ASTRAZENECA, JANSSEN NEARING INITIAL CLEARANCE BY PH COVID-19 VACCINE EXPERT

PANEL

MANILA - The vaccine expert panel of the Philippines on Friday said that two

vaccine developers might soon be given initial clearance for their proposed

clinical trials in the country.

Dr. Nina Gloriani, University of the Philippines College of Public Health

professor and head of the Department of Science and Technology's vaccine

technical panel, said they are just waiting for the response of

pharmaceutical firms AstraZeneca and Janssen to their follow-up questions.

Once they are satisfied with the answers, their application may then be

forwarded to the ethics review board. Once cleared by the board, they can

undergo final evaluation by the Food and Drug Administration.

"We just have a few more comments. If they respond to that we should be

granting technical clearance," Gloriani said of AstraZeneca, which recently

received regulatory approval in the United Kingdom.

The Philippine private sector also recently signed a supply deal with the

British vaccine manufacturer if it passes local regulations.

She said while the company was the last to submit, it was able to

immediately send its documents including the required technical dossier.

As for Janssen, which is under Johnson & Johnson, Gloriani said they had to

defer action while waiting for their response. The company finally replied

on December 2.

She said the vaccine expert panel will have to meet again and discuss the

response.

"If we are satisfied with their responses we will actually approve technical

clearance," she said.

Currently, only Chinese companies Sinovac and Clover Biopharmaceuticals have

passed the vaccine expert panel.

NLEX THREATENED WITH SUSPENSION OVER 'ATROCIOUS TRAFFIC' DUE TO RFID

IMPLEMENTATION

MANILA - Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian is threatening to suspend the

business permit of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corp. over the heavy

traffic caused by the implementation of the RFID toll system.

In a strongly worded letter to NLEX chief operating officer Raul Ignacio on

Friday, Gatchalian gave the tollway until Monday to explain why its business

permit should not be suspended over its "miserable failure" to comply with

its obligations which has caused "chaos" and "atrocious traffic" in the

city.

Gatchalian is also giving NLEX until Saturday to present an action plan to

solve the RFID mess.

The local chief executive is largely placing the blame on NLEX's "primitive

sensors" for the traffic jams that have plagued the tollway since it shifted

to a purely cashless system.

He said he has raised this with the tollway seven years ago, but the problem

still persists until today.

"Until you get your act together and perfect your existing tollway system,

the city government may withdraw as your partner in your future planned

expansions in our jurisdiction," he said.

BIOTERRORISM PREPAREDNESS BILLS FILED

MANILA - Measures seeking to prepare the nation for bioterrorism threats

have been filed in the House of Representatives.

Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero recently filed a bill seeking to establish a

biosecurity program for the protection and safety of Filipinos against

biological and nuclear threats. National defense committee vice chairman

Ruffy Biazon, for his part, filed another bill seeking to establish the

National Health Security Council (NHSC) that would handle threats of

biological terrorist attacks.

In his House Bill 4458, Romero proposed the establishment of an integrated

chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear (CBRN) resiliency program to

prevent, control, respond and manage the risk and impact of the global

nuclear and biological warfare on the country.

"The threat of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear materials and

weapons is a global challenge. The Philippines, an archipelagic country with

the vast coastline and porous borders, is vulnerable to different threats or

risks to its population," Romero said in the explanatory note of his bill.

"If these materials are used malevolently, or if the laboratories or

facilities containing these CBRN materials have not followed safety and

security protocols, the probabilities of exposing the Filipinos and the

environment to grave threats and risks are increased," the 1-Pacman

party-list representative stressed.

The measure will establish a CBRN Authority under the Department of the

Interior and Local Government that will take the lead in the formulation of

policies, developing programs and strategies, and promulgate the guidelines

to be implemented to further protect Filipinos against CBRN materials.

DAMAGE WROUGHT BY 'ULYSSES' ON AGRI, INFRA NOW OVER P19 BILLION - NDRRMC

MANILA - The destruction left by Typhoon Ulysses in its wake is now

estimated to have cost over P19 billion in agriculture and infrastructure,

latest data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council

showed.

The NDRRMC's 24th situation report on the typhoon showed latest estimates as

of 8 a.m., Friday.

Based on the report, the damage to infrastructure across the country is now

priced at P12.01 billion.

Cagayan Valley leads the NDRRMC's regional breakdown with P4.91 billion in

infrastructure losses.

With less than half of Region II's losses, Calabarzon comes in at a far

second with P2.34 billion. Bicol and Central Luzon trail close behind with

P1.98 billion and P1.87 billion in infrastructure damage, respectively.

Meanwhile, the NDRRMC said the estimated cost of damages on agriculture is

currently at 7.25 billion.

Cagayan Valley took the hardest hit, incurring P2.12 billion in agricultural

losses.

The region is trailed by Central Luzon which lost 1.37 billion, followed by

Calabarzon with 1.26 billion.

"A total of 73 dead, 85 injured and 19 missing persons were reported in

Regions II, III, CALABARZON, V, CAR, and NCR," NDRRMC's report read.

DOJ WARNS PUBLIC VS 'LOVE AND CARGO' SCAM

MANILA - The Department of Justice (DOJ) warned the public yesterday to

watch out for the so-called Love and Cargo scam, which is expected to spike

this Christmas season.

In an infomercial on Facebook, the DOJ's Office of Cybercrime warned that

there are unscrupulous individuals who would deceive people during the

holidays through various schemes, including the Love and Cargo scam.

"It is important to make time in apprising yourself of the current trends

and threats so you can avoid being victimized by cyber-criminals. let us

make Christmas as much opening our presents as opening our minds to the

dangers of the cyber domain," the DOJ said.

The DOJ explained that the Love and Cargo Scam comes in different forms, but

often involves efforts of the perpetrators to trick their victims into

spending money by showing fake affection and gaining trust.

The DOJ said the perpetrators will befriend their victims either through

online dating or social media applications and constantly chat with them

until they establish a romantic relationship.

Upon getting into a serious relationship, the perpetrator would allegedly

send overseas packages to their potential victims and convince them to pay

the necessary customs duties and fees through the bank account provided by a

bogus courier service representative.

But the package will never arrive.

In case they encountered a scheme similar to Love and Cargo, the DOJ

reminded the public to be vigilant when engaging with unidentified people on

the internet.

DISTANCING VIOLATORS TO GET TASTE OF 'YANTOK'

MANILA - Police officers will use rattan sticks, or yantok, to make

hardheaded individuals follow physical distancing and other health and

safety protocols in public.

Lt. Gen. Cesar Binag, Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy chief for

operations, said yesterday policemen acting as social distancing patrollers

will use rattan sticks in enforcing quarantine protocols during the Yuletide

season.

"They will have a rattan stick - one meter length. It's for stopping

(violators) and as a measure device, and would be used to hit hardheaded

individuals," he said in Filipino at a Laging Handa press briefing.

The PNP has increased the number of police personnel at public markets,

seaports, airports, malls, transportation hubs and other places of

convergence.

Officials observed that more people have gone out of their homes since the

Christmas season started, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

From approximately 74,000, the number of security forces deployed by the

government is now at 96,711.

Binag, who heads Joint Task Force COVID Shield, said more than 700,000

quarantine violators have been either warned, fined or charged since

lockdown measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 were imposed last March.

Police commanders were also instructed to coordinate with mall managers and

church representatives in ensuring the 30 percent capacity limit in their

establishments is met.

PACQUIAO ELECTED PDP-LABAN PRESIDENT

MANILA - Sen. Manny Pacquiao took the helm of PDP-Laban as acting president

as he vowed to further harness the political party's power and influence to

fight corruption and address poverty in the country.

Pacquiao and Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, who was designated as executive

vice president, took their oaths before former PDP-Laban president Aquilino

Pimentel III during a "hybrid" fellowship night at Las Casas Filipinas de

Acuzar.

Pimentel expressed confidence that the PDP-Laban, through Pacquiao, will

continue to be the dominant party even after 2022. Velasco replaced Pampanga

Rep. Aurelio Gonzales. Pimentel is now the party's executive vice chairman

and will work closely with PDP-Laban chairman President Duterte, Pacquiao

and Velasco.

THE REST

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PH TALLIES 934 MORE CASES OF COVID-19, LOWEST SINGLE-DAY RECORD SINCE JULY

MANILA - The tally of additional COVID-19 cases in the Philippines on Friday

reached its lowest level since July, with under 1,000 new cases recorded.

The Department of Health reported 934 additional cases on Friday, the lowest

since 603 cases were announced on July 14. After mid-July, the daily tally

had been more than 1,000 except for the 983 cases on November 4.

The new cases bring the total number of infections in the Philippines to

436,345.

However, the tally does not include data from 11 laboratories that failed to

submit results on time.

Topping the list of areas with the most number of new cases are Quezon City

with 75, Laguna with 59, and Baguio City, Bulacan and Davao City with 34

each.

The DOH also logged 63 additional coronavirus-related deaths or a total of

8,509 fatalities.

'PASKUHAN SA MAYNILA' BAZAAR BINUKSAN PARA SA MGA NEGOSYONG APEKTADO NG

PANDEMYA

MAYNILA - Ngayong naapektuhan ng pandemya ang maraming maliliit na negosyo,

nagbukas ng isang bazaar ang lokal na pamahalaan ng Maynila sa Mehan Garden

para makabangon mula sa mga limitadong operasyon na idinulot ng pandemic

lockdowns.

Tampok sa "Paskuhan sa Maynila" ang iba't ibang tindahan ng damit, gadget

maging ng mga pagkain. Ayon kay Levi Facundo ng Manila City Bureau of

Permits, layon nitong tulungan ang mga negosyong pinadapa ng pandemya.

Makikita rin dito ang ilang Christmas delicacies gaya ng ham, bibingka, at

puto bumbong.

Narito rin ang "Minda Tienda" kung saan makikita ang ilang pagkain at

produktong tampok sa Mindanao gaya ng durian.

Mayroon ding mga live performance na haharana sa mga bibisita sa "Paskuhan

sa Maynila"

Ayon kay Facundo, may mga health protocol na sinusunod sa lugar.

"Magkakalayo ang booths and stalls ang alam nating malalakas na pinupuntahan

ng tao strategically located po ito," aniya sa programang "Winner sa Life"

sa Teleradyo.

May mga nakaantabay din aniyang medical team at mga pulis para matiyak ang

kaligtasan ng mga bibisita.

Bukas ang "Paskuhan sa Maynila" mula Disyembre 1 hanggang Enero 2, mula

alas-4 ng hapon hanggang alas-11 ng madaling araw.

KARAPATAN FILES RAPS VS ANTI-COMMUNIST TASK FORCE

MANILA - A group of rights advocates yesterday filed criminal and

administrative charges against officials of the National Task Force to End

Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) led by its head, National

Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr.

In a complaint-affidavit filed before the Office of the Ombudsman, Karapatan

alleged that Esperon has repeatedly and persistently tagged the group as

well as its officials and members as supporters of the Communist Party of

the Philippines-New People's Army.

Charged along with Esperon were Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., Armed Forces

of the Philippines (AFP) Southern Luzon Command chief; Lorraine Marie Badoy,

Presidential Communications Operations Office undersecretary for new media

and external affairs; and Margaux "Mocha" Uson, an Overseas Workers Welfare

Administration undersecretary.

Karapatan secretary-general Cristina Palabay said the four should be held

criminally and administratively liable for acts that malign, vilify and

baselessly red-tag her and the group's officers and members.

According to her, the red-tagging of activists and progressive groups led to

the killings of human rights defenders, enforced disappearances, illegal

arrests and detention, torture, criminalization of their jobs and advocacies

and other defilements of their civil and political rights.

AMIHAN TO DAMPEN PARTS OF LUZON; FORECAST MODELS SHOW POSSIBILITY OF NEW

STORM

MANILA - The northeast monsoon or amihan will dampen parts of Luzon

Saturday, weather bureau PAGASA said.

In its 5 a.m. update, Weather Specialist Benison Estareja said Amihan is

prevailing in northern and central Luzon.

"Ito ang nagdadala ng bahagyang malamig na temperatura ruon lalo na sa

madaling araw," Estareja said.

Northern Luzon, including Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain

Province and Ilocos Norte will experience cloudy skies with light to

moderate rains due to amihan which may possibly cause flooding and

landslides.

Estareja said three cloud clusters were also observed west of Palawan, east

of Northern Luzon and at the boundar line east of Visayas.

"Base sa analysis, wala sa mga ito ang magiging bagyo pero may posibilidad

na isa o dalawa ay maging isang low pressure area na siyang magdadala ng

pag-ulan sa ilang bahagi ng Bicol region, Eastern Visayas at eastern

Mindanao," he said.

Estareja said trough or the outer portion of the cloud clusters may bring

rains over to some parts of Palawan.

Metro Manila, Southern Luzon, Bicol Region, Calabarzon, Mimaropa will

experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with a chance of thunderstorm due

to the cloud clusters.

PAGASA said gale warning with waves as high as 6 meters or equivalent to a 2

storey building is up over some parts of Luzon including the seaboards of

Batanes, Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos

Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataaan, and Kalayaan Islands.

Meanwhile, forecast runs from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather

Forecasts (ECMWF) and the Global Forecast System of the US showed that a

weather disturbance could possibly develop on Thursday, Dec. 10.

"In the coming days, maaaring magkaroon ng susunod na bagyo at tatawagin

itong Vicky," he said.

However, Estareja clarified that these are just based on forecast models and

that they have yet to see cloud clusters associated with this pre-Vicky.

He added that forecast models are constantly changing.

He urged the public to continue to monitor PAGASA for weather updates.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

ARJO ATAYDE WINS BEST ACTOR AT 2020 ASIAN ACADEMY CREATIVE AWARDS FOR

'BAGMAN'

MANILA - Arjo Atayde won best actor at the 3rd Asian Academy Creative Awards

on Friday for his role in "Bagman."

Representing the Philippines, Atayde, 30, won for his performance as a

barber who is entangled in the dangerous world of politics in the iWant and

Dreamscape series.

He beat out nominees from several Asian countries, including South Korea,

home to best drama series winner "Crash Landing on You," and Singapore,

where the awards show is based.

"Even before I first stepped foot into this industry, my goal has always

been to represent our country in any way I can," said Atayde in an Instagram

post, prior to being announced as the winner. "Nine years into my work in

this industry, I was finally given the chance."

Atayde entered the pool of nominees after he was named the national winner

from the Philippines. He is the only winner from the country in the main

competition.

Asian Academy Creative Awards, now on its third year, aims to recognize

"creative excellence" in production from among the 16 countries

participating. It is part of the Singapore Media Festival.

SPORTS

PBA: TROPANG GIGA BLOW OUT GINEBRA FOR BREAKTHROUGH WIN; PH CUP FINALS AT

2-1

SMART CLARK GIGA CITY - Signal strength restored.

Keeping up the fire for the entire 48 minutes, the TNT Tropang Giga secured

a pivotal 88-67 romp over Barangay Ginebra to make it a 2-1 affair in the

PBA Philippine Cup finals last night.

Back-against-the-wall TNT seized control with a telling 23-8 exchange in the

second quarter and sustained the charge all the way home to finally break

through in the race-to-four series at the AUF Sports Arena Powered by Smart

5G.

As opposed to what transpired in their first two losses, the Tropang Giga

held strong in the face of the familiar Ginebra fightback and unleashed

their own finishing kick to pull through and revive their bid for the crown

jewel.

"We played with a sense of urgency because we're down 0-2 and we didn't want

to go to a 0-3 hole, which is so difficult to recover from," said TNT

forward Troy Rosario, who got over a personal slump and posted 15 points and

two blocks in the crucial win.

Rosario joined a pack of heroes for the defensive-minded TNT, which did

things by committee to offset the absence of injured top gun Ray Parks Jr.

The super sophomore sat it out for the second straight game due to calf

injury.

RR Pogoy fired a team-high 18 markers with six rebounds and six steals,

while Jayson Castro shot 15 with 10 assists and Simon Enciso and Poy Erram

added 14 and 12, respectively.

Enciso was chiefly instrumental in putting the cuffs on Ginebra gunslinger

Stanley Pringle, who coughed up 11 on a 4-of-14 field shooting (28.6).

Overall, TNT's stifling defense held the Gin Kings to 23-of-65 (35.4

percent). Ginebra's 67-point output was the franchise's lowest in the finals

in the Tim Cone era.

"We stuck to our rules especially on defense. If we could only be consistent

on defense, we'd have a better chance of winning," said TNT mentor Bong

Ravena.

Ginebra erased TNT's 15-point lead with a major uprising in the third but

the Tropang Giga countered with a 10-2 salvo to restore a 66-56 upperhand at

the end of the period.

The Tropang Giga continued the rampage in the final canto, where they even

went up by as many as 22 at 88-66, to put the game away.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 48.04

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

We are all inclined to judge ourselves by our ideals; others, by their acts.

- Harold Nicolson