HOUSE APPROVES VACCINE INDEMNIFICATION FUND

 

 

 

MANILA — Voting 225 with six abstentions, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading House Bill 8648 (Emergency Vaccine Procurement Act), which expedites vaccine procurement and allocates P500 million as compensation for persons who may suffer adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccines.

 

Lawmakers yesterday overwhelmingly voted in favor of the bill authored by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and certified urgent by President Duterte. The measure allows local governments to purchase vaccines in advance, expediting the procurement process.

 

Local government units have been allowed to accept donations from the private sector or purchase an equivalent of 50 percent of their total population, but they are not authorized to buy from vaccine dealers except from direct manufacturers.

 

Meanwhile, the private sector has to deal with either the Department of Health or the National Task Force, for which such vaccines can only be administered to their employees and should not be sold commercially.

 

Public officials, employees, contractors, volunteers and representatives of the private sector will also be exempt from any liability should problems arise with regard to effects after the inoculation.

 

 

 

 

 

GOVERNMENT DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT INDEMNITY REQUIREMENT FOR VACCINES — PALACE OFFICIAL

 

 

 

MANILA — Government was caught by surprise on the need for an indemnity agreement for COVAX facility's COVID-19 vaccines, a factor that delayed their delivery and effectively, the country's vaccination program, a senior administration official admitted Monday.

 

An idemnity agreement would free drugmakers from liability in the event of unexpected adverse effects from the jabs as well as put up funds for it, having only been allowed for emergency use.It would later turn out to be the crucial and final requirement for the vaccines' delivery on top of government already missing out its own indicative date by middle of the month.

 

On ONE News' "Agenda," Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles detailed how officials "were under the impression" that the agreement was not needed as they were not informed of it.

 

"The negotiating team was following up and asking if this is really it and nothing more then suddenly there was the indemnification," he said. " My understanding was we did not know about that. Everything was supposedly in place."

 

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. told senators in January that an indemnification law is needed to gain access to the doses from COVAX.

 

A month later, Galvez would say that from their first negotiations with Pfizer, the developers did not ask for it.

 

But from the moment Galvez appeared at a Senate inquiry to now, no law providing for it has been passed. Only recently did President Rodrigo Duterte also certify as urgent measures for the indemnification, and an agreement was only sent to drugmakers by February 17.

 

In the same television interview, Nograles said there may have been limitations or "challenges in communication" as an indemnity deal was not mandatory for all countries.

 

"I wish they had told us that this was a requirement," he said.

 

 

 

 

 

DUTERTE JUNKS MGCQ PROPOSAL FOR ENTIRE COUNTRY UNTIL ROLLOUT OF COVID-19 VACCINE STARTS

 

 

 

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday rejected the proposal to place the country under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) until the country's COVID-19 vaccination program has started, his spokesman said.

 

"The Chief Executive recognizes the importance of re-opening the economy and its impact on people's livelihoods. However, the President gives higher premium to public health and safety," Harry Roque said.

 

Duterte "wants vaccination to start the soonest possible time in order to ease the community quarantine," he added.

 

Nine of 17 mayors in the capital region earlier backed a shift to MGCQ by March, which marks a year since the country was first placed under quarantine.

 

Metro Manila, which accounts for about a third of the country's gross domestic product, has been under GCQ since August 2020, with stricter lockdowns enforced in earlier months as COVID-19 infections rose.

 

 

 

 

 

SENIOR DUTERTE NOT ON VACCINE PRIORITY LIST – PALACE

 

 

 

MANILA — President Duterte won’t be among the first to be vaccinated against COVID-19 because the China-made shots that are expected to arrive in the Philippines first are not recommended for senior citizens, Malacañang said yesterday.

 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an emergency use authorization for Sinovac’s COVID jabs, but these won’t be administered to health care workers – the top priority in the vaccination program – because its efficacy rate stood at only 50.4 percent among members of this sector.

 

Aside from this, the FDA added, the shots should be given to clinically healthy persons aged 18 to 59.

 

“Because of the issuance of the FDA, which states that we cannot use it for seniors, the President won’t be among the first to get vaccines,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said at a press briefing.

 

 

 

 

 

DE LIMA APPEALS DENIAL OF BAIL, BID TO JUNK CHARGE IN 2ND DRUG CASE

 

 

 

MANILA — Sen. Leila De Lima on Tuesday appealed the dismissal of her plea to post bail and junk the second drug case she is facing, as she questioned the "conspicuous absence" of one of their pleadings in Muntinlupa court's denial order.

 

In a 70-page motion for reconsideration, De Lima’s lawyer asked the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 205 to reverse its ruling on February 17 and grant their demurrer to evidence, a legal challenge to sufficiency of prosecution evidence.

 

De Lima, through her lawyer Teddy Rigoroso, also moved for the reconsideration of the court’s denial of their Motion for Bail “on the grounds that the evidence of guilt is not strong.”

 

The detained senator last week was acquitted in one of the three drug cases she has been facing since February 2017. Judge Liezel Aquiatan, however, dismissed their demurrer and bail bid in a Joint Omnibus motion and ordered the trial to proceed.

 

But De Lima’s team said the court had committed “errors and oversight” when it junked their bid.

 

“This Motion for Reconsideration, therefore, is being submitted in order to give the Honorable Court the opportunity, not just to revisit the Omnibus Order or the merits of the Motions filed by Accused De Lima (one of which was even erroneously referenced as a ‘Petition for Bail and not even referenced even once), but also the entire records of the case,” the motion read.

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE MOVES TO REPLACE 'VACCINE PASSPORT' WITH 'COVID-19 VACCINE CARD'

 

 

 

MANILA - The Philippine Senate has adopted to replace the controversial terminology, “vaccine passport”, with “COVID-19 vaccine card” during the period of amendments on Monday on the proposed measure expediting the procurement and administration of coronavirus vaccines.

 

This, after some senators led by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III opposed the use of the term “passport”, as it “connotes or affects mobility” and may be construed as discriminatory.

 

Three of its seven authors namely, senators Pia Cayetano; Ramon Revilla, Jr.; and Grace Poe have proposed the creation of the ‘Vaccination Passport Program’ with inoculated individuals issued a “vaccine passport” as proof of COVID-19 vaccinations they have received.

 

“This is a way that… tourism and travel, even essential travel, can be implemented because this will again give confidence to people that it is safe for them to move around; there are also private companies who are building these passports, certificates, cards for the very same reason

 

“My colleagues, this is not a new principle, this is existing as we speak… this is inevitable, this is going to happen, and there’s no desire here to discriminate people from essential services, but when it becomes a privilege, for example, a remote island where they use to earn a lot of income for tourism, they might want to say, ‘sige, we want the economy to open up, we want tourists to come, but you know what we want to limit it to those who’ve been vaccinated’, I think that is their right,” Cayetano explained in Monday’s session.

 

As for Poe, she stressed,”the intention here is not to charge extra also of our countrymen; this will be given to them for free.”

 

“And a lot of our countrymen — maybe all over the world, many of our countrymen are working as overseas workers and this will give them an advantage: a certificate that is issued by government and is recognized by our government. I think it’s forward-thinking, it’s not discriminatory because the wording is, ‘you may present it’, it not not like you have to present it,” Poe added.

 

In the end, the authors and the sponsor of the proposed measure, Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, adopted the perceived safer alternative term, “vaccine card”.

 

 

 

 

 

NURSES FOR VACCINES: PHILIPPINES IN TALKS WITH UK, GERMANY

 

 

 

MANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is negotiating to secure at least 600,000 COVID vaccines from the United Kingdom and Germany for departing and displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

 

Alice Visperas, DOLE international labor affairs bureau director, said at a virtual briefing yesterday that Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has asked the governments of both countries to provide the Philippines with vaccines in exchange for the deployment of more Filipino health care workers (HCWs).

 

She noted that Bello had informed the two countries that the Philippine government is considering to grant them exemption from the deployment cap if they would agree to the agency’s requests, which include renewal of previous bilateral agreements providing protection for OFWs.

 

Both Germany and the UK have been seeking exemption from the government’s existing cap in the deployment of nurses and other HCWs abroad to ensure a sufficient supply of health care professionals in the Philippines during the pandemic. The HCWs, particularly nurses, are highly in demand in European countries due to the aging population.

 

While DOLE is still waiting for feedback, Visperas is optimistic that the requests will be granted. The UK government, she said, is expected to send a response within the week.

 

If the UK and Germany will agree to provide vaccines, DOLE will use them for OFWs who were displaced by the pandemic as well as those who will be going back abroad, she added.

 

 

 

 

 

PALACE HOPES FOR SINOVAC COVID-19 VACCINE ARRIVAL THIS WEEK AFTER EUA APPROVAL

 

 

 

MANILA — The Philippines hopes to receive its first supply of COVID-19 vaccines this week, courtesy of China's Sinovac Biotech, Malacañang said on Monday, after the country's drug regulator approved the product for emergency use, which was a requirement for its delivery.

 

Chinese authorities need 3 days from the EUA's approval "to ensure that the vaccines arrive in the Philippines," said Palace spokesman Harry Roque.

 

"We're praying it will arrive within the week. But I think the 3 days that they asked from date of issuance falls within the week," he told reporters in an online briefing.

 

"It looks like Sinovac will be the first vaccine that we will use in our vaccination program," the official added.

 

The initial batch of 600,000 Beijing-donated doses from Sinovac were initially intended for soldiers and health workers.

 

But the Food and Drug Administration said Sinovac's shots were not advisable for health workers tending to COVID-19 patients due to its 50.4-percent efficacy. This may prompt authorities to allocate the jabs to economic frontliners instead, Roque said.

 

 

 

 

 

TRUST FDA, EXPERTS ON SINOVAC EMERGENCY USE APPROVAL: PRO-VACCINE GROUP

 

 

 

MANILA - The public must trust the Food and Drug Administration and the vaccine expert panel in its decision to approve Chinese inoculation Sinovac for emergency use but not recommend it for healthworkers, a pro-vaccination group said Tuesday.

 

The FDA on Monday granted Sinovac emergency use authorization as it has a 63 to 91 percent efficacy rate on members of the community who are not healthworkers, according to FDA director general Eric Domingo.

 

It however does not recommend the vaccine for healthworkers as a Brazil study showed only 50.4 percent efficacy rate for medical frontliners who deal with COVID-19, he said.

 

The public must trust the FDA's "very difficult" decision, according to Dr. Lulu Bravo, executive director of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination.

 

"As I have always mentioned we have to trust the experts, they're the ones looking at the data presented. It’s easy to make a judgment but it is not easy to look and pore over a scientific data," she told ANC's Headstart.

 

 

 

 

 

BSP NAMES NEW DEPUTY GOVERNOR

 

 

 

MANILA — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has added a new deputy governor with expertise in digital payments, as part of efforts to transform the country from a cash-heavy into a cash-light economy and a coinless society over the next five years.

 

Mamerto Tangonan, a digital financial services expert with over 20 years of experience, has been named as the fourth deputy governor of the BSP.

 

Tangonan now heads the BSP’s Payments and Currency Management Sector.

 

 

 

 

 

THE REST

 

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7 BARANGAY SA CAGAYAN DE ORO, APEKTADO NG ASF

 

 

 

MAYNILA - Umabot na sa pito ang bilang ng mga barangay sa Cagayan de Oro na apektado ng African Swine Fever.

 

Ayon kay Assistant Regional Director Carlota Madriaga ng Department of Agriculture Region 10 Field Operations Division, nadagdagan ng lima ang unang dalawang barangay na naiulat na may ASF.

 

“As of today, medyo nadagdagan kaso natin sa Cagayan de Oro, in terms of infection, medyo naapektuhan 'yung adjacent barangays so naging 7,” sabi in Madriaga sa panayam sa TeleRadyo Martes ng umaga.

 

Bukod sa CDO, minomonitor din ang Misamis Oriental na mayroon dalawang barangay na apektado rin ng ASF.

 

Nagpalabas na rin ng isang executive order si Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Emano hinggil sa temporary ban sa pag-ship ng mga baboy at produktong baboy galing sa mga lugar na apektado ng ASF. Bawal din ang pag ship ng mga baboy na mula sa backyard farms.

 

 

 

 

 

AGRI DEPT URGED TO IMMEDIATELY RELEASE TRANSPORT, CASH AID TO HOG RAISERS

 

 

 

MANILA - The Department of Agriculture must immediately release assistance to hog raisers hit by African swine fever, Senator Cynthia Villar said Tuesday.

 

"Syempre mga mahihirap na farmer pag 'di mo binayaran ipupuslit nila yan eh, kasi basic needs nila yan. Wala na silang income kung di nila naipuslit yan kaya kahit may ASF pinupuslit nila," she told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.

 

"Katulad ng bayad sa culling, dapat yung ganyan dapat yan mabilis ilabas," she added when asked about transportation assistance.

 

Senators earlier slammed Agriculture Secretary William Dar for proposing to lower tariffs for meat imports. The tariff should instead be used to aid struggling hog raisers, Villar said.

 

 

 

 

 

ISKO: I’M OK WITH ANY FDA-APPROVED VACCINE

 

 

 

MANILA — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said yesterday he is willing to be inoculated with any COVID vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

 

Moreno made the statement as part of the information drive to convince the public to trust the government’s vaccination program.

 

The city government is ready to use any vaccine against COVID-19 granted emergency use authorization (EUA) by the FDA, he said.

 

“We will use any vaccine approved by the FDA. But the people have the right to be choosy. They can wait for the vaccine that they prefer,” Moreno said. “But for me, if it has an EUA then we will use it.”

 

 

 

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

 

 

 

 

 

DEREK IS ‘IN LOVE,’ SAYS FRIEND; ELLEN ADMITS ‘INTENSE’ CHEMISTRY

 

 

 

MANILA — Derek Ramsay is “in love” with Ellen Adarna, if a close friend of the actor is to be believed.

 

Adarna, too, appears to agree with that statement, as the actress shared an Instagram Stories video from Ramsay’s friend, Gerry Santos, showing the rumored couple working out together.

 

“In love ang BFF ko @ramsayderek07 kay @maria.elena.adarna pero talo sa jumping rope,” Santos captioned the clip, which Adarna re-posted as a Stories update.

 

Succeeding videos of Ramsay and Adarna, also posted by Santos, saw them doing core exercises together. One showed them having the same pacing, with Santos quipping, “Perfect match!”

 

In a more direct indication of Ramsay and Adarna’s deepening relationship, Santos shared a photo of him with the two, writing, “Happy for you both,” with a heart emoji.

 

Ramsay and Adarna first stirred rumors of a brewing romance in January, when photos of them getting cozy at a dinner party hosted by the actor circulated online.

 

While they denied being romantically involved at the time, their relationship appears to have progressed from mere friendship in the past month, having spent at least two vacations together within that period. Notably, Ramsay has been spending time, too, with Adarna’s son Elias.

 

In Adarna’s recent Instagram post about their latest trip together, one follower shared her “kilig” over their “energies that form into one.”

 

“You feel the energy? It’s pretty intense,” Adarna replied, with laughing emojis.

 

Despite hints of their apparent romance, neither Ramsay nor Adarna has gone on record confirming being a couple.

 

 

 

 

 

SPORTS

 

 

 

 

 

NBA SCORES FEB 21

 

 

 

FINAL/OT

 

           1          2          3          4          OT       T

 

Celtics  15-15    30        33        24        21        7          115

 

Pelicans  13-17 28        19        27        34        12        120

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            J. Tatum BOS

 

32 PTS, 9 REB, 2 AST

 

            B. Ingram NO

 

33 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

           1          2          3          4          T

 

Pistons  8-22     26        22        28        20        96

 

Magic  13-18     28        28        27        22        105

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            J. Grant DET

 

24 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST

 

            N. Vucevic ORL

 

37 PTS, 12 REB, 3 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

           1          2          3          4          T

 

Thunder  12-18 31        31        24        31        117

 

Cavaliers  10-21            28        23        24        26        101

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            S. Gilgeous-Alexander OKC

 

31 PTS, 4 REB, 9 AST

 

            C. Sexton CLE

 

27 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

           1          2          3          4          T

 

Timberwolves  7-24       18        32        21        28        99

 

Knicks  15-16    30        31        26        16        103

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            K. Towns MIN

 

27 PTS, 15 REB, 4 AST

 

            J. Randle NY

 

25 PTS, 14 REB, 4 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

           1          2          3          4          T

 

76ers  20-11     24        31        29        19        103

 

Raptors  16-15  28        24        31        27        110

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            B. Simmons PHI

 

28 PTS, 9 REB, 5 AST

 

            F. VanVleet TOR

 

23 PTS, 5 REB, 9 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

           1          2          3          4          T

 

Nuggets  16-14 33        23        20        39        115

 

Hawks  13-17    27        37        29        30        123

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            J. Murray DEN

 

30 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST

 

            T. Young ATL

 

35 PTS, 6 REB, 15 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

           1          2          3          4          T

 

Nets  20-12       28        30        31        23        112

 

Clippers  22-10  30        21        28        29        108

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            J. Harden BKN

 

37 PTS, 11 REB, 7 AST

 

            P. George LAC

 

34 PTS, 6 REB, 7 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

           1          2          3          4          T

 

Kings  12-18     25        31        26        33        115

 

Bucks  18-13     28        42        29        29        128

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            T. Haliburton SAC

 

23 PTS, 5 REB, 8 AST

 

            G. Antetokounmpo MIL

 

38 PTS, 18 REB, 4 AST

 

 

 

 

 

INDICATORS

 

 

 

FOREX $1 = P 48.70

 

 

 

 

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

 

 

 

You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them. - Maya Angelou