JOHNSON & JOHNSON APPLIES FOR EMERGENCY USE OF SINGLE-DOSE JAB IN PHILIPPINES
MANILA — Pharmaceutical firm Johnson & Johnson has asked Philippine health regulators to authorize its single-dose COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, the Food and Drug Administration said Monday.
Johnson & Johnson filed emergency use authorization last March 31, FDA Director General Eric Domingo said.
“[The application is] now under evaluation,” Domingo told Philstar.com in a text message.
Once authorized by the country’s FDA, Johnson & Johnson will be the fifth vaccine maker to get emergency use approval in the Philippines, following Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Sinovac and Gamaleya Research Institute.
Last month, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez said the country was hoping to finalize the supply agreement to secure vaccines developed by Johnson & Johnson.
Global clinical trials of almost 40,000 people showed the one-shot coronavirus vaccine was 85.4% in preventing severe disease but the efficacy fell to 66.1% when including moderate forms of the disease.
The World Health Organization added the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to the list of safe and effective emergency tools against COVID-19.
The jab has also received praise for its single dosage and because it does not need to be kept in subarctic temperatures unlike the COVID-19 shots from Pfizer and Moderna, making distribution much simpler.
The vaccine also has a long shelf life of two years. Janssen Pharmaceutica, a division of Johnson & Johnson based in Belgium, is developing the vaccine.
LET PROMISE OF SALVATION INSPIRE US – DUTERTE
MANILA — Easter offers an assurance of triumph over adversity, President Duterte said yesterday, as the Philippines wrestles with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and a surge in the number of infections.
In his Easter message, Duterte expressed hope that the celebration, which he described as a cornerstone of Christianity, would guide Filipinos as they pursue “shared aspirations for a better and safer future for our people.”
“Today, we are joined together in the spirit of victory through the resurrection of Christ. The glory of Easter gives us all a profound message of hope in the midst of suffering and an assurance of triumph over adversity,” Duterte said.
“As we collectively strive to overcome the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, I trust that the promise of salvation will inspire us to look ahead for new beginnings and move forward with stronger faith and compassion for others,” he added.
HATE HAS NO PLACE IN ANY SOCIETY: VP ROBREDO BLASTS ANTI-ASIAN AMERICAN VIOLENCE IN US
Vice President Leni Robredo condemned Monday a series of hate crimes against Asians in the United States amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement, the Vice President described the attacks as an "appalling turn of events", adding that she is hopeful US President Joe Biden will ensure the safety of all Asians and minority groups.
"At a time when the world should come together in solidarity against the greater threat of the pandemic, Asians, some of them Filipinos, have been singled out as targets of rage and racial hatred. This has contributed to a climate of growing fear in an atmosphere already made volatile by COVID-19," she said.
"Hatred has no place in any society that wishes to heal," she added.
There has been an increase in hate crimes reported against Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Former President Donald Trump often referred to the coronavirus as the "China virus" and the "China plague."
DILG EXEC TO ROBREDO: GOVT NEEDS TO BE 'INSPIRED' NOT 'DISCOURAGED' IN COVID FIGHT
MANILA - Government workers need to be "inspired" instead of being "discouraged" in its COVID-19 efforts, an official said Monday in response to Vice President Leni Robredo's proposals on how to improve the country's anti-virus measures.
Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III of the Department of the Interior and Local Government earlier took a swipe at the Vice President, calling her ""non-essential" amid a row over deliveries of "lugaw" or rice porridge.
"It (reminded me of) the non-essential statements of the (Vice) President these past weeks, attacking our government, making unvetted statements instead of inspiring and encouraging us to work hand in hand to fight this pandemic," he told ANC's Headstart.
"It seems in our country instead of the opposition helping out and encouraging even us government workers I think we’re being discouraged by attacking what we’re doing."
Densing said government was "willing to take the criticism as long as it’s true and it’s verified."
He said programs being proposed by Robredo are already being implemented.
"These statements are unfair to us working in government. We need to be inspired and encouraged right now," he said.
Critics often call Robredo "lugaw", in reference to the rice porridge that her team would at times bring to calamity survivors.
POPE FRANCIS, IN EASTER MESSAGE, SLAMS WEAPONS SPENDING IN TIME OF PANDEMIC
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis urged countries in his Easter message on Sunday to quicken distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, particularly to the world's poor, and called armed conflict and military spending during a pandemic "scandalous".
Coronavirus has meant this has been the second year in a row that Easter papal services have been attended by small gatherings at a secondary altar of St. Peter's Basilica, instead of by crowds in the church or in the square outside.
After saying Mass, Francis read his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) message, in which he traditionally reviews world problems and appeals for peace.
"The pandemic is still spreading, while the social and economic crisis remains severe, especially for the poor. Nonetheless – and this is scandalous – armed conflicts have not ended and military arsenals are being strengthened," he said.
Francis, who would normally have given the address to up to 100,000 people in St. Peter's Square, spoke to fewer than 200 in the church while the message was broadcast to tens of millions around the world.
PH TO BUILD MOBILE ISOLATION FACILITIES; COVID-19 TESTING 'VIRTUALLY FREE': PALACE
MANILA - The Philippine government will build mobile isolation facilities as COVID-19 cases continue to rise nationwide, Malacañang said Monday.
Metro Manila hospitals earlier declared full capacity for virus patients, prompting government to place the capital region under strict lockdown until April 11.
Government has built a 110-bed capacity quarantine facility at the Quezon Institute in Quezon City, and will add 160 additional beds to Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital (Tala Hospital) in Caloocan, said Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
"There are now plans to build mobile tents, ICU facilities of up to 200 beds," he told ANC's Headstart.
"We’re doing what other countries did at the height of their own pandemics, we’re relying now on mobile hospitals."
Coronavirus testing is also free except for persons without symptoms, Roque said.
"Testing is virtually free if you're an economic frontliner, a medical frontliner, if you've had exposure or if you have symptoms. It's only the asymptomatics without exposure who want to test who will have to pay the required fee," he said.
"We’re not giving to everyone but we’re doing it on a targeted basis."
CREATE TO GENERATE 1.4 MILLION NEW JOBS – LAWMAKER
MANILA — About 1.4 million new jobs will be generated in the next 10 years because of a newly enacted tax law designed to help pandemic-hit micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with P133 billion in much-needed stimulus funds.
In his remarks at a recent digital briefing, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda broke down the benefits of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) law.
“Based on a standard net present valuation of the cut in corporate income tax alone, the value is P7.1 trillion. We expect CREATE to yield 1.1 to 1.4 million jobs over the next decade,” Salceda said.
The chairman of the House ways and means committee gave his prediction before top business executives with the tax committee of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX).
“CREATE is the largest infusion of tax savings in the private sector in the country’s modern history,” he said.
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK TURNS FROM BAD TO WORSE
MANILA — The recent spike in COVID-19 cases just made it more uncertain for the country to rebound from the pandemic when the rest of the world is slowly getting back on its feet, a global think tank said.
In its latest chart book, London-based Capital Economics said the situation in the Philippines, which is already lagging behind in economic recovery, is now looking extremely serious and dire.
“The economic outlook in the Philippines has gone from bad to worse over the past month. The main headwind is a renewed surge in virus infections, with the country now reporting around 10,000 new cases of COVID-19 each day,” Capital Economics said.
PALACE SPOKESMAN, WHO CONTRACTED COVID-19, TOLD TO WAIT 90 DAYS FOR JAB
MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman said Monday he needs to wait 90 days before he can get inoculated against COVID-19 after contracting the disease.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said he was given a slot at the Emilio Aguinaldo Elementary School in Quezon City due to his comorbidities.
"Because I tested positive, she said you have to wait 90 days before you are vaccinated," he told ANC's Headstart.
Roque recovered from the disease in late March. He was the fifth member of Duterte's Cabinet to contract the illness.
JUDICIARY EMPLOYEES IN VACCINE PRIORITY LIST
Judiciary employees are now included in priority population group A4 of the country's vaccination plan for COVID-19.
The judiciary earlier appealed to vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. to include justices, judges and court personnel in the list of frontline government workers in the justice sector.
"Finally, the letter-request expresses that the Judiciary's continuing in-court operations despite the existence of community quarantines run the risk of exposing its employees/personnel to COVID-19 infections, who in turn, regularly interact with other stakeholders that already fall in the priority groups of the Philippines National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for COVID-19 Vaccines," Perlas-Bernabe says.
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PHILIPPINES EYES MODIFIED ENHANCED COMMUNITY QUARANTINE FOR NCR PLUS: PALACE
MANILA - The Philippine is eyeing to place Metro Manila and nearby areas under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) next week following the extension of strict lockdown until April 11, Malacañang said Sunday.
President Rodrigo Duterte had extended the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in NCR Plus, composed of the capital region, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal, to curb the continuous rise of COVID-19 cases.
"I don’t think ECQ for a third week is actually a possibility. Based on the model of DOH, what they recommended was 2 weeks of ECQ--another week of bubble--to be followed by a week of MECQ and if we implement the minimum health protocols... we expect the numbers to go down by around 4,000 a day by May 15," Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque told ANC's Headstart.
"So that’s the model we’re pursuing, 2 weeks of ECQ and another week of MECQ."
The Philippines on Easter Sunday tallied 11,028 new cases of COVID-19, bringing its total virus infections to 795,051.
METRO MANILA MAYORS AGREE TO GET COVID-19 JAB
MANILA - Metro Manila mayors have agreed to get inoculated against COVID-19 to boost their constituents' confidence, the head of the Metro Manila Council said Monday.
The national government has classified governors and local chief executives as frontliners in order to receive COVID-19 vaccines.
This, after several mayors were earlier asked to explain their inoculations despite not being prioritized.
Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez, who heads the Metro Manila Council, said he has been scheduled for vaccination "this week."
"Kami pong lahat na 17 mayor ay pumapayag (magpabakuna) para mapakita din po namin ang confidence sa mga tao. Makikita po natin gumanda na ang kumpiyansa ng ating mag residente," Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.
"Kung makikita po nila na ang mga mayor, gobernador ay magkakaroon ng vaccination, 'yun pong kumpiyansa ay lalong lalaki."
SCHOOLS BEING PREPPED AS ISOLATION CENTERS
MANILA — Public and private schools in Metro Manila are being prepared to serve as isolation centers, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) reported yesterday.
PRC chairman Sen. Richard Gordon said they will be working with Metro Manila local government units (LGUs) in setting up additional isolation centers as the health care system is becoming overwhelmed.
Gordon said the PRC will provide ambulances to transport patients to isolation centers and set-up isolation beds as well as provide supplementary hot meals. The agency will also put up shower rooms for their daily hygiene needs, ensure daily monitoring of their condition and provide ambulances to transport patients to hospitals who, while in isolation, develop moderate to severe symptoms.
“We can be more effective if we can work together for the same purpose. Our purpose is to lower the growing number of COVID-19 infected from inside. We need to get them out so there won’t be more infected. With multi-generation households, most often those who bring home COVID are those who go out to work and infect the ones they live with, especially their parents or others who are elderly who end up dying. So, they need to be taken out of the house so they won’t infect others,” Gordon explained in Filipino and English.
ISKO GETS SINOVAC VACCINE
MANILA — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno received his first dose of Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccine yesterday.
Moreno received his jab from Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, who is a doctor, at the President Sergio Osmeña High School in Tondo.
Moreno said he got himself the jab after President Duterte allowed mayors in high-risk areas to get vaccinated. He said he chose Sinovac to assure the public that it is safe and effective.
FILIPINO COMPANY WINS AS 'BEST NEW STARTUP' IN ASEAN AWARDS
MANILA — Filipino startup MoveUp.app was recognized as Best New Startup out of over 20 finalists from Southeast Asia.
A platform for online onboarding and training of teams founded by Filipino entrepreneur Paul Espinas, MoveUp won at the recently concluded Asean Startup Awards.
The award was presented during the online broadcast of the Global Startup Awards last March 11 in Amsterdam. It is given to a startup that has shown the greatest development over the last year based on growth, innovation, impact, and most importantly, dreaming big.
With the difficulty of welcoming new hires online, continuously training them, and connecting with internal teams, companies can now use the MoveUp.app to create a conducive work environment in a remote and virtual set-up.
Espinas, who is currently in Vietnam, said that in the long run, the ultimate vision of the company is to make continuous learning accessible, fun and effective.
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
LUIS MANZANO AND JESSY MENDIOLA GET MARRIED
MANILA - Celebrity couple Jessy Mendiola and Luis Manzano on Sunday revealed that they are already married.
Mendiola made the confirmation through a 5-minute video posted on her Youtube channel, as well as a post on her Instagram page.
The video showed the couple's preparation for their wedding, which includes Manzano jokingly reading the lyrics to the song "The Warrior is a Child" as his wedding vow.
Among the wedding guests are Manzano's parents Edu Manzano and Vilma Santos-Resto, as well as Senator Ralph Recto and Ryan Recto.
The couple did not reveal when the actual wedding happened.
Manzano and Mendiola, who have been together for more than four years, announced their engagement last December.
PH’S KELLEY DAY IS MISS ECO INTERNATIONAL 1ST RUNNER-UP; SOUTH AFRICA WINS CROWN
MANILA—The Philippines’ Kelley Day was named first runner-up of the Miss Eco International pageant held in South Sinai, Egypt on Sunday (early Monday in Manila).
The Filipina beauty queen was named first runner-up, with South Africa's Gizzelle Uys winning the title.
The rest of the runners-up came from Venezuela, United States and Costa Rica.
Earlier in the pageant, Day won Best National Costume at the preliminaries of the pageant held at Baron Resort Sharm El Sheikh on Friday.
The 24-year old Tarlac native had looked stunning in her red, Maria Clara-inspired Filipiniana dress created by Louis Pangilinan.
A former member of the “It’s Showtime” all-girl dance group GirlTrends, Day now joins the likes of Maureen Montagne who also finished first runner- up in Miss Eco International 2019.
Cynthia Thomalla, on the other hand, was named Miss Eco International in 2018.
The Philippines' representatives to the competition have all reached the finals since Miss Eco International title was first introduced in the Miss World Philippines pageant in 2017.
SPORTS
NBA SCORES APRIL 3
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Mavericks 27-21 24 28 23 34 109
Wizards 17-31 19 28 20 20 87
SCORING LEADERS
L. Doncic DAL
26 PTS, 8 REB, 6 AST
R. Westbrook WAS
26 PTS, 14 REB, 5 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Timberwolves 12-38 29 31 23 30 113
76ers 34-15 26 38 33 25 122
SCORING LEADERS
K. Towns MIN
39 PTS, 14 REB, 5 AST
T. Harris PHI
32 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Knicks 25-25 41 19 28 37 125
Pistons 14-35 15 26 20 20 81
SCORING LEADERS
J. Randle NY
29 PTS, 8 REB, 3 AST
J. Grant DET
16 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Cavaliers 17-32 27 27 19 28 101
Heat 26-24 36 31 17 31 115
SCORING LEADERS
C. Sexton CLE
26 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST
B. Adebayo MIA
18 PTS, 11 REB, 5 AST
FINAL/OT
1 2 3 4 OT T
Pacers 22-26 32 35 31 28 13 139
Spurs 24-23 33 26 38 29 7 133
SCORING LEADERS
C. LeVert IND
26 PTS, 4 REB, 9 AST
D. DeRozan SA
25 PTS, 4 REB, 6 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Magic 17-32 20 20 32 19 91
Jazz 38-11 38 40 29 30 137
SCORING LEADERS
W. Carter Jr. ORL
19 PTS, 12 REB, 1 AST
D. Mitchell UTA
22 PTS, 2 REB, 4 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Thunder 20-29 19 27 13 26 85
Trail Blazers 30-19 35 30 39 29 133
SCORING LEADERS
K. Williams OKC
18 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST
C. McCollum POR
20 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Bucks 32-17 31 30 38 30 129
Kings 22-28 28 29 34 37 128
SCORING LEADERS
J. Holiday MIL
33 PTS, 7 REB, 11 AST
D. Fox SAC
27 PTS, 3 REB, 6 AST
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
There is nothing more inspiring and stimulating than being in the company of optimists. - Thomas Joyce
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