WALA PA': DUTERTE SAYS PHILIPPINES YET TO BUY VACCINES

MANILA - The Philippine hasn't yet purchased any vaccines from foreign drugmakers, President Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday, amid queries from officials and the public over the whereabouts of COVID-19 jabs supposedly bought with loans by government.

Duterte in a public briefing said the current COVID-19 vaccines that are being distributed in the country were donated by China and the COVAX Facility, an initiative which aims for equitable access to COVID-19 jabs.

"Sabihin mo, 'san ang bakuna?' Bakuna nabili? Wala. Wala tayong bakuna na nabili. Wala pa. Kung magdating man, baka mga next week siguro," he said.

Duterte repeated his earlier statement that funds borrowed by government to buy COVID-19 vaccines are "still in the bank."

HOUSE URGED TO CONDEMN, PROBE INTO PRESENCE OF CHINESE VESSELS IN WEST PHILIPPINE SEA

MANILA — The Makabayan bloc is urging the House of Representatives to condemn and investigate the presence of 220 Chinese vessels in Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef in the West Philippine Sea.

“The position and deployment of the Chinese vessels may lead to another level of disrespect to Philippine sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea, as well as heightened aggression,” the six lawmakers warned in House Resolution No. 1675.

The progressive lawmakers in the House fear that the presence of Chinese vessels in Julian Felipe Reef, which is within the country’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, may eventually result in Beijing establishing a military base there, as it has done in seven reefs Manila claims.

The reef is located northeast of Pagkakaisa Banks and Reefs about 175 nautical miles west of Bataraza, Palawan.

The lawmakers also scored the “passive stance” of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte on the 2016 ruling by a Hague-based tribunal which voided China’s sweeping claims over the South China Sea. Beijing continues to reject this ruling.

“The failure of the Duterte administration to protect the country’s territorial integrity resulted in the loss of livelihood of many Filipino fisherfolk,” the leftist lawmakers said. “With the continuing harassment by the China Coast Guard and the Chinese deployment of maritime militias, Filipinos were deprived of the natural resources in its own territory.”

CHR: VIPS WHO SKIPPED VACCINATION LINE ‘SELFISHLY’ DEPRIVED HEALTHCARE WORKERS OF JABS

MANILA — The Commission on Human Rights on Thursday warned that jumping the country's priority list for vaccination deprives healthcare workers of badly-needed jabs and imperils the country's inoculation program.

The CHR said this in response to "reports of public personalities, government officials, and non-frontliners jumping the vaccination queue meant for health care workers."

"As it stands, the Philippines has a limited number of vaccines allocated for medical frontliners," the commission's spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said.

"Individuals excluded from the priority list that jump the vaccination queue selfishly deprives health care workers of much-need vaccines and jeopardizes succeeding, agreed upon, free vaccine allocations from the COVAX facility, which calls for the priority inoculation of agreed-upon groups."

Under the government's rollout plan, only some 1.7 million healthcare workers should currently have access to the vaccines.

However, the following mayors have already received their doses, per a list read out by President Rodrigo Duterte during a public address Tuesday night:

Alfred Romualdez (Tacloban City, Leyte)

Dibu Tuan (T'boli, South Cotabato)

Sulpicio Villalobos (Sto. Niño, South Cotabato)

Noel Rosal (Legazpi City, Albay)

Abraham Ibba (Bataraza, Palawan)

Elanito Peña of (Minglanilla, Cebu)

Victoriano Torres (Alicia, Bohol)

Virgilio Mendez (San Miguel, Bohol)

Mayor Arturo Piollo II (Lila, Bohol)

Actor Mark Anthony Fernandez was also vaccinated in Parañaque City.

The CHR said it supports efforts from the interior and health departments to investigate the violators and hold them to account.

After reading their names aloud, Duterte warned the local executives that they would face charges for malversation of funds.

But it was the chief executive himself who first excused unauthorized inoculations and the jumping of the priority list in the country. After revealing that members of his security detail were vaccinated with Sinopharm jabs, Duterte barred investigations on the matter and threatened a "constitutional crisis" when lawmakers tried to push the issue.

"We continue to stress that an effective national vaccination strategy is a vital component of an efficient national health care program, and is an important component of the equitable distribution of vaccines," CHR said.

NCR+ BUBBLE IS NO LOCKDOWN, PALACE INSISTS

MANILA — With businesses allowed to operate despite some restrictions, Malacañang maintained that placing the National Capital Region (NCR) and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal inside a bubble for two weeks is not a form of lockdown.

“The economy is open. When we talk of lockdowns in ECQ and MECQ, the economy is closed wherein the people are directed to stay at home,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said.

Roque added that the NCR Plus bubble was necessary to stem rising COVID-19 cases, thanking the public’s cooperation that led to relatively few apprehensions.?Meanwhile, National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF) chief Implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. assured the public that majority of the population will be vaccinated by year-end, allowing the economy to safely re-open.

Unhampered financial services

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) yesterday assured the public that there will be unhampered financial services despite additional mobility restrictions in the NCR Plus bubble.

“The BSP, together with the banking industry, stands ready to ensure the safe and smooth functioning of the banking system,” the central bank said in a statement.

DAVAO POLL OFFICER GETS, CA NOD FOR COMELEC POST

MANILA — The bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA) confirmed yesterday the appointment of lawyer Aimee Ferolino-Ampoloquio as commissioner of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) after several deferments in her confirmation.

Ampoloquio, who was previously provincial election chief in Davao del Norte, will fill the seat vacated by Al Parreño, who retired last year.

The official’s confirmation has been deferred at least twice after senators found some discrepancies in her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth and failing to satisfactorily answer basic questions on the voter registration campaign for the 2022 elections.

During yesterday’s hearing at the CA committee on constitutional commissions chaired by Sen. Cynthia Villar, Ampoloquio was able to face up to the grilling of lawmakers, where she expressed confidence that the Comelec would achieve its goal to register seven million new and deactivated voters before the September deadline.

“We intend to register 100 percent,” she told the committee, to which Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon responded that lawmakers will take note of her promise.

She said there are about four million Filipinos who will turn 18 by May 2022, of whom nearly three million have already registered. About three million deactivated voters are also expected to register again for the elections.

She estimated that there would be 58 million voters by the time the elections are held.

Ampoloquio said the Comelec would put up more satellite voter registration sites when quarantine restrictions are eased next month to augment the existing 1,488 election offices and 689 sites in malls.

METRO MANILA ICU OCCUPANCY BREACHES CRITICAL LEVEL DUE TO COVID SURGE: OCTA

MANILA - Intensive Care Units (ICU) in Metro Manila have already exceeded the critical level of 70 percent as the number of new COVID-19 cases continue to increase in the capital region, the OCTA Research group said Thursday.

As of March 24, ICUs for COVID-19 patients are already 70 percent full, while hospital bed occupancy for COVID-19 patients has risen to 61 percent, the group said in a statement.

"The positivity rate in the [National Capital Region] was 18 percent over the past 7 days," it said.

While the reproduction number of the virus in Metro Manila decreased, OCTA Research said it is too early to tell "if this is the beginning of a hoped-for downward trend in the reproduction number, given that the NCR was placed under the GCQ bubble." This is in reference to the reimposition of the general community quarantine in the capital region.

Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City remains to have the most number of new COVID-19 cases with 342 patients, according to the study.

The Philippine Hospital Association earlier sought for reinforcement from the national government, saying medical facilities in Metro Manila have been overwhelmed by the surge of new COVID-19 cases.

As of March 24, the Philippines registered 6,666 new COVID-19 cases, the country's 6th highest single-day tally since the start of the pandemic last year.

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LUNG CENTER, PGH PLEAD FOR MORE HEALTH WORKERS AMID COVID-19 SURGE

MANILA - Two major Philippine public hospitals have asked the Department of Health to augment their workforce amid the rising number of COVID-19 patients in their facilities.

The Lung Center of the Philippines and the Philippine General Hospital have seen increasing admissions of patients with coronavirus in recent weeks as infections rose, especially in Metro Manila.

"We have requested at least 30 more nurses from the DOH since last week but it's not easy to get those manpower. I could imagine all hospitals are trying to get more manpower," LCP spokesperson Dr. Norberto Francisco told ANC.

“Pagod na nga rin talaga, humihingi kami at umaasa na magkaroon kami ng reinforcement. Naririnig namin na baka magbigay ang DOH malaking tulong po 'pag makakuha kami ng reinforcement na mga 30 to 40 doctors sa aming COVID operations,” said PGH spokesperson Dr. Jonas Del Rosario.

OCTA: COVID-19 REPRODUCTION RATE IN METRO MANILA DECREASES TO 1.91

MANILA — The reproduction rate of COVID-19 in Metro Manila dropped to 1.91, the OCTA Research said, but the group stressed it is too soon to say this marks the start of a downward trend in the region.

In its March 25 monitoring, OCTA Research said the reproduction number—or the number of people that one COVID-19 positive case can infect—in the capital region decreased to 1.91 from 1.99.

The reproduction number must be kept to less than 1, so the infections will spread slowly.

“It is too early to tell if this is the beginning of a hoped-for downward trend in the reproduction number, given that the NCR was placed under the general community bubble,” the report read.

'DELIKADO NA': PHIVOLCS WARNS VS VISITING TAAL VOLCANO ISLAND

MANILA - Do not go to Taal Volcano island.

This is the warning of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology after the agency recorded increased seismic activity and movement of magma on the island.

"Posibleng magkaroon ng steam-driven or phreatic eruption na delikado na sa tao kung sila ay nasa isla o malapit dito tulad ng shoreline sa tabi ng isla," Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.

"Kung sakaling magkaroon ng steam-driven explosion, dahil walang tao (sa isla) mas ligtas sa kasalukuyan. Importante lang na walang lumabag."

Solidum said the volcano remains under alert level 2, the second-lowest in a 5-step system.

"Kailangan bantayan kung ang magma na umuusad ay lalabas ba talaga. At kung sakaling lalabas, titingnan natin kung ito ay magiging explosive o dahan-dahan magkakaroon ng lava," he said.

"Dahil sa maliit na volume pa lang ang ating nakikita, di pa natin nakikita 'yun kasing tulad nung 2020 kasi mangyayari po ito na mas maging explosive kung may umusad na magma sa ilalim at magresupply."

2 ABUS KILLED IN TAWI-TAWI

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Two Abu Sayyaf bandits tagged in the kidnapping of four Indonesian citizens last year were killed in an encounter in Languyan, Tawi-Tawi on Tuesday.

Col. Nestor Narag Jr., 2nd Marine Brigade deputy commander, said the slain suspects were identified only by their aliases of Long and Darus. An M16 rifle was recovered at the scene.

The fatalities were followers of Majan Sahijuan, who was killed in a military operation on Saturday.

On Sunday, the remaining Indonesian captive of the Abu Sayaf, Khairuldin bin Yai Kii, was rescued.

Three other Indonesian captives – Arsyad Dahlan, Riswanto Hayono and Arizal – were rescued on  Thursday last week. Two of their captors, Sahud Salasim and Injimar Mangkabong,  were arrested.

In Basilan, three Abu Sayyaf bomb couriers identified only as Jallim, Aman and Salim surrendered and turned over their guns on Monday

65% OF FILIPINOS LIST STAYING HEALTHY, AVOIDING ILLNESS AS TOP PERSONAL CONCERN

MANILA — A large majority of Filipinos are concerned with staying healthy and avoiding sickness as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, a survey of the OCTA Research suggested.

The Tugon ng Masa survey of 1,200 respondents found that 65% of adult Filipinos identified staying healthy and avoiding illness as their top personal concern.

It is the most urgent personal issue for residents of Metro Manila (68%), Balance Luzon (69%), and Mindanao (66%) and the three socio-economic classes.

A year into the pandemic, the Philippines recorded 684,311 COVID-19 cases, including 13,039 deaths. The country is battling another surge in COVID-19 infections, which is feared to strain the health system anew.

Authorities blamed the spike in cases to decreased compliance with public health protocols, which is aggravated by the circulation of more transmissible variants.

Having a secure and well-paying job or source of income is the second urgent personal concern nationwide at 56%. In Visayas, it is the most pressing concern of the residents there at 61%.

Other urgent personal concerns of Filipinos include avoiding being a victim of a serious crime (47%), finishing school or providing schooling for their children (45%), and being able to have enough to eat every day (37%), owning a house and lot (26%) and saving up (23%).

The survey also found that 47% of adult Filipinos mentioned improving or increasing wages of workers as the most important issue that the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte must address.

The other pressing national concerns include access to affordable food such as rice, vegetables and meat (39%), controlling the spread of the COVID-19 virus (38%), controlling the increase in prices of basic goods and services (32%), and providing free quality education (25%).

The survey was conducted from January 26 to February 1 and utilized a sample design that allows for a 95% confidence level with a ±3% margin of error.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

TINA TURNER BOWS OUT OF PUBLIC LIFE WITH EMOTIONAL DOCUMENTARY

LONDON - Tina Turner opens up about her troubled past and living with PTSD in new documentary “TINA”, a film the soul and rock star says is the final act of her public life before bowing out.

Woven around a candid interview with the 81-year-old, testimonies from people who know her and archive material, the film tracks the singer’s rise from a self-described “girl from the cotton fields” to a global music icon.

“It wasn’t a good life,” Turner says in the opening scenes of the film, which is divided into five chapters, starting with “Part 1 - Ike and Tina”.

Turner and former husband Ike Turner, who died of a cocaine overdose in 2007, enjoyed huge success in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They divorced in 1978 after a stormy marriage in which she said she was beaten.

The “What’s Love Got to Do with It” singer launched her solo career in the 1980s.

“The first thing she said when we were sitting down, she’s like ‘I don’t want to do this’,” said “TINA” co-director Dan Lindsay, who was approached by Turner’s husband Erwin Bach to make the documentary.

“And we’re like ‘OK, what does that mean?’ ... She just meant ... she’s done with press and stuff like that, and the end of the film talks about how do you bow out slowly.”

“TINA” recounts the tumultuous years with Ike through Turner’s own words and recordings of past interviews she gave.

“To me ... the biggest revelation is the fact that even at this chapter in her life, she suffers from PTSD. And that was so unexpected for us that it fundamentally changed our approach to the entire film,” said “TINA” co-director T.J. Martin.

Turner, an eight-time Grammy winner known for songs like “River Deep, Mountain High”, “Private Dancer” and “The Best”, was born in Tennessee but moved to Switzerland in 1995 to join her German-born record producer husband Bach.

She retired from performing after a sold-out farewell tour, which ended in 2009, and became a Swiss national in 2013.

She came out of retirement to unveil “Tina - The Tina Turner Musical” in 2017.

In the documentary, Turner says the musical and new film mark her farewell from public life.

“TINA” is released on Saturday in the U.S. by HBO and premieres in Britain on Sky Documentaries, NOW and Altitude Film on Sunday.

SPORTS

NBA SCORES MARCH 23

FINAL

           1          2          3          4          T

Nuggets  26-17 30        31        19        30        110

Magic  14-29     15        24        30        30        99

SCORING LEADERS

            N. Jokic DEN

28 PTS, 15 REB, 10 AST

            E. Fournier ORL

31 PTS, 1 REB, 6 AST

FINAL

           1          2          3          4          T

Lakers  28-16    29        17        30        35        111

Pelicans  19-24 32        27        43        26        128

SCORING LEADERS

            M. Harrell LAL

18 PTS, 6 REB, 0 AST

            B. Ingram NO

36 PTS, 3 REB, 4 AST

FINAL

           1          2          3          4          T

Wizards  15-27  31        18        31        33        113

Knicks  22-22    39        30        39        23        131

SCORING LEADERS

            B. Beal WAS

22 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST

            J. Randle NY

37 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST

FINAL

           1          2          3          4          T

Suns  29-13      25        33        27        25        110

Heat  22-22       20        23        30        27        100

SCORING LEADERS

            D. Booker PHO

23 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST

            K. Nunn MIA

25 PTS, 3 REB, 1 AST

FINAL

           1          2          3          4          T

76ers  31-13     35        24        21        28        108

Warriors  22-22 17        28        40        13        98

SCORING LEADERS

            T. Harris PHI

25 PTS, 13 REB, 4 AST

            K. Oubre Jr. GS

24 PTS, 10 REB, 3 AST

FINAL

           1          2          3          4          T

Nets  30-14       37        28        27        24        116

Trail Blazers  25-18       41        25        25        21        112

SCORING LEADERS

            J. Harden BKN

25 PTS, 7 REB, 17 AST

            D. Lillard POR

22 PTS, 3 REB, 9 AST

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 48.66

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. - Mahatma Gandhi