Amid rise in COVID-19 cases in government sector, group calls for free testing, treatment
“We condemn the continuing lack of protective equipment, assurance of free testing and treatment among all public sector employees.” By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL Bulatlat.com MANILA – The largest federation government employees unions is pushing for free mass testing and treatment for government employees infected by COVID-19. According to the Civil Service Commission’s (CSC) report,… The post Amid rise in COVID-19 cases in government sector, group calls for free testing, treatment appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Teen centers in Cebu City pushed amid rising teen pregnancy cases
CEBU CITY, Philippines — In response to the alarming rise in teenage pregnancy cases across Cebu, a local legislator penned a resolution urging the establishment of local adolescents and teen centers in Cebu. City Councilor Rey Gealon stipulated in the resolution the importance of providing essential support and education to empower young individuals in making.....»»
‘Government should help exporters hurdle EU barriers’
The government must seek the removal of some trade barriers imposed by the European states to allow exporters to maximize the opportunities of the country’s prospective free trade agreement with Europe, an industry group said......»»
Bong Go calls for vigilance amid rising flu cases
MANILA, Philippines– Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has strongly urged Filipinos to stay vigilant in response to a Department of Health (DOH) report revealing over 190,000 documented cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) in the country. Go, chairperson of the Senate committee on health and demography, expressed deep concern over the escalating public health issue, particularly during.....»»
Go calls for heightened vigilance amid surging flu cases
Amid surging flu cases in the country, Sen. Bong Go urged Filipinos to maintain heightened vigilance to protect their health and their families......»»
Go calls for continuing campaign vs illegal drugs, criminality
Amid the prevalence of drug cases even involving some members of the Philippine National Police, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has called on the government to adopt stricter and more robust measures to address the persistent challenges of illegal drugs and criminality in the country. In an ambush interview after his visit to Sta. Cruz, Manila on Wednesday, 24 May, Go acknowledged that eradicating illegal drugs and criminality requires a multifaceted approach, encompassing both law enforcement and social reform. Drawing inspiration from the successful campaigns during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, Go expressed that similar strong-arm tactics and approaches are necessary to continue building a safer society. He likewise added that a renewed focus on combating drug issues will contribute to a safer and more secure country. “Ako po ay nasasayangan kung mawala ang inumpisahan ni dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, ‘yung inumpisahan niyang labanan po itong iligal na droga. Alam n’yo kapag bumalik po ang iligal na droga, babalik po ang korapsyon sa gobyerno, nabibili eh. At babalik po ang kriminalidad, ‘yun po ang takot ko dito. Itong kapulisan medyo kamay na bakal ang kailangan dito. Kailangan talagang takutin,” Go urged. During the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs hearing on Tuesday, 23 May, Go asked the PNP leadership about the possibility of tapping former president Duterte as the government’s anti-drug czar, considering the latter’s campaign saw a notable decline in crime rates. “Ako naman, sabi ko nga prerogative po ‘yan ng appointing authority, ang mahal na Pangulong Bongbong Marcos. Kung saka-sakali naman, malaking tulong po si former president Duterte. Ibig sabihin ang kailangan dito ay talagang kamay na bakal, takutin mo talaga. Pero kailangan may ngipin. Kung gagawin man siyang drug czar dapat may ngipin kasi kapag walang ngipin hindi katatakutan ‘yan,” Go asserted. “Napag-usapan lang po ‘yun dahil talagang dismayado tayo sa mga nadiskubreng kalokohan. Mga pulis pa naman itong mga ito, dapat nga kayo ang magprotekta sa taumbayan, kayo pa ang pumasok sa droga. Alam n’yo bawat isang gramo na kumalat diyan sa daan, ito napakalaking quantity po ito ng droga, ilang buhay na naman kaya ang sisirain nito kapag kumalat ‘yan sa daan. Ilang pamilya ang masisira, ilang buhay ang wawasakin, ilang pamilya ang wawasakin kapag kumalat ang droga na ‘yan. Alam n’yo salot talaga ang droga na ‘yan,” he lamented. Go’s colleague, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, then expressed his support for the idea, saying, “Ako, personally, maganda sana kasi babalik ang takot ng mga drug syndicates, particularly ‘yung mga pulis na involved—‘yung mga ninja cops. Matatakot at matatakot talaga ‘yan.” The senator also stressed the importance of immediately addressing underlying issues that contribute to these problems. He has called for stronger coordination among various law enforcement agencies to ensure a holistic approach in combating these issues. “Dapat talagang himayin nang mabuti, kasuhan na po ang dapat kasuhan. Ihiwalay po ang mga bulok para hindi makahawa at lumabas po ang katotohanan. At suportado ko si Sen. Bato dela Rosa sa kanyang layuning malaman po ang katotohanan,” underscored Go. “Kaya nga po nagdidinig sa Senado, kaya nga po nagkakaroon tayo ng public hearing sa Public Order Committee para malaman ang katotohanan. Kaya lang parang pinapaikot-ikot na lang po ang istorya at ang iba po’y hindi nagko-cooperate,” he continued. In the end, Go said that he is convinced that President Marcos possesses the necessary determination to implement effective measures that will address the drug problem at its core, highlighting, “Alam ko naman na seryoso po ang ating administrasyon na sugpuin po ang iligal na droga. Nagtitiwala po ako sa leadership ng Philippine National Police, disente po itong taong ito.” “Importante lang dito talaga ay medyo strong position na takutin mo, dapat takutin mo talaga. Kapag hindi mo takutin mamayagpag po ang mga sindikato na ‘yan,” he concluded. The post Go calls for continuing campaign vs illegal drugs, criminality appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hotel industry will follow mask policy if needed
The country’s hotel operators are willing to adhere to whatever decision the government will impose on calls to implement anew the mask policy following the spike in Covid-19 cases these past few days. This comes amid forecasts by a research group that Covid-19 cases may spike in the middle of May this year, putting the positivity rate to 19.3 percent over the weekend. “On the part of the hotel industry, it’s fairly simple, we follow the guidelines. But regardless of the guidelines, our sector as well as tourism-related establishments have been always maintaining very strict minimum health standards that are in place and making sure that we provide our guests with a safe and good experience,” said Benito Bengzon Jr., president of the Philippine Hotel Owners Association Inc. He added that his group is seeing that hotel occupancies are going back to the pre-pandemic levels. “Apart from hotel occupancy, which is seen as a major indicator, we are looking at the revenue side of it. And the good news that we have heard from our members, many or some of them have already exceeded their 2019 levels,” Bengzon told reporters during the Business Networking and Luncheon hosted by the Philippine Furniture Furnishings Market on Monday at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay. Overall, he stressed that the hotel industry in urban or city destinations “is slowly improving or much better compared to 2022.” “But the current foot traffic that we are getting now is just 25 percent of what we got in 2019. In 2019, we got 8.2 million foreign visitors, but last year, we only got 2 million. We still have a long way to go. The official target for this year in terms of foreign tourist traffic for the industry is 4.8 million,” Bengzon said. Meantime, Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines president Eugene Yap said masks are now indeed part of citizen’s daily outfit, even if World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus that Covid-19 was no longer qualifies as a global emergency. “But definitely, the Covid-19 virus is still there going around, but no longer a pandemic and just an endemic. The mask will always be an important part of our attire and for some countries a form of courtesy, such as in Japan and in Taiwan. I can see that masks are still an important part, especially in food serving areas,” Yap said. “We hope there will not be much mask requirement, but I think we leave it now to the establishments for their own use,” he added. Philippine Retailers Association chairperson Paul Santos, on the other hand, echoed the sentiments of the hotel and restaurant industry on heeding the guidelines but will also leave it to the retailers what to impose on their employees and own enterprise. “We can impose that on our employees, but we cannot impose wearing masks on our customers. Generally speaking, we will follow what the government recommends,” Santos said. To recall, the Department of Health last week maintained that they have already recommended to the Office of the President, based on the agreements coming from the IATF discussions, that there is no need to return the mask mandate as they need to shift the mindset of Filipinos when it comes to the Covid-19 virus. The post Hotel industry will follow mask policy if needed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Comelec says ‘no’ to online COC filing
The Commission on Elections has junked calls to allow the online filing of certificates of candidacy in a bid to avoid personal contacts amid rising COVID-19 cases in the country......»»
Senator calls for vigilance, compassion amid new variant
Sen. Bong Go appealed to all Filipinos to remain vigilant, cooperate with authorities and show compassion for one another after the Department of Health reported two cases of the B1617 coronavirus variant first detected in India......»»
New cases breach 8k mark: Rody calls for balancing act vs. virus
Closing the economy through coronavirus lockdowns would be disastrous for the country, President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday night, as he called for a balancing act amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic......»»
Workplace Health Protocols Reinforcement Called for Amid Rising COVID-19 Cases
As the country breached the 3,000 mark in new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases again, government agencies calls for the reinforcement of health protocols in the workplace to minimize further cases of the virus. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) together with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) issued a joint advisory Tuesday […].....»»
DTI insists Phl can’t afford stricter lockdown
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez on Thursday insisted that the country cannot afford sterner quarantine classification amid calls to impose a stricter lockdown due to the resurgence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases this Christmas season. During the weekly Laging Handa forum, Lopez said that he is supporting granular lockdown, but not to the extent of closing […] The post DTI insists Phl can’t afford stricter lockdown appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Addressing mental health amid a pandemic
BETTER DAYS Senator Sonny Angara Mental health has historically been a difficult subject to talk about in Philippine society. Many of us, no doubt, have our own stories, personal or otherwise, of how difficult it is to seek help. In fact, in the journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, an August, 2020, analysis of many studies on the matter confirmed that the low utilization of mental health services among Filipinos could be attributed in part to the stigma associated with mental health issues, with resilience and self-reliance becoming possible alternate coping strategies. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has made mental health an even bigger issue. The quarantine, the economic effects of the pandemic, and the anxieties brought about by the virus’ unpredictability have had a negative effect on the mental health of many Filipinos. Although we as a country are consistently rated to be in the Top 5 of a global optimism index, according to the DOH, the calls for help have been increasing. According to the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH), their helpline received about 400 calls monthly from May, 2019, to February, 2020. That’s an average of 13 to 15 calls daily. By March, 672 calls were serviced, and this grew steadily in the following months, until there were 1,034 calls in July – and 440 for the half of August. These double the monthly average from March to August to 876 calls, or 32 to 37 calls daily. Many government and private mental health services are available for people who are seeking help or just someone to talk to. Aside from the NCMH crisis hotline, the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation has confidential crisis lines and a referral system to partnered psychologists. The foundation is also a hub for prevention, recognition, and treatment of depression. The Philippine Mental Health Association also offers similar services, and universities like UST, UP Diliman, and Ateneo de Manila have their own mental health service organizations. Some, like Ateneo’s Center for Family Ministries have affordable or negotiable fees. Online resources like the Silakbo.Ph website have listings for many other mental health service providers outside of the NCR. In fact, many organizations have already partnered with the Department of Health (DOH); perhaps more of them should be invited to the table to plan new policies, projects, and initiatives that will address the growing number of mental health cases. The DOH is also encouraging people to learn more about general mental health through free e-learning courses translated into Filipino. The source material is from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) QualityRights initiative, which is a global project that aims to help participants improve their own mental health, learn how to support their loved ones and communities, and gain knowledge and skills to tackle mental health issues. Clearly, we need to reassess and adapt to the fact that more Filipinos are now looking for mental health services and treatments. This is why I am seeking to amend Republic Act 11036, the Mental Health Act, particularly its existing chapter on “Rights of Service Users and Other Stakeholders.” Our proposed amendment seek to give health service users the right to immediately receive compensation benefits and special financial assistance they are entitled to under law, should they sustain temporary or permanent mental disability in the line of duty or by reason of a person’s office or position. This is an important amendment, as the Mental Health Act requires that PhilHealth provide insurance packages to patients with mental health conditions, and that access to medicines is ensured. With the observation of World Mental Health Day last October 10, it is important to remember the DOH’s theme for this year, “Mental Health for All: Unifying Voices for Greater Investment and Access.” This theme encourages that we open conversations on the various challenges that our mental health care system faces every day, such as social stigma and limited funding. In fact, the simple act of marking the day itself is important. It shows those who are suffering that we see them, and care for them. It tells others who are hiding their issues that it is perfectly normal to seek help. And most of all, it encourages the whole world to stand in solidarity in recognition of the need for all of society to help those with mental health issues. E-mail: sensonnyangara@yahoo.com| Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @sonnyangara Senator Sonny Angara has been in public service for 16 years—9 years as Representative of the Lone District of Aurora, and 7 as Senator. He has authored and sponsored more than 200 laws. He is currently serving his second term in the Senate. .....»»
Amid rise in COVID-19 cases in government sector, group calls for free testing, treatment
“We condemn the continuing lack of protective equipment, assurance of free testing and treatment among all public sector employees.” By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL Bulatlat.com MANILA – The largest federation government employees unions is pushing for free mass testing and treatment for government employees infected by COVID-19. According to the Civil Service Commission’s (CSC) report,… The post Amid rise in COVID-19 cases in government sector, group calls for free testing, treatment appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Cavite nagdeklara ng ‘state of calamity’ dahil sa ‘pertussis outbreak’
NASA ilalim na ng “state of calamity” ang probinsya ng Cavite. Ito ay dahil dumadami na ang mga nahahawa ng pertussis o whooping cough sa probinsya. Ayon sa provincial government, nakapagtala na sila ng 26 confirmed cases at kabaling na riyan ang anim na namatay dahil sa nasabing sakit. Narito ang datos ng Cavite kaugnay.....»»
Kaspersky Shares Cybersecurity Tips for a Peaceful Getaway during the holy week
As the holiday season approaches, the urge to unwind and kick back is natural. And it’s all too common for people to let their guard down completely when connecting to the Internet too– but shouldn’t. Recently, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group shared its findings on identity theft cases in the country. Between November […].....»»
Antipolo City throws support on Ajido
The Antipolo City government led by Mayor Casimiro “Jun” Ynares III will provide support to Antipolo-born swimmer Jamesray Mishael Ajido, who won the country’s lone gold medal in record-breaking fashion at the recent 11th Asian Age-Group Swimming Championships......»»
Milk tariff collections rise by 31% to P2.4 billion
Revenues raised by the government from various imported milk products jumped by 31 percent to P2.36 billion in 2023, the highest in at least eight years, from P1.8 billion in 2022......»»
One more city in Philippines declares pertussis outbreak
MANILA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The government of Iloilo, a city in central Philippines, on Monday declared an outbreak of pertussis after it confirmed seven out of 15 reported cases, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said. Iloilo is the third city to declare an outbreak of pertussis, or whopping cough, after Quezon and Pasig, two cities in the capital region, announced last week that they hav.....»»
3 suspected rebels killed in clash in Philippines Batangas
MANILA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Three suspected rebels were killed in a clash with government forces in Batangas province, south of Manila, on Tuesday, the Philippine military said. The military said a 30-minute gunfight broke out around 6:30 a.m. local time after the troops ran into a group of New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Rosario town. The troops recovered three rifles, six jungle packs, and some mater.....»»
Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, March 26
MANILA -- Three suspected rebels were killed in a clash with government forces in Batangas province, south of Manila, on Tuesday, the Philippine military said. The military said a 30-minute gunfight broke out around 6:30 a.m. local time after the troops ran into a group of New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Rosario town. (Philippines-Clash) - - - - BEIRUT -- Two people were killed and nine other civ.....»»