Sunday, April 11, 2021
100 sanggol, sabay sabay na bininyagan sa Cebu kasabay ng Divine Mercy Sunday
Kasabay ng kapistahan ng Divine Mercy ay isinagawa ang binyagan ng 100 sanggol sa lungsod ng Cebu.
Bahagi rin ito sa unang araw ng triduum o ang tatlong araw na paghahanda para sa ika-500 taon ng kauna-unahang binyag na naganap sa Cebu sa grupo ni Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.
Sa Our Lady of Guadalupe Archdiocesan Shrine, bininyagan ni Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma kasama ang iba pang mga obispo ang 100 sanggol.
Sa kanyang homily, inihayag ni Archbishop Palma na isang espesyal na araw ang pagbinyag ng mga sanggol dahil sa kapistahan ng Divine Mercy sa pangalawang linggo ng Pasko sa Pagkabuhay, at ang pagsisimula ng triduum para sa ika-500 taong paggunita sa kauna-unahang binyag na naganap sa bansa.
Ayon kay Palma, sa araw na ito ay dumaloy ang biyaya ng Diyos na sang-ayon sa kaniyang paghahayag kay St. Sr. Faustina na kaniyang buksan ang pinto ng mga biyaya.
Pinapaalala rin ng obispo sa mga magulang ng mga sanggol ang pagpapahalaga sa bagong buhay ng kanilang mga anak bilang mga bagong Kristiyano, na silay maging banal at mga mabubuting mamamayan.
Tinatayang may 300 hanggang 500 tao ang dumalo sa binyagan, kasama na ang mga sanggol, mga magulang, ninong at ninang, at iba pa.
Ayon kay Rev. Fr. Jonathan Rubin, Chair ng 500 YOC, Broadcast and Media Accreditation, may pahintulot ito ng Inter-Agency Task Force at istrikto rin nilang pinatupad ang minimum health protocol.
- ulat ni Vilma Andales
Ex-president Erap sang after extubation - Jinggoy Estrada
Former Senator Jinggoy Estrada thanked longtime family friends during an online healing mass Sunday afternoon for the recovery of his father, former President Joseph Estrada, from COVID-19 infection.
"Now, he has been extubated. His vital signs are ok. He has no fever, no agitation, “ the younger Estrada told the more than 80 mass participants. “His chest x-ray has seemingly improved. He is gradually recovering, but not yet off the woods.”
The most encouraging sign, Estrada added, was a video shared by a nurse on duty showing his father singing.
“He was able to sing one of his favorite songs, “Always You”, last night. We ask for more prayers for him and other families struggling with COVID."
Jinggoy, the former president’s oldest son who is in charge of his father’s medical concerns, shared his pain over making the crucial decision to give doctors permission to intubate him.
“What if I don’t allow it?” he recalled talking to a lady doctor. “He will not last, she said. So I said, do what you have to do since time was crucial. With God’s mercy and guidance, he is recovering.”
Officiating priest Fr. Jerry Orbos invoked the infinite mercy of God for Estrada’s healing and others affected by the pandemic during the mass attended by, among others, former and current government officials Jose Pardo, Leonor Briones, Boots Anson Rodrigo, Edu Manzano, Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco, June Rufino, Fortune Ledesma, Giselle Sanchez, and the Estrada siblings Jackie and Jude Ejercito and their respective families.
“Let’s pray for a miracle to bring Erap back so he can serve more people,” Orbos said, also calling on the participants “to stay afloat and not to sink in fear, anger and negativity during this time, so we help others”.
Estrada, a former actor who served as President from 1998 until 2001, is turning 84 on April 19. He was last in public service as Mayor of Manila City from 2013 until 2019.
"Bless our country... Aand we also pray for government na magmalasakit sa taumbayan at this time, “ Orbos added.
Manzano, who initiated the gathering, was referred by Orbos as the glue that brought the participants together in the rare event.
Manzano also prayed for the healing of Orbos who is battling cancer.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/11/21/ex-president-erap-sang-after-extubation-jinggoy-estrada
Pulse oximeter yes, oxygen tank optional: What are COVID-19 home care essentials?
What are the essential medical equipment for home care in the time of COVID-19?
According to Philippine General Hospital spokesperson Jonas del Rosario, the essential medical equipment for monitoring COVID-19 at home are a thermometer, blood pressure monitor or gauge, and pulse oximeter, which measures a person's oxygen level.
"Ang normal [oxygen level] po kasi ay 95 percent and above. Sa amin pong algorithm, 'pag ang oxygen niyo ay less than 92 percent kailangan niyo na pong pumuntang emergency room o magpaadmit na po," he told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.
(The normal oxygen level is 95 percent and above. In our algorithm, if your oxygen is less than 92 percent, you need to go to the emergency room or be admitted in a hospital.)
On the other hand, he said an oxygen tank is optional for COVID-19 home care since these are expensive. He said he has received reports that some villages have standby oxygen tanks just in case residents need it.
"Kung kaya mo bumili, opo (If you can afford it, yes)," he said.
Sales of oxygen tanks have increased as Filipinos said they fear not getting admitted into hospitals if they contract coronavirus. The Department of Health urged the public to use the device with medical supervision and warned that hospitals' supply may be depleted.
The country's largest COVID-19 referral hospital will launch its own teleconsultation COVID Gabay Program to help COVID-19 patients in home care, del Rosario added.
"Hopefully mabawasan din 'yung kanilang tsansa makapaghawa o madagdagan ang transmission natin," he said.
(Hopefully we will also lessen their chance to infect others or increase virus transmission.)
The public must be informed and must trust their doctors to follow the appropriate care they need, said Aileen Espina of the Health Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 (HPAAC).
"Hindi natin mapipigilan ang mga tao na tumakbo sa ospital...
it’s not really yung sintomas na nararamdaman natin but rather yung takot na baka ano mangyari sakin pag nasa bahay lang," she said.
(We can't stop people from going to the hospital...it's not really because of the symptoms they feel but the fear of what might happen if they're at home.)
"Ang gagawin talaga natin is mapaintindi sa ating mga kababayan saan sila pwede maka-access ng serbisyong kalusugan na appropriate sa kanilang karamdaman...this kind of care need not be in a hospital setting, it can be accessed sa telepono, through the internet."
(We need to make them understand where they can access health care appropriate to their needs...this kind of need not be in a hospital setting, it can be accessed through the phone, through the internet.)
Taal Volcano emits 'very weak' steam-laden plumes
Taal Volcano's main crater had a "very weak emission" of steam-laden plumes that rose 5 meters in the past 24 hours, Phivolcs said Sunday.
It also recorded 216 volcanic earthquakes, with 177 volcanic tremors lasting up to 32 minutes, state seismologists said in its 8 a.m. Taal Volcano bulletin.
The volcano remains under alert level 2, the second-lowest in a 5-step system, which warns of probable magmatic activity that may or may not lead to an eruption.
Phivolcs advised that entry into the Taal Volcano Island, Taal’s permanent danger zone, especially the vicinities of the main crater and the Daang Kastila fissure, and occupancy and boating on Taal Lake remained strictly prohibited.
Towns surrounding the lake have been advised to continuously assess and strengthen their preparedness in case of renewed unrest.
The volcano, which sits on an island surrounded by a lake in Batangas province, had a steam-driven eruption on Jan. 12, 2020, triggering an ash fall that reached parts of Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
The eruption displaced more than 700,000 people in Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Metro Manila. Damage to infrastructure and agriculture in the provinces of Batangas, Cavite and Laguna was pegged at P3.4 billion, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/11/21/taal-volcano-emits-very-weak-steam-laden-plumes
Duterte's spokesman feeling better after receiving COVID-19 treatment
President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman on Sunday said he was feeling "better" after receiving COVID-19 treatment and is well enough to do his press briefings.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Saturday said he was admitted to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) after a fresh bout with COVID-19.
"I am better after only one vial of remdesivir and steroids. I came in at the right time since pneumonia was caught early on. Doctors won't discharge me though until 4 more vials of remdesivir which means I will be confined until Thursday," he said in a statement.
"But I do feel normal already on my 3rd day of confinement, enough to do my thrice a week briefings. Will check into a TTMF (temporary treatment facility) on Friday to complete my 14 days of isolation. Thanks again for all your well wishes and prayers."
Roque first announced he tested positive for the coronavirus on March 15. He was found negative for the disease 10 days later. It was unclear when he again contracted the virus, or whether he was suffering from further effects of his earlier illness.
The official was the fifth member of Duterte's Cabinet to contract the illness.
The Philippines on Saturday logged 12,674 more COVID-19 cases, its second-highest single day tally so far, bringing the total to 853,209.
It is forecast to reach 1 million virus cases by the end of the month, according to independent research group OCTA which has recommended the extension of strict lockdown in NCR Plus bubble to further slow down the growth of infections.
Philippines to hire 14,000 additional contact tracers for Metro Manila
The labor department will hire 14,000 additional contact tracers for Metro Manila, an official said Sunday.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has agreed to increase the number of contact tracers from 5,000 to augment the capital region's forces in a meeting with Manila mayors Saturday, said Benhur Abalos, chairman of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
"This is worth P213 million para dito sa Kalakhang Maynila (for Metro Manila). This is for a period of 3 months, very intensified na talaga po (our contact tracing has intensified)," he told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.
The agency earlier said it would "hopefully" start next week the hiring of contact-tracers, who will get paid at the rate of the minimum wage in their regions.
Applicants must have basic knowledge in using a phone and the internet. Online training for contact-tracers will be held over one or two days, during which they will start receiving their pay, said Ma. Karina Perida-Trayvilla, head of the department's Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns.
Those who are interested in the job opportunity should go to the labor department's nearest satellite offices or call the DOLE Hotline 1349 or telephone number 8404-3336, she added.
The Philippines' contact-tracing strategy for COVID-19 remains far from ideal, Malacañang said in March, a year since the World Health Organization declared the respiratory disease a pandemic.
Aileen Espina, national director of the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians, likened the different contact tracing applications to an "archipelago" that do not interact or share information with each other.
"Sana magkaroon ng tulay (I hope there can be a bridge)... a way to bridge these islands of information systems," she said.
"The earlier we’re able to identify 'yung mga kaso at ma-isolate sila, ma-identify sino ang close contact nila at ma-quarantine natin kaagad, (we) are able to cut the chain of transmission.)
The Philippines on Saturday logged 12,674 more COVID-19 cases, its second-highest single day tally so far, bringing the total to 853,209.
It is forecast to reach 1 million virus cases by the end of the month, according to independent research group OCTA which has recommended the extension of strict lockdown in NCR Plus bubble to further slow down the growth of infections.
'Para na itong Yolanda': Doctor compares COVID-19 pandemic to 1-yr super typhoon
The country's healthcare system is not yet ready for NCR Plus to ease its quarantine level, medical frontliners said Sunday.
Malacañang earlier said government was considering easing the bubble of virus epicenter Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal into modified enhanced community quarantine after 2 weeks of strict lockdown.
The Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 calls for "long term solutions" such as coordinated digital contact tracing, said member Aileen Espina, who is also national director of the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians.
"It’s not a question of kakayanin, kahit naman 'yung nakaraang 2 linggo, we were nearing collapse of our healthcare system. Para na itong naging Yolanda sa tindi. This is beyond the capacity of healthcare system to respond to the current situation," she told ABS-CBN News.
(It’s not a question of whether we can do it, the past 2 weeks, we were nearing collapse of our healthcare system. It's like Typhoon Yolanda.)
"At least 'yung Yolanda noon sa'min sa Tacloban after 5 hours tapos na siya, ito 1 taon na paulit-ulit na...bababa 'yung kaso, magrerelax tayo hindi natin inaayos yung root cause ng pagdami ng kaso."
(At least Yolanda was done after 5 hours, this has been ongoing for a year...cases will decrease then we will relax without identifying the root cause of increase in infections.)
The country's contact tracing applications are like an "archipelago," Espina said.
"Sana magkaroon ng tulay (I hope there can be a bridge)... a way to bridge these islands of information systems," she said.
"The earlier we’re able to identify 'yung mga kaso at ma-isolate sila, ma-identify sino ang close contact nila at ma-quarantine natin kaagad, (we) are able to cut the chain of transmission.)
(The earlier we’re able to identify the cases and isolate them, identify their close contacts and quarantine them, (we) are able to cut the chain of transmission.)
Philippine General Hospital spokesperson Jonas del Rosario also said the country's healthcare system does not yet have the capacity to handle COVID cases if the quarantine level of NCR Plus is eased.
The country's largest COVID-19 referral hospital has 244 virus patients out of its 255 beds or at 94 percent capacity as of Saturday, Del Rosario said.
"Ang aming ICU (intensive care unit) ay puno, maraming nasa waitlist at hirap ang mga tao makapasok sa ospital," he said.
(Our ICU is full, many are on the waitlist and are having trouble getting admitted.)
"I think hindi pa kaya, kung babasehan natin ang healthcare capacity. Dahil ung magluwag maaaring ma-overwhelm pa lalo."
The hospital has closed 2 non-COVID wards to get more health workers, Del Rosario added.
"'Di naman pwede isang nurse, 10 pasyenteng severe. Habang mas bumibigat ang sitwasyon nila, mas kailangan tutukan kaya mas maraming tao ang kailangan," he said.
(One nurse cannot take care of 10 severe patients. As their situation worsens, we need to monitor them closely so we need more staff.)
Saturday, April 10, 2021
Distribution firms seek local clinical trials before FDA on ivermectin use for COVID-19 treatment
Two distribution firms have expressed interest to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in conducting local clinical trials for the use of anti-parasitic drug ivermectin in treating COVID-19.
In a statement, IP Biotech Inc. (IPB) and Ambica International, Inc. (Ambica), said "a number of physicians" in the country have already recommended ivermectin for COVID-19.
IP Biotech is the same company that represents Sinovac in the country, which was also pushed for emergency use.
"The antiparasitic [drug] has been used empirically for the treatment of outpatients and hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Honduras and in other regions of the world," the statement read.
However, infectious diseases expert Dr. Edsel Salvana earlier said that the supposed effectivity of ivermectin in helping to ease the respiratory disease is not backed by data despite more people advocating for the drug.
Salvana, a member of the technical advisory group that advises the Department of Health (DOH), also cautioned against using ivermectin, citing potential side effects.
This is the reason, IP Biotech chairman Enrique Gonzalez said in the statement, that the drug should undergo local clinical trials as the fight against the pandemic "requires a multifaceted approach."
“Ivermectin cannot be used on a mass scale safely unless it is validated through clinical trials and proper FDA registration. This is to ensure the safety and efficacy of a product before being made accessible to people,” Gonzalez was quoted as saying.
"IPB and Ambica seek to work closely with regulators and an independently run clinical trial to validate ivermectin
as a treatment for COVID19," he added.
Ambica's vice president also noted of the drug's "potential" in treating patients with the coronavirus, subject to clinical trial validation and regulatory approval.
Ivermectin recently made headlines this week after Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor said he would distribute ivermectin to the sick and elderly in Quezon City, despite FDA warnings.
According to the DOH, ivermectin products registered in the country are for veterinary use, and are only allowed for the treatment of internal and external parasites as well as prevention of heartworm disease.
Despite previous warnings by international health organizations, the FDA has granted an undisclosed hospital a compassionate use permit of ivermectin as COVID-19 treatment.
The World Health Organization has also warned against the use of ivermectin in patients with COVID-19 except for clinical trials because of inconclusive evidence.
Merck, an ivermectin manufacturer, has also said its analysis did not support the drug's safety and efficacy for COVID-19.
Harry Roque nasa ospital muli dahil sa COVID-19
Naka-admit ngayon sa ospital si Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque para magpagaling sa coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Unang inanunsiyo ni Roque na nagka-COVID-19 siya noong Marso 15 pero gumaling din siya rito.
Nagnegatibo naman siya sa coronavirus noong Marso 25, pero hindi malinaw kung kailan siya muling dinapuan ng sakit.
Hinimok ng kalihim ang publiko na maging mas maingat dahil sa mabilis ang pagkalat ngayon ng sakit.
“I am now admitted in a hospital for Covid treatment. This is to say that COVID-19 is more transmissible now so we have to do extra precaution,” aniya sa isang pahayag.
Unang sinabi ng mga source na na-admit si Roque sa Philippine General Hospital dahil sa COVID-19, sa loob ng Department of Pay Patient Service.
Gumamit noon ng non-invasive breathing support si Roque, at kinailangang ikabit sa Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure, isang uri ng ventilator.
Nangyari ang pag-oospital kay Roque sa harap ng pag-uulat na may mga napupuno nang mga ospital dahil sa pagdami ng COVID-19 patients.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/10/21/harry-roque-nasa-ospital-muli-dahil-sa-covid-19
Suspek na tulak ng droga, patay sa shootout sa Nueva Ecija
P170,000 halaga ng droga nasamsam
Napatay sa shootout sa Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija ang isang lalaking itinuturong tulak umano ng ilegal na droga.
Kinilala ng mga pulis ang suspek na si Roberto Dela Cruz, na nakipagbarilan umano sa gitna ng isang anti-illegal drug operation sa Purok 7, Barangay Talipapa.
Ayon sa mga awtoridad, nakuha kay Dela Cruz ang limang sachet ng hinihinalang shabu na may street value na P171,632.
Nakuha rin sa kanya ang isang caliber-.38 na revolver.
Kamakailan lang may apat ng suspek, kasama ang isang SK chairman, ang nahuli sa magkakahiwalay na operasyon kontra ilegal na droga sa Nueva Ecija. -- Ulat ni Gracie Rutao
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/10/21/suspek-na-tulak-ng-droga-patay-sa-shootout-sa-nueva-ecija
6.1-magnitude quake rocks Davao Occidental
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake shook Davao Occidental Saturday afternoon, with Phivolcs reporting its epicenter in the waters southwest of Sarangani.
The quake, which was tectonic in origin, hit at 5:30 p.m., Phivolcs said in its advisory. It initially reported a magnitude of 5.9 then upgraded the measurement at past 6 p.m. Saturday.
The earthquake's epicenter was at 148 kilometer southwest of Sarangani.
Intensity III was felt in General Santos City, while Intensity II was reported in Monkayo, Davao de Oro.
An instrumental intensity of Intensity I was recorded in Alabel, Sarangani.
While no damage was reported as of this writing, aftershocks are expected, Phivolcs said.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/10/21/61-magnitude-quake-rocks-davao-occidental
OCTA seeks another week of ECQ as virus transmission further slows in NCR
OCTA on Saturday recommended a week-long extension of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the "NCR Plus" bubble as virus transmission continued to slow down in Metro Manila.
Based on its latest monitoring report, OCTA said the reproduction number (R) in the National Capital Region decreased to 1.23 this week (April 3 to April 9) from 1.88 the week before ECQ, which means the strictest lockdown is slowing the virus spread.
Last week's R naught was at 1.65, based on the research group's earlier presentation.
The R value measures the average number of people that one infected person passes the disease to. An R value above 1 can lead to exponential growth.
OCTA, however, pointed out that the lower testing, down by 19 percent from last week, could mean that "the findings may be subject to corrections once newer data come in."
If an ECQ extension is not possible, the researchers are suggesting a minimum of 2 weeks of a modified ECQ.
"The positivity rate in the NCR was 25 percent over the past week... the ECQ has been effective in reducing the growth rate and reproduction number in the NCR. There is hope that the NCR will be on a downward trend by next week," the report read.
"Extend the ECQ for another week to continue to slow down the surge, decongest our hospitals and relieve the pressure on our healthcare workers," it added, pointing out that reopening the economy "prematurely would be a significant risk."
The government placed Metro Manila and 4 nearby provinces Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, and Cavite— collectively, the NCR Plus— under ECQ on March 29 due to record-high coronavirus infections, a bulk of which came from these areas.
The period is set to lapse on April 11, with government expected to announce quarantine levels later Saturday.
But the research unit said another week of ECQ would be needed to decrease further the growth of infections and decongest hospitals in the NCR Plus bubble, which are nearing the breaking point due to a stream of fresh admissions.
According to the report, Metro Manila cities Taguig, Makati, Muntinlupa, Malabon, San Juan have already reached 100 percent intensive care unit (ICU) occupancy.
The cities of Bacoor and Imus in Cavite, and Antipolo in Rizal have also reported full ICU utilization.
Quezon City (89%), Manila (88%), Las Pinas (82%) and Pasay (85%) are also nearing full ICU occupancy.
"Government should continue its efforts to expand testing tracing and isolation to accelerate the regions' exit from ECQ," the researchers noted.
The government is distributing modular tents to struggling hospitals and re-deploying health workers from regions where virus transmission rates are low.
For the past week the country has also been reporting record-high cases and deaths.
To date, the Philippines has confirmed 840,554 coronavirus infections, with 14,520 fatalities and 647,683 recoveries.
The OCTA Research Group estimates that the total number of cases in the country will reach 1 million by the end of April.
Friday, April 9, 2021
Is Success or Significance More Important?
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Mark 8:36
In 1923 a group of men who were considered winners met at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. Present were eight of the world’s most successful financiers. Like whom? Charles Schwab, president of Bethlehem Steel, was there along with the president of the world’s largest utility company, Samuel Insull. Richard Whitney, the president of the New York Stock Exchange, was also there. Also attending that meeting was Albert Fall, then a member of the U.S. President’s cabinet, along with the heads of the world’s largest investment firm, the greatest monopoly in the world, and the Bank of International Settlement, respectively.
And what happened to these men who had clawed their way to the very top? Charles Schwab, the man who headed the largest steel company in the world, died bankrupt and lived on borrowed money for the last five years of his life.
Samuel Insull, the man who headed the largest utility company in the world, ended his days as a fugitive, broke, and living in a foreign country. Richard Whitney, the man who was president of the New York Stock Exchange, was released from Sing Sing prison to die at home.
Albert Fall, the man who was a member of the U.S. President’s cabinet, was pardoned so that he also could die at home.
These individuals made it to the top, but once they got there, something went wrong. Very wrong! What price success? What cost to win?
For sixty seconds, focus your attention on these individuals, likewise people considered winners: Actor Robin Williams; fashion designer Alexander McQueen; Arthur Chevrolet, the designer of the automobile built by General Motors; Linebacker Jovon Belcher; Author Sylvia Plath; country singer Mindy McCready; and Edwin Armstrong who invented FM radio. And to this group I could add the names of Ernest Hemingway, Marilyn Monroe, and Kurt Cobain for a beginning. What do they have in common? Two things: They were successful and they were also suicides.
I said they were successful. But were they really? Perhaps that depends on how you define this nebulous word. If reaching the top is success, they made it, but as Dr. Charles Malik, the Lebanese statesman and former president of the U. N. General Assembly defined success, they fell dismally short. “Success,” said Malik, “is seeking and knowing and loving and obeying God; and if you seek, you will know; and if you know you will love; and if you love, you will obey.”
Success from God’s point of view, from the vantage of looking back over life and valuing relationships is vastly different. Jesus put it, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36).
I think if Jesus were alive today, he might well put it, “So what if a person gains the company presidency, wins an Academy Award or climbs the greasy ladder to the top but loses his family, his self-respect, and his soul in the process?”
A closing thought: It is never too late to change directions in life. Some people strive for survival; some for success. But some achieve significance, and with that level of accomplishment comes the peace of God that means your life was worth living. Don’t simply occupy space on Planet Earth. With God’s help make your life count for something lasting, worthwhile, something that will endure the fire.
Resource reading: Mark 9:34-38.
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/is-success-or-significance-more-important/
PH vaccine drive di maaapektuhan ng AstraZeneca suspension: FDA
Nilinaw ng Food and Drug Administration (FDA) na hindi makakabagal sa vaccine drive ng gobyerno ang pansamantalang suspensiyon sa pagtuturok ng AstraZeneca coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines sa mga edad 59 pababa.
Ayon kay FDA Director General Eric Domingo, dulo pa ng Abril darating ang mga susunod na suplay ng AstraZeneca vaccines.
Bukod dito, puwede pang ubusin ang natitirang dose ng AstraZeneca sa mga senior citizen, na hindi naman maaapektuhan ng sinasabing side effects ng bakuna.
"Kaya nga ito ‘yung magandang panahon na aralin 'yung reports na ito, kasi wala na tayong AstraZeneca vaccines, talagang paubos na. At 'yung atin namang pagsusuri kung ano ang magiging paghahanda natin for the next batch ay gagawin natin within next week. Senior citizens hindi kasama sa group na nakikitang affected sa blood clotting. Pinakamaganda talaga 'yung benefit-to-risk ratio. Puwedeng ubusin natin 'yung natitirang doses sa kanila," ani Domingo.
Huwebes nang sabihin ng FDA na sususpendehin ang paggamit ng AstraZeneca vaccines para sa mga edad 59 pababa, nang lumabas sa isang pag-aaral na posibleng may koneksiyon ang bakuna sa ilang insidente ng blood clot o pamumuo ng dugo sa utak at mababang platelet sa mga nabakunahan nito.
Aabot sa 86 ang ganitong kaso, o nasa 0.0003 porsiyento ng 25 milyong nabakunahan ng AstraZeneca sa Europa. Sa bilang, 8 ang namatay.
Karaniwang nakikita ang sintomas ng blood clotting sa loob ng 2 linggo matapos mabakunahan. Karamihan sa mga natatamaan ng blood clotting ay mga babaeng mas bata sa 60 years old. Pero sinabi ring nauungusan pa rin ng benepisyo o proteksiyon mula sa AstraZeneca ang risk o panganib na bunga ng posibleng side effects.
Maglalabas ng bagong panuntunan ang FDA kaugnay ng paggamit sa bakuna ng AstraZeneca sa susunod na linggo, bago ang inaasahang pagdating ng dagdag na doses nito mula sa COVAX Facility ng World Health Organization sa huling bahagi ng Abril.
Dalawa hanggang 3 buwan ang inirerekomendang pagitan ng 2 doses ng AstraZeneca.
"'Yung mga kasong nakitaan nitong very rare na adverse event, nakita siya during the first vaccine, and there were no cases seen on second vaccines. Kung nabakunahan na sila, tapos OK at walang naging adverse event, of course they will get the second vaccine, dahil walang nakikitang problema sa second dose," ani FDA Director General Eric Domingo.
Dagdag pa ni Dr. Rontgene Solante, na miyembro ng Philippine vaccine expert panel: "I-assure lang natin sila na pag nabakunahan ka na ng first dose and then lumampas ka na sa second week, mukhang ligtas ka na doon sa kumplikasyon na nakikita natin sa ibang bansa."
Kailangan lang aniyang suriin muna ang bakuna bago ulit ito ipagamit.
Pero para kay Presidential Spokesperson For Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion, maaapektuhan ng suspensiyon ang kumpiyansa ng publiko sa bakuna ng AstraZeneca.
Higit 5 milyong doses nito ang in-order ng mga pribadong kompanya para sa mga empleyado nila at inaasahang darating ang unang batch sa Hunyo.
"With this news, siyempre 'yung mga tao 'yung mga empleyado diyan, matatakot ulit, kailangan i-explain ulit sa kanila 'yung issue. Over 500 companies are of course very disappointed," ani Concepcion.
Pinabulaanan naman ng FDA ang mga espekulasyon na ang pagsuspinde sa AstraZeneca ay para paboran ang bakuna ng Sinovac mula China.
"Hindi. Independent naman 'yun. Wala naman kumpetensiya ang vaccines natin dahil wala pa naman tayong enough vaccines na sobra," ani Domingo.
— Ulat ni Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/09/21/ph-vaccine-drive-astrazeneca-suspension-fda
Pagbaba ng antas ng hawahan sa COVID-19 dahil sa ECQ: OCTA Group
Sa unang 6 araw ng Abril, naitala ang 81,192 na mga bagong kaso ng COVID-19.
Bagama't marami pa rin ito kung ikukumpara sa tala bago ang surge, patuloy namang bumababa ang reproduction number o bilang ng taong nahahawahan ng isang positibong pasyente, ayon sa OCTA Research Group.
Anila, nakikita na ang improvement dahil sa pagsailalim sa NCR Plus bubble sa enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
"There is a significant improvement with the reproduction number, hindi natin makikita ito without an ECQ, 'yung bababa na lang siya to 1.24 in 2 weeks," ani Guido David, OCTA fellow.
Pero dahil hindi pa rin lubusang nakikita ang malawakang pagbaba ng mga nagkakasakit ng COVID-19, tingin ng OCTA ay mas makatutulong kung unti-unti ang gagawing pagluluwag sa mga restriction.
"We’re still averaging 5,000 cases at the NCR and puno ang mga hospitals... When we relax to GCQ, puwedeng strict na GCQ bubble, parang 'yung in-implement ng national government a few weeks ago," sabi ni David.
—Ulat ni Raphael Bosano, ABS-CBN News
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/09/21/pagbaba-antas-hawahan-covid-19-ecq-octa-group
Paghabol ng Chinese missile boats sa bangkang Pinoy sa West PH Sea iimbestigahan
Inatasan na ng Department of National Defense (DND) ang Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command na imbestigahan ang ginawang paghabol ng mga missile boat ng Chinese Navy sa sinasakyang bangka ng Pinoy fishers sa West Philippine Sea, kung saan sakay din ang ABS-CBN News team.
"The Defense Department has directed the AFP through its Western Command to investigate, gather, and validate all the relevant facts on the incident, the outcome of which will be used to coordinate any appropriate action through the NTF-WPD and engagement among the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs), DND, DOTr and other concerned agencies," ani DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong.
Nagpahayag din ng pag-aalala ang AFP at sinabing humihingi na sila ng kopya ng footage at larawan ng insidente bilang bahagi ng imbestigasyon.
"The AFP expresses concern over the report of an alleged harassment by Chinese Navy vessels and a Chinese coast guard vessel as reported by a team of journalist on board a watercraft within our EEZ (exclusive economic zone)," ani AFP spokesman Maj. Gen. Edgar Arevalo.
Nadismaya naman si Vice President Leni Robredo sa napanood, lalo’t nangyari ito sa loob ng EEZ ng Pilipinas.
Hinimok ni Robredo ang pamahalaan na gamitin ang naipanalong kaso laban sa China noong 2016 sa isang international tribunal.
"It’s an opportunity we have not taken advantage of, we have not maximized... When you watch the video, nakakagalit, nakakadurog ng puso, na nangyayari iyon within our territory," sabi ni Robredo.
Makikipag-ugnayan na rin ang DFA sa task force para sa mga detalye ng insidente.
Para kay maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal, dapat iprotesta ng DFA ang insidente, lalo’t unang pagkakataon ito na ginamit ng China ang bapor ng militar para takutin ang mga Pilipinong sibilyan.
"Wala namang rason para ganunin nila ang isang Filipino vessel. Wala namang threat na nire-represent ang Filipino vessel. Pabalik na nga ng Palawan eh. Bakit pa nila kailagan gawin iyon? Umatras na nga sila noong makita nila ang coast guard so bakit kailangan pang pakitaan ng mga missile boat?" pagtataka ni Batongbacal, director ng UP Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea.
Suportado naman ng liderato ng Senado ang pagrepaso sa Mutual Defense Treaty at Visiting Forces Agreement ng Pilipinas at Amerika.
Sumang-ayon ang top diplomats ng Pilipinas at Amerika sa mas pinaigting na pagtutulungan sa South China Sea, na malawakang inaangkin ng China.
—Ulat ni Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News
Face-to-face na pagpasa ng Pag-IBIG, GSIS requirements, suspendido muna
Nakuntento na lang si Irene Corpuz sa paghuhulog sa drop box ng kaniyang housing loan application sa Pag-IBIG Fund.
Suspendido kasi ang face-to-face transaction sa Pag-IBIG dahil sa enhanced community quarantine sa National Capital Region (NCR) Plus.
"Hindi mo alam kung mare-receive siya on time unlke pag sinubmit mo sa loob ng opisina nabibigyan ka ng confirmation na nare-receive ang dokumento," ani Corpuz.
Bukod sa drop box system sa mga tanggapan ng Pag-IBIG Fund, maaari ring maghain ng loan application online.
"Bukas din ang virtual Pag-IBIG. Through doon puwede kang mag- multi-purpose, application, calamity, salary at housing loan, dapat lang mayron na kayong cash card o loyalty plus card," ani Pag-IBIG Fund Spokesperson Atty. Kalin Franco-Garcia.
Pero nilinaw ng Pag-IBIG Fund, pati na rin ng Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), na hindi porke't drop box lang ang sistema ay tatagal din ang proseso.
Anila, may mga tauhan pa rin ng Pag-IBIG na aasikaso sa mga dokumento. Kukuhanin lang ang mga dokumento at isa-sanitize bago iproseso.
"Parang business as usual po the next day makakatanggap po kayo ng tawag to inform you whether may discrepancy ang documents na iyong isa-submit," ani Franco-Garcia.
Suspendido naman ang face-to-face transaction sa GSIS ngayong marami ang nagpositibo sa COVID-19.
Pero puwede namang drop box o e-GSIS ang gamitin ng miyembro na tiyak umanong aaksiyunan ng GSIS staff.
Abiso ng GSIS sa kanilang pensioners na gamitin ang social media at internet sa paggawa ng Annual Pensioners Information Revalidation.
Kung ideklara ang modified ECQ sa susunod na linggo, mananatiling suspendido ang face-to-face transaction sa Social Security System at GSIS bukod sa e-card enrollment.
Hihingi naman ng gabay sa pandemic task force ang Pag-IBIG Fund kung puwede nang buksan ang mga sangay sa Metro Manila at karatig-probinsiya.
— Ulat ni Alvin Elchico, ABS-CBN News
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/09/21/face-to-face-pagpasa-pag-ibig-gsis-requirements-suspendido
DFA says 18 more Filipinos sick with COVID-19 abroad
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday reported 18 more Filipinos who got infected by COVID-19 abroad.
The day's tally raised the total number of coronavirus cases among Pinoys outside the country to 17,082, according to the agency.
Remaining active infections among them stood at 5,892, said the DFA.
Deaths, meanwhile, increased by 2 to 1,068.
The agency also logged 45 more people who recovered from the respiratory disease. Recoveries are now at 10,122.
This is also the first time this month that recoveries from Filipinos abroad reached over 40, data collated by ABS-CBN News showed.
Here in the Philippines, coronavirus cases reached over 840,000, with over 178,000 remaining active infections.
The Department of Health also reported 401 deaths, the highest since the pandemic hit the country over a year ago.
The government imposed a 2-week enhanced community quarantine in the capital region and 4 nearby provinces to stem the virus spread, which has been attributed to COVID-19 variants and the violation of standard health protocols.
Worldwide, the coronavirus has already infected 134 million people, based on the running tally of US-based Johns Hopkins University.
Over 2.9 million have already died because of the respiratory disease, while more than 76 million have recovered, the same tally showed.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/09/21/dfa-says-18-more-filipinos-sick-with-covid-19-abroad