HOUSE OKs FREE ANNUAL CHECKUP BILL

MANILA - The House committee on health approved yesterday a bill seeking to

provide free annual medical checkup for Filipinos.

At a virtual hearing, the panel decided to pass a substitute bill for the

proposed Free Annual Medical Checkup Act authored by Anakalusugan party-list

Rep. Mike Defensor.

"The recently passed Universal Health Care law highlights the importance of

primary healthcare in promoting the health and wellness of the Filipino

people," Defensor said in sponsoring the measure.

"One of the aspects of primary healthcare is preventive care under which

medical checkups fall, including physical examinations and diagnostic

tests," he added.

Under the proposed measure, the government will provided free annual medical

checkup to all Filipinos covering diagnostic and laboratory tests for

complete blood count, urinalysis, stool analysis, chest x-ray and complete

physical exam.

The bill seeks to make every Filipino a member of the Philippine Health

Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to avail of the benefits.

PhilHealth will establish a system to ensure that each individual will have

access to free medical checkup within one calendar year.

The amount of service will also be charged against the total revenue of the

agency, composed of premium contributions from direct contributors and

government subsidies.

The bill will be submitted to plenary deliberations for approval of the

whole chamber.

ARTA ORDERS LGUS TO RELEASE TELCO PERMITS

MANILA - The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has ordered select local

government units (LGUs) to release permits for building cell sites,

applications for which have exceeded the seven-day processing period and

have completed requirements, in line with a presidential directive.

In a statement, ARTA said it sent compliance orders on Tuesday to Puerto

Princesa City and Rizal in Palawan; Miag-ao, Cabatuan, Estancia and Leon in

Iloilo; Kalibo in Aklan; Masbate City; Bulan in Sorsogon; Canaman in

Camarines Sur and San Jose in Occidental Mindoro to direct the LGUs to

release all license, clearance, permit, certification or authorization

applications for putting up telco towers, facilities, equipment and service

pending for more than seven days but have complete requirements.

ARTA issued the compliance orders as the LGUs were confirmed to have

received applications which have been fully paid and have the required

documents, based on the list of pending applications submitted by Smart

Communications Inc.

During a meeting held last week, ARTA required telco firms Smart and Globe

Telecom Inc. to submit a list of all their pending applications to the

agency.

More pending applications of Smart are being verified, while Globe has yet

to provide ARTA with its list.

AFTER ENTERING RECESSION, PHILIPPINES SET FOR RECORD COLLAPSE THIS YEAR

MANILA - The Philippines is poised to plunge to its deepest slump on record

this year as consumers remained too wary to go out and spend with the

coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic still beyond government

control, analysts said on Wednesday.

In an online briefing, economists at First Metro Investment Corp, an

investment house, and University of Asia and the Pacific projected gross

domestic product (GDP) to shrink between 8-9% year-on-year in 2020.

FILIPINOS ASSURED: FDA TO EVALUATE RUSSIAN VACCINE FIRST

The coronavirus vaccine developed by a Russian research institute will be

assessed once it reaches the Philippines, government officials assured the

public on Wednesday amid mounting skepticism about its safety and

effectiveness.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Tuesday that Moscow has developed

the first vaccine against the coronavirus dubbed "Sputnik V," raising

concerns about the speed of development of the vaccine.

SENATORS: POSTPONE AUGUST 24 OPENING

MANILA - Senators yesterday urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to

postpone the opening of classes on Aug. 24, as Metro Manila and nearby

provinces are still under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

With the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of

Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF), President Duterte reimposed MECQ in

Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal for another two weeks - from

Aug. 4 to 18 - following the surge of positive cases of COVID-19.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said no one can predict what will happen after Aug.

18, supposedly the end of MECQ as data of the DepEd showed that some 23

million students have enrolled in both public and private schools.

Gatchalian pointed out the need to ensure the safety of teachers and

non-teaching staff, aside from the learners, with the opening of classes

amid the pandemic.

"To be honest about it, I'm very compelled to recommend postponing the class

opening. If we don't address the welfare of our teachers and non-teaching

staff, because they're as important as all of these things that we are

talking about now, if you don't secure their health condition, if you don't

secure their condition, might as well postpone the class opening because

they might be put at risk," he said.

Sen. Francis Tolentino said the DepEd could move the scheduled opening of

classes from August to October or even later, citing that the new law,

Republic Act 11480, enables the agency to do so.

ROBREDO WANTS VIRUS TEST FOR TEACHERS, FUND REALIGNMENT FOR DISTANCE

LEARNING TOOLS

MANILA - Vice President Leni Robredo is urging the Department of Education

to conduct mass testing of teachers for COVID-19 as well as set aside funds

for the physical check-ups and medicines of teachers, their safety gear, and

hazard pay.

In the letter sent to Education Secretary Leonor Briones, Robredo suggested

a "COVID-19 mass testing mechanism specifically for teachers, with testing

and distribution of results done before classes begin."

Classes are set to open on Aug. 24, with the DepEd offering several options

for distance learning, including the use of printed and digital modules,

online classes, television, and radio.

Around 14 million households and 34,700 schools lack internet access. Only 7

million out of 20 million public school students have subscribed to DepEd

Commons, a platform where they could access lessons on their own, said

Robredo.

"Perhaps it would be prudent for government to devote significant resources

in setting up internet hubs in schools and communities, so that the gaps in

access are addressed," she said.

9 PHILHEALTH EXECS TO OPEN BANK ACCOUNTS TO AMLC

MANILA - Nine executives of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

(PhilHealth) yesterday acceded to a challenge by Deputy Speaker LRay

Villafuerte for them to sign a waiver that would help the Anti-Money

Laundering Council (AMLC) scrutinize their bank accounts.

Four officials who were physically present at the hearing - senior vice

presidents Renato Limsiaco Jr. and Jovita Aragona, SVP for health finance

policy Israel Paragas and SVP for actuarial services Nerissa Santiago -

agreed to have their bank deposits opened.

The five others gave their approval from remote locations through Zoom,

among them vice presidents Shirley Domingo, Oscar Abadu and Gilda Diaz;

corporate secretary Jonathan Mangaoang and vice president for Visayas Walter

Bacareza.

Villafuerte asked them one by one if they were willing to sign a waiver that

would allow the AMLC to check on their deposits amid the controversy

surrounding PhilHealth that runs to billions of pesos.

PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Ricardo Morales, however,

excused himself even before Villafuerte made the AMLC challenge.

Morales informed Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor, who chairs the public

accounts committee, that he was "not feeling well."

Senior vice president for legal affairs Rodolfo del Rosario signed out from

Zoom after his blood pressure reportedly shot up, while executive vice

president and chief operating officer Arnel de Jesus said he needed to

replace the battery of his pacemaker.

PHILHEALTH GAVE DAVAO REGION P566,793 PER COVID-19 PATIENT, FORMER LAWMAKER

SAYS

MANILA - A former party-list lawmaker on Friday called on Health Sec.

Francisco Duque III and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth)

President Ricardo Morales to explain the allegedly irregular allocation of

millions of pesos to some hospitals amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

This, after official data showed that the Southern Philippines Medical

Center (SPMC) in Davao City, President Rodrigo Duterte's hometown, had the

biggest share of interim reimbursement mechanism (IRM) funds among

Philippine hospitals, despite the fact that Metro Manila has the most number

of COVID-19 patients in the country.

Former Kabataan Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon cited the DOH's data as of

August 11 (Tuesday) and compared Metro Manila and Davao Region's coronavirus

cases and funding, showing doubtful discrepancies.

"NCR's (National Capital Region) total COVID cases stands at 76,870, and the

amount of PhilHealth COVID funding it received for COVID cases is P4.35

billion. Per capita, NCR received PhilHealth funding of P56,589 per COVID

patient," Ridon emphasized.

"Davao Region's total COVID cases stands at 1,572, and the amount it

received for COVID cases is P891 Million. Per capita, Davao Region received

PhilHealth funding of P566,793 per COVID patient."

"This is more than 10 times the per capita PhilHealth funding received by

NCR, the epicenter of the coronavirus crisis," he stressed.

Official data showed that the SPMC received P326 million worth of IRM funds,

which was followed by the Philippine General Hospital in Manila with P263.3

million. The PGH is one of the hospitals that are exclusive for coronavirus

patients in Metro Manila.

Another hospital in Davao, the Davao Regional Medical Center, also received

P209 million while the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, in

virus-hotspot Cebu City, got P204 million.

Officials of DOH and PhilHealth earlier said that IRM funds for hospitals

are based on past figures, amid allegations of corruption in the state

insurance firm.

Several private hospitals meanwhile have complained that they haven't been

receiving funds under the IRM.

"How PhilHealth made the decision to allocate scarce resources to a region

relatively unaffected by the coronavirus should be answered no less by DOH

Secretary Francisco Duque and PhilHealth President Ricardo Morales," Ridon

said.

DOLE ORDERS ALL WORKERS TO WEAR FACE SHIELDS

MANILA - Wearing of face shields on top of face masks will be mandatory in

workplaces starting on Saturday to pre- vent the spread of COVID-19, the

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said yesterday.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III issued the announcement on the sidelines

of a government event in Antipolo, Rizal, where he revealed the new

guideline agreed upon by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the

Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

"Based on a resolution of the IATF, not only would workers be required to

use face masks, but also face shields. That's the new protocol," Bello told

journalists.

He said employers should provide workers with face shields: "You only have

to buy it once and it doesn't cost that much."

Employees who have no face shields would be denied entry.

THE REST

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PUBLIC WARNED OF BUYING, SELLING LAKE SHORELAND AREAS

MANILA - The Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) has warned the public

against buying and selling of Laguna Lake shoreland areas, especially along

C6 Road.

The warning was made following reports of dealings of entities and

individuals representing themselves as developers of public lands along

Laguna de Bay.

Earlier this year, the LLDA issued a notice to the public against these

kinds of dealings after a certain group reportedly showcased the shoreland

areas of the lake along C6 Road for a project that included housing

facilities.

The dealings of the unscrupulous individuals or group had encouraged

individuals to pay substantial amounts, usually as membership or reservation

fee, for parcels of land along the lake.

"Under the law, the shoreland areas of Laguna Lake are public land which

form part of the lakebed. This is not for sale," LLDA general manager Jaime

Medina said.

Medina said any group or individual has no authority to sell or represent

themselves as developer of the shoreland areas.

DOJ PROBE INTO ECHANIS' CASE TO PROCEED AFTER PNP FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGES

VICTIM IDENTITY

MANILA - After the delay due to a supposed "confusion" on the victim's

identity, the Department of Justice task force investigating cause-oriented

killings will start looking into the murder of peasant activist Randall

Echanis, Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Thursday.

The task force under Administrative Order 35 covers summary killings on

account of advocacies. Due to this, the panel must first determine that the

victim is peasant activist Echanis, before it can proceed with the work. A

supposed confusion on the identity of the stabbing victim emerged, when

police insisted that the person is a certain "Manuel Santiago" based on an

ID they recovered, while the widow, Erlinda, had been asserting it was her

husband who was killed from day one.

"I understand that the [Philippine National Police] has released the body to

the Echanis family upon verifying that the deceased was indeed Randall

Echanis. In that case the [National Bureau of Investigation] need not do

another verification, and the DOJ/AO 35 special investigation team may

proceed to do its work," Guevarra told reporters.

Ahead of the DOJ-led probe, rights group Karapatan expressed cynicism on the

task force's work, citing its failure to make substantial progress in

resolving past killings of activists.

But Guevarra said they will forge on with their work. "The DOJ will just go

ahead and do what it is duty-bound to do," he said Tuesday.

"The DOJ's investigation, being their mandate, however, should ensure fair

and impartial proceedings, otherwise, it would be tokenistic efforts giving

false hopes to the family and colleagues of the murdered activist and peace

consultant," Anakpawis said.

Meanwhile, Echanis' family and colleagues are eyeing to take legal actions

against the police forces who forcibly took his body away from his grieving

widow, lawyer Jobert Pahilga said.

PILIPINAS SHELL TO SHUT BATANGAS REFINERY PERMANENTLY AS PANDEMIC BITES

MANILA - Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp on Thursday said it is shutting down

its Tabangao refinery permanently due to the impact of the COVID-19

pandemic.

The oil giant said this decision is seen to secure the "long-term

sustainability" of its business and thrive in the new normal and energy

transition.

"We have the technical capability and financial flexibility to manage and

adapt to disruptive conditions. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

on the global, regional and local economies, and the oil supply-demand

imbalance in the region, it is no longer economically viable for us to run

the refinery," said Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp president and CEO Cesar

Romero in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

Pilipinas Shell said it will be transforming the 110,000 barrel-per-day

Tabangao oil refinery facility into a world-class full import terminal "to

optimize its asset portfolio and enhance its cost and supply chain

competitiveness," it added.

HERE COMES GENER: STORM ENTERS PHILIPPINE AREA

MANILA - A tropical depression off the country's northern tip entered the

Philippine area of responsibility before dawn Thursday, the state weather

bureau said.

The weather disturbance was northeast of extreme northern Luzon at 4 a.m.

and was named Gener, said PAGASA.

Gener might weaken into a low pressure area, said PAGASA weather specialist

Ezra Bulquerin.

PAGASA said it would issue severe weather bulletins starting 11 a.m.

The weather bureau earlier said an inter-tropical convergence zone or band

of clouds would bring cloudy skies and scattered rains over Visayas,

Mindanao, Bicol and Mimaropa.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will experience localized thunderstorms,

added PAGASA.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

'SIYA NA NABANGGA, SIYA PA NAGBIGAY': DANIEL PADILLA'S QC ROAD MISHAP WITH

TRICYCLE GOES VIRAL, FOR HEARTWARMING REASON

MANILA - (UPDATED) Viral videos of screen superstar Daniel Padilla figuring

in a road mishap went viral on social media Wednesday afternoon, fortunately

not for any gruesome detail or oft-seen outburst that make the news.

In this case, the reason was heartwarming, as several witnesses say the

Kapamilya actor handed monetary aid to the other driver involved.

The incident happened in Fairview, Quezon City, according to the now-viral

clips uploaded on Facebook by Jessica De Vera Tamayo and Reynaldo Duron.

The videos show Padilla speaking with a tricycle driver, with the position

of the vehicles indicating that the tricycle had hit the rear bumper of the

actor's sports car.

None of those involved appeared hurt.

"Si Daniel na nabunggo siya pa nagbigay kay manong," witness Tamayo wrote.

"Bait talaga."

Duron's post was similarly captioned: "Sobrang bait ni Daniel Padilla. Siya

na nabangga, siya pa nagbayad sa tricycle."

A video showing a different view of the incident also went viral on Twitter.

Its uploader, Jay-ar Bagamano, described Padilla as a "good samaritan" as he

shared the same account of the mishap.

Padilla has yet to make a statement about the incident, but his mother, TV

host Karla Estrada, assured his fans that he is well. The damage to the car,

she added, was only a minor scratch.

"Guys, okay si DJ," Estrada tweeted a few hours later. "Kaunting gasgas lang

sa sasakyan. At siyempre, everybody happy! No problem! Tuloy ang buhay!"

SPORTS

NBA: THUNDER OVERCOMES 22-POINT DEFICIT TO SHOCK HEAT

The Oklahoma City Thunder fell behind by 22 points but got two clutch

three-pointers from Mike Muscala to stun the Miami Heat, 116-115, in their

penultimate seeding game on Wednesday in Orlando (US time).

Miami led, 104-82, early in the fourth quarter, but the Thunder defense

limited them to 11 points in the final 10 minutes of the contest to seize

the come-from-behind victory.

Muscala's triple with 35 seconds to go tied the game at 113, and after

Solomon Hill gave the Heat back the lead with a layup, Muscala fired up the

game-winner with just 5.2 seconds left.

Tyler Herro misfired on his final attempt that could have given Miami the

win.

Muscala's triples in the clutch were his only points of the game. Darius

Bazley led the Thunder with 21 points off the bench.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 18 points, and Danilo Gallinari added 14

markers, making all 10 of his free throws.

Herro finished with 30 points, while Duncan Robinson had 19. Jimmy Butler (7

points,, 5 rebounds) and Bam Adebayo (6 points, 4 assists) played just 16

minutes each.

With the victory, the Thunder secured the fifth seed in the Western

Conference, setting them up for a first-round playoff match-up with the

Houston Rockets.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 48.94

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Facts are too busy being true to worry about how you feel about them. - Dan

Wells