VFA FULLY RESTORED AFTER DUTERTE MEETING WITH PENTAGON CHIEF — LORENZANA

MANILA— President Rodrigo Duterte decided to recall his termination of the decades-old Visiting Forces Agreement following his meeting with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Thursday night, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said.

Lorenzana made the announcement in a joint press briefing with Austin held Friday.

"On behalf of the US, let me thank President Duterte for his decision to fully restore the Visiting Forces Agreement," US Defense Secretary Austin said.

The abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement was announced in February 2020.  Among Duterte's reasons for scrapping the military agreement was Sen. Ronald dela Rosa's claim that his US Visa had been cancelled. The alleged visa revocation was said to be over the former national police chief's involvement in the "war on drugs" that the US has raised human rights concerns about.

The termination, however, was suspended for three six-month periods since then.

Duterte has often lashed out at the US, a longtime ally and former colonizer of the Philippines, saying during public addresses that the country must "pay" to keep the VFA in full force.

The president also touts an "independent foreign policy" that has been marked in large part by a pivot to China.

Despite this seeming shift in relations, however, US military ties with the Philippines have remained mostly unchanged.

NCR UNDER ECQ FROM AUG. 6-20 TO CURB COVID-19 DELTA VARIANT SPREAD: PALACE

MANILA — Some 13 million residents of Metro Manila will be placed under the strictest of four lockdown levels, the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), from Aug. 6 to 20 to arrest the spread of the highly transmissible COVID-19 Delta variant, Malacañang said on Friday.

President Rodrigo Duterte approved the decision after "hours" of debate among authorities, said Palace spokesman Harry Roque.

"Masakit na desisyon po natin ito dahil alam nating mahirap ang ECQ, pero kinakailangan gawin po ito para maiwasan ang kakulangan ng ating mga ICU beds at iba pang hospital requirements kung lolobo po talaga ang kaso dahil sa Delta variant," Roque said on the government television network.

"Sa huli, ang iinisip ng lahat ay kailangan gawin ang mahirap na desisyon na ito para mas maraming buhay ang maligtas," added the official.

'HEIGHTENED, ADDITIONAL' CURBS FOR NOW

In the meantime, Metro Manila will be under under General Community Quarantine "subject to heightened and additional restrictions" from July 30 until Aug. 5, Roque said.

These restrictions include a ban on indoor dine-in services and al fresco dining starting Saturday. Only take-out and delivery will be allowed, he said.

OPERATIONS IN THESE ESTABLISHMENTS WILL BE ALLOWED UNTIL THIS FRIDAY NIGHT, SAID ROQUE.

On the other hand, he said personal care services, such as beauty salons, beauty parlors, barber shops and nail spas may operate up to 30 percent of venue or seating capacity.

Indoor sports courts and venues and indoor tourist attractions and specialized markets of the Department of Tourism may not operate. Outdoor tourist attractions, as may be defined by the DOT, shall remain to be allowed at 30-percent venue capacity, Roque said.

Only "authorized persons outside their residences" shall be allowed to travel into and out of the NCR Plus Area, which includes Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna, and Rizal, said Roque.

Only virtual religious gatherings shall be allowed, Roque said.

"Ibig sabihin, lahat po ng mass gatherings, bawal po muna," he said.

Necrological services, wakes, and funerals for those who died of cause other than COVID-19 will be allowed and limited to immediate family members.

PHILIPPINES EXTENDS BAN ON TRAVELERS FROM 10 COUNTRIES UNTIL AUGUST 15

MANILA— The Philippines has extended restrictions on travelers coming from 10 countries until August 15 to control the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. announced Friday that President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the recommendation of the government’s pandemic task force to extend the ban currently imposed on inbound travelers from the following countries:

India

Pakistan

Nepal

Sri Lanka

Bangladesh

Oman

United Arab Emirates

Indonesia

Malaysia

Thailand

The ban, which was set to expire on July 15, was implemented to prevent further domestic transmission of the Delta variant, which is driving spikes in cases in other Southeast Asian nations.

Health authorities have so far detected 216 Delta variant cases in the country.

VACCINE DEMAND MAY BE MET ONLY IN OCTOBER – GALVEZ

MANILA— The demand for COVID-19 jabs may be met only in October, the country’s vaccine czar said, as he cited the need to secure 25 million doses per month to expand the government’s inoculation drive.

During a meeting of the government’s pandemic task force last Wednesday, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. admitted that while the volume of vaccine deliveries is large, the supply would be inadequate if the inoculation is opened to the A1 to A5 groups.

The priority sectors of the vaccination drive are health workers, their immediate families, and outbound overseas Filipino workers (A1); senior citizens (A2); people with health risks or comorbidities (A3); economic frontliners (A4), and the indigent population (A5).

“Our gap is still huge. We have a gap of 42.6 million, the gap between supply and demand. And we are expecting to meet the demand in October,” Galvez pointed out.

“Based on our reference model, we can see that we really lack supply for now so the recommendation of the DOH (Department of Health) and the National Task Force (against COVID-19) is to concentrate on the A1, A2 and A3 so we can have that symbolism, what we call the population protection for those in the vulnerable sector,” he added.

He said the government should acquire 25 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines per month to expand its vaccination program.

“We have to raise the 16 million (doses) expectation. Sir, we have to make it 25 (million). If we combine the targeted population, more or less we have 59,929,000. And then the projected eligible population is 70 million,” he added.

HIGHER FOOD, FUEL PRICES LIKELY DROVE UP INFLATION IN JULY

MANILA— Higher fuel and food prices, compounded by a surge in power rates and a weak currency, likely stoked inflation in July, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said.

In a statement on Friday, the BSP said it expects inflation to settle between 3.9-4.7% in July. If the upper-end of the forecast range is realized, it would be faster than 4.1% annual reading recorded in June and would settle above the central bank’s 2-4% annual target.

State statisticians will report the official July inflation data on August 5.

HOUSE PASSES BILLS CREATING VIROLOGY INSTITUTE, DISEASE CONTROL CENTER

MANILA— The House of Representatives has again delivered swiftly on the legislative agenda of the Duterte administration.

Just two days after Duterte’s State of the Nation Address, the lower chamber has passed two of the remaining priority measures laid down by the President.

In session last Wednesday afternoon, the House under Speaker Lord Allan Velasco approved on third and final reading the bills creating a virology institute and a center for disease prevention.

Congressmen unanimously passed House Bill 9599 or the proposed Virology Institute of the Philippines (VIP) Act via a vote of 198-0 with no abstention.

The measure aims to create the VIP as a venue for scientists, research institutes and other groups in the country and abroad for collaborative studies on viruses.

The institute would be an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology while its offices, research facilities and laboratories would be located at the New Clark Economic Zone in Tarlac.

SECOND BATCH NG DISTRESSED OVERSEAS FILIPINOS MULA LEBANON, NAKAUWI NA

BEIRUT – Nakauwi na sa Pilipinas ang pangalawang batch ng distressed Overseas Filipinos mula Lebanon noong July 25, 2021 sa libreng mass repatriation na inorganisa ng Philippine Embassy sa Beirut.

Sa 12 repatriates, anim sa kanila ay runaways na pansamantalang kinupkop sa embassy shelter, dalawang detainees at dalawang menor de edad.

Lahat sila ay undocumented at mga biktima ng illegal recruitment at human trafficking. Bagama’t naging masalimuot ang kanilang pinagdaanang proseso para makauwi, nagawan pa rin ng paraan ng embahada ang kanilang exit clearance.

Binigyan din sila ng welfare, legal at immigration assistance ng embahada. Tumulong naman ang Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) sa quarantine accommodation ng grupo paglapag nila sa Maynila.

Bibigyan din sila ng pamasahe pauwi sa kani-kanilang mga probinsya matapos ang kanilang quarantine.

USAID, PRIVATE SECTOR LAUNCH WATER CHALLENGE

MANILA— The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has linked up with the private sector in the Philippines to launch the first-ever platform and annual competition that aims to identify water and sanitation solutions in the country.

USAID partnered with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), Maynilad and Manila Water to launch the inaugural Philippine Water Challenge (PhlWC).

The PhlWC will be an annual competition that aims to identify innovative solutions that benefit both water service providers and users, identify community demonstration projects, and promote cross-sectoral collaboration to address water and sanitation challenges.

Registration for applicants is now open via pdrf.org/philippinewaterchallenge until Sept. 30.

“USAID is proud to join the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, Maynilad Water Services Inc. and the Manila Water Company as we continue working toward our shared goal of providing a water-secure future for all Filipinos,” said USAID Philippines acting mission director Sean Callahan.

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MANILA PREPARING FOR HARD LOCKDOWN

MANILA— The Manila city government is preparing for a possible hard lockdown amid the threat of the Delta variant of COVID-19, Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna said yesterday.

Lacuna said Mayor Isko Moreno met with city hall officials and hospital directors on Wednesday to prepare for a probable surge in Delta variant cases.

In an interview on dzMM, Lacuna said Moreno issued a memorandum directing barangay authorities to prepare for enhanced community quarantine in the National Capital Region.

In a July 28 memorandum, the Manila barangay bureau ordered local officials to prepare the issuance of quarantine passes.

“The memo is just for a possible lockdown. The mayor’s instruction was for the city government to always be ready,” Lacuna said.

There were 651 active COVID cases in Manila as of yesterday, up from 642 cases.

The city government is preparing for a lockdown after the Metro Manila Council expressed readiness to enforce a two-week stricter community quarantine as long as financial assistance is provided to affected residents.

GO PUSHES FOR CREATION OF OFW DEPARTMENT

MANILA— Giving overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) the best possible government service is why the creation of a department devoted to their welfare is necessary, Sen. Bong Go said yesterday.

Go said this is the goal President Duterte wishes to achieve as he continues to look after the welfare of OFWs and their families, especially in these challenging times.

In his final State of the Nation Address last Monday, Duterte expressed his concern for millions of Filipino migrant workers greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in joblessness and repatriation.

The President then highlighted the significance of the bill proposed by Go that would create a Department of Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos in addressing these challenges.

“That is long overdue. President Duterte’s term is coming to an end. He has promised that for a long time,” said Go. “They are our modern-day heroes and they don’t have their own department yet.”

COVID CASES: APAYAO TAGGED AS HIGH-RISK, ABRA, KALINGA, BAGUIO AT MODERATE RISK

MANILA - The Department of Health is monitoring 4 places in the Cordillera Administrative Region due to an increase in COVID-19 infections.

Dr. Amelita Pangilinan, assistant regional director of DOH-CAR, said Apayao province had been identified as "high risk" for the spread of coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the provinces of Abra and Kalinga, and Baguio City are currently at "moderate risk" for COVID-19, she added.

The DOH classification is based on an area's average daily attack rate (ADAR) and 2-week growth rate.

From July 15 to 28, Apayao has recorded 344 COVID-19 cases, an increase of 138 from 206 cases it logged from July 1 to 14, figures from DOH show.

COVID-19 cases in Baguio City decreased to 630 in the past 2 weeks but its ADAR was at 12 percent. It had 792 coronavirus cases from July 1 to 14.

For Abra and Kalinga, both provinces reported growth in cases with 2 and 75 new infections, respectively.

As of Thursday, the region has tallied 43,452 cases, of which over 41,300 have recovered while 810 have died from the disease. It currently has 1,332 active cases.

Baguio City had the most infections at 15,505, followed by Benguet with 9,936 and Kalinga with 5,017.

412 PAMILYA INILIKAS DAHIL SA MATINDING BAHA SA PILAR, BATAAN

MAYNILA - Umabot sa 412 pamilya ang kasalukuyang nasa evacuation centers sa bayan ng Pilar sa Bataan na isa sa mga lugar na binaha dala ng epekto ng habagat.

“Lahat ng mga residente na nasa gilid ng Talisay River ang naapektuhan nitong habagat. Maraming pamilya ang kasalukuyan pa ring nasa evacuation centers na ating tinutulungan. Nasa 412 na pamilya ang nasa evacuation centers sa bayan ng Pilar,” sabi ni Mayor Charilie Pizarro.

51 SONA COPS CATCH COVID-19

MANILA— Fifty-one of the 82 members of the Talipapa police station in Quezon City who tested positive for COVID-19 were part of the security contingent deployed during President Duterte’s final State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

Brig. Gen. Antonio Yarra, director of the Quezon City Police District, said the 51 were among the 118 QCPD Station 3 personnel who underwent swab tests on July 23, three days before Duterte’s SONA.

“Fifty-one of them tested positive but take note, the test was made on July 23,” Yarra said at a press briefing at the QCPD headquarters at Camp Karingal.

Station 3 has 184 personnel, 162 of whom were swabbed for COVID-19.

Yarra said they received the results that the police officers were positive for the virus only on Tuesday and yesterday. It means the 51 were already infected when they were deployed during the SONA while waiting for the results of their swab tests.

When asked if the specimens taken from the police officers were already positive for the virus prior to their deployment, Yarra replied, “Lumalabas yes, pero hindi natin ma-conclude yan because we know for a fact that ‘yung transmission can be evident after five days of close contact.”

Yarra did not explain why they deployed for SONA duty police officers who were still waiting for the results of their swab tests.

He pointed out that the infected police officers are asymptomatic and have been fully vaccinated.

“If police officers are part of the regular testing and they have no symptoms of the virus, they are allowed to render duty,” Philippine National Police deputy chief for administration Lt. Gen. Joselito Vera Cruz, who heads the PNP’s Administrative Support for COVID-19 Task Force, said.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

DANIEL PADILLA CONFIRMS SERIES, MOVIE WITH KATHRYN BERNARDO IN THE WORKS

MANILA—Daniel Padilla confirmed Thursday that his series with his reel and real-life partner Kathryn Bernardo is pushing through, and revealed that a film co-starring them is also in the works.

The screen superstar spoke about his upcoming projects in a livestreamed interview with Boy Abunda, which served as the first episode of the host’s “The Purple Chair” series on YouTube.

“Serye muna kami,” Padilla said, when asked what’s next for him and Bernardo. “May meeting kami very soon for a movie.”

The series was first teased in December 2020, through an omnibus trailer of upcoming ABS-CBN titles, with the line, “Kaya mo bang ipaglaban ang inyong pag-ibig kung galing kayo sa magkaibang panahon?”

The new film has yet to be officially announced.

“The last movie na dapat gagawin namin ni Kathryn, hindi natuloy,” Padilla recalled. “Biglang nagka-pandemic, bawal nang bumiyahe. The story was based para talaga sa America. Kung hindi mo siya gagawin doon, hindi puwede.”

Padilla was referring to the San Francisco-set “After Forever,” which was announced in February 2020 with Cathy Garcia-Molina as director.

Padilla and Bernardo’s last film together was “The Hows of Us” in 2018. Their most recent series was “The House Arrest of Us,” which spanned 13 episodes and concluded in January 2021.

Ahead of the new titles starring “KathNiel,” a film starring Padilla with Charo Santos-Concio and newcomer Rans Rifol, “Kun Maupay Man It Panahon,” is set to premiere this year.

Directed by Carlo Francisco Manatad, the film with the international title “Whether the Weather is Fine” will make its world premiere as a competing entry at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland on August 4. It will then premiere in North America via the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9.

SPORTS

MARCIAL PULLS OFF ROUSING OLYMPIC DEBUT WITH STOPPAGE WIN OVER ALGERIAN FOE

MANILA— Eumir Marcial made light work of his first opponent in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, fashioning out a referee-stopped contest at the Kokugikan Arena on Thursday.

The last of the Filipino boxers to debut in Tokyo, Marcial took a first-round victory over Algeria's Younes Nemouchi in the Men's Middleweight Round of 16.

Marcial nipped the Algerian early in the bout and even knocked his opponent down.

A cut above the eye of Nemouchi turned out to be a hindrance and caused two stoppages in the fight.

With 19 seconds left in the opening round, referee Simon Radoslav halted the bout due to Nemouchi's injury.

Marcial thus moves one win away from a medal in Tokyo with a quarterfinals matchup against Armenia's Arman Darchinyan.

If Marcial wins against Darchinyan on August 1, he joins Nesthy Petecio as those already assured of a podium finish.

The Filipino pug drew a bye in the Round of 32 and thus only saw action today.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 50.30

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Be scared. You can’t help that. But don’t be afraid. --William Faulkner