We are sorry, the requested page does not exist
Akbayan to Sara: You don’t have to be president to speak vs China
MANILA, Philippines — Party-list group Akbayan said on Thursday that Vice President Sara Duterte does not have to be a president of the country for her to call out China’s intrusive actions over the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Empathy and a moral backbone is just what it takes to stand up with fisherfolk and frontline.....»»
Pagasa debunks ‘three days of darkness’ hoax
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) dismissed claims that the Earth will experience three days of darkness due to passing the “Photon Belts” starting April 8 as false. The state weather and astronomy bureau said Friday there is no scientific evidence to support the claim. “DOST-PAGASA would like to.....»»
No sanctions for teacher scolding pupils — VP Sara
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President and Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) Sara Duterte announced on Thursday that the teacher who was seen in a viral video scolding her class will not face any penalties. According to Duterte, she just wants to remind the teacher that when she is angry, she has to pause.....»»
ICC can t probe Philippines drug war, Marcos tells Germany s Scholz
MANILA, The Philippines: This week, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz the International Criminal Court (ICC) has no authority to probe the bloody war against drugs conducted by his predecessor. Marcos discussed the Hague-based ICC's probe during a bilateral meeting with Scholz while visiting Germany. Former President Rodrigo Duterte officially withdrew from the i.....»»
Rumors of ABS-CBN’s franchise ‘renewal’ weaponized in Romualdez-SMNI feud
While the majority of posts about ABS-CBN’s supposed comeback did not have a political angle, a few known hyperpartisan vloggers seized upon the rumor of ABS-CBN’s franchise “renewal” to either accuse Romualdez of having a hidden agenda or claim that SMNI played a hand in the non-renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise......»»
PDLs look forward to benefits of DA, DOJ project
The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have initiated the Reformation Initiative for Sustainable Environment for Food Security Project, known as DA RISE, to benefit Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs). The project aims to reform and prepare PDLs for their reintegration into society, with a focus on agriculture and food production. At the Iwahig Prison and Penal Colony, 70 inmates have been trained in efficient farm systems for rice and vegetable production. One inmate, referred to as Kamote, expressed his enthusiasm for the program, stating that the training has equipped him with the skills to lead a better life after his release. The project is aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.'s food security agenda and emphasizes the modernization of Philippine agriculture. During a harvest festival, Agriculture Secretary Francsico P. Tiu Laurel emphasized the collaboration between government agencies, the private sector, and the PDLs, highlighting the shared goal of ensuring food security for Filipino families. The private sector, including seed companies such as Mench Fil-Am Corporation and SL Agritech Corporation, has pledged continuous support for the project. The next phase of the RISE Project will expand to cover 500 hectares of Iwahig's property, including cashew, corn, and rice production, a tilapia pond, and areas for livestock raising and pasture. The project signifies a meaningful collaboration between the government and the private sector to promote entrepreneurship and modern farming technology, ultimately contributing to a food-secure nation......»»
DBP cited for good governance
The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has received recognition for its exemplary corporate governance practices. The government's chief corporate regulator, the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG), has honored DBP with the Corporate Governance Scorecard (CGS) Hall of Fame award for consistently ranking in the top ten of the CGS ratings since 2017. DBP President and CEO, Michael O. de Jesus, highlighted the significance of this accolade, emphasizing the bank's unwavering commitment to best practices in corporate governance. Established under the GOCC Governance Act of 2011, the GCG utilizes the CGS to evaluate and assess the corporate governance initiatives of government-owned and controlled corporations. Moreover, DBP was also recognized as a Top 4 performer in the Corporate Governance Scorecard for 2022, attaining a high score of 100. De Jesus reaffirmed the bank's dedication to fortifying its corporate governance mechanisms, aligning with its core values and the national agenda for good governance. He emphasized DBP's resolve to uphold the highest standards in corporate governance, underscoring its support for the government's efforts to foster sustainable and inclusive economic growth......»»
Flesh and blood
Perhaps in all the years in this lifetime that Israel has been at war, we Filipinos never made enough sense of what it is really about. Not until we learned, since 7 October, how cruel and bitter it can be — in the photos of a grown man forever captured screaming into the air over his dead nephew’s body; of shrouded bodies that may never be identified; or a clip of a father holding plastic bags of his kids’ remains. And the babies. And the burned bodies. And the blood splattered all over a bomb shelter. No one — unless it is you or yours — can imagine how it truly feels. If you can feel rage and grief at seeing images alone, how much more can your heart take if it were happening right before you? “We are all human,” a father said on Tiktok. It was he who posted about that father with the plastic bags. “There is no difference between me and this man. When we talk of kids getting killed, bombed, or put on fire, it doesn’t really matter what you believe in, where you come from, or what religion you follow. This is never acceptable! You just have to be a human being to stand up and say stop.” Now I am not sure whether this man was genuine (heaven knows there has been plenty of fake and biased news) or if it was propaganda designed to turn sympathy toward a specific cause. But what he said about being human was true. Amid all the atrocious crimes we have seen in the war raging in Gaza, we need to view the whole situation through our humanity. When Gaza struck Israel the way Hitler hit the Jewish people — with extreme violence and a detailed plan to eliminate the enemy in very specific ways — we recoiled. We remembered. But when Israel defended itself, many condemned it. Why? Many immediately concluded that the war was a Palestinian issue, or about Israel’s attempt at occupation or conquest. It is not. So, while it is natural to react the way we do over civilian casualties and collateral damage — likely letting our emotions get the better of us — we need to muster the sense to take it all in with the correct perspective. We must know more, learn more. Shooting from the hip or erupting without understanding — well, wouldn’t that be just as bad as the perpetrators of the war? What is fact and what is fiction? We must seek the truth in light of the misinformation being deliberately spread on social media. One such claim was debunked on Associated Press recently, about the bombing of a hospital in Gaza supposedly by the Israeli military. This was spread in a social media post written in Arabic. AP said, “No such post exists on the military’s actual social media pages and its top Arabic-speaking spokesperson confirmed his office had issued no such statement.” To think this is but one aspect of the entire issue. Let’s begin with the fact that Hamas is a terrorist organization. It is not about Palestine, it is about pushing Islamic supremacy through force. Israel, if you think about it, has “no quarrel with Palestinians,” as Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss, himself emphasized in a talk with DAILY TRIBUNE on Monday. “We are in a war against Hamas, not Palestinians — we have to defend our citizens,” he said. It is a “war of survival,” he added. Israel has long been fighting against Islamic forces that want to see it obliterated from the planet. “We don’t have a choice. We will fight. We will win.” The ambassador added, “The charter of Hamas calls for the destruction of the State of Israel. And it says that there is no political agreement…no political agreement can be reached with Israel. Israel has to be eliminated, and Israelis and Jews have to be killed. That’s the agenda of their philosophy. It has to be an Islamic land. “So, when people ask me today, what is the political future here? I say this is a question that you have to ask Hamas or the Palestinians, because in Israel, we have a government that makes decisions, makes a lot more, and when we sign a document, we respect it, and we can negotiate. We’re a political entity. “Hamas is not in a negotiating position. It is in a war position to eliminate Israel. Very simple. And you see the history. I’m not going into the long history, but Israel had pulled out of Gaza since 2005. We are not controlling Gaza. We are on the international border. So, it’s not about a few patients. It is about an organization that, every few years, initiates again an attack against Israel. This time it was the biggest…” However, the ambassador admits, on a personal level, that a solution seems hazy “because it is continuing and we are living in a complicated neighborhood,” he told this columnist. The enemies are “fundamentalists that are promoting these Islamic states, promising these fundamentalistic terror agenda…” Ambassador Fluss may be keeping it all real as a diplomat, but what he may not ever say is that this war is about all of us, too — humans and families and connected lives. When a Filipino caregiver refuses to leave her ward, sacrificing her own life to the end, that is humanity. But to believe that life is only worth living if another race or culture is removed, where is the humanity in that?.....»»
US, Japan, Phl trialogue in the works — Romualdez
JAKARTA, Indonesia — A trilateral meeting between the United States, Japan, and the Philippines is in the works this week to discuss several areas of concern, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez recently said. In a chance interview with the Palace reporters late Wednesday, Romualdez said the three countries requested a meeting on the sidelines of the 43rd ASEAN Summit here. However, Romualdez said that they are still working out the time slot due to the tight schedules of US Vice President Kamala Harris and a Japanese official. "The schedules are a bit tight for both Japan and the United States," Romualdez said. "Vice President Harris just arrived this (Tuesday) evening, and she's having a whole day meeting tomorrow. So they're trying to look for the time," Romualdez added. If the meeting does push through, Romualdez said that the agenda will likely focus on cooperation between the three countries, especially in the area of economic security. "We're all allies, basically, Japan, the United States, and the Philippines," Romualdez said. "So I'm sure obviously the West Philippine Sea will most likely be part of the discussion, but mostly on cooperation, and how Japan, the United States, and the Philippines can work together, especially in the area of economic security, which is also very important for us." The West Philippine Sea is a disputed body of water that the Philippines, China, and several other countries claim. The Philippines has accused China of militarizing the area and of violating its sovereignty. Romualdez said that the trilateral meeting is important because it will allow the three countries to discuss ways to cooperate on issues of common interest, such as the West Philippine Sea and economic security. "The importance of that meeting is because of the fact that we've had discussions with both Japan and the United States on many issues surrounding our area, our territorial waters, and, of course, the South China Sea," Romualdez said. "But as I said, the economic cooperation between our three countries between the two countries with the Philippines is also very important for us." Romualdez also said that he does not think that China will take issue with the trilateral meeting. "I don't think there's any... It's nothing new that the countries... In meetings like this, in summits like this, there's always a lot of bilateral meetings between so many countries," Romualdez said. "So there's, it's really nothing to... I know that people are putting meaning into it --- a special meaning to do it because of the situation that we're all --- the situation in our part of the world, but at the end of the day, it is really a meeting of friends and allies and partners." The post US, Japan, Phl trialogue in the works — Romualdez appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BARMM Governors Caucus, for what?
As this column had predicted, it was bound to happen. There is no stopping the confrontation between the leadership of the Bangsamoro Regional Government, dominated by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and the incumbent governors in the region. It’s a clash between status quo and change. The emerging Moro leaders in the region were personified by the governors advocating reforms versus the well-entrenched dynasties. Everything pointed to it happening. They can swear to high heavens that no such thing will happen, but their actions betray their intentions. This column sees them as being civil to each other only for public consumption. But below the sea of calm is a raging current with each side preparing to unleash their powers. Their body language says it all. A political showdown is imminent for what Moro political opinionist, Sultan Pangnal Datu Ramos, describes as a Battle Royale. In a move that was nothing but an alignment and consolidation of political forces, the five elected governors in the BARMM convened what they conveniently called the “BARMM Governors Caucus (BGC)” in Cagayan de Oro City on 6 June. Present were Mamintal “Bombit” Adiong Jr. (Lanao del Sur) who played host, Abdusakur Tan (Sulu), Bai Mariam Mangudadatu (Maguindanao del Sur), Ysmael Sali (Tawi-Tawi), and Malusso Mayor Hanie Bud, president of the Basilan League of Municipalities, representing Governor Hadjiman Hataman-Salliman. This was not the first time they met. In fact, after every major political development in the region that they saw as a threat to their political sway over their turf, they met and made known their position which was not always in sync with that of the BARMM leadership. In a press statement heavy with motherhood phrases meant for public consumption, they claimed that the BGC is “a platform that will advocate and promote the issues our constituents have identified as critical. The Caucus will engage in dialogue toward greater cooperation and collaboration with the national and regional governments and multisectoral groups.” If their intention is honest and true, why did they not involve the BARMM as the immediate tier in the governance set-up in addressing critical issues? Why sideline the regional government which could help them promote the interest of their public? Why was the newly appointed governor of Maguindanao del Norte not invited to the caucus? Is it because he is identified with the leadership of the BARMM having been a senior minister before his appointment by the President? If they wanted a dialogue, why didn’t they involve national and regional officials or their representatives in the forum? The manifesto likewise said that “the Caucus is committed to supporting the peace process and the BARMM. But of course, who would want unpeace? A disruption of the peace will adversely affect their decades-old dynasties. Their actions belie their claim of support for the BARMM. They look at BARMM as nothing but a threat to their political grip on their individual fiefdoms. The BGC is the sum of past dialogues and meetings of these governors with the agenda manifestly not in tandem with the interest of the BARMM leadership. When BARMM was being conceptualized and was later submitted for legislation, Gov. Tan challenged the move before the Supreme Court and when the BARMM officials lobbied for the postponement of the parliamentary election which led to the extension of their terms of office, most governors opposed it. And they likewise opposed certain provisions of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code which was passed by the regional parliament over their objection. The recent ambush of Gov. Adiong alerted these governors to a serious threat to their leadership and they decided to band closer together to protect their political interests. They raised concerns about the non-completion of the decommissioning process, which has allowed the armed MILF to continue carrying their firearms in public with impunity. How can you face and win over an enemy whose followers are allowed by the government to pack six shooters? This scenario could definitely put the MILF’s Bangsamoro Justice Party at a huge advantage. These factors and many more gave birth to the Caucus. More on this in my next column. amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com The post BARMM Governors Caucus, for what? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Why we need to save our coral reefs
“Coral damage feared as vessel grounded,” said the headline of a recent issue of Daily Tribune. “Extensive damage to the coral reefs that serve as a marine habitat is feared with the incident raising concerns anew about the environmental impact of mining in the country,” the news report stated. Three days after the sinking of the MT Princess Empress tanker off Naujan, Occidental Mindoro in February this year, the resulting oil slick reached the shores of the coastal towns of Naujan, Pola and Pinamalayan. “Among the coastal sites that may be at risk are several marine protected areas, including but not limited to the reefs in Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro, amounting to some 1,100 hectares of coral reefs,” said the bulletin issued by the University of the Philippines-Diliman College of Science Marine Science Institute. According to the United Nations Environment Program, oil, a complex mixture of many chemicals, can kill corals, depending on species and exposure. Once soil comes into contact with corals, it can kill them or impede their reproduction, growth, behavior and development. Various threats Oil spills are not the only incidents that threaten the country’s coral reefs. Most of these threats are caused by human activities. As marine scientist Don McAllister, who once studied the cost of coral reef destruction in the country, lamented: “Nowhere else in the world are coral reefs abused as much as the reefs in the Philippines.” Sedimentation — the process of soils settling to the bottom of the sea — is said to be the most important single cause of reef degradation. Sediments that wash over reefs have a number of negative effects on corals, marine scientists claim. Deforestation is the most common source of sediments. “When trees are cut down and the underbrush burned, the mountainsides become bare and the soil are defenseless against strong wind and rain,” said the Coral Research Project of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. “During rains, runoff carries eroded soil down to the rivers that deposit it in the sea.” On its website, the BFAR singled out destructive fishing techniques as among the largest contributors to reef degradation. “Muro-ami, a technique that involved sending a line of divers to depths of 10-30 meters with metal weights to knock on corals in order to drive fish out and into waiting nets, was extremely damaging to reefs, leading to its ban in 1986,” the BFAR reported. But that’s just one. “Rampant blast fishing and sedimentation from land-based sources have destroyed 70 percent of fisheries within 15 square kilometers of the shore in the Philippines, which were some of the most productive habitats in the world,” the BFAR said. Cyanide fishing, employed since 1962 to collect aquarium fish, is another destructive fishing method, while coastal development, farming, aquaculture and land-cover change have also threatened the country’s coral reef ecosystem. Aside from human activities, natural causes of destruction among coral reefs also occur. These include extremely low tide, high temperature of surface water, predation and the mechanical action of currents and waves. Climate change is increasing the ocean’s temperature. The result: Coral bleaching. Explains John Ryan of the Washington-based Worldwatch Institute: “When subjected to extreme stress, they jettison the colorful algae they live in symbiosis with, exposing the white skeleton of dead coral beneath a single layer of clear living tissue. If the stress persists, the coral dies.” Marine rainforests Coral reefs are the marine equivalent of rainforests and considered one of the planet’s essential life-support systems. These “biological wonders,” as American environmental author Don Hinrichsen called them, are among the largest and oldest living communities of plants and animals on earth, having evolved between 200 and 450 million years ago. The Philippines holds one of the most extensive coral reefs in the world with a sprawling area of 27,000 square kilometers strategically located in Palawan (37.8 percent), Sulu (27.8 percent), Visayas (21.7 percent), Northern Luzon (7.6 percent), Central and Southern Mindanao (3.2 percent) and the Turtle Islands (1.7 percent). There are about 400 species of reef-forming corals in the country, comparable with those found in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. Coral reefs provide habitat for a large variety of marine life, including various sponges, oysters, clams, crabs, sea stars, sea urchins and many species of fish. They are also linked ecologically to nearby seagrass, mangrove and mudflat communities. Coral reefs are so valued because they serve as a center of activity for marine life. The World Atlas of Coral Reefs, compiled by the United Nations Environment Program, reported that 97 percent of reefs in the Philippines are under threat. And Reef Check, an international organization assessing the health of reefs in 82 countries, stated that only five percent of the country’s coral reefs are in “excellent condition.” These are the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park in Palawan, Apo Island in Negros Oriental, Apo Reef in Puerto Galera, Mindoro and Verde Island Passage off Batangas. “Despite its high biodiversity, the Philippines’ reefs are very badly damaged. It’s one of the worst-damaged in the world, on average,” said George Hodgson, founder of the California-based organization. The Philippine government has introduced many laws in an attempt to protect and save coral reefs from annihilation. But the government cannot do it alone; help from individuals is also needed to save the coral reefs. “We are the stewards of our nation’s resources,” Guerrero said. “We should take care of our national heritage so that future generations can enjoy them. Let’s do our best to save our coral reefs. Our children’s children will thank us for the effort.” The post Why we need to save our coral reefs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China tells Phl: Oppose Taiwan’s independence
If the Philippines “genuinely cares” about 150,000 overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan, it should “unequivocally oppose” Taiwan’s independence, China said Friday. Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian stressed this in his keynote speech at the 8th Manila Forum, which was co-presented by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Manila and the Association for Philippines-China Understanding. “The Philippines is advised to unequivocally oppose ‘Taiwan independence’ rather than stoking the fire by offering the US access to the military bases near the Taiwan Strait if you care genuinely about the 150,000 OFWs,” Huang said. While China commends the Philippines for adhering to the one-China principle, he explained that Taiwan's issue is “entirely China’s internal affair, as is the Mindanao issue to the Philippines.” “You will never allow any third party to meddle with resolving rebel issues in Mindanao. Likewise, it should not be hard to understand why the announcement of the four additional EDCA sites has caused widespread and grave concern among Chinese people,” he said. Last week, Malacañang identified the locations of the four additional EDCA sites, to where American forces will have access. The Presidential Communications Offices said the new locations will be in Camilo Osias Naval Base in Sta. Ana town and Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo town, both in Cagayan province; Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela province; and Balabac, the southernmost island in Palawan province. Of the four additional EDCA sites, three are situated in the northern part of the country, with the naval base at Cagayan's Santa Ana being about 400 kilometers (250 miles) from Taiwan. Huang said the new EDCA sites were “obviously” chosen by the United States to “interfere in the situation across the Taiwan Strait to serve its geopolitical goals, and advance its anti-China agenda at the expense of peace and development of the Philippines and the region at large.” Earlier this week, Beijing conducted live-fire drills for three days near Taiwan, in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s recent trip to the United States. China considers Taiwan, an ally of the US, as part of its territory, to be retaken one day -- by force, if necessary. Huang said that China is the “last country that wishes to see conflict over the Strait because people on both sides are Chinese.” “This is to guard against external interference and all separatist activities,” he said. China also warned the Philippines against the plan to increase American military deployment in the country. “To know if increased US military deployment in another country truly helps to protect the host country’s sovereignty and security, one just need to take a look at the long list of mess left behind by the scourge of American military around the world, the turmoils, divisions and devastation,” he said. “Answers will not be difficult to find. To have strategic independence or to be at the mercy of others? French President Macron proffered the answer: Being an ally does not mean being a vassal,” he added. ‘Phl, China friendship’ Huang noted that the bilateral relations between the Philippines and China were “defined by peaceful coexistence for over a thousand years and will continue to be so in the future.” “Friendship is always the mainstream of our bilateral relations,” he said. “We each have our respective claims and positions regarding the South China Sea. Differences thereof should be resolved by parties directly involved through dialogues and with mutual respect,” he added. Huang said that Beijing is committed to strengthening dialogue mechanisms with the Philippines. Under the 2016 ruling of a Hague-based arbitral tribunal, the Philippines has sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea, which invalidates China’s nine-dash line claim. Beijing, however, has continued to disregard the UNCLOS decision, installing man-made military infrastructure on several reefs and features within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines. Huang said that “provocative actions or bringing in external forces will not help but further complicate the situation and cause more problems, putting regional peace and security at risk.” “We should learn from history and avoid repeating mistakes,” he added. The post China tells Phl: Oppose Taiwan’s independence appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Meralco rates lower by P0.0623/kwh in Sept. billing
Consumers of Manila Electric Company (Meralco) will benefit from a slight reduction of P0.0623 per kilowatt hour (kwh) in this September billing — summing up five straight months of tariff downtrends for this year. (MANILA BULLETIN) For end-users in the consumption threshold of 200 kilowatt hours (kwh), the average cost savings they will gain in this billing period will be P12, according to the utility firm. The overall rate billed this month is at P8.4288 per kwh versus the previous month’s P8.4911 per kwh. The generation charge, which accounts for the chunk of the cost components being passed on, had been pared by P0.0381 per kwh this month to P4.0860 per kwh from the previous billing cycle’s P4.1241 per kwh. Additionally, the transmission charge was on marginal decline of P0.0112 per kwh and that was mainly attributed to the lower ancillary services (AS) charges of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines; while taxes and other charges incurred a net decrease of P0.0130 per kwh. Meralco emphasized one key factor that triggered rate reduction this September is its continuing move to invoke force majeure (FM) claims with its power suppliers. “This September, the force majeure claim totaled about P463 million, equivalent to customer savings of P0.1710 per kwh in the generation charge,” the utility firm noted. The company explained that if the FM claims had not been there, “the generation charge and the total rate would have increased by P0.13 and P0.14 per kwh, respectively.” Since March this year when Meralco has been persistently invoking FM claims under its power supply deals, the company was already able to generate P2.4 billion worth of savings that it has been passing on as rate reduction to customers via their electric bills. On supply procurement, Meralco indicated that it secured the lion’s share of 54.8-percent from its power supply agreements (PSAs) and that resulted in a decrease of P0.3032 per kwh on its charges. The fraction of supply sourced from its contracted independent power producers (IPPs) had been at 33.6-percent; and this went up by P0.0601 per kwh; while volume procured from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) stood at 11.6-percent and charges had been down by P0.0147 per kwh.The lower settlement prices in the spot market, it was noted, had been due to decrease in Luzon demand — given the re-enforcement of modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in some areas last month, primarily in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces......»»
Robredo cites gov’t data showing COVID-19 response is not working
Vice President and opposition leader Leni Robredo on Sunday pointed at government data to prove her claim that it’s doing something wrong in its response to the coronavirus pandemic. Vice-President Leni Robredo (OVP / Facebook / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) “Iyong datos—at ang datos galing sa pamahalaan—iyong datos ang ating basehan kung bakit natin sinasabi na kung ano iyong ginagawa natin ngayon, hindi siya nagwo-work,” she said on her radio show. Robredo reiterated her call on the administration to reassess its policies and improve in areas where lapses have been committed following the request of frontline health workers to revive strict lockdowns in Metro Manila and its adjacent regions. The vice president said the medical community’s appeal for comprehensive strategy against COVID-19 is a valid request that should be seriously considered. “Iyong lahat na punto nila, halimbawa na lang sinasabi nila na ‘iyong ginagawa natin ngayon is not working.’ Iyon din iyong punto ko, eh. Na hindi working iyong ginagawa natin ngayon kasi pataas nga nang pataas iyong bilang,” she said. As of August 1, the Department of Health (DOH) reported 4,963 additional COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of coronavirus infections in the country to 98,232. “Ito nga 98,000, validated lang dahil iyong for validation pa, kung hindi ako nagkakamali, nasa mga 37,000, 38,000 pa. Ito iyong discrepancy. So kapag dinagdag mo pa iyon, talagang unimaginable na iyong numbers natin,” she said. Robredo also cited the data from tracing czar Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong that showed only four of over 600 local government units have contract tracing capability. For each positive COVID-19 case, only eight persons are being traced on the average instead of the standard of 37, she said.“Iyong ina-announce na so much number of contact tracers, na 52,000 yata—52,000 na iyong na-hire, pero ang sabi ng WHO, dapat ang ideal para sa atin 132,000 iyong ma-hire na contact tracers,” Robredo added.She said the Philippines is now conducting 30,000 tests for coronavirus per day, but she noted it took the government two months to meet its target daily testing capacity in May.The vice president said she was surprised with the “mass recovery adjustment” after the DOH reported a record-high in recoveries of COVID-19 patients at 38,075.Robredo asserted the DOH must inform the public before changing its data system. “Kung magpapalit ng definition, kung magpapalit ng protocols, baka mas maganda na ina-announce iyon sa tao bago makita iyong numero kasi talagang nagulat lahat. Tapos ang pinaka-mahirap, pagkatapos noong one-time-big-time na isang araw, the following day balik sa dati,” she said......»»
DILG: NCR ECQ proposal to be discussed in meeting
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Sunday assured that calls for Metro Manila to be reverted back to the stricter enhanced community quarantine will be tackled during the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) meeting on Aug. 3. DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya issued the clarification after some medical workers requested that the National Capital Region (NCR) be under the more restricted quarantine rules due to the surging coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) cases. DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya (PCOO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) On Aug. 1, Philippine Medical Association (PMA) president Dr. Jose Santiago in an online press conference headed by the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) noted that the health workers are overwhelmed by the upsurge of COVID-19 cases they are handling. He relayed that the concerned health workers had urged the government to give them at least two weeks of “breathing space by shifting Mega Manila back to a strict lockdown.’’ “We’re waging a losing battle against COVID-19 and we need to draw up a consolidated, definitive plan of action,” the letter read by Santiago said. With President Duterte on the brink of placing Metro Manila under the modified general communits quarantine (MGCQ) in middle of July, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año and the other Cabinet members convinced the President that the move is not feasible citing the need to open businesses to reinvigorate the economy. Año insisted that the way to curb the spread of the disease starts in every individual who should follow the minimum health standards of wearing masks, observing physical distancing, and practicing proper hygiene. He emphasized that no country can claim they have won their fight against COVID-19 since there is no available vaccine for the virus yet. But on the bright note, Duterte in a meeting on Friday said that the COVID-19 vaccine will be available in the country this December. Año noted that the country has to live with the virus momentarily until the vaccine is found. He added that the local government units (LGUs) have the power to impose localized lockdowns on parts of the barangays, streets, and buildings which they have identified as high-risk areas......»»
Manila Archbishop: Washing of feet maintains faithful’s connection to Jesus
In his homily at the Manila Cathedral on the evening of Maundy Thursday, Advincula stressed the importance of the washing of the feet, not merely as a hygienic act but as a sign of one's relationship with Jesus......»»
US reaffirms support for Philippines sovereignty amid its tensions with China
Washington, DC [US], March 28 (ANI): US Secretary of Defence Llyod Austin has reaffirmed Washington's commitment to Manila in defending its sovereignty while criticising China's "dangerous" water cannon attack at the Philippine supply mission vessel on Saturday. In a telephonic conversation between Austin and his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro, the US Secretary reiterated the US-Philippines Mutual Defence Treaty.....»»
Philippines announces decisive measures amid tensions with China
Manila [Philippines], March 28 (ANI): Amid the escalating tensions in the South China Sea, Philippine President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr has announced decisive measures to protect his country's sovereignty and maritime rights while ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Marcos, known as Bongbong, said that the measures, aimed at addressing what he said is the "open, unabating, and illegal" actions by China's Coast.....»»
Contagious pertussis disease continues spreading in Philippines
MANILA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The contagious pertussis has continued spreading in the Philippines, where it has caused at least 40 death cases, after a province near the capital region reported an outbreak of the disease. In a social media post on Wednesday night, the Cavite government posted a resolution declaring the province under a state of calamity "due to the outbreak of pertussis" after logging 36 cases an.....»»
China: PH is ‘straying down a dangerous path’
MANILA, Philippines — China continued to blame the Philippines and its ally, the United States, for the continued tensions in the disputed West Philippine Sea. In a statement on Thursday, Chinese Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Wu Qian warned that the Philippines is going down a dangerous path. READ: No letup in Chinese water cannon attacks.....»»