Vice President backs probe on DOH, DBM response on COVID
Vice President Leni Robredo yesterday backed the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman to look into alleged irregularities in the handling of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in the country......»»
Giuliani: ‘America’s Mayor’ threatened by anti-Mafia law he spearheaded
Forty years ago, Rudy Giuliani was the fearless Mafia-busting prosecutor whose aggressive use of racketeering laws brought down New York's Five Families. On Tuesday, he was fighting for his own freedom after being ensnared by the very legal strategy he had pioneered. The man once feted as "America's Mayor" for steering the US financial hub through the horror of the 11 September 2001 attacks has experienced a stunning fall from grace. Charged with 13 felonies over the help he is alleged to have given his client and longtime friend Donald Trump in trying to subvert the 2020 presidential election, the attorney is threatened with years behind bars as his 80th birthday approaches. "It's just the next chapter in a book of lies with the purpose of framing President Donald Trump and anyone willing to take on the ruling regime," Giuliani said on X, formerly known as Twitter, after he was charged Monday. It was a typically bombastic response from the 107th mayor of New York City, who played a starring role in Trump's post-election push to cling to power through an allegedly criminal campaign of lies about voter fraud. Giuliani was charged Monday under Georgia's Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Practices (RICO) statute, the plaudits he once earned squandered in a series of increasingly bizarre media appearances around the 2020 election. He is one of 18 co-defendants charged alongside Trump. 'Person of the Year' They included an unwitting cameo in a Sacha Baron Cohen movie in which Giuliani was filmed lying on a hotel bed with his hands down his pants and a post-election press conference held outside a landscaping business surrounded by a crematorium and a sex shop. At another press event, Giuliani and his allies claimed mass voter fraud without a shred of evidence as hair dye streamed in dark rivulets down the attorney's cheeks. Born in an Italian American enclave of Brooklyn on 28 May 1944, Rudolph William Louis Giuliani made his name in his 40s as a pioneering US attorney for Manhattan, using RICO to bring down the high command of the New York mob. Giuliani captured the New York mayorship in 1993 and gained national prominence in the wake of the 9/11 attacks by helping salve the shocked city's soul, earning Time Magazine's prestigious "Person of the Year" honor. "We've undergone tremendous losses, and we're going to grieve for them horribly, but New York is going to be here tomorrow morning, and it's going to be here forever," he declared. The Republican suffered his first big setback in 2008 with a disastrous bid for the White House and appeared adrift until Trump eventually brought him back into the fold. Gaffes and walk-backs After Trump was elected, he appointed Giuliani to fight a federal probe into the campaign's extensive ties to Russia, and the lawyer became a constant TV presence. But gaffes and walk-backs were as much a feature of Giuliani's lawyering as his spirited talk show diatribes -- and he led Trump into trouble as often as steering him away. Never the most reliable spokesman, Giuliani proved susceptible to seemingly unforced admissions -- contradicting Trump's denials over hush money payments to a porn star and his pursuit of a business deal in Moscow before the 2016 election. But the effort to reverse Trump's clear election loss in 2020 appears, in the end, to have sealed Giuliani's downfall. One by one, his post-election court challenges were withdrawn or dismissed as groundless. Giuliani's license to practice has been suspended in New York over his "demonstrably false" claims of a stolen election and the Bar in the nation's capital is considering disbarring him. Long before attracting the attention of a legal system that once basked in his reflected glory, Giuliani acknowledged that representing Trump could end up being his legacy. "I am afraid it will be on my gravestone. 'Rudy Giuliani: He lied for Trump,'" he told The New Yorker in 2019. "If it is, so what do I care? I'll be dead. I figure I can explain it to St. Peter." The post Giuliani: ‘America’s Mayor’ threatened by anti-Mafia law he spearheaded appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Vocational institutions prioritize increased technology usage — Study
A study by Hanover Research and NYE-listed education-tech firm Instructure showed that 89 percent of vocational institutions prioritize increased technology usage to help students adapt to the ever-changing educational landscape, a silver lining brought by the Covid-19 contagion. As traditional education evolves and skills-based education increases in the Philippines and worldwide, a surprising shift in the demographics of vocational training enrollees has unfolded in the country during the last few years. Back in 2020, more Filipinos already holding college degrees were turning to vocational courses primarily to gain additional skills, a trend that is growing as more employers in different industries are favoring hiring based on demonstrated skills and competencies. This shifting composition of enrollees in vocational education, coinciding with the challenges brought by the pandemic and economic uncertainties brought on by factors such as high inflation, forced vocational institutions to find ways to not only survive the pandemic but to leverage advanced learning models of the future. According to Instructure’s study: 2022 State of Vocational Education in the Philippines, conducted by Hanover Research, 89 percent of vocational institutions intend to maintain the increased technology usage they acquired during the pandemic. This substantial figure underscores the sector's high priority on integrating more technology into its teaching processes to make education more accessible, flexible and efficient. Commitment to harness technology This commitment to harness technology is about more than just continuity, as 82 percent of these institutions favor a hybrid learning model, while 79 percent are more likely to conduct an online course in the future. “The move to adopt more technology for vocational institutions isn't merely a response to current conditions, but a strategic decision to actively shape the digital shift to benefit their students, and we are seeing how Canvas LMS is becoming a key component for this purpose,” said Harrison Kelly, Instructure regional vice president for Asia Pacific. Furthermore, the influence of technology reaches beyond the virtual classroom, as 83 percent of institutions, including 82 percent of trainers, are eager to incorporate more technology into their fully in-person courses going forward, underscoring a comprehensive trend toward integrating digital tools across all facets of vocational education. The study also highlighted the technologies that have been increasingly used by vocational educators, showing 77 percent of institutions are using more digital tools for assessments, 68 percent are using their LMS or learning management system more often, and 69 percent are using more virtual reality for training. LMS is an educational platform that allows schools, colleges and universities to manage their online learning materials and interactions in one place. Additionally, 66 percent are using student information systems more frequently, and 63 percent are using more video or audio conferencing for classes. “These trends show that vocational schools are diversifying the tools they use to provide a more comprehensive, effective, and engaging learning experience for their students. This tech-enabled approach aligns perfectly with what students need today, especially college graduates who are using vocational training to upskill and access better jobs,” Kelly explained. The post Vocational institutions prioritize increased technology usage — Study appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Viral disease killing felines on ‘cat island’ Cyprus
A sickly ginger kitten named Bebe is pulled out of a cat carrier at a veterinary clinic in the Cypriot capital, Nicosia. The six-month-old is suffering from a strain of feline coronavirus that is wreaking havoc on the prolific cat population of Cyprus. Cats are everywhere on the eastern Mediterranean island, home to the earliest evidence of the animal's domestication and known by some as the "island of cats". Many of the island's felines are strays. They wander at will into people's gardens, sit expectantly beside restaurant diners in hopes of a tasty morsel, and loiter near garbage bins. Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), which is not transmittable to humans, has rapidly spread across Cyprus in recent months, being "highly contagious" among cats, veterinarian Kostis Larkou said as he gently examined the visibly disoriented Bebe. Animal advocates say the number of cats dying from disease is significantly higher than the 107 cases of FIP officially reported by the agriculture ministry in the southern part of the island. "We have lost 300,000 cats since January" from FIP, said Dinos Ayiomamitis, head of Cats PAWS Cyprus and vice-president of Cyprus Voice for Animals. Cyprus has been split since a 1974 Turkish invasion in response to a Greek-sponsored coup. The self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which covers the northern third of the island, is recognized only by Ankara. But cats on both sides of the United Nations-patrolled buffer zone are dying from the illness. Experts say the island's cat population is equal to or even exceeds the human population of a little more than one million. In the south, Ayiomamitis estimates that a third of the cats have succumbed to the virus. Cats with FIP have symptoms including fever, abdominal swelling, weakness, and sometimes even aggressiveness. But with so many stray cats, the contagion has proven difficult to diagnose and document. Ancient cat history Cypriots have a long and intertwined history with their furry friends. Legend has it that a Roman empress, Helena, first brought cats to Cyprus to do away with poisonous snakes about 1,700 years ago. But archaeological evidence of cats' domestication on the island dates back further than anywhere else in the world -- to 9,500 years ago at the Neolithic village of Shillourokambos, where the remains of a cat and a human were found deliberately buried together. That bond between feline and human has continued through the millennia, leaving animal lovers like Ayiomamitis taking care of the island's cats today. He has fears, though, for the roughly 60 cats he has been feeding at a cemetery in the capital for a quarter of a century. "The colony is doing well, but we are worried because if one is infected, the others will be too," says the retiree, 70, as cats scampered up marble tombstones. Several people who feed stray cats told AFP that many of their regulars are disappearing, and very few corpses are found, noting that when cats are sick, they often self-isolate and die alone. An outbreak is suspected to be also spreading across cat populations in nearby Lebanon, Israel and Turkey, but in the absence of studies, that cannot be confirmed, said Demetris Epaminondas, vice president of the Pancyprian Veterinary Association. To contain the spread, two treatment options have been considered. One is molnupiravir, an anti-Covid pill which officials say could not be authorized for use on animals in Cyprus. Another antiviral tablet, GS-441524, chemically similar to the Covid-19 treatment remdesivir, is approved for animal use in Britain and for importation to Cyprus, with restrictions. But its cost, at 3,000 to 7,000 euros (about $3,300-$7,700) per cat, is prohibitive, and there is no supply in Cyprus. Black market For weeks, Epaminondas has been trying to obtain government authorization for molnupiravir, which would cost a far more affordable 200 euros per cat. The agriculture ministry told AFP it was examining all possible means of addressing the issue through "various therapeutic preparations available on the European market". Some have resorted to clandestine methods to save their pets. "We bought our medicines on the black market online, or from Facebook groups. But we keep our suppliers secret so that we can continue to treat our animals," said one Cypriot, requesting anonymity because of the questionable legality of her actions. Vasiliki Mani, 38, a member of several animal welfare organizations, is demanding a swift solution. In January, she spent 3,600 euros to treat two stray cats with FIP. "I have spent all my savings," she said, denouncing the cruelty of "allowing animals to die" in Cyprus. If FIP continues to spread, Mani lamented, Cyprus will become "the island of dead cats". The post Viral disease killing felines on ‘cat island’ Cyprus appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Angara says Frasco deserves a chance after ‘Love the Philippines’ fiasco
Senators have differing opinions on the controversies surrounding the newly launched “Love the Philippines’ campaign by the Department of Tourism. Senator Sonny Angara said the recent video mess “should not diminish” the accomplishments made by Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco in promoting the country to the world. Angara also commended Frasco for swiftly terminating the DoT's contract with advertising agency, DDB Philippines, for more promotional videos. "Clearly there were issues with what was presented by the advertising agency, but what is important is that Sec. Frasco acted immediately to address the issue and ensured that no public funds were wasted for this purpose," he said. Angara added that Frasco should be given a chance to redeem herself, citing the latter’s efforts to revive the country’s tourism industry hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. "What the DOT has done over the past two years following the pandemic has been remarkable and with Sec. Frasco leading the charge in declaring the Philippines open for tourists, I am confident that Philippine tourism will be able to reach new heights and the world will see the many reasons to Love the Philippines,” he said. According to Angara, the DoT recorded over 2 million international visitor arrivals in the country from January to the middle of May this year,—which already breached the department’s 1.7 million visitor target for the year. For the period of January to April, the DOT recorded P168.2 billion in inbound visitor receipts, which represents a 782 percent increase from the P19.1 billion in tourism revenues generated over the same period last year. Under the leadership of Sec. Frasco, Angara noted that the Philippines has received six nominations in the World Travel Awards Asia namely: Asia's Leading Island Destination; Asia's Leading Beach Destination; Asia's Leading Dive Destination; Intramuros as Asia's Leading Tourist Attraction; Cebu as Asia's Leading Wedding Destination; and the DoT as Asia's Leading Tourist Board. Angara also cited the move of the DoT to develop the Philippines as a health and wellness tourism hub—an idea that he has been pushing for some time already. The Philippines was also recently elected as vice president of the 25th General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization and chairman of the Commission for East Asia and the Pacific. Meanwhile, Senator Jinggoy Estrada lauded the DoT’s move against the advertising agency saying that its prompt response and responsible handling of the situation deserves recognition. “Mistakes happen but it is how we respond and rectify them that truly matters…The DOT exemplified accountability and commitment to learning from this incident,” he said. Estrada believes that the DoT’s acknowledgment of the gaffe and taking immediate steps to rectify the situation “demonstrated” the government’s dedication to maintaining the integrity of our tourism industry. “Understandably, any campaign of this magnitude may face criticisms and differing opinions. Yet, how Sec. Frasco's handling of the issues confronting the DoT is both admirable and necessary,” said Estrada. “It is through proactive measures that we can continue to promote the Philippines as a premier tourist destination while ensuring accuracy and responsible marketing practices," he added. The post Angara says Frasco deserves a chance after ‘Love the Philippines’ fiasco appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
GCash hailed on swift phishing ward-off
Personalities and netizens have aired relief and gratitude over the quick resolution by GCash of the irregular funds’ movement which, it said, was caused by what internet authorities described as ‘phishing.’ The expression of grateful thoughts followed the timely detection by GCash of the cause of the unauthorized funds’ transfer which was reported to the mobile wallet company by several subscribers, including well-known personalities. “The digital scammers could have siphoned off over the weekend some P37 million from various GCash accounts if it were not detected timely by our IT experts,” said GCash, adding that “the subscribers’ irregularly transferred funds have already been reverted entirely to their wallets and are assuredly safe.” For social media celebrity and actor Chad Kinis, GCash has immediately acted on his concern after he reported the anomalous movement of funds from his mobile wallet. “Naalarma agad sila (GCash) at ginawan ng paraan within the day. Tumawag sila sa akin at na i-reverse ‘yung pera… Thank you po for that. Maraming salamat sa pag-assure na okay po ang pera naming sa GCash,” Chad said in a video he posted on Facebook. Lawyer and social media personality Jesus Falcis also lauded GCash’s quick response to the incident and advised netizens to be careful of what they’re clicking online. “The good thing is, GCash has detected right away and stopped the unauthorized transfer. Always be skeptical of links in emails or other websites. Click only if you know of what you’re clicking and never share your mobile number or PIN in exchange for any online reward,” Falcis said on Twitter. GCash also assured its subscribers and the public that its application remains safe to use since its management maintains a cybersecurity program and policy that could deal with any arising internet challenges and anomalies. Gilda Maquilan, GCash vice president for public affairs and corporate communications, has earlier reported that after receiving reports of irregular funds’ movement from the subscribers accounts, the mobile wallet management immediately conducted a probe and detected phishing as the cause of the problem. She said that the suspects could have taken advantage of the ongoing SIM card registration and have managed to snatch certain vital personal information of the victims which were used in the anomalous funds transfer. Maquilan added that the stolen funds were then traced to various accounts registered with Asia United Bank and East West Bank, after which, the full amount were reverted to their GCash virtual wallets. The post GCash hailed on swift phishing ward-off appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cabinet shake-up looms (2)
The energy sector is also in dire straits. Just yesterday, five power plants shut down affecting the Luzon power grid that brought brownouts to many areas. The telecommunications in the country, instead of improving, has deteriorated. The use of laptops and cellular phones has been an ordeal and vexing. Lines are suddenly cut off in the middle of conversations, connecting or reconnecting is exasperating. The hotline that will give access to the office of the President over complaints by the citizens on the abuses and inaction by government officials and employees appears not to be efficiently operating. Either the hotline telephones are just constantly ringing with no one attending to them or inaccessible, to the consternation and frustration of callers seeking government response and action. In a recent convention of government personnel in Davao, a department secretary was the target of biting criticisms owing to his delayed attendance because he gave more priority to his playing golf. The irate attendees talked about his arrival with wailing sirens and a fleet of police security and staff, his demand to wear a bulletproof vest, and his outrageous self-entitlement demeanor. There are saving graces, however, in other areas like the field of education, social welfare, agrarian, tourism, housing and health. The vice-president and concurrent Education Secretary Sara Duterte, as expected, has introduced programs geared toward streamlining its services to the teachers and the students. She has undertaken measures to improve not only the quality of education but the safety of the students as well. She has endeavored to respond to the needs of the teachers and made sure that the school buildings and facilities are ready for the students and the school supplies sufficiently adequate and readily available to them. The Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian has brought to the office his vast experience as a multi-awarded Mayor of Valenzuela to provide social services for the welfare of those in the vortex of poverty, victims of calamities, and natural disasters. He made sure that the government is well-equipped with food packages, relief goods, clothes, and medicines even before the disaster struck. He has made innovations to deliver the services promptly. efficiently and adequately. The Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III, without fanfare and minus the glare of publicity, has implemented the law on land reform bringing joy to the landless who have been neglected for years. He has continued the policy of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to distribute idle government lands to the poor without the bureaucratic red tape and the corruption that characterized the grant and distribution of those land-reformed areas. Tourism Secretary Cristina Garcia-Frasco, a firm believer in the tourism industry as a driver of economic growth, has embarked on resting programs and policies to attract more tourists. Pursuant to the administration’s policy of ensuring connectivity and accessibility with other countries, she has engaged in route development with her counterparts. Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose “Jerry” Acuzar, with his rich background in real estate business and development, has not disappointed the expectations of those who admire his crown jewel development of Las Casas Resort in Bataan that transport anybody who goes there to the beautiful Spanish era of yesteryears of grandiose and magnificent houses. He has improved the human settlements and policies commenced by the Duterte administration. He is currently putting up housing units for those without decent dwellings for their families following the ambitious project of PBBM to provide comfortable housing to more than a million house-deprived Filipinos. Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Health, Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire, continues with her competent work as Health Undersecretary under the previous leadership. She has strictly implemented the health protocols that were established to contain the dreaded Covid-19 and relaxing them when circumstances so permit but maintaining the minimum necessaries to prevent its spread and is succeeding judging from the apparent return to normalcy of people’s daily activities. In the coming appointment or replacement of Cabinet officials, PBBM certainly will be guided by the performance or the lack of it of the heads of the government entities. With the looming Cabinet shake-up, there is wisdom in the observation that members of the Cabinet should not be politicians or current elected officials. Politicians will always be aiming for higher positions and will be using their offices as springboards to reach their lofty ambitions hence they will be playing politics. Sadly, in the performance of their duties, their personal interest prevails over national interest. This was so evident in the past as well as in the present. Those who want to be appointed are constantly and shamelessly engage in sucking activities with the present dispensation. They are the piranhas that should be avoided for they will only bring ruin and embarrassment to the appointing power. The President must be spared and shielded from these scoundrels. The post Cabinet shake-up looms (2) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Robredo hoping for honest Duterte on pandemic response, plans in last SONA
Vice President Leni Robredo said she hopes President Rodrigo Duterte’s last State of the Nation Address would be upfront on the country’s current situation on government response on COVID-19 pandemic and lay down definitive targets to help appease the people’s growing anxiety......»»
Robredo backs bill compensating vaccine recipients with side effects
Vice President Leni Robredo has expressed her support for a bill seeking to compensate COVID-19 vaccine recipients who will suffer adverse effects from the shots......»»
Robredo: What ‘science’ backs reopening of cinemas?
The reopening of cinemas and other tourist attractions in Metro Manila and other areas where COVID-19 cases remain high was opposed yesterday by Vice President Leni Robredo, who asked whether the decision was “backed by science.”.....»»
TF against corruption to probe Leni Robredo’s office if…
The Task Force against corruption would investigate the Office of the Vice President only if there is a complaint filed against it. This was the response of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra when asked if the OVP was included in the list of agencies to be probed by the task force formed by the President to […] The post TF against corruption to probe Leni Robredo’s office if… appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Robredo hits Roque’s gag request to Octa Research Group
The Duterte administration wants the Octa Research Group to stop publicizing their recommendations on the pandemic response because of its intention not to follow them, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Sunday. Vice-President Leni Robredo (OVP / Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) “Ang nakikita ko lang na dahilan kung bakit ililihim, hindi susundin iyong datos, iyong pagdedesisyon hindi nakasunod sa datos (The only reason I see why it must be hidden is that they won’t follow the data, they would decide not based on data),” she said during her weekly radio show.According to Robredo, it would be better for experts from the group to make public their research instead of just communicating it to the government in private.“For the benefit of everyone na alam ng tao kung ano iyong mga resulta ng research (the people should know the result of the research),” she asserted.The vice president disagreed with Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque who discouraged the local research group from publicizing their recommendations on placing areas under strict lockdown to avoid confusion.The Octa Research team, composed primarily of faculty members and alumni of the University of the Philippines and the University of Santo Tomas, has been regularly issuing reports on the COVID-19 situation nationwide.Roque said the group does not have the same number of experts working with the Inter-agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).“I wish they would refrain from making these recommendations publicly,” he said.His statement came after the Octa team recommended to implement stricter lockdown measures in Bauan, Batangas; Calbayog, Western Samar; and General Trias, Cavite due to an increase in COVID-19 cases. These places were not being mentioned by the IATF......»»
Trump’s COVID response ‘greatest failure’ in presidential history: Harris
SALT LAKE CITY (AFP) — Senator Kamala Harris branded the response to the Covid-19 pandemic under Donald Trump as the “greatest failure” of any US administration, as the debate between her and Vice President Mike Pence opened on Wednesday. But Pence fired back by accusing Harris of undermining public confidence in a future coronavirus vaccine through […] The post Trump’s COVID response ‘greatest failure’ in presidential history: Harris appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
We don’t want gov’t to fail, because it’s all of us who will suffer and die — Robredo
MANILA, Philippines — Contrary to administration supporters’ mindset that opposition groups are out to undermine and destroy the government, Vice President Leni Robredo clarified that they do not want such a scenario because it would gravely affect the Filipinos. In another public address about the government’s COVID-19 response on Monday, Robredo explained that what […] The post We don’t want gov’t to fail, because it’s all of us who will suffer and die — Robredo appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Congress promises PSC funding for Tokyo Olympics
Lawmakers promised to heed the Philippine Sports Commission’s call for financial support for the Tokyo Olympics next year. Congressmen who are members of the Committee on Youth and Sports Development gave a positive response when the government’s sports arm lobbied for Tokyo 2021 budget in the House of Representatives. "Rest assured that we will do our part to get the funding for this Olympics. All hands are in. Dapat lahat tayo dito. This is the best chance we have," said committee head Rep. Eric Martinez. He added that they would discuss the matter with the Department of Budget and Management and schedule it the soonest time possible because the athletes "need that budget for the Olympics." PSC Chairman William 'Butch' Ramirez during the regular committee meeting on Wednesday bared the sports agency's need for its slashed funds to continue supporting the training and competitions of Tokyo Olympic Games qualifiers and hopefuls vying for slots. "We were one of those government offices who also contributed to the Bayanihan Act. The DBM deducted from us. Para sa amin malaking bagay 'yun kasi kasama doon 'yung Olympic budget namin. Hanggang ngayon po bakante 'yan. It's an opportunity for us to ask, we need your help," expressed Ramirez. After presenting the Olympic budget request of more than P182 Million for Tokyo-bound athletes and hopefuls made by Chef de Mission (CDM) Mariano Araneta to the PSC, the sports agency chief highlighted the push Congress can give to the country's Olympic dream. "Rep. Bambol Tolentino has initially supported ‘yung P180 million na allowances ng atleta which was approved by the bicam, and to be approved by the President. Thank you sa lahat ng congressman na sumuporta. Pero 'yung Olympic budget namin, we are hoping again for your support," said Ramirez. The PSC chief informed the body that "the Philippine Sports Commission is operating on the savings coming from PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation)" and that "when we talk about the elite athletes of the national team, the budget being used is the NSDF (National Sports Development Fund)” prompting PSC to lessen grassroots sports program related to local government units. "Dito kami naka-focus sa elite athletes. We still have some budget just enough for us to reach December," admitted Ramirez in his response to Committee Vice-Chair Jericho Nograles' inquiry on the PSC's funds. To aid in the government’s effort to address the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, P596 million from the National Sports Development Fund and another P773 million from the General Appropriations Act by the DBM was slashed from the PSC’s budget. Gymnast Caloy Yulo, pole vaulter EJ Obiena and boxers Irish Magno and Eumir Marcial already qualified for the Summer Games. Eighty-two more hopefuls are training to earn spots in the Tokyo Olympics. .....»»
OVP to wrap up 'BayanihanSugbuanon program on Aug 31
MANDAUE CITY, Cebu – The Office of the Vice President will already wrap up its #BayanihanSugbuanon, a COVID-19 response operations in Cebu province by the end of August. In an advisory that was posted on her official Facebook page Sunday night, August 23, Vice President Leni Robredo said that her office will now shift their […] The post OVP to wrap up #BayanihanSugbuanon program on Aug 31 appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
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......»»
Konkretong plano sa COVID-19 response, inilatag ni Robredo
Manila, Philippines – Kailangan ng Pilipinas ng aktibong mapabagal ang pagkalat ng COVID-19 sa bansa, sa halip na maghintay ng bakuna mula sa ibang bansa. Sa naging talumpati ni Vice President Leni Robredo, itinulak nito ang ilang hakbangin para makontrol ang pagkalat ng virus sa bansa gaya ng nakalap na kapani-paniwalang data at napapanahong contact […] The post Konkretong plano sa COVID-19 response, inilatag ni Robredo appeared first on REMATE ONLINE......»»
We’re doing something wrong, Robredo says on gov’t COVID-19 response
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo expressed alarm that something may be wrong with the government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis and hopes President Rodrigo Duterte would announce steps to correct the mistakes when he delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, July 27, 2020. “This is alarming because we […] The post We’re doing something wrong, Robredo says on gov’t COVID-19 response appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
VP Leni sends team to help Cebu against COVID-19
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Office of Vice President Leni Robredo has sent volunteers on Thursday, July 2, to Cebu to help address concerns related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak here. “Our team for #BayanihanSugbuanon leaves for Cebu today, where they will lead the OVP COVID-19 response operations,” said Robredo in a tweet. […] The post VP Leni sends team to help Cebu against COVID-19 appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
No need for Duque to take a leave but DOH must improve COVID-19 response — Robredo
Vice President Leni Robredo advised Duque to be more open to criticisms and encourage the private sector to join the country’s fight against COVID-19......»»