Tuesday, October 13, 2020
ABS-CBN VHF and UHF TV Stations Nationwide
- TV-2 Manila
- TV-3 Baguio (Northern Luzon)
- TV-30 La Union
- TV-11 Mt. Province
- TV-7 Laoag
- TV-11/34 Vigan
- TV-11 Abra
- TV-32 Dagupan
- TV-46 Alaminos, Pangasinan***
- TV-32 Cabanatuan
- TV-34 Tarlac
- TV-22 Baler
- TV-3 Tuguegarao
- TV-9 Aparri
- TV-2 Santiago
- TV-12 Olongapo
- TV-13 Botolan
- TV-11 Batanes
- TV-11 Bayombong
- TV-46 Pampanga
- TV-34 Bulacan
- TV-22 Bataan
- TV-10 Batangas
- TV-24 Lucena
- TV-9 Hondagua, Quezon***
- TV-6 Calamba***
- TV-46 San Pablo
- TV-11 Occidental Mindoro
- TV-21 Calapan
- TV-32 Tagaytay
- TV-40 Rizal
- TV-7 Puerto Princesa (Palawan)*
- TV-10 Española*
- TV-12 Taytay, Palawan***
- TV-21 Brooke's Point, Palawan***
- TV-11 Naga (Bicol)
- (SOON) Iriga***
- TV-10 Daet
- TV-4 Legazpi
- TV-10 Albay
- TV-7 Sorsogon
- TV-7 Catanduanes
- TV-10 Masbate*
- (SOON) Romblon***
- TV-2 Tacloban
- (SOON) Ormoc***
- TV-10 Calbayog*
- TV-7 Catbalogan*
- TV-7 Catarman**
- TV-38 Borongan
- (SOON) Biliran***
- TV-9 Kalibo
- TV-44 Antique**
- TV-21 Roxas
- TV-10 Iloilo
- TV-4/40 Bacolod
- TV-7 Cadiz**
- TV-26 Sipalay**
- TV-12 Dumaguete
- TV-3 Cebu
- TV-2 Toledo
- TV-13 Barili
- TV-9 Bohol*
- TV-7 Siquijor
- TV-3 Zamboanga (Zamboanga Peninsula)
- TV-42 Dipolog
- TV-9 Pagadian*
- TV-2/23 Cagayan de Oro (Northern Mindanao)
- TV-2 Bukidnon
- TV-4 Iligan
- (SOON) Marawi***
- TV-7 Ozamiz*
- TV-4 Davao (Southern Mindanao)
- TV-24 Mati
- (SOON) Compostela Valley***
- (SOON) Panabo***
- TV-3 General Santos (SOCCKSARGEN)
- TV-4 Koronadal
- TV-4 Kidapawan
- TV-11 Butuan (Caraga)
- TV-5 Agusan del Sur
- TV-12 Surigao*
- TV-26 Tandag
- TV-5 Cotabato (Central Mindanao)
- TV-10 Jolo*
(*)Affiliates.
(**)Off-air.
(***)On-going expansion.
visit us:
Active COVID-19 cases among House of Representatives employees down to 7
The House of Representatives on Monday said there are now only 7 active COVID-19 infections in its employees.
The total number of COVID-19 cases at the House of Representatives remains at 85 as of October 12, with 2 new cases reported early this month.
The tally includes 73 recoveries and 5 deaths.
As of Monday, the Philippines has recorded a total of 342,816 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 43,332 active cases. A total of 293,152 recoveries have been tallied, while 6,332 have died. - with a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News
Here’s The Only Way To Begin To Love
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:10-11
The greatest rivers in the world usually begin on the cold, frozen slopes of high mountains as the sun begins to melt snow and ice, and from the trickle of crystal-clear water a steam begins to flow and eventually a cascade of water plummets down the mountain. In the valley far below, the stream becomes a river, then a great river which we call the Nile, the Amazon, the Ganges, the Rhine, or whatever. By the time these massive bodies of water reach the ocean, they may be kilometers wide, but they are filthy, muddy, and grossly polluted.
Now, apply that same concept to the biblical truth that God is love. John tells us this in the New Testament, and the farther we are from Him, seemingly the more polluted is love. By the time it has been filtered through human lust, what we call love is a far cry from the compelling love which caused God to send His Son long ago.
Love is not a platitude, it is an action, an unconditional commitment to care, a decision of the heart. True, it is what the world needs. The words of a song popular a generation ago said it all. "The world is dying, dying for a little bit of love," says one verse.
If you have followed this series based on Paul's great chapter on love, found in the New Testament in 1 Corinthians 13, you have focused on love's characteristics, but any discussion of the subject would be incomplete without a few words of encouragement for you whose river of love has either evaporated in the desert of life, or else become so polluted that you hardly know what it is.
When God touches your heart, your life changes, God takes up residence in your life, and the mud and filth of sin is washed away. When the pollution of sin is eliminated, you begin to love. This is the miracle of conversion. It is the answer to the lovelessness and the selfishness which destroys marriages, homes and relationships.
Joining a church, turning over a new leaf, going to confession, "being religious," isn't the solution. A relationship with God through His son is the only way you will really begin to love. "OK," you say, "I admit that something is wrong. How does this change in my life come about?"
Three simple but very difficult steps can make the difference.
Guideline #1: Acknowledge that you need a relationship with God and confess that sin has stopped the flow of love in your life. It's easy to point a finger and say, "It was his fault." The solution is saying, "God, I need you. Forgive me and touch my life."
Guideline #2: Ask God's forgiveness for your failure and invite Him to be your Lord and Savior. Jesus gave us a promise of help. Here it is: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20). That promise has your name on it. Possibly you haven't prayed for a long time, but you can say something like, "Lord, I do want you in my life. I want you to turn my indifference into love. Help me to love as you love me."
Guideline #3: Begin loving in simple steps, one day at a time. When you fail and fall back into old habits and a loveless way, quickly admit your wrong and ask God's help in overcoming.
You can talk about love until you have calluses on your vocal cords and wind erosion on your teeth, but until you go back to the fountain and the source of love, God Himself, you'll never lay hold of the real thing. Go back to the source. It's the only way to fill your cup and have enough left over for someone else in your life.
Resource reading: 1 John 4:1-21
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/heres-the-only-way-to-begin-to-love/
Monday, October 12, 2020
Inquirer Fitness Fashion: Joey Samson for Bench
Besides Samson, other designers and brands from the said show are Kipling with Vic Barba; Fila with Lulu Tan-Gan; Nike Golf with Anthony Nocom; Speedo with James Reyes(+) Louis Claparols; Adidas with Patrice Ramos-Diaz and Rhett Eala; Marks & Spencer with Arcy Gayatin; Aigle and Oxbow with Rajo Laurel; and Puma with Ivarluski Aseron and Randy Ortiz.
No other than Enchong Dee, the guest model from the said show and endorser of Adidas, Nike, DC Shoes, arena swimwear, speedo, Bench, Bench Body, JINS and TIMEX watch that accompanied by fellow Gigger Boys member Robi Domingo and former girlfriend Gretchen Ho together with the models in the Denim Flair fashion show as part of Do Denim Everyday campaign in all SM Supermalls nationwide.
To recall, Enchong would wear JINS Airframe U377 (Spider), 2009 Adidas DLSU hoodie (green), 2011 Nike exclusive De La Salle Dri-Fit tee (white), BENCH/ body Hipster Brief - White (BUB2032WH3), BENCH/ Skinny Jeans - Black (LAM6000) and DC Men's AT-3 Mid Shoe (Royal Blue/Armor) would be exhibited at BENCH/ stores nationwide because he was in Bench Uncut 2010 denim and underwear show also got wild cheers from the audience and he shows his athletic side with these dance moves, and doing workouts at Bodyworx Spa & Fitness Club instead of Anytime Fitness Dona Hemady before doing a photo shoot at BENCH/ Tower.
Again, Enchong wears arena AGL-1400 EMBL google and ARN-6014 DGRN Half Spats nux-F along with other members of De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Tankers batches 2007-2008 to 2018-2019, his sister Anj wears arena AGL-1400_ EMBL goggle and ARN-6012W DGRN rimic nux-F together with the members of DLSU Lady Tankers batches 2007-2008 to 2018-2019.
While for Robi, the former Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition Plus second big placer and Ateneo de Manila University graduate who wears JINS Airframe U377 (Faded Charcoal), 2008 adidas Ateneo Sesquicentennial jacket (Blue/White), GetBlued Designs “We Fight for the Blue and the White” Tee (Blue) and BENCH/ Furne One’s Far East collection men’s costume white sando and denim pant and appeared in the said show when he ripped his sando in the Furne One's Far East segment.
A Twitter user who said "Nakakatawa yung ginawa ni Robi Domingo sa Bench Uncut."
In addition, the 2008 adidas Ateneo teamwear tees (blue with three white stripes) with the words "1987. 1988. 2002. 2008. Bring the pride back" would be included.
Again, Robi wears 2008 adidas Ateneo Sesquicentennial jacket (Blue/White, with three stripes), arena ARN-4091 BLK swimming cap, AGL-1400 EMBL google and ARN-6013 ABLU Long Spats nux-F along with other members of FAST Ateneo Swimming Team batches 2007-2008 to 2018-2019.
The loveteam of Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson, wearing elaborate costumes, closed the segment.
BRAZIL. The show reached its peak during the Brazil segment.
She was immediately followed by Be Bench winner Carl Guevara; Eurasian model Benjamin Tang; returnees Rafael Rosell and Andrew Wolff; Wowowee girls RR Enriquez, Saicy Aguila, and April “Congratulations” Gustilo.
Wendell Ramos remains to be one of the biggest attractions in the Bench fashion shows. The 31-year-old actor wore the skimpiest underwear of all the celebrities that night, showing his flawless buttocks to the delight of the crowd.
Meanwhile, comedienne Pokwang almost stole the show with her grand entrance. Wearing a feathery gown which covered almost all parts of her body, the Wowowee co-host passed through a sea of almost naked gorgeous Caucasian models lying on the floor on her way to the ramp.
Pokwang was followed by Kapuso actress Carla Abellana and Kapamilya heartthrob Enchong Dee.
Other celebrities such as Marco Alcaraz, Gerald Anderson, Jon Avila, Phoemela Baranda, Kris Bernal, James Blanco, Albie Casiño, David Chua, Franco Daza, Alessandra de Rossi, JC de Vera, Ejay Falcon, Katrina Halili, Brent Javier, Luke Jickain, Bianca King, Doug Kramer, Mikee Lee, Xian Lim, Zanjoe Marudo, Sam Milby, Ron Morales, Angelica Panganiban, Sam Pinto, Cassandra Ponti, John Prats, Francine Prieto, Bruce Quebral, Rufa Mae Quinto, Wendell Ramos, Tom Rodriguez, Rafael Rosell, Johan Santos, Jome Silayan, Jay-R Siliona, John James Uy, Iya Villania and Valerie Weigmann are not attend, but a year later when de Vera and Falcon made a Cosmopolitan Bachelor Bash runway out of "Gandang Gabi Vice" stage.
Bukod kina Ejay at JC, ilan dito sa mga celebrities na rumampa sa mga Bench denim and underwear shows noong 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 at 2012 ay sina Marco Alcaraz, Gerald Anderson, Jon Avila, Phoemela Baranda, Kris Bernal, James Blanco, Albie Casiño, David Chua, Franco Daza, Alessandra de Rossi, Enchong Dee, Robi Domingo, Katrina Halili, Brent Javier, Luke Jickain, Bianca King, Doug Kramer, Maureen Larrazabal, Mikee Lee, Xian Lim, Ehra Madrigal, Michelle Madrigal, Zanjoe Marudo, Jessy Mendiola, Sam Milby, Ron Morales, Angelica Panganiban, Sam Pinto, Cassandra Ponti, Camille Prats, John Prats, Francine Prieto, Bruce Quebral, Rufa Mae Quinto, Wendell Ramos, Rafael Rosell, Johan Santos, Jome Silayan, Jay-R Siliona, John James Uy, Arron Villaflor, Iya Villania and Valerie Weigmann.
He was very careful though, requesting his manager to clear the room and leave him and the photographer to complete his most daring project yet. When asked why the sudden shift to the sexy route after exposing skin in two magazines in less than 5 months, JC owe this to his perfect shape. "Na prepare yung katawan ko. Very confident naman ako na gawin kasi prepared ako. I am ready to flaunt," says the actor.
But is this the direction his new mother network wants him to have? "Ever since naman masipag talaga akong mag workout, mag showcase sa kung anong meron ako. Nung lumipat ako sa ABS-CBN, siguro mas madaming naka appreciate kung anong meron ako," he explained further. JC was quick in saying though that there is still limit in his showing of skin saying "Pa sundot-sundot yung mga sexy but not all the time."
Asked though how far can he go when it comes to baring, de Vera said it depends on the material, how his character in a movie is built and the objective of his involvement in a project. Even if it requires making love with a man, JC said that those are his only rules. "Depende sa selling point nung film. Kung ibebenta ako as sexy, hindi. But if needed talaga siya ng character, kakayanin ko kung hanggang saan ang itatakbo ng role," he said.
"Butt exposure, hindi siya issue sakin. Sa Hollywood naman kasi, yung butt exposure normal lang sila. Pag kailangan talaga sa character, hindi ako magdadalawang isip. Pero pag ang indie film may pagka porn na ang dating, di siguro," he explained further.
JC is also excited that aside from his drama series "The Legal Wife" with Angel Locsin, Jericho Rosales and Maja Salvador, he is set to appear in a sexy noontime soap also on ABS-CBN. With the working title "Moon of Desire", JC is set to work with sexy actresses Ellen Adarna and Meg Imperial. When asked to describe his newest project, the actor referred to it as "sexy and sensual." "Expect nila na madami silang makikita na skin."
While 2013 MVP Johansen Aguilar and other members of Green Tankers batches 2009-2010 up to 2018-2019 wears 2012 Nike exclusive De La Salle game jacket and pant (green), 2011 Nike exclusive De La Salle Dri-Fit tee (green and white), speedo Aqua V Silicone Swimming Cap - Black (8-087750001), speedsocket Unisex Goggle - Black (8-705895555) and FASTSKIN FS-PRO Men's Bodysuit (8-008053218) and his sister Jam of NCAA member De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde along with other members of Benilde Lady Blazers swimming team batches 2006-2007 to 2018-2019 wears speedo Aqua V Cap (White), speedsocket Mirror - Silver (8-705895555) and FASTSKIN FS-PRO Recordbreaker Female - Black (8-008153218).
Pateros, Cainta, Taytay hope census result could help in cityhood bid
THE towns of Pateros in Metro Manila and Cainta and Taytay in Rizal are hoping that the result of the ongoing census would qualify them for cityhood.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) earlier announced that it is conducting census, which started in September. Census in the Philippines is usually conducted every five years.
Pateros Mayor Miguel F. Ponce III said he hopes that the result of the census would yield 150,000 residents for the town to be qualified as a city as required by law.
"We hope and pray that it could be realized," he said.
In 2015 census, Pateros only yield some 63,840 residents.
Earlier, Cainta Mayor Johnielle Keith Nieto said he had formed a technical team to study how prepared Cainta is for its cityhood bid.
Saturday, October 10, 2020
IATF sets protocols for Palawan division plebiscite
The government’s COVID-19 task force has come up with health and safety protocols for the conduct of a plebiscite in the first quarter of 2021 on the law dividing Palawan into three provinces, Malacañang said Friday.
A two-day voting schedule will be implemented and only five voters will be allowed inside the room at any particular time, said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, citing the resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) approved on Thursday.
Registered voters between 18 and 21 years old and those who are 60 years old and above, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidity, or other health risks, and pregnant women may go out of their residences to vote, Roque said.
The task force also encouraged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to devise safety mechanisms and procedures to ensure that confirmed COVID-19 and/or symptomatic patients can exercise their right to vote.
The plebiscite was supposed to be held last May but the Comelec postponed it due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In April last year, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11259 dividing Palawan three provinces: Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur.
The three provinces will be created upon approval by the majority of the votes cast by the voters of the affected areas in a plebiscite to be conducted and supervised by the Comelec.
The election of the provincial officials will be held on May 9, 2022.
Proponents of the law had said the split up will address the issue of efficiency in the delivery of basic public services, especially in times of emergencies and calamities, considering the long geographical distance between the provincial capitol in Puerto Princesa City and the southern tip of mainland Palawan. —KBK, GMA News
IATF okays 2-day voting period for 2021 Palawan plebiscite
By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has approved the health protocols for the two-day Palawan plebiscite in the first quarter of 2021.
The people of Palawan are set to vote next year on the proposed division of Palawan into three separate provinces – Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur.
In IATF Resolution 78, dated October 8 and released on Friday, the task force exempted registered voters between the ages of 18 years and 21 years and those who are 60 years old and above, as well as those with immunodeficiency, comorbidity, or other health risks, and pregnant women from mobility restrictions so they could vote.
According to Malacañang, only five voters may be allowed in a room at a particular time during the voting period.
It also encouraged the Commission on Elections to devise safety mechanisms and procedures so confirmed and symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients could exercise their right to vote.
Government OKs two-day Palawan plebiscite, asks Comelec to let COVID patients vote
The Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has approved the health and safety protocols relative to the conduct of the plebiscite to ratify the division of the province of Palawan.
The plebiscite, which was suspended last May 11 due to coronavirus (Covid-19)-related threats, will be held in the “first quarter of 2021,” the IATF Resolution No. 78 issued on October 8 read.
“We wish to inform that the IATF on October 8 approved the health and safety protocols for the conduct of a plebiscite in the first quarter of 2021 to ratify the Division of the Province of Palawan, pursuant to Republic Act No. 11259 and relevant provisions of the Constitution,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement Friday.
Roque also said the period of voting will be two days with five voters in one room at any particular time.
Registered voters between the ages of 18 and 21 years old and those who are 60 years old and above, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidity, or other health risks, and pregnant women will also be allowed to cast their votes, he furthered.
Meanwhile, the IATF encouraged the Commission on Elections to devise safety mechanisms and procedures to allow Covid-19 patients to exercise their right to vote.
Palawan plebiscite 2021: 2-day voting
THE government has allowed a two-day voting period for the conduct of a plebiscite in the first quarter of 2021 to ratify the Division of the Province of Palawan, Malacañang said on Friday.
Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) issued Resolution 78, approving health and safety protocols for the conduct of the plebiscite for the proposed creation of three provinces in Palawan.
“We wish to inform that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020 approved the health and safety protocols for the conduct of a plebiscite in the first quarter of 2021 to ratify the division of the province of Palawan, pursuant to Republic Act (RA) 11259 and relevant provisions of the Constitution,” Roque said in a statement.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/10/10/news/regions/palawan-plebiscite-2021-2-day-voting/778456/
Need Plastic Surgery Of The Heart?
When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good. We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! 1 Corinthians 13:11-12, The Message
"Why don't you grow up? You aren't a child anymore!" Scores of adults never cut the apron strings, never emotionally grow up. They lean on mother, on their wife or husband, or buy expensive toys which become security blankets. The difference between some men and their boys is merely the price of their toys, so observed one critic.
"When I was a child," wrote Paul to the Corinthians, "I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me" (1 Corinthians 13:11). Only by doing that can a person ever grow to emotional maturity. And failure to do that cripples you forever, so much so that often you become impossible to live with—selfish, irresponsible, and a pain.
Have you observed two children playing who just couldn't get along? The first thing you know, one threatens, "OK, I'll just take my toys and go home!" As adults we do that when we threaten to walk out on a marriage rather than face issues, learn to communicate, and resolve conflict. Quitting is always easier than facing our childishness. Needed: the courage to allow the persistence of love to win out.
Having talked about love's persistence and strength, Paul says that love is a mystery which we will never fully understand until we cross the threshold separating us from the very face of Him who is love—God. He says, "Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known."
There are many things in life that are a complete mystery to me. The older I grow, the less I try to understand them but become more willing to put them in the hands of a loving God who sees life from a much different perspective from mine and trust Him with what I can't comprehend. I cannot understand the suffering of an innocent child—say, a baby whose tender body is racked with fever, or a child whose tiny limbs are twisted by disease and suffering. It is hard for me to understand the loss of a loved one, especially when death cuts short the life of a young man or woman who is just beginning to taste the elixir of living. It is hard to understand, at times, why the godless prosper and the person who strives to live by God's Book can barely eke out a living, but the greatest mystery of all is why a person will choose to remain selfish, alone and loveless when he can reach out for God and find His love, which can fill their hearts.
No one is born with love in his heart. It is learned, and the longer we wait to let God's love fill our hearts the more difficult it becomes for us to be willing to let Him love through us.
Your capacity really to love may have been damaged by something that happened, perhaps many years ago; but the Great Physician can perform plastic surgery of the heart and erase the scar tissue of unpleasant memories and bring the touch of love into your loveless life. The eminent psychiatrist Erich Fromm said, "The deepest need of man is the need to overcome his separateness, to leave the prison of his aloneness. The full answer to the problem of existence lies in truth and mature love."
"And now," concludes Paul, "these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your ability to love? Has the fire of love in your heart gone out? Let God's love touch your heart, and the overflow will touch those around you. It still works just that way.
Resource reading: 1 Corinthians 13: 8-13 (Memorize v. 13)
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/need-plastic-surgery-of-the-heart/
Friday, October 9, 2020
2-day voting period for 2021 Palawan plebiscite approved – IATF
The government’s COVID-19 task force has approved a two-day voting period with five voters in one room at a time as a protocol for the conduct of a plebiscite in Palawan by the first quarter of 2021.
The people of Palawan are set to vote next year on the law that would divide Palawan into three provinces.
“These include the period of voting over the course of two days and five voters in the room at any particular time,” Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.
“Registered voters between the ages of 18 and 21 years old and those who are 60 years old and above, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidity, or other health risks, and pregnant women shall be exempt from mobility restrictions for the purpose of voting,” Roque added.
The IATF also encouraged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to devise safety mechanisms to let patients of COVID-19 exercise their right to vote.
During the onset of the quarantine restrictions in April, Comelec suspended all preparations related to the plebiscite to ratify Republic Act No. 11259, which divides Palawan into the provinces: Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur.
The new provinces will only be created upon the approval of the majority of the people of Palawan through a plebiscite conducted and supervised by the Comelec in the first quarter of 2021.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1345651/2-day-voting-period-for-2021-palawan-plebiscite-approved-iatf
IATF approves health, safety protocols for Palawan plebiscite
The conduct of the plebiscite to ratify the division of the province of Palawan may now finally push through in the first quarter of 2021 after the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases approved the health and safety protocols for the said event, Malacañang announced on Friday.
In a statement, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the IATF approved on October 8 the set of protocols for the conduct of the plebiscite pursuant to Republic Act (RA) No. 11259 which provides that the plebiscite should be held on the second Monday of May, 2020, and pursuant to other relevant provisions.
According to Roque, the period of voting will be two days and only five voters will be allowed in the room to cast their votes at any particular time.
Registered voters between the ages of 18 and 21 years old and those who are 60 years old and above, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidity, or other health risks, and pregnant women shall be exempt from mobility restrictions for the purpose of voting.
Meanwhile, the IATF encouraged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to devise safety mechanisms and procedures so confirmed COVID-19 and/or symptomatic patients can exercise their right to vote.
RA 11259, signed by President Duterte in April last year, divided the province of Palawan into Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur.
Comelec had originally set the conduct of the plebiscite to ratify the division on May 11 but it was suspended in April this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Comelec en banc agreed with the recommendation of its Law Department that the holding of a free and honest plebiscite on May 11 was impossible at the height of the spread of the COVID-19.
Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said in May that the plebiscite in Palawan will push through months from now if the province is not on lockdown or when it is safe to conduct it.
“We have to wait until it is safe to ensure that people can cast their votes without fear of contamination,” she said.
https://mb.com.ph/2020/10/09/iatf-approves-health-safety-protocols-for-palawan-plebiscite/
Love Never Fails, Or Does It?
My command is this: "Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." John 15:12-13
"Your love was fake," the social media post read. "But the pain it caused was very real." It's a sad truth—to love, to be in relationship with another human inevitably involves experiencing pain in one way or another. To simply live in this world involves rubbing shoulders with people that we don't even like, let alone love. But, love—the kind that the Apostle Paul wrote about in the Bible book of 1 Corinthians, is the kind of love which fulfills promises, honors others and keeps peace in relationships. It is more than just a nice idea in the Bible. It is a way of life which allows God to touch other people through our lives. The Greek word for love there, is agape, which occurs when we make the decision to love. This love isn't something that you "fall into" through emotions or attraction. We may need God's help, and lots of it, to live out agape love. God always promises to help us love in this way!
In talking about this quality which we so badly need today Paul makes a big, sweeping statement about love's nature when he writes, "Love never fails." What a claim! Paul, do you really mean to say love never fails!? Never is a long time. Was Paul just being poetic, saying something that sounded really beautiful, but is completely untrue in the world of reality?
The word translated "fail" is the same word that was used of a Greek actor who messed up his lines and would be booed or hissed off the stage. So Paul is saying that on the stage of life, love is bound to win. It is certain to succeed, and that those who would practice it will never be defeated no matter how poorly they appear to be playing their part (from their vantage point) on the stage of life.
There's no poetry involved. Paul is simply stating a fact: The agape love that God can help you extend to others has power that transcends human logic, beyond an "eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth." This love transcends our human tendency to put ourselves before others. It won't fail because it is in line with what Jesus did for us on the cross. Jesus sacrificed himself for us and thus, the Christian life is a sacrificial one. This is why, when agape love is put to the test, it always succeeds in your marriage, your family relationships, and the office, shop or factory where you work.
Then Paul stresses the permanency of this love. In a real sense he proclaims the final victory of love as he writes, "Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge it will be done away." Here Paul speaks of three spiritual gifts but says that the effect of love continues when Christ's coming shall have set aside the gifts which were given to the church.
There will come a day in your life when everything that you possess will fall away, but love will live on and on. Paul is saying that the effect of love lives far beyond our own lives. Agape love in our lives is endowed with an eternal quality since love is of God and God is love (see Romans 5:5 and 1 John 4:7).
Yes, fake love does fail. But the agape love that the Christ-follower is called to, is the strongest love of all. This love never fails. Who in your life needs love that never fails? Ask God to help you make the decision to put the good of that person before yourself today and put love to the test.
Resource reading: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/love-never-fails-or-does-it/
Thursday, October 8, 2020
What Does Agape Love Look Like?
Love... doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others. 1 Corinthians 13:5, Message.
When Sir Ernest Shackleton was exploring in the Antarctic, he faced a very difficult hour as their rations became depleted. Finally, the last few biscuits were given out to the men. There was not a crumb of anything left. That night Shackleton lay awake in his sleeping bag with their peril heavy on his mind. He knew that death by starvation was near unless something happened.
As he lay there with thoughts he dared not express keeping him from sleep, from the corner of his eye he noticed movement by one of his men. A cold chill came over him as he realized this man was stealthily reaching for the food bag of the man next to him. Shackleton still pretended to be asleep. His mind reeled; he could not believe what he was seeing. This was one of his most trusted men.
Still, he knew that starving men sometimes acted like predators.
He was not disturbed for long, however. The man did reach for the food container of his companion...and then quietly took his last biscuit and placed it in the other man's parcel before lying down to sleep. That is the companionship and the cost of real love.
To this Paul adds the words, "Love does not seek its own." Another version puts it: "Love does not act in its own interest" which explains why God frowns on sex apart from the relationship of marriage. Love acting in its own interest is not the agape love that is described by Paul. When the expression of love does not embrace the total needs of the other--psychological, physical, and spiritual-- it falls short of this test which Paul articulates. Agape love produces an unspoken commitment (without conditions or strings attached) to meet the needs of the person who is the object of affection, and along with that commitment comes personal sacrifice which is not difficult to make.
"Love," writes Paul, "is not provoked." George Bernard Shaw once said, "I was taught when I was young that if people would only love one another, all would be well with the world. This seemed simple and very nice, but I found when I tried to put it into practice not only that other people were seldom lovable, but that I was not very lovable myself." That is the predicament that we often find ourselves in--not only are others unlovable but when we are honest with ourselves we have to admit that we are not very lovable either.
A gardener wrote to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and said, "I've tried everything I've ever heard or read, including all your bulletins, on how to get rid of dandelions--and I've still got them." By return mail he received the last word on the subject.
"Dear Sir," read the letter, "if you have tried everything and you still have dandelions, then there is only one thing left for you to do: learn to love them."
We are amused at that candid bit of advice, but life is much like the lawn full of dandelions. We want to be rid of them any way we can- -kill them by spraying (that is, the dandelions), dig them, bomb them, pull them out--destroy them however, but get rid of them! Nonetheless, at times the dandelions hang in there, and God expects us to learn to love them, and by the alchemy of love see the dandelions of life turn to daisies. When Paul wrote to the Romans, he told them that God's love comes through the Holy Spirit who is given to us. The only way to love those without is to have God's love within. That's for sure.
Resource reading: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/what-does-agape-love-look-like/
Wednesday, October 7, 2020
Metro Channel sked (Oct. 11, 2020)
- 6 am - Hong Kong Enigmata
- 7 am - Stars on the Menu
- 8 am - Last Paradise Series
- 9 am - Art And Culture Magazine
- 9:30 am - Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger
- 10 am - Bobby and Bill
- 10:30 am - Ask Master Joe
- 11 am - On the Record
- 11:30 am - Baby Matters
- 11:55 am - TV Easy
- 12 nn - Three Hungry Sisters
- 1 pm - Saksi
- 1:15 pm - Royal Tramp
- 2:55 pm - Sports Like No Other
- 3:25 pm - Showers of Blessing
- 4 pm - 2020 PBA Philippine Cup: TNT Tropang Giga vs. Alaska Aces
- 6 pm - Aerial China
- 6:30 pm - TV Patrol
- 7 pm - Sunday Report
- 7:30 pm - China Album
- 7:35 pm - Scoop
- 8 pm - 2020 PBA Philippine Cup: NLEX Road Warriors vs. Ginebra San Miguel
- 10 pm - Sunday Nightscares:Lights Out
- 11:30 pm - Financial Magazine
- 12 mn - Legal Mavericks
- 1 am - TV Easy
- 1:10 am - Best Selling Secrets
- 1:40 am - TV Easy
- 1:50 am - Scoop
- 2:20 to 5 am - Fireplace
Regions of the Philippines
- Ilocos Region
- Abra
- Baguio
- Benguet
- Dagupan
- Ilocos Norte
- Ilocos Sur
- La Union
- Mountain Province
- Pangasinan
- Cagayan Valley
- Apayao
- Batanes
- Cagayan
- Ifugao
- Isabela
- Kalinga
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Quirino
- Santiago
- Central Luzon
- Angeles
- Bataan
- Bulacan
- Cabanatuan
- Malolos
- Nueva Ecija
- Olongapo
- Pampanga
- San Fernando
- San Jose del Monte
- Tarlac
- Zambales
- Metro Manila
- Manila
- Caloocan
- Las Piñas
- Makati
- Malabon
- Mandaluyong
- Marikina
- Muntinlupa
- Navotas
- Parañaque
- Pasay
- Pasig
- Quezon City
- San Juan
- Taguig
- Valenzuela
- Pateros
- Southern Tagalog
- Aurora
- Bacoor
- Batangas City
- Batangas
- Binan
- Cabuyao
- Cainta
- Calamba
- Cavite
- Dasmarinas
- General Trias
- Imus
- Laguna
- Lucena
- Marinduque
- Occidental Mindoro
- Oriental Mindoro
- Palawan del Norte
- Palawan del Sur
- Palawan Oriental
- Puerto Princesa
- Quezon
- Rizal
- Romblon
- San Pablo
- San Pedro
- Santa Rosa
- Bicol Region
- Albay
- Camarines Norte
- Camarines Sur
- Catanduanes
- Masbate
- Sorsogon
- Western Visayas
- Aklan
- Antique
- Bacolod
- Capiz
- Guimaras
- Iloilo
- Iloilo City
- Negros del Norte
- Negros Occidental
- Central Visayas
- Bohol
- Cebu
- Cebu City
- Lapu-Lapu
- Mandaue
- Negros Oriental
- Siquijor
- Eastern Visayas
- Biliran
- Eastern Samar
- Leyte
- Northern Samar
- Ormoc
- Samar
- Southern Leyte
- Tacloban
- Zamboanga Peninsula
- Basilan
- Sulu
- Tawi-Tawi
- Zamboanga City
- Zamboanga del Norte
- Zamboanga del Sur
- Zamboanga Hermosa
- Zamboanga Sibugay
- Northern Mindanao
- Agusan del Norte
- Agusan del Sur
- Bukidnon
- Butuan
- Cagayan de Oro
- Camiguin
- Dinagat Islands
- Misamis Occidental
- Misamis Oriental
- Surigao del Norte
- Southern Mindanao
- Compostela Valley
- Davao City
- Davao del Norte
- Davao del Sur
- Davao Occidental
- Davao Oriental
- Sarangani
- South Cotabato
- Surigao del Sur
- Central Mindanao
- Cotabato City
- Cotabato
- Iligan City
- Lanao del Norte
- Lanao del Sur
- Maranaw
- Maguindanao
- Shariff Kabunsuan
- Sultan Kudarat
Palace says it has 'no reaction' on ABS-CBN comeback
Malacañang said Wednesday it had "no reaction" on the return of some ABS-CBN Corp content to free television, nearly 3 months after a House panel dominated by President Rodrigo Duterte's allies denied the franchise renewal of the broadcaster.
ABS-CBN said Tuesday some of its entertainment shows and movies would be seen on the A2Z channel 11, the newly rebranded Zoe TV 11, starting Oct. 10 through a blocktime arrangement.
"What has happened is ABS-CBN has become a content provider so that’s a distinct line of business that does not require a franchise. I guess the fans of 'Probinsyano' and the other soap operas can look forward to them on Zoe TV," said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.
"We neither welcome it nor—we have no reaction to it because they’re a content provider. For all intents and purposes, it is Zoe that will be subject to regulation because Zoe is the franchise holder," he told CNN Philippines.
House Deputy Speaker Bro. Eddie Villanueva founded Zoe Broadcasting Network Inc. Roque said he did not know whether or not Duterte and Villanueva talked about the ABS-CBN-Zoe deal when they met for a pray-over last week.
Duterte in December said he would see to it that ABS-CBN was "out" and from early in his term had accused it of failing to air his 2016 election ads. Despite this, his aides had sought to distance the President from the rejection of ABS-CBN's franchise application.
ABS-CBN, which is owned by the wealthy Lopez family, has broadcast continuously since 1953 except between 1972 and 1986 when it was seized by dictator Ferdinand Marcos -- who Duterte admires.
Duterte has a history of clashing with media outlets critical of his policies, including his controversial drug war that has killed thousands of people.
In the months since losing its free-to-air permit, ABS-CBN has kept showing many of its popular news and drama programs on cable TV and online.
But much of the advertising revenue it used to rake in has been wiped out, forcing the broadcaster to retrench thousands of its workers. -- With a report from Agence France-Presse
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/07/20/palace-says-it-has-no-reaction-on-abs-cbn-comeback
Love Requires Costly Compromise
[Love] beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 1 Corinthians 13:7, KJV
Marriage, said an unknown pundit, is the art of two incompatible people learning to love compatibly together. Anyone who has been married for more that 24 hours would agree that sustaining a marriage takes more than romantic feelings. It takes a deep commitment of love which reaches beyond your emotions and feelings to meeting the needs of another. It's costly, too! But its currency isn't monetary. We pay by repressing the desire to always be right, by giving up the desire to win every round. Yes, love learns to compromise, to yield, but triumphs in the end.
In the magnificent prose found in 1 Corinthians 13, Paul describes the characteristics of love. I would urge you to make an intense study of this chapter. It can change your life as it did mine many years ago.
Paul says that real love—the kind that makes incompatible people compatible—is patient, kind, free of envy, not boastful or proud; it doesn't insist on its own way; it is slow to believe wrong but quick to rejoice in good things.
Following these words Paul makes four statements about love as he writes, "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things."
First, "Love bears all things." Another translation says, "Love protects." Another way of translating this expression is, "Love covers all things." At least three times in Scripture we are told that love covers a multitude of sins in relationship to each other. L.L. Huffman received a letter from a foreign friend, and the letter was filled with expressions that were quaint because the friend's knowledge of English grammar was quite poor; however, Huffman's heart was deeply touched as he read the postscript: "The mistakes you will cover with the coat of love."
"The best of men are but men at their best," we sometimes say—which means that everyone is prone to failure. Nobody is perfect. We will all make social blunders. Eventually, the best of us will need the covering of love to hide his imperfections. The Living Bible puts it like this: "If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost." That is the picture of a real friend.
Notice the second statement: "Love believes all things." This explains how a young man can stray and fall into a life of hideous crime, yet his mother will say, "He was always a good boy who could do no harm to anyone." The mother is sure that her boy is not the one who did it, but the district attorney sees it in a different light. That is the great quality of agape love.
Paul's fourth statement about love is that it "endures all things." Before you challenge that statement, read this press release I read years ago:
"Carmine Russel, 22, looks at the man who shot her a year ago as she is married to him during a Valentine's Day ceremony at Southern Michigan Prison...The groom, Jerry Randall, 30, shot his bride-to-be in the face during a lover's quarrel. He was sentenced to 5 to 10 years for the shooting despite her refusal to testify against him…" With almost unbelievable tenacity from a human vantage, love suffers long, is kind, and endures all things. Nowhere in all of life's gamut of relationships is love more important than in our homes where we live helping incompatible people to be compatible.
Resource Reading: Ephesians 4:17-32
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/love-requires-costly-compromise/
Tuesday, October 6, 2020
PTV-4 Sked
Saturday
Sunday
Why Are We Quick To Believe A Lie?
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 1 Corinthians 13:6
When you learn that your bitterest enemy has really "gotten it in the neck," how do you feel? Do you quietly—or perhaps not so quietly—rejoice? "Good!" you think, "Got just what he deserved! I never liked that person anyway."
Our natural reaction is the very opposite of that which God wants us to develop. In the greatest passage ever written about love, Paul gives us some words of advice—tough ones too! They grate against our nature like sandpaper on a glass tabletop, or like a chicken bone that turns sideways when you try to swallow it. He says simply that "love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth" (I Corinthians 13:6).
When we learn to love as God wants us to, we are saddened when a person falls in a moment of weakness. The old King James text puts it, "Love rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth." Ken Taylor's Living Bible says, "It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out." In case you doubt the fact that man has a carnal nature, ask yourself why we are quicker to believe a lie than we are the truth. If you don't believe that, listen to the incident I am about to relate, which is absolutely factual.
A staff member of a certain church became jealous and resentful of the senior pastor and decided that he would "get him." He thought of various ways that he could take revenge for the wrongs that he felt he had sustained. He borrowed the church's general mailing list and wrote a letter, accusing the pastor of sexual indiscretion with one of the secretaries—something which was totally untrue.
Shortly thereafter, the disgruntled associate admitted that the moral charge was entirely fabricated and that the letter had been designed to settle the score for alleged personal differences. The church council promptly met and exonerated the senior pastor…and fired the associate who had chosen character assassination as the weapon of warfare. The issue was finished, right? Wrong.
The rumor quickly spread. "Have you heard about so and so?" people asked. When his name came up in conversation people whispered, "This was the man who…" others commented, "They said he didn't do it, but I'm not sure. I never liked that guy." The deadly damage had irretrievably been done. Character assassination was what some called it, but in reality, it was a pack of lies. In spite of the man's innocence, his ministry was hurt so badly by the rumor and malicious charges that he quietly resigned and accepted an appointment to a church in another city.
When someone says, "Have you heard about so and so?" I have made it a practice to ask, "Do you know this for a fact or is this something you have just heard?" Usually, it is the latter, and then I add, "When you are uncertain of what you are saying, you are merely passing on a rumor or gossip."
My daughter Bonnie says, "Christians don't gossip; they just share prayer requests." Right! The spirit of love asks three tough questions before it passes on issues involving character: 1. Is it needful? 2. Is it kind? 3. Is it true?
Yes, I know that checking what we say, even when sadly enough it is true, isn't done very often, but then again what Paul urged us to do isn't very widely practiced today either.
May God help us to learn to rejoice in truth and be saddened when someone stumbles and falls. May God also grant that those who are unsteady never stumble and fall because our feet were in the way.
Resource Reading: Ephesians 4:1-16
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/why-are-we-quick-to-believe-a-lie/
Saturday, October 3, 2020
Studio 23 Sked
WEEKDAYS (Metro Manila)
- 5 am – Breakfast
- 7 am – Chuggington (Tagalog dub)
- 7:30 am – Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (Tagalog dub)
- 8 am – Dora the Explorer (Tagalog dub)
- 8:30 am – Go Diego Go (Tagalog dub)
- 9 am – Mr. Bean: The Animated series (Tagalog dub)
- 9:30 am – Bananas in Pajamas (Tagalog dub)
- 10 am – Spongebob Squarepants (Tagalog dub)
- 10:30 am – Postman Pat (Tagalog dub)
- 11 am – My Girl (original) (Tagalog dub)
- 11:30 am – White Tower Taiwan (Tagalog dub)
- 12 nn – LBO: Lunch Box Office (Filipino Movies)
- 2 pm –
- Mon, Wed, Fri: 5 & Up (Local) (Rerun from ABC-5 and GMA Network)
- Tue & Thu: Family Rosary Crusade (Local) (Rerun)
- 3 pm –
- Mon-Wed: Business & Leisure (Local) (Rerun)
- Thu & Fri: Motoring Today (Local) (Rerun)
- 4 pm – Samurai X (Tagalog dub)
- 4:30 pm – Naruto: Shippuden (Tagalog dub)
- 5 pm – InuYasha (Tagalog dub)
- 5:30 pm – Blood Plus (Tagalog dub)
- 6 pm – Sports Round-up with Boom Gonzales (Local)
- 6:30 pm –
- Mon: Fantastic Four (World TV Series) (Tagalog dub)
- Tue: Kiba (Tagalog dub)
- Wed: Gun X Sword (Tagalog dub)
- Thu: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Fast Forward (Tagalog dub)
- Fri: Power Rangers: Megafore (Tagalog dub)
- 7 pm –
- Mon: Legend of the Seeker (Tagalog dub)
- Tue: Barkada Nights (Blockbuster movies with Tagalog dub) (until 9 pm)
- Wed: Smallville (Tagalog dub)
- Thu: Entertainment Today (until 9 pm)
- Fri: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (Tagalog dub)
- 8 pm –
- Mon: House (Tagalog dub)
- Wed: Kyle XY (Tagalog dub)
- Fri: Scandal (Tagalog dub)
- 9 pm – News Central (Local) (Late-night english news Program)
- 9:30 pm –
- Mon: Private Practice (Tagalog dub)
- Tue: 90210 (Tagalog dub)
- Wed: Studio 23 Presents (Blockbuster movies with Tagalog dub) (until 11:30 pm)
- Thu: Ghost Whisperer (Tagalog dub)
- Fri: N.C.I.S.: L.A. (Tagalog dub)
- 10:30 pm –
- Mon: Rated K (rerun from ABS-CBN)
- Tue: Matanglawin (rerun from ABS-CBN)
- Thu: S.O.C.O.: Scene of the Crime Overtives (rerun from ABS-CBN)
- Fri: Mukha (rerun from ANC)
- 11:30 pm to 12 mn – Sports Round-up with Boom Gonzales (Local) (Replay)
WEEKENDS (Metro Manila)
SATURDAY
- 5 am – Breakfast
- 7 am – Living it up (Local) (Rerun)
- 8 am – Philippine Explorer (Local) (Rerun)
- 8:30 am – Eskwelahan ni Ryan Bang (Local) (Rerun)
- 9 am – Gusto ko Maging Beauty Queen (Local) (Rerun)
- 10 am – Sagupaan TV (Local) (Rerun)
- 10:30 am – Hardcore Brothers Easy Ride (Local) (Rerun)
- 11 am – Motocross TV (Local) (Rerun)
- 11:30 am – Gen RX (Local) (Rerun)
- 12 nn – LBO: Lunch Box Office (Filipino Movies)
- 2 pm – J League Highlights (Tagalog dub)
- 2:30 pm – Reel Deal (Tagalog dub)
- 3 pm – Ultimate Insider
- 3:30 pm – Yamaha (Local) (Rerun)
- 4 pm – Bakbakan na (Local)
- 5 pm – Tukaan (Local)
- 6 pm – OK Fine Whatever (Local) (Rerun from ABS-CBN)
- 7 pm – Takliya Busters (Filipino movies)
- 9 pm – News Central (Local) (Late-night English news Program)
- 9:30 pm – Mission Possible (Local) (Rerun from ABS-CBN)
- 10 pm – Gag U (Local) (Rerun)
- 11 pm – My Puhunan (Local) (Rerun from ABS-CBN)
- 11:30 to 12 mn – The Ultimate Fighter (Back-to-back episode)
SUNDAY
- 6 am – Breakfast
- 7 am – The Word Exposed
- 8 am – Family Rosary Crusade
- 9 am – TV Healing Mass for the Homebound
- 10 am – Weekend Gateway (Local) (Rerun from GMA News TV)
- 11 am – Usapang Sining at Kultura
- 11:30 am – Overdrive Philippines
- 12 nn – LBO: Lunch Box Office (Filipino Movies)
- 2 pm – This is Life with Cory Quirino (Local) (Rerun)
- 2:30 pm – The World of Gandang Ricky Reyes (Local) (Rerun from GMA News TV)
- 3:30 pm – Alamin Natin 'to!
- 4 pm – Sunday Asian Showdown (Blockbuster movies with Tagalog dub)
- 6 pm – Y Speak (Local) (Rerun)
- 7 pm – World’s Wildest Police Videos (Tagalog dub)
- 8 pm – Harper’s Island (Tagalog dub)
- 9 pm – News Central (Local) (Late-night English news Program)
- 9:30 pm – Linggong Takutan (Filipino movie)
- 11:30 pm to 12 mn – Sports U (Rerun from ABS-CBN)
Galvez on NAP Phase 3: No more trade-offs in Covid-19 response
BAGUIO CITY – Government planners gathered here over the weekend to craft the third phase of the government’s national declared policy against Covid-19, which aims to sustain and build on the gains the country has achieved in its fight against the virus.
National Task Force against Covid-19 (NTF Covid-19) chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. led representatives of line agencies in identifying the challenges they encountered in the implementation of the first two phases of the National Action Plan (NAP) against Covid-19 and formulating recommendations to address them.
“In NAP Phase 3, we have to ensure the public’s health while reviving our nation’s economy. There will be no more trade-offs,” said Galvez, referring to some compromises the government had to make in the early stages of the NAP’s implementation.
NAP: An evolving document
“The pandemic is not linear -- it’s dynamic. The NAP is not a static document. It is a plan that must continue to evolve and be refined based on current realities on the ground,” he pointed out.
“We need to continue to recalibrate our efforts according to the needs of local government units, the private sector, and the general public. So, we have to find ways to be creative so that our policies are not stringent,” Galvez added.
During the NAP Phase 1’s implementation from March to June 2020, the government carried out strict community quarantine measures, which focused on the prevention and containment of the virus while mitigating its effects on the nation’s economy.
The nationwide lockdown enabled the government to strengthen the country’s healthcare system by scaling up the testing, contact tracing, quarantine, and treatment capacity of local government units throughout the country.
NAP Phase 2, on the other hand, remains anchored on the government prevent-detect-isolate-treat-reintegrate (PDITR) strategy and aims to create a balance between protecting the health of the people, while reviving the nation’s economy.
Galvez said the NAP Phase 3, which seeks to continue implementing the policies issued under the earlier two phases of the plan, will start from the last quarter of 2020 and will carry over until the first quarter of 2021.
Major blow to economy
According to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the prolonged community quarantine has dealt a severe blow to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) and the economy in general.
NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon reported that for every week that the community quarantine was imposed in the National Capital Region (NCR), around 0.10 to 0.28 percentage points were being shaved off the nation’s potential annual GDP growth of 6.5 percent.
Currently, 54.9 percent of the country is under modified general community quarantine (MECQ), 44.9 percent under general community quarantine (GCQ), and 0.2 percent under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
The stringent measures under ECQ during the first half of the year further led to the GDP’s contraction. While the gradual reopening of the economy has enabled business establishments to resume operations, Edillon said more can be done.
“From a consistently strong economic growth, GDP contracted by negative 9 percent in the first semester of 2020 due to the stringent quarantine measures. As quarantine restrictions were eased, the economic activities had improved gradually but more can be done,” she said.
This is where Recharge PH comes in. The task group that was created specifically to formulate action plans and facilitate the restarting of social and economic activities, while engaging all sectors of society in curbing the spread of the disease.
There are three sub-task groups under the Recharge PH: (1) Sub-Task Group Recovery which will engage business and workforce in the fight against Covid-19; (2) Sub-Task Group on Social Recovery which will focus on the improvement of the Filipinos’ capability to thrive under the new normal; and (3) Sub-Task Group Governance that will ensure a people-centered, clean, technology-abled, and responsive governance in addressing the pandemic.
Meanwhile, NTF on Covid-19 deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon emphasized the need for the country to adapt to new technologies, specifically in the area of testing, as these will enable the government to further boost its Covid-19 response.
“Ang kailangan natin talaga bilisan ay yung pag-adopt ng new technologies in testing katulad ng antigen testing, saliva testing, and breath testing. Kapag walang RT-PCR, gamitin natin ang antigen (What we really need is to accelerate the way we adapt to new technologies in testing such as antigen testing, saliva testing, and breath testing. If there is no RT-PCR, we must use antigen), Dizon said.
Re-echoing NEDA Secretary General Karl Chua’s observation, Dizon said the country has the capability to respond and manage the epidemic, saying “In terms of the number of deaths on Covid-19, the response has been effective.”
The deputy chief implementer, however, said there is still a need to ramp up the nation’s Covid-19 prevention and mitigation measures as the government continues to open the economy.
"Kung di natin bubuksan ang ekonomiya, di tayo magnu-new normal, ‘yung mga naka blue na ‘yan na namamatay sa ibang bagay, mas lalo pang tataas (If we don’t open the economy, we will not have a new normal. Those indicated in blue who are dying of other [non-Covid] reasons will continue to rise),” Dizon said.
“Mahaba pa ‘yung laban pero kayang-kaya po natin. ‘Yun lang medyo mag wrap up tayo at bilis-bilsan lang po natin ng konti (We still have a long way to go but we can handle this one. We just need to wrap [our planning] and speed up [the plan’s implementation],” he said.
Improve critical care for Covid and non-Covid cases
Based on the Department of Health data as of September 30, the country has recorded 311,694 Covid-19 cases, 17 percent or 52,702 of which are active cases.
The DOH, however, noted that the utilization rate of hospital beds allocated for non-Covid 19 cases is relatively higher than those infected with the virus.
In the National Capital Region (NCR), for instance, the utilization rate of hospital beds for Covid-19 cases was placed at 52 percent, while the utilization rate for non-Covid cases was pegged at 56 percent.
Galvez urged members of the NTF to focus on increasing the bed capacity of health care facilities for Covid-19 and non-Covid 19 cases while pushing for the universalization of the country’s healthcare system.
“We need to use this pandemic to accelerate the universalization of our healthcare system. The ICUs remain the same because the non-Covid cases are always there,” he said.
Galvez also reiterated his reminder that home quarantine must be avoided at all costs, as this practice has become one of the major reasons for the spike in Covid-19 local transmissions nationwide.
“No home quarantine should be the rule rather than the exemption. There shall be very strict conditions that must be complied for home quarantine to be allowed,” he said.
Through the government’s Oplan Kalinga, the government has been able to facilitate the transfer of thousands of Covid-19 patients from their homes to temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMPs) throughout the country.
Through the TTMPs, patients receive the appropriate medical attention they need, while having a safe and secure place where they can recover.
Department of Public Works and Highways Visna Manion said the agency has so far completed 289 quarantine facilities and offsite dormitories with a total bed capacity of 9,080.
Manio said the DPWH targets to build 689 facilities with a total bed capacity of 24,179 in the coming months.
Moving forward
Meanwhile, National Incident Command-National Task Force Against Covid-19 Undersecretary Isidro Purisima said the NAP Phase 3 should be designed in such a way that it should be directly felt by ordinary people.
“The question we need to address is ‘yong impact ng ating NAP to the ordinary people. It should be people-centered, nationally-supported, and locally-led,” Purisima said.
“The mission of NAP Phase 3 is to sustain our gains from the previous NAP implementation, and focus our intervention both on the economic recovery and public health safety,” he added.
In closing, Galvez reminded the workshop participants to always keep in mind the main objectives of NAP Phase 3.
“For the third phase of the plan, we must continue to sustain the gains we have achieved in the previous phases. To do this, however, we must be able to identify gaps in the NAP’s implementation and find ways to address them,” he said.
“We cannot be complacent at this crucial time. Although there are very good signs that we are flattening the curve as what the up OCTA research center has reported last month, we cannot afford to let our guard down,” he added.