PHILIPPINES SETS CONDITIONS ON ENTRY OF FOREIGNERS STARTING FEB. 1

MANILA — The inter-agency task force leading the country's COVID-19 response

has set conditions on the entry of foreign travelers into the country next

month, Malacañang said on Friday.

The IATF, which met on Thursday, said foreign nationals who will arrive in

the Philippines from Feb. 1 "should have valid and existing visas at the

time of entry, except for those qualified under the Balikbayan program under

Republic Act No. 6768 or the Act Instituting the Balikbayan Program," said

Palace spokesman Harry Roque.

"These foreign nationals should also have a pre-booked accommodation for at

least seven nights in an accredited quarantine hotel or facility," he said

in a statement.

"They shall also be subject to COVID-19 testing at the quarantine hotel or

facility on the sixth day from the date of their arrival," the official

added.

The entry of these foreign nationals "will be subject to the maximum

capacity of inbound passengers at the port and date of entry," said Roque.

The Philippines has tallied some 519,000 COVID-19 cases as of Thursday. The

unrelenting first wave of infections has barred the economy from fully

reopening.

'SOBRANG SAFE PO TAYO': DOH ALLAYS CONCERNS OVER SURGE OF COVID-19 CASES IN

CEBU

MANILA - A health official on Friday doused concerns about the recent surge

of COVID-19 cases in Cebu, saying its health-care system is still at the

"safe" level.

"Sobrang safe po tayo sa ngayon (We are still very safe now) but what we're

saying is, although this data are reflective of what's happening here, we

want to ensure also that people would not become complacent," said Dr. Mary

Jean Loreche, spokesperson and chief pathologist of Department of Health -

Central Visayas.

She made the remark in response to a study by a group of researchers and

professors that COVID-19 cases in Cebu had become "a serious concern."

"We respect their data and their concern, and we appreciate that. Pero in

fairness to us here in Cebu City, malayong-malayo po tayo ngayon sa noong

nangyari sa atin dito sa Mayo, Hunyo at Hulyo noong nakalipas na taon. At

that time, nahirapan talaga tayo sa bed allocation," she said.

On Thursday, health authorities reported an additional 103 COVID-19 cases in

Cebu City, bringing its tally to 12,219. The city's tally includes 1,150

active cases and 701 deaths.

Meanwhile, Cebu Province recorded 43 new coronavirus infections. Its tally

stood at 7,744, of which 614 are active cases while 426 have died from the

disease.

Loreche said the health care utilization rate in Cebu was still at 25.1

percent, considered at "safe" level.

As of Jan. 27, some 225 COVID-19 patients are admitted while 672 COVID-19

beds are still available.

If the health-care system reaches 85 percent of their bed occupancy, it will

be considered at "critical" level while "high risk" for if its between 70

and 85 percent.

MAGALONG QUITS AS CONTACT TRACING CZAR, PALACE REJECTS RESIGNATION

MANILA — Contact tracing czar Benjamin Magalong tendered his resignation

after drawing flak for attending a celebrity birthday party where guests

flouted quarantine rules but he will not be permitted to vacate the

position, Malacañang said.

"We confirm that Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong tendered his

resignation as the government’s tracing czar," presidential spokesman Harry

Roque told reporters. "Mayor Magalong’s resignation, however, has not been

accepted."

"He continues to enjoy the trust and confidence of the leadership of the

National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19," Roque also said.

In a letter to COVID-19 response chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr.,

Magalong said he was resigning “to hold myself accountable and do what is

necessary to rectify this misstep," per a report from ABS-CBN.

"It pains me to see my family, and my constituents, in anguish over this but

I am committed [to] hold myself accountable and do what is necessary to

rectify this misstep," he also said.

The mayor added that he is "ready and willing" to cooperate should the

National Task Force Against COVID-19 or the Department of Interior and Local

Government decide to open a probe.

Referring to the party held at The Manor, Baguio City, for celebrity Tim

Yap, Magalong again owned that "several lapses in the protocol were

admitted"

"I should have done an immediate spot correction of the errors that I

witnessed during that time," he said. "Much as I have given my best to

discharge my duties for the Task Force, this incident has been a reminder

that a higher standard is always expected of me."

NOVAVAX COVID VACCINE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE, BUT NOT AGAINST S.AFRICA VARIANT

WASHINGTON - US biotech firm Novavax said Thursday its two-shot COVID-19

vaccine showed an overall efficacy of 89.3 percent in a major Phase 3

clinical trial in Britain, and remained highly effective against a variant

first identified there.

But the positive news was partly offset by other results that showed it

offered significantly less protection against a highly transmissible variant

of the coronavirus first identified in South Africa, which is spreading

rapidly around the world.

Novavax said it began working on new vaccines against emerging strains in

early January and expects to select ideal candidates in the coming days,

then begin clinical testing in the second quarter of the year.

"NVX-CoV2373 has the potential to play an important role in solving this

global public health crisis," said the company's president and CEO Stanley

Erck, using Novavax's name for the vaccine.

"We look forward to continuing to work with our partners, collaborators,

investigators and regulators around the world to make the vaccine available

as quickly as possible."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted that the results were "good

news."

"Our medicines regulator will now assess the vaccine, which will be made in

Teesside. If approved, we have 60m doses on order," he added.

The vaccine was one of six candidates backed by a US government project

formerly known as Operation Warp Speed, which has provided the company $1.75

billion. It's also being tested in a trial in the US and Mexico, which has

recruited 16,000 of 30,000 participants.

PNR TRAINS FROM INDONESIA HOLD INAUGURAL RUN

MANILA — The Philippine National Railways (PNR)’s new trains from Indonesia

have started operating at the Metro Commuter Line to provide passengers

safer and more convenient rides.

Three diesel hydraulic locomotives with 15 passenger coaches, which are part

of the PNR’s re-fleeting project, held its inaugural run yesterday.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade assured the riding public of safe,

convenient and comfortable travels.

The trains will serve commuters on the PNR’s Metro Commuter Line, which runs

from the Tutuban station in Manila to Los Baños in Laguna.

With the addition of the new trains, the PNR targets to serve a total of

140,000 passengers daily, doubling its existing capacity of 48,000 to 60,000

passengers per day.

The Department of Transportation said the trains have a maximum speed of 120

kilometers per hour, with high clearance for flooded tracks.

Each train features an interior access to the engine room, the first of its

kind for the PNR fleet.

The trains are also equipped with 36,000 kilocalories per hour of air

conditioning in each coach that is suitable for tropical countries such as

the Philippines.

BANGSAMORO IN TALKS WITH ABU SAYYAF, BIFF TO RETURN TO THE FOLD OF THE LAW

MANILA — The Bangsamoro government is in talks with the Abu Sayyaf for the

extremist group to return to the fold of the law, its chief minister said.

“We are both having dialogue with all the groups including the Abu Sayyaf

also in the island provinces,” Bangsamoro Transition Authority chief

minister Ahod Ebrahim told a media conference organized by the Foreign

Correspondents Association of the Philippines.

Ebrahim also relayed that they are trying to convince the Bangsamoro Islamic

Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation

Front (MILF), to join the government.

“Two groups [of the BIFF] are open to the dialogue. We are working out now

more than 900 members of these groups,” Ebrahim, MILF chairman and who is

also known as Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, said.

Ebrahim previously said that some BIFF members were supposed to join the

MILF, which now leads the interim government of the Bangsamoro, in time for

the autonomous region’s second anniversary but had challenges as some of

them had pending arrest warrants.

BIFF leaders Salahudin “Salah” Hasan and Animbang “Commander Karialan”

Indong, and dozens of other combatants face complaints over a December 2020

attack on a police station and military detachment in Datu Piang,

Maguindanao.

While they are talking with the Abu Sayyaf and the BIFF, Ebrahim said that

they are also strengthening their security measures through their interim

security group composed of MILF combatants who have not yet been

decommissioned, the military and the police.

BANGSAMORO YET TO DECIDE WHICH COVID-19 VACCINE TO PROCURE: CHIEF MINISTER

MANILA - The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has yet

to decide which COVID-19 vaccine to procure, its chief minister said Friday,

after confirming initial reports that the region has allocated some P500

million for the jabs.

The BARMM has "not initiated yet negotiations for the vaccine" but is

"seeking also some advice" from the national government on which brand to

procure, BARMM chief minister Ahod Al Haj Murad Ebrahim said in an online

forum hosted by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.

"Once we feel we have made up our minds, we will start purchasing," he said.

"We are also looking forward that the national government will also extend

some assistance to BARMM," he said.

The COVID-19 vaccine that will be procured for the Bangsamoro also needs to

undergo a separate fatwa or legal opinion based on Islamic law, BARMM Health

Minister Dr. Amir Usman told TeleRadyo in an earlier interview.

The BARMM leadership needs to ensure that the COVID-19 vaccine for the

Bangsamoro people is a certified Halal product, he said.

As of January 27, BARMM has recorded a total of 3,036 COVID-19 patients. Of

these, 73 died, 2,776 recovered, while 187 are still recuperating from the

disease.

AFP GENERAL LINKED TO RED-TAGGING OF UP ALUMNI GOES ON LEAVE

Major General Benedict Arevalo, the deputy chief of staff for civil-military

operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, is taking a leave of

absence after his staff published an erroneous list that tagged alumni of

the University of the Philippines as members of the New People’s Army (NPA).

Arevalo's decision to take a leave came after Defense Secretary Delfin

Lorenzana fired the deputy chief of staff for intelligence Maj. Gen. Alex

Luna over the release of the list.

In a statement, Arevalo confirmed that the erroneous list was a mistake

committed by J7 staff, "and as the Chief of Office for Civil Military

Operations, J7, I personally take responsibility of their actions."

"This is the reason why I issued a public apology and reiterated it in my

succeeding interviews. The procedure my staff did to post in FB, was

confined in my office," he said.

He added that he is taking a leave of absence "so as not to influence the

ongoing investigation."

Lorenzana earlier said he ordered Luna's removal from his post effective

Thursday due to his "unforgivable lapse."

"His negligence only shows a lackadaisical attitude towards his job

resulting to confusion and damage to reputation. We do not take these

offenses lightly and I want to hold the people involved accountable," said

Lorenzana of Luna.

The list of names of UP alumni who supposedly died or were arrested as NPA

members, came from Luna's office, according to Lorenzana.

The list was also shown by the defense chief during a press conference

Wednesday last week to back his unilateral termination of a 1989 accord with

the university, which drew public outcry over supposed disregard for

academic freedom.

HOUSE PANEL’S REJECTION OF ABS-CBN FRANCHISE IS FINAL, CHAIR SAYS

MANILA — The rejection of ABS-CBN’s application for a fresh franchise by a

House committee is already final as no lawmaker appealed its decision, the

panel’s chair said Thursday.

House legislative franchises committee chair Rep. Franz Alvarez (Palawan)

said that any of the 70 lawmakers who voted to reject the media giant’s

application for a franchise could have filed a motion for reconsideration,

but none of them did.

“Thus the committee decision has become final,” Alvarez said, referring to

the panel’s July 2020 vote to deny ABS-CBN a new license which led to job

losses and an information-gap amid a raging pandemic and numerous

calamities.

Alvarez also said that it is already “moot and academic” to take up the

ABS-CBN franchise as the bill in the House’s unfinished business only seeks

to grant the media giant a franchise until October 31, 2020.

But House records show that the chamber reconsidered on May 18, 2020 the

proposal’s approval on second reading and reopened debates on the measure.

Under House Rule X, Section 56, lawmakers may introduce amendments to a

measure after debates on it are terminated.

THE REST

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PNP TO START USING BODY CAMERAS NEXT MONTH

MANILA — Barring major glitches, operatives of the Philippine National

Police (PNP) involved in anti-narcotics operations will start using body

cameras next month.

At least 2,686 body cameras have been distributed to 269 police sites across

the country, including Metro Manila, PNP Directorate for Logistics director

Maj. Gen. Angelito Casimiro said yesterday.

Casimiro said they hope that members of the National Capital Region Police

Office (NCRPO) would be the first to use the body cameras by February, with

the other police units to follow in the next months.

The police officers will first undergo a seminar on how to use the body

cameras as well as to present in court evidence from the security gadgets.

The software and other supporting equipment such as desktop computers,

television monitors, SIM cards and log-in stations are also in place,

Casimiro said.

MANILA HOLDS SECOND VACCINATION DRILL

MANILA — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno yesterday led the city’s second simulation

of COVID vaccination at the Isabelo Delos Reyes Elementary School in Tondo.

At least 1,000 volunteers participated in the vaccination drill.

The first simulation was held at the Universidad de Manila last week.

Moreno said the activity was conducted so that the vaccinators would have

“muscle memory” once the actual rollout begins.

City hall has procured five Haier HYC-390 refrigerators to store AstraZeneca

and Sinovac vaccines; four biomedical freezers to store Johnson&Johnson and

Moderna vaccines, and -86 degrees celsius ULT Freezers from Haier to store

Pfizer vaccines.

At least 50 transport coolers will be deployed for the vaccination. A

vaccine storage facility is being built at the Sta. Ana Hospital.

Residents are encouraged to register their vaccine slots at

www.manilacovid19vaccine.com.

ISKO MORENO WILLING TO GET SINOVAC JAB VS COVID-19

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said Friday he is willing to be inoculated publicly

and even receive the Sinovac vaccine against COVID-19 as long as it is

approved by government.

Moreno said he had been "half-hearted" about a drug, but his opinion changed

when it was the same vaccine given to Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

Although Moreno did not identify it, Widodo was known to have received the

coronavirus vaccine from China’s Sinovac Biotech.

"This is now my personal belief. Sertipikahan ng FDA (Food and Drug

Administration) at ng mga espesiyalista ng ating bansa na ito ay ligtas at

nagkamit ng EUA (emergency use authorization), anuman ang product na ‘yan,

kahit saan pa sila galing, at ‘yung ating mga espesiyalista have affixed

their name and signature there, ituturok ko sa katawan ko," he told ANC's

Headstart.

Moreno likens this to the "principle of temperature" where "anything above 0

is positive."

"So if I will have 50 percent protection for my body if I'm going to be

infected by COVID-19, it is still better than zero," he said.

He said he is willing to have his inoculation done publicly to encourage

more people to get vaccinated as well despite the risks.

SPORTS

NBA SCORES JAN 27

FINAL

    1    2    3    4    T

Pistons 4-14    28    28    26    25    107

Cavaliers 9-9    32    22    36    32    122

SCORING LEADERS

    J. Grant DET

26 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST

    C. Sexton CLE

29 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST

FINAL

    1    2    3    4    T

Kings 7-10    32    33    31    25    121

Magic 8-11    23    27    27    30    107

SCORING LEADERS

    B. Hield SAC

29 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST

    N. Vucevic ORL

26 PTS, 9 REB, 2 AST

FINAL

    1    2    3    4    T

Pacers 11-7    36    23    25    32    116

Hornets 7-11    19    36    25    26    106

SCORING LEADERS

    D. McDermott IND

28 PTS, 5 REB, 0 AST

    T. Rozier CHA

20 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST

FINAL

    1    2    3    4    T

Nuggets 11-7    26    32    16    35    109

Heat 6-11    12    21    32    17    82

SCORING LEADERS

    N. Jokic DEN

21 PTS, 11 REB, 3 AST

    K. Nunn MIA

17 PTS, 2 REB, 1 AST

FINAL/OT

    1    2    3    4    OT    T

Nets 12-8    26    29    28    33    16    132

Hawks 9-9    27    28    32    29    12    128

SCORING LEADERS

    K. Durant BKN

32 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST

    T. Young ATL

28 PTS, 3 REB, 14 AST

FINAL

    1    2    3    4    T

Lakers 14-5    24    27    23    32    106

76ers 13-6    34    21    26    26    107

SCORING LEADERS

    L. James LAL

34 PTS, 6 REB, 6 AST

    J. Embiid PHI

28 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST

FINAL

    1    2    3    4    T

Bucks 11-6    33    30    20    32    115

Raptors 7-11    33    21    28    26    108

SCORING LEADERS

    G. Antetokounmpo MIL

24 PTS, 18 REB, 9 AST

    N. Powell TOR

26 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST

FINAL

    1    2    3    4    T

Celtics 10-7    30    17    37    22    106

Spurs 10-8    25    36    21    28    110

SCORING LEADERS

    J. Tatum BOS

25 PTS, 7 REB, 2 AST

    D. DeRozan SA

21 PTS, 5 REB, 7 AST

FINAL

    1    2    3    4    T

Wizards 3-11    18    27    35    26    106

Pelicans 6-10    35    29    30    30    124

SCORING LEADERS

    B. Beal WAS

47 PTS, 4 REB, 6 AST

    Z. Williamson NO

32 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST

FINAL

    1    2    3    4    T

Thunder 8-9    17    28    28    29    102

Suns 8-8    32    10    29    26    97

SCORING LEADERS

    S. Gilgeous-Alexander OKC

21 PTS, 7 REB, 8 AST

    C. Paul PHO

32 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST

FINAL

    1    2    3    4    T

Mavericks 8-10    19    29    30    26    104

Jazz 14-4    32    37    31    16    116

SCORING LEADERS

    L. Doncic DAL

30 PTS, 4 REB, 6 AST

    J. Clarkson UTA

31 PTS, 7 REB, 0 AST

FINAL

    1    2    3    4    T

Timberwolves 4-13    21    30    24    36    111

Warriors 10-8    23    35    37    28    123

SCORING LEADERS

    A. Edwards MIN

25 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST

    J. Wiseman GS

25 PTS, 6 REB, 0 AST

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 48.11

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we

must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do. - Leonardo da Vinci