DOH: Cases up but more info needed to confirm local transmission of South African variant
The Department of Health said Saturday that there is still not enough evidence to conclude that there is local transmission of the highly contagious coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa even after it logged 52 new cases of it the day before......»»
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.....»»
Masking, lockdown not needed for rising pertussis cases – DOH
Despite the alarming increase in pertussis cases in the country, an official of the Department of Health said there is no need for a lockdown or mandatory wearing of face masks......»»
Tyla naglabas ng debut album matapos mag-viral ang kantang ‘Water’
FINALLY! Nagkaroon na ng bonggang album ang award-winning pop-R&B superstar na si Tyla! Magugunita na unang sumikat ang South African singer dahil sa hit song niyang “Water.” Ang debut album ng superstar ay hango mismo sa kanyang pangalan –”TYLA.” May laman itong 15 tracks at kabilang riyan ang ilang collaboration song kasama ang ilang sikat.....»»
EDITORIAL — Next, speedy justice
After a year of being on the run, Arnolfo Teves Jr. is finally being brought back to the country to face multiple indictments for serious offenses. Teves was arrested Thursday in East Timor’s capital Dili by local police. He had been hiding in plain sight in Timor-Leste, occasionally posting videos taunting Philippine authorities who wanted him for multiple murder cases......»»
GCash sets sights on further international expansion
With GCash Overseas, Filipinos in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Germany, Qatar, Kuwait, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia can now download and use the GCash app, whether they have Philippine SIMs or local mobile phone numbers in the countries or territories where they live......»»
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.....»»
SC: LGU lawyers cannot represent local execs
Legal officers of local government units cannot represent LGU officials in cases filed before the Office of the Ombudsman, according to the Supreme Court......»»
ASF, hog cholera in Negros Occidental now ‘under control’
Cases of hog cholera and African swine fever in Negros Occidental are now under control, the provincial veterinary office declared yesterday......»»
64 provinces logged ASF cases – DA
At least 64 of the country’s 83 provinces have recorded cases of African swine fever as the virus continues to batter the hog industry, latest data from the Department of Agriculture showed yesterday......»»
Ongoing search efforts for suicide victim
Ongoing search efforts are underway for a suicide victim who jumped off the Governor Generoso, Bankerohan Bridge in Davao City. Despite the efforts of the 911 Urban Search and Rescue team, the body has not been recovered due to strong river currents. The police have discovered personal belongings belonging to the victim, but cannot confirm if it is the same person who jumped. The incident has been confirmed as a suicide, with the victim jumping off the bridge without any apparent reason. This incident highlights the rising cases of suicide in Davao City, with 23 recorded from January to April this year. Mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, along with factors like peer pressure, bullying, low economic standing, and a lack of social support, contribute to these cases. For those struggling with suicidal thoughts, support is available through suicide hotlines......»»
EDITORIAL - As relentless as COVID
Like COVID-19, African swine fever has been unstoppable. Latest data from the Bureau of Animal Industry showed that only 11 of the 82 provinces in the country can be classified as “dark green” or with zero cases of ASF. The government will have to ensure that the problem does not lead to a shortage of pork, especially during the Christmas holidays......»»
ASF state of calamity in 2 Oriental Mindoro towns
Two towns in Oriental Mindoro have been placed under a state of calamity after reporting their first cases of African swine fever......»»
ASF hits 11 Isabela towns
Eleven towns in Isabela have recorded cases of African swine fever, the Department of Agriculture-Cagayan Valley office reported yesterday......»»
Herbosa no-show, but DOH 2024 budget hurdles Senate Finance panel
The Senate Committee on Finance on Thursday approved the proposed P311.3 billion budget of the Department of Health for the upcoming fiscal year without the attendance of Health Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa. Herbosa skipped the DOH’s budget deliberation, normally led by the agency’s head, days after he failed to secure the approval of the Commission on Appointment. During the budget deliberation, DOH senior officials led by Undersecretary Lilibeth David, former Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario-Vergeire and Undersecretary Gloria Balboa presented the agency’s proposed budget. Senator Francis Tolentino specifically questioned Herbosa’s absence in the budget deliberation, fearing that the agency is now in an “auto-pilot mode”. Senator Pia Cayetano, who presided over the agency’s budget deliberation, quickly clarified that the DOH is not “headless”. “Actually, all of the senior members of the team approached me a while ago and they acknowledged that, of course, it is a bit of an awkward situation,” Cayetano said. “But as you all know, Usec Dr. Vergeire was the OIC for many years and was very actively exercising her leadership not just in the past year, but even during the time of President Duterte. Dr. Usec. David is the most senior undersecretary. So I’m quite confident in the presentation today that they can answer,” she added. Tolentino explained that he is asking for Herbosa’s presence because “budget presentations would require answers concerning accountability.” “And perhaps the head of the department should be the one doing that. Otherwise, it would be in an auto-pilot mode,” he said. For her part, Senator Loren Legarda also expressed confidence in the senior officials of the DOH. “Let me just say that I’m certain that our very competent Usecs. and Asecs. down the line would be able to communicate the policies of the Secretary who still has to be confirmed,” Legarda said. “I am very confident that they will be able to answer our questions. I do not think that they would divert from any policy of the Secretary or say anything that would be against his policies,” she added. Cyber-attack on PhilHealth Senators also touched on the recent cyber-attack on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth. Legarda quizzed PhilHealth officials about the effect of the cyber-attack on the state-run health insurer’s operation, as well as the steps being taken by the agency to prevent similar cases in the future. Responding to the lawmaker’s query, Atty. Eli Dino D. Santos, PhilHealth’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, said the agency has yet to restore its online system. “All transactions are offline, and we've resume operations meaning membership, employer submission, and payment over the counter,” Santos said. “Our benefits availment continues. We have already informed our partner providers that while the system is turned off, they can still submit claims or prepare the submission of claims,” he added. “At present, to confirm the statement of our President, we are set to turn on our systems today, but we are still completing the preventive measures before we turn it on. We are targeting to turn on our PhilHealth website, member portal, as well as the e-claims.” Over the weekend, PhilHealth confirmed reports that there was an “information security incident” on its online system, which prompted them to turn it off as part of its “containment measures”. The Department of Information and Communications Technology previously stated that the agency’s system was attacked by Medusa ransomware. A multinational cyber security software company, Trend Micro, defines “ransomware” as a type of malware that prevents or limits users from accessing a system, either by locking the system’s screen or by locking the users’ files until a ransom is paid. The Medusa ransomware group was demanding $300,000 from PhilHealth in exchange for access to its system. The group threatened to leak the personal information of PhilHealth members if it did not pay the ransom. The state-run health insurer previously stated that it would not give in to the group’s demand. The post Herbosa no-show, but DOH 2024 budget hurdles Senate Finance panel appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Negros Occidental ASF cases contained
Citing zero hog deaths in the past several weeks, the provincial veterinary office said African swine fever in Negros Occidental has been contained......»»
When prior decree is not necessary (2)
It must be emphasized that the enactment of the Family Code rendered the rulings in Odayat, Mendoza, and Aragon inapplicable to marriages celebrated after 3 August 1988. A judicial declaration of absolute nullity of marriage is now expressly required where the nullity of a previous marriage is invoked to contract a second marriage. A second marriage contracted prior to the issuance of this declaration of nullity is thus considered bigamous and void. In Domingo v Court of Appeals, we explained the policy behind the institution of this requirement: Emphasizing the fifth difference, this Court has held in the cases of People v Mendoza, People v Aragon, and Odayat v Amante, that the Civil Code contains no express provision on the necessity of a judicial declaration of nullity of a void marriage. In Mendoza (1954), the appellant contracted three marriages in 1936, 1941 and 1949. The second marriage was contracted in the belief that the first wife was already dead, while the third marriage was contracted after the second wife’s death. The Court ruled that the first marriage was deemed valid until annulled, which made the second marriage null and void for being bigamous. Thus, the third marriage was valid, as the second marriage was void from its performance and, hence, nonexistent without a judicial decree declaring it so. This doctrine was reiterated in Aragon (1957), which involved substantially the same factual antecedents. In Odayat (1977), citing Mendoza and Aragon, the Court likewise ruled that no judicial decree was necessary to establish the invalidity of void marriages under Article 80 of the Civil Code. Marriage, a sacrosanct institution, declared by the Constitution as an ‘inviolable social institution, is the foundation of the family”; as such, it “shall be protected by the State.” In more explicit terms, the Family Code characterizes it as “a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman entered into in accordance with law for the establishment of conjugal and family life.” So crucial are marriage and the family to the stability and peace of the nation that their “nature, consequences, and incidents are governed by law and not subject to stipulation.” As a matter of policy, therefore, the nullification of a marriage to contract another cannot be accomplished merely based on the perception of both parties or of one that their union is so defective with respect to the essential requisites of a contract of marriage as to render it void ipso jure and with no legal effect — and nothing more. Were this so, this inviolable social institution would be reduced to mockery and rest on very shaky foundations. And the grounds for nullifying marriage would be as diverse and far-ranging as human ingenuity and fancy could conceive. For such a socially significant institution, an official state pronouncement through the courts, and nothing less, will satisfy the exacting norms of society. Not only would such an open and public declaration by the courts definitively confirm the nullity of the contract of marriage, but the same would be easily verifiable through records accessible to everyone. What, then, is the important reckoning date? 3 August 1988. If the marriage was before then, no judicial declaration is needed. If after, then one is necessary. Now you know. Marriage, a sacrosanct institution declared by the Constitution as an ‘inviolable social institution, is the foundation of the family’; as such, the State shall protect it. Sources: Article 349, Revised Penal Code Article 40, Family Code Renato A. Castillo vs Lea De Leon P. Castillo (G.R. No. 189607, 18 April 2016) The post When prior decree is not necessary (2) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Morocco medics face flow of quake victims with limited resources
The hospital in Amizmiz caring for Moroccans injured in the earthquake is now a tent pitched on asphalt under a blazing sun, and it has only around a dozen beds. When one bed becomes free, it is immediately filled again as the flow of victims from the disaster keeps on coming from villages at the foot of the Atlas mountains. Three days after Friday night's quake, the strongest ever to hit the North African country, relief workers are battling to cope in the aftermath. Patients are now being cared for under the large grey tent because of fears that the hospital building itself may be vulnerable to aftershocks. An ambulance brings the latest victim, 81-year-old Lhoucein Barouj whose leg is fractured. The old man has a haggard look, his mouth open. Relatives said he was seen by a traditional osteopath, but this will be the first hospital treatment he has received in three days. He has not had any pain relief either. "We had to carry him out of the house ourselves in a blanket and carry him for kilometers (miles)," said his daughter Habiba. Then "we waited in a field" for helpers, who came eventually to their village, Ait Mbarek. As in other mountainside villages hit by the 6.8-magnitude quake, landslides have blocked access, and a shutdown in communications has also delayed treatment for many of those affected. Basic care The quake struck southwest of the tourist center of Marrakesh, killing more than 2,800 people and injuring a similar number, according to the latest official figures. Most of the victims were in Al-Haouz province, where the epicenter was. On Monday, some arrivals seeking medical help looked exhausted and disoriented, among them a little girl in a Bugs Bunny T-shirt, her head bandaged as she lay cradled in her father's arms. The hospital at Amizmiz is local, and can handle basic medical care. But "we can't treat everything here", said ophthalmologist Doha Hamidallah. "We handle primary treatment such as sutures and fractures. But more serious cases are sent to Marrakesh University Hospital" some 50 kilometers (30 miles) away, she said. Hamidallah, who is in her 30s, arrived from Casablanca on Sunday to help along with "dozens of other doctors of all kinds from all over the kingdom". They take it in turns to triage patients. Tired and overwhelmed nurses deal with the flow of new patients arriving in private, public or military ambulances amid the clatter of helicopters above. Others distribute medicine to those who need it, mostly people with diabetes. "We also have to treat patients who were not injured directly by the quake, but who've been unable to get their medicine," said Christophe, a carer with the Moroccan Red Crescent. The first hours after the quake were difficult in the small hospital. "In terms of coordination, we could only go with the flow," said Dr Hamidallah. Mobile teams A voice is raised behind her, adding to the hubbub. "We need someone local who knows the area. Anybody?" A team is being formed at short notice to head out to houses in Anougal which have been cut off. "We send out mobile teams with doctors to the isolated villages," explained Christophe. Soldiers have also set up a field hospital nearby, and some 35 kilometres further east the authorities are putting up a temporary clinic with prefabricated buildings. This is at the entrance to Ouirgane, parts of which have been badly affected. Another military hospital was deployed on Monday morning in Asni village. More than 300 patients have already been admitted, military doctor Colonel Youssef Qamouss told AFP. Organising care has been complicated, but vital to manage stocks of the medical equipment available. John Johnson of the French group Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), awaiting a green light from the authorities to help, said the Moroccans are coping well. "They have everything they need for primary care, but some things are lacking for trauma patients" such as anti-tetanus shots and painkillers, he said. There will also be a need for mental care in the days and months to come, he added. A few streets away, life has come to a standstill. One man stands with his arms crossed, staring at what used to be his home. The post Morocco medics face flow of quake victims with limited resources appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Southern Leyte swine fever infection confirmed
TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Agriculture in Eastern Visayas has confirmed the viral spread of African Swine Fever in Southern Leyte after laboratory tests found blood samples randomly taken from hogs in Padre Burgos town positive for the infection. The DA regional field office said reports of unusual deaths of hogs exhibiting ASF-like symptoms started the last week of June, prompting the Municipal Agriculture Office of Padre Burgos and Southern Leyte Provincial Veterinary Office to investigate. The DA regional office said the new ASF infection is an isolated case, as the overall trend of ASF cases in the region shows the infection is on the decline. The DA regional office is continuing to investigate the case to determine the extent of the viral spread, although initial information shows the infection seems limited to Barangay Tangkaan of the said municipality. “Based on the initial investigation, it is believed that possible transmission of the virus resulted from either the transport of infected live hogs from neighboring municipalities that still have active cases of ASF, swill feeding, and poor biosecurity,” the DA regional office said in a statement. The DA assured the public that a technical team has been deployed upon the confirmation of the cases, and continues to conduct proper preventive measures against the spread of the virus. The agency said it is closely monitoring the area and its neighboring communities for possible transmission. The DA advised the public not to be alarmed and to help stop the spread of the disease by observing the protocols so that the farmers and hog raisers will be able to continue with their livelihood. ASF is a highly contagious and fatal disease that affects pigs. There is no known cure for ASF, and the only way to prevent it is to implement strict biosecurity measures. The DA has urged the public to report any unusual deaths of hogs to the MAO or PVO. The post Southern Leyte swine fever infection confirmed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bontoc town bans pigs, pork products entry
BAGUIO CITY — The local government of Bontoc town in Mountain Province announced that it is temporarily banning the entry of hogs and pork products from the lowland municipalities amid reported cases of the African swine fever in other areas, particular in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur. In a public advisory, Bontoc Mayor Jerome Tudlong Jr. warned residents of the town to be aware of ASF cases logged in backyard farms of Cervantes and is said to be fast spreading in nearby areas. “To prevent further spread of this disease and to help protect the livelihood of our swine raisers against the re-infection of ASF in our municipality, the entry of live swine/pigs, pork, locally processed pork products and by-products from the said area is hereby temporarily suspended,” Tudlong said. To recall, the hog disease was earlier detected in a barangay in Cervantes last July this year, which prompted other towns of Ilocos Sur to safeguard their borders to ensure that no pigs or pork products can enter their areas of responsibility. On 24 July 2023, the provincial government of Benguet issued a temporary ban of entries of hogs and swine products from Cervantes. In the first week of August, Abra Province and Bauko, Mountain Province did the same. Checkpoints were setup in the boundaries of Ilocos Sur and nearby provinces. On 12 August, three hog traders were intercepted transporting 11 pigs from Cervantes. The post Bontoc town bans pigs, pork products entry appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»