mass gatherings and dining in restaurants will remain banned in Metro Manila and in the provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Cavite for a further two weeks from May 1.
The Department of Health recorded 6,895 new COVID-19 cases and 115 more deaths on Wednesday, bringing the tallies to 1.02 million confirmed infections and more than 17,000 fatalities.
While the government aims to inoculate 50 to 70 million out of the country's more than 108 million people, the pace of its inoculation campaign has been slow due to difficulties in securing supply. With Reuters
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/philippines-list-industries-open-mecq-covid-19
Philippines should not have a misplaced 'debt of gratitude' to China - senator
Sherrie Ann Torres, ABS-CBN News
The Philippines should not have a "misplaced" feeling of indebtedness to China, Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto said Thursday after President Rodrigo Duterte's remark that Manila owes the Asian giant for its aid, including donated COVID-19 vaccines.
"The Philippines should be grateful for China’s assistance to fight COVID [through] our vaccination program. Nevertheless, we did pay for it and we should not have a misplaced utang na loob to China," Recto told ABS-CBN News in a text message.
Recto said China's continuing incursions in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea have resulted to displaced fishermen and reduced sources of food supply.
"China has taken away our ability to utilize resources in our exclusive economic zone and have destabilized the region by building military outpost in West [Philippine] Sea," he said.
"No one wants trouble with China, only mutual respect. Philippines should work with our allies for us to regain resources, needed by Filipinos in our exclusive economic zone," he added.
Sen. Grace Poe, meanwhile, said the country's friendship with other countries "must pave the way for common respect and rules-based approach in maintaining peace and stability in our waters."
"As we continue to raise our voices against the threats to our waters, our government must not renege on patrolling [the West Philippine Sea] to ensure that Filipino fishermen are secure as they venture into the common fishing grounds for livelihood," Poe said in a statement.
"Our presence in the West Philippine Sea is an unyielding display that we are standing our ground on what is ours and securing our people's productive access to our marine resources," she said.
In a televised public briefing late Wednesday, Duterte said the Philippines holds a "debt of gratitude" to China, noting the one million COVID-19 vaccine doses it has donated.
"I’m stating it for the record, we do not want war with China. China is a good friend. Mayroon tayong utang na loob na marami pati ‘yong bakuna natin," Duterte said.
Although, he said the Philippines' territorial waters cannot be bargained.
A 2016 ruling of the UN-backed arbitration court in The Hague invalidated China's sweeping claims over almost the entire South China Sea, of which the West Philippine Sea is a part.
The Philippines has taken a tough tone in recent weeks over the lingering presence of hundreds of Chinese boats in its EEZ, reviving tensions that had eased due to Duterte's close ties with Beijing.
The Philippine Coast Guard and the fisheries bureau have started maritime exercises inside the country's 200-mile EEZ, boosting presence to counter the "threatening" presence of Chinese boats.
Duterte forged friendlier relations with China upon assuming power in 2016, temporarily setting aside the arbitration award in favor of economic aid and investments.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/philipines-china-debt-of-gratitude-duterte-recto
Philippines to get 2.3 million Pfizer COVID-19 shots 'not later than June'
Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News
The Philippines will receive 2.3 million COVID-19 shots from US-based Pfizer-BioNTech "not later than June," an official leading the vaccination strategy said on Thursday.
Vaccine-sharing COVAX Facility wrote to the Philippines saying it would deliver 2,385,210 Pfizer jabs "not later than June," said Carlito Galvez Jr, chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19.
Pfizer and Philippine authorities are finalizing a deal on legal immunity and who will shoulder compensation in case of adverse effects from the vaccine, Galvez said.
"Napaka-cordial, napakabait nga po ng Pfizer... Kahit mayroon tayong tinatawag na challenges, legal challenges, talagang hindi nila binago iyong kanilang tinatawag na offer sa atin," he said in a press briefing.
"Isa po sa pinakamababa na presyo ang Pfizer, sumunod doon sa AstraZeneca. Ang ganda ng presyo sa atin."
(Pfizer is very cordial, kind. Even though we had legal challenges, they did not change their offer to us. Pfizer has one of the lowest prices, next to AstraZeneca. Its price for us is very good.)
The Philippines is negotiating for 40 million Pfizer jabs, said Galvez, who is also the country's vaccine "czar."
Among the hardest hit by the pandemic in Asia, the Philippines aims to vaccinate up to 70 million people or two-thirds of its population this year.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/philippines-pfizer-june-when-delivery
ALAMIN: Ano ang quarantine classifications sa inyong lugar ngayong Mayo?
Mananatili pa rin sa modified enhanced community quarantine ang Metro Manila, Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, at Rizal o ang tinatawag na National Capital Region (NCR) Plus bubble hanggang Mayo 14.
Hanggang katapusan nama ng Mayo ang MECQ sa Santiago City, Quirino, at Abra, ayon sa pinakahuling anunsiyo ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.
"I’m sorry that I have to impose a longer --- itong modified enhanced community kasi kailangan. Nag-spike ang --- may spike ang ano, tumaas ‘yong infections at ‘yong hospital natin puno. Kaya ho sana ‘wag ninyong dagdagan," ani Duterte.
Sumang-ayon naman dito ang mga alkalde ng Metro Manila, na kasama sa Metro Manila Council.
"Umayon po ang mga alkalde po rito sa MECQ... sapagkat ito ay sagot sa mga walang trabaho, magkakaroon ng activities, at sagot rin naman na hindi tataas ang impeksiyon dahil ang border control po,” ayon kay MMDA chairman Benjamin Abalos.
Unang inimungkahi ng mga alkalde ang pagpapatupad ng MECQ Flex na pumapayag sa pagbubukas ng mas maraming negosyo, sa layuning mapabuti ang ekonomiya habang naka-lockdown.
Nasa general community quarantine naman ang mga sumusunod
Apayao
Baguio City
Benguet
Ifugao
Kalinga
Mountain Province
Cagayan
Isabela
Nueva Vizcaya
Batangas
Quezon
Tacloban City
Iligan City
Davao City
Lanao del Sur
Ang mga hindi nabanggit na lugar ay awtomatikong nasa modified GCQ, ang pinakamababang lebel ng quarantine, pero kailangang tutukan ang ilang lugar sa Luzon, Region 6, at Region 9.
Puwede pa ring iapela ng mga lokal na pamahalaan sa pandemic task force ang kanilang mga quarantine classification.
Sa ngayon, ayon kay Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, nasa 69 porsiyento na ang health care utilization rate sa Kamaynilaan matapos madagdagan ang modular hospital sites, at iba pang health facilities.
Dumarami na rin aniya ang health care workers at naiapamahagi na ang 107 milyong set ng PPE sa NCR Plus Bubble.
May 6,895 bagong COVID-19 cases sa bansa na naitala noong Miyerkoles. Aabot na sa 1,020,495 ang kumpirmadong kaso ng COVID-19 sa bansa.
— Ulat ni Joyce Balancio, ABS-CBN News
Can lawmakers be arrested for distributing ivermectin? Up to law enforcers, says justice chief
Mike Navallo, ABS-CBN News
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Thursday it was up to law enforcers to decide whether or not they would arrest 2 lawmakers distributing ivermectin, which is not registered for human use nor for COVID-19 treatment in the Philippines.
“Call 'yan ng (It's the call of) law enforcement agents,” he told reporters when asked if there is basis for a warrantless arrest as they were supposedly in the act of violating the law.
Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor and Sagip Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta on Thursday distributed ivermectin to residents of Quezon City.
Guevarra, on ANC’s Headstart, said the distribution of ivermectin “apparently violates the FDA law.”
Republic Act No. 3720, as amended by RA 9711 or the FDA Act of 2009, prohibits the manufacture, importation, exportation, sale, offering for sale, distribution, transfer, non-consumer use, promotion, advertising, or sponsorship of any health product that is adulterated, unregistered or misbranded.
It also prohibits the manufacture, importation, exportation, sale, offering for sale, distribution, transfer, non-consumer use, promotion, advertisement, or sponsorship of any health product which, although requiring registration, is not registered with the FDA.
The law imposes jailtime on violators of between 1 year and 10 years and fines ranging from P50,000 to P5 million, depending on the level of involvement.
Under the Rules of Court, meanwhile, warrantless arrest is valid only on 3 occasions:
If a suspect is caught in the act of committing crime
Hot pursuit (offense has just been committed and police has probable cause based on personal knowledge to believe person committed it)
Arrest of escaped prisoner
Guevarra earlier said Defensor, as a lawmaker, should be aware of what acts are allowed and prohibited under the law.
On Thursday, however, Guevarra acknowledged there were 2 exemptions cited by FDA Director General Eric Domingo: through compassionate use authorization, and when it is compounded by duly licensed pharmacies.
In both cases, these should be supported by a doctor's prescription.
“So, if Rep. Defensor and Rep. Marcoleta's act of distributing ivermectin would fall under any of these two situations, it would appear that they can put this up as a defense just in case a complaint is filed,” he said.
But Guevarra said the legal basis for the 2 exceptional situations was “not clear,” saying he will defer his answer if warrantless arrest can be made.
"Personally I'm not too sure whether these 2 exceptions cited by the FDA director general have a sound legal basis. That is something for further study. I’m not too sure about the soundness of the legal basis for the exemptions," he told Headstart.
"I wouldn’t really blame Representatives Defensor and Marcoleta if they would proceed . . . They’re well-meaning in what they want to do. The legal consequences is something for us to see at a future time,” he added.
In Defensor's and Marcoleta's distribution of ivermectin on Thursday, recipients were asked to sign an ivermectin request form with a waiver of liability.
But a waiver does not extinguish criminal liability, Guevarra said.
"In general, a criminal offense is committed against the People of the Philippines and not just against a particular person (except in private offenses such as adultery). So that person's waiver does not extinguish any criminal liability, assuming such liability has been independently established," he added.
DOJ’S TRACK RECORD ON WARRANTLESS ARRESTS
Guevarra, in July 2019, warned Kapa Community Ministry International officials and members that they could face arrests without warrant if they continued to sell investments without a license.
In May 2019, DOJ prosecutors justified the warrantless arrest of Bikoy video-sharer Rodel Jayme not only as hot pursuit, but also saying that the offense was still being committed at the time of his arrest, effectively making the offense a continuing crime.
The DOJ also said last year, at the start of the COVID-19 lockdown, that quarantine violators can be immediately arrested without a warrant, only to call for community service instead of arrests and fines a year later.
The NBI last year arrested without warrant teacher Ronnel Mas who offered a bounty on social media for the President's life.
Prosecutors initially ruled his arrest was illegal but his subsequent media confession cured the illegality.
But an Olongapo court rejected this position and found Mas’ arrest illegal.
Prosecutors also junked a re-filed complaint against Mas due to the NBI’s failure to present additional evidence that he tweeted the controversial post.
The DOJ, meanwhile, had ruled out warrantless arrest over Sen. Koko Pimentel's alleged quarantine breach when he went to a hospital with his wife despite undergoing a COVID-19 test, which turned out positive.
The DOJ eventually junked the complaint vs. Pimentel.
Dahil sa alitan, lalaki patay nang saksakin umano ng kuya sa Iloilo
Patay ang isang lalaki sa bayan ng Oton, Iloilo matapos umanong sasakin ng nakakatandang kapatid na nakaalitan niya noong hapon ng Miyerkoles.
Kinilala ng Oton police ang biktima bilang si Purisimo Salitre, 54.
Ayon sa imbestigasyon ng pulisya, nagkaroon ng mainit na pagtatalo ang magkapatid habang nasa inuman matapos dumalo sa libing ng kanilang pinsan sa Barangay Cadinglian.
Hinampas umano ng biktima ang kaniyang kuya pero inundayan siya nito ng saksak, ayon sa pulisya.
Sinugod sa ospital ang biktima pero idineklara ring dead on arrival dahil sa mga tinamong sugat sa iba-ibang bahagi ng katawan.
Nasa kustodiya ng Oton police ang suspek. — Ulat ni Rolen Escaniel
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/lalaki-sinaksak-ng-kapatid-oton-iloilo
DOLE: 5,000 workers to get COVID-19 vaccine on Labor Day
About 5,000 of so-called economic frontliners are set to be vaccinated against COVID-19 on May 1, Labor Day, the Department of Labor and Employment said Thursday.
The vaccine recipients include minimum wage and overseas Filipino workers, and those in other sectors that belong in the A4 vaccination group, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III told ANC.
He earlier said they were looking at a plaza near the Manila City Hall as possible vaccination site.
He didn't say what brand of vaccine will be administered to the workers.
The A4 group also covers transport workers, grocery store workers, market vendors, security guards and religious leaders. Those working in manufacturing, food delivery and financial services are included as well in this priority list.
In the interview, Bello said Filipino workers who catch COVID-19 are eligible to receive compensation from government.
The board of the Employee's Compensation Commission (ECC) approved the respiratory disease in the list of occupational and work-related disease, he said.
"It becomes compensable if COVID infection is work-related," Bello said. "This applies only to workers in the private sector."
https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/04/29/21/dole-philippines-to-vaccinate-5000-workers-on-labor-day
500,000 Sinovac doses arrive in the Philippines
(UPDATE) - Half a million doses of CoronaVac, the COVID-19 vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac BioTech, arrived in the Philippines Thursday morning.
This is the fourth delivery of Sinovac vaccines from Beijing to the Philippines, bringing the total of deliveries to 3.5 million doses. The delivery came a day after President Rodrigo Duterte said the Philippines owes a debt of gratitude to China for its donation of 1 million doses.
The latest 500,000 doses, which arrived at NAIA Terminal 2 at 7:05 a.m. on Cebu Pacific flight 5J671, were procured by the Philippine government.
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said the vaccines will be brought to the MetroPac facility in Marikina before being distributed all over the country.
Another 500,000 Sinovac doses will be delivered to the Philippines early Friday, said Philippine Ambassador to China Chito Sta. Romana.
A team from the Philippine Embassy had inspected the jabs at Sinovac's facility in Daxing, Beijing earlier this week and "more shipments of vaccines are scheduled in May," he said.
The government had said it secured a total of 25 million doses of CoronaVac vaccines.
The country expects to receive some 140 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of this year, excluding 44 million from the COVAX facility, according to Galvez.
Up to 70 million are targeted for vaccination this year to achieve herd immunity against the coronavirus.
Duterte earlier said the Philippines owes a debt of gratitude to China for donating 1 million COVID-19 shots to the Philippines. This, amid criticism that Chinese vessels have been spotted in the West Philippine Sea.
“I’m stating it for the record, we do not want war with China. China is a good friend. Mayroon tayong utang na loob na marami, pati iyong bakuna natin,” he said in a pre-recorded speech.
(We have a huge debt of gratitude, even for our vaccine. But there are things that are not really subject to a compromise. I hope they will understand.)
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/500000-sinovac-doses-arrive-in-the-philippines
Resort workers sa Bauan, Batangas dumadaing
Ipinagmamalaki ng Barangay San Pablo sa bayan ng Bauan sa Batangas ang isang resort dahil dito matatagpuan ang marine protected area at sikat rin sa mga dive site, kaya turismo ang pangunahing kabuhayan ng mga residente sa lugar.
Pero bago mag-Holy Week, naghigpit ang Batangas dahil sa pagtaas ng bilang ng kaso ng COVID-19. Isinailalim ulit sa general community quarantine ang probinsiya at wala dapat na bukas na resort.
Marami ang nawalan ng kabuhayan, tulad na lamang ni Abigail na nagtatrabaho sa resort bilang tagalinis. Apat ang kaniyang anak at nakakaraos lang ngayon sa mga tulong na natatanggap nila.
Maging ang mga bangkerong tagahatid ng mga turista ay apektado rin.
Ayon sa Municipal Officer ng Bauan na si Kenny Bautista, inilapit na nila sa Department of Labor and Employment at Department of Tourism ang problema ng nawalan ng kabuhayan.
Nagsimula na umanong makatanggap ng P5,000 financial assistance ang ilang resort employee na nawalan ng kabuhayan, habang pinoproseso pa ang sa iba.
Apela ng resort owners na payagan na muling magbukas ang mga resort para muling makabangon ang kanilang kabuhayan.
Nakatakdang pulungin ni Mayor Ryan Dolor ang mga resort owner hinggil sa operasyon ng mga resort, at kung papapasukin na ba ang mga turista mula NCR Plus o mananatiling mga taga-Batangas lamang ang tatanggapin.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/04/29/21/resort-workers-sa-bauan-batangas-dumadaing
African swine fever vaccine trials can be accomplished in 90-120 days: BAI
The Bureau of Animal Industry on Thursday said trials for a vaccine against African Swine Fever will be completed in 3-4 months.
BAI Dir. Reildrin Morales said 10 farms in Luzon are participating in the trial. Around 40 to 50 percent of the swine population in the country is in Luzon, he said.
“Itong trial na ito we're just looking at the effectiveness of the vaccine pa lang po so hindi po ito na parang sa COVID na we have now the vaccine na ginagamit na talaga natin to acquire herd immunity. Ito po ay titingnan pa lang natin po how this vaccine will perform. Kaya po tayo nagta-trial dito sa Luzon, alam naman po natin na ito kasing Luzon halos karamihan sa lugar dito ay tinamaan na nung virus,” he said in a TeleRadyo interview.
He said the trial has to be in a controlled environment where biosecurity is in place in the farms.
“Bilang po natin 'yung bote at bilang po natin 'yung dose na laman ng bote ng 'yun so we imported only enough for this trial at gwardiyado po ito,” he said.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar earlier said the number of positive samples of ASF in the Philippines has dropped significantly.
Tanod patay matapos hampasin ng bato ng pamangkin sa Capiz
CAPIZ - Patay ang isang barangay tanod matapos hampasin ng bato sa ulo ng sariling pamangkin sa Barangay Malapad Cogon, sa bayan ng Sigma sa probinsiyang ito, hapon ng Miyerkoles.
Edad 53 ang biktima at residente ng lugar, ayon sa Sigma PNP.
Nakilala ang biktima na si Digno Olithao, 53 anyos at residente ng lugar.
Sa imbestigasyon ng Sigma PNP, nagkaroon ng pagtatalo na nauwi sa suntukan ang magtiyo habang naglalakad kasama ang isang kaibigan
Sa gitna ng pagtatalo ay nakakuha ng bato ang suspek at hinampas ito sa ulo ng biktima. Sa lakas ng pagkakahampas ay bumagsak ang biktima at nawalan ng malay.
Kaagad na dinala sa ospital ang biktima pero idineklara itong dead on arrival ng doktor dahil sa malubhang sugat sa ulo na natamo ng biktima.
Napag-alaman din ng awtoridad na nakainom ng alak ang magtiyo ng mangyari ang insidente. Dating alitan ang isang tinitignan na motibo sa krimen ng mga awtoridad.
Kaagad naman na nahuli ng mga rumespondeng awtoridad ang suspek at nakatakdang sampahan ng kasong homicide.
-- Ulat ni Rolen Escaniel
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/tanod-patay-matapos-hampasin-ng-bato-ng-pamangkin-sa-capiz
200 bahay nasunog sa Davao City
Tinatayang nasa 200 bahay ang natupok noong gabi ng Miyerkoles sa Barangay Ilang sa lungsod na ito, ayon sa Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
Bandang alas-9 ng gabi nang mag-umpisa ang sunog na tumama sa residential area sa Purok 11, malapit sa dagat.
Umabot pa ito sa ikatlong alarma bago tuluyang nakontrol alas-10 ng gabi. Bandang alas-2:26 ng madaling araw ng Huwebes nagdeklara ng fire out ang mga awtoridad.
Wala namang naiulat na namatay sa sunog.
Inilikas muna ang mga residente sa barangay gym.
Tinatayang aabot sa P2 milyon ang halaga ng pinsala sa ari-arian dahil sa insidente.
Patuloy na iniimbestigahan ng BFP ang sanhi ng sunog.
Sumiklab din ang sunog sa parehong lugar noong Abril 29, 2020, kung saan daan-daang bahay din ang natupok.
— Ulat ni Hernel Tocmo
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/ilang-bahay-malapit-sa-dagat-sa-davao-city-nasunog
Smuggled cigarettes worth P7.3M seized in Zamboanga City
ZAMBOANGA CITY - Authorities seized Wednesday P7.3 million worth of undocumented cigarettes from a boat in waters off Zamboanga City.
Reports said operatives were conducting maritime interdiction operations when they intercepted M/B Dream Boat in the seawaters off Barangay Recodo.
The boat came from the province of Sulu and was loaded with 205 cases of undocumented cigarettes.
The vessel and its cargo, together with its 8 crew were escorted to Naval Station Romulo Espaldon. They were turned over to the custody of the Bureau of Customs for proper disposition.
- Report from Leizel Lacastesantos
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/smuggled-cigarettes-worth-p73m-seized-in-zamboanga-city
Panawagan ng mga manggagawa, huwag nang bawasan pa ang P100 daily wage subsidy
(UPDATE)—Nanawagan ang isang grupo ng mga manggagawa nitong Huwebes na huwag gawing barya ang hinihingi nilang P100 daily wage subsidy dahil sa patuloy na paghagupit ng COVID-19 pandemic.
"Tingin ko pwede na sa amin kahit mga P70, pero wag na sanang babababa pa. Compromised na nga yun. 'Wag naman sanang gawing barya ang ibigay na dagdag-sahod," ani Defend Jobs Philippines spokesman Christian Lloyd Magsoy sa DZMM Teleradyo.
"Dapat sana pagbigyan ito ng Presidente, Kongreso dahil walang-wala talaga ang mga manggagawa sa kasalukuyan."
Dagdag niya, nasa P300 milyong ayuda pa ang hindi pa naiibigay ng Department of Labor and Employment.
Pahirapan din umanong kumuha ng kompensasyon ang mga manggagawang nagkaroon ng COVID-19 mula sa Employment Compensation Commission dahil umano sa kulang na requirement kahit nagpasa ng kumpletong dokumento ang mga ito.
"May red tape din sa ahensiyang 'yan. Ang daming hinahanap na requirement. It takes months to process para makuha ang compensation," ani Magsoy.
Higit P8M halaga ng shabu nasamsam sa BARMM
COTABATO CITY - Nasa. P8.1 milyong halaga ng ilegal na droga ang nakumpiska mula sa dalawang magkahiwalay na buy-bust operation na isinagawa ng Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency BARMM sa Maguindanao at Tawi-Tawi nitong Miyerkoles.
Nauna ang operasyon sa Barangay Pag-Asa, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi Miyerkoles ng umaga kung saan nahuli ang isang mag-asawa at isa pang lalaki at nakumpiska sa kanila ang 14 pakete ng hinihinalang shabu na nakalagay sa isang malaking bag.
Tinatayang nasa P4,760,000 ang halaga ng drogang nakumpiska sa kanila.
Sa ikinasang operasyon naman ng awtoridad sa Midsayap, Datu Piang, Maguindanao nahuli ang tatlong lalaki matapos makunan ng 10 sachet ng shabu.
Nasa P3.4 milyong halaga ng hinihinalang shabu na tinatayang aabot sa kalahating kilo ang bigat ang nakuha mula sa kanila.
Nasa kustodiya na ngayon ng PDEA ang mga suspek na haharap sa kasong paglabag sa Republic Act 9165 o Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
- Ulat nina Leizle Lacastesantos at Chrislen Bulosan
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/higit-p8m-halaga-ng-shabu-nasamsam-sa-barmm