INFLATION EASES TO 4.5 PERCENT IN MARCH
MANILA - Inflation slightly eased in March due to slower price movement of food and non-alcoholic beverages, government data released Tuesday showed.
The consumer price index rose 4.5 percent in March, slightly slower from the 4.7 percent in February, the Philippine Statistics said in a virtual briefing.
March inflation is within the 4.2 percent to 5 percent forecast of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and above the government's 2 to 4 percent range target.
BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno earlier said inflation is likely to breach the upper band of the government's target range for 2021.
For 2022, inflation forecast was raised to 2.8 percent from 2.7 percent, the central bank said.
Despite the uptick, Diokno said inflation is still "transitory" and manageable.
Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and Bulacan remain under enhanced community quarantine due to the rising number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, putting a strain on movements and other economic activities.
The BSP still has tools to support the economy. Key interest rate, used by banks to price loans, were kept at its lowest level of 2 percent in February's Monetary Board meeting.
ONE YEAR INTO PANDEMIC, GOV'T IN A RUSH TO BUILD MORE ISOLATION FACILITIES
MANILA - The Philippines is building more isolation facilities to cope with the latest surge of COVID-19 cases, a health official said Tuesday, as infections breached the 800,000-mark after a year into the pandemic.
"If we are able to provide more isolation facilities or beds for quarantine, I think this will decompress the hospitals. But it needs a very good triage system with the local governments in trying to sort out those who are mild and asymptomatic," Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega told ANC.
Vega said the Department of Health and Bases Conversion and Development Authority had built a 250-bed isolation facility in Subic, which would soon be operational.
Health authorities will also open a new isolation center in New Clark City, which will cater to patients with mild COVID-19 cases, he said.
Local government units are also making use of hotels, motels and public schools as quarantine facilities, Vega added.
Latest data showed that 41 percent of patients admitted in hospitals are mild and asymptomatic cases, he bared.
As of Sunday, 52 health facilities in Metro Manila have reached 85 percent of their occupancy or at a "critical" level.
Some 26 health facilities were considered "high risk," which means 70 to 85 percent of their capacity were occupied.
Meanwhile, 11 health facilities fall under "moderate" while 64 others were considered "safe". Hospitals are classified as moderate if 60 to 70 percent of their bed capacity are occupied while those less than 60 percent of their bed utilization rate are considered safe.
CHINA'S LATEST INCURSION IN WEST PH SEA CAN BE REPEAT OF SCARBOROUGH TAKEOVER: ANALYST
MANILA - China's latest incursion in the West Philippine Sea can lead to a repeat of the 2012 standoff in the Scarborough Shoal, an analyst warned Tuesday.
"This might be Scarborough Shoal all over again. We see the pattern happening, waiting for this opportunity, swarming technique. Basically, preventing us from being able to react because we are overwhelmed by the number of Chinese fishing vessels, Coast Guard vessels and in the backdrop, the People's Liberation Army Navy," international studies professor Renato De Castro of the De La Salle University told ANC.
Scarborough, called by Filipinos as Panatag Shoal and by the Chinese as Huangyan Island, was the site of a 2012 standoff between the Philippines and China.
The standoff erupted when Manila sent its biggest warship to chase off Chinese poachers. It prompted the Philippine government to drag Beijing to an international tribunal to invalidate the Asian power’s expansive claims to the sea.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines but Beijing has refused to honor its decision.
China has since built artificial islands in the Scarborough Shoal, located only 124 nautical miles off Zambales and is within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.
For De Castro, he described the Philippines as "fair game" in China's aggressive maritime agenda in the South China Sea.
"We happened to be weak. We don't have a powerful navy nor of course, a government courageous enough to stand up against China. So, we are fair game," he said.
De Castro said the current administration didn't learn from history that appeasing China doesn't work.
"Basically, the great powers would see appeasement as an indication of weakness and that was basically what the Duterte administration has basically broadcasted to China since 2016 and in the process, also distanced ourselves from our only treaty ally, the United States," he said.
CASH O PAGKAIN? PAMIMIGAY NG ECQ AYUDA MAGSISIMULA NA
MAYNILA - Sisimulan na sa mga susunod na araw ang pamimigay ng COVID-19 ayuda sa Metro Manila at 4 na karatig lalawigan na nasa ilalim ng enhanced community quarantine.
Sa Navotas, nakatakdang i-rollout ang P199,480,000 milyon kabuuang cash assistance na natanggap nila mula sa national government sa Miyerkoles.
“Bukas po target namin. Subukan namin mag start tomorrow, cash po,” pahayag ni Mayor Toby Tiangco sa TeleRadyo Martes ng umaga.
“Iba-iba pangangailangan nila. Yung iba baka kailangan ng gamot, pang load sa internet para sa mga bata makapag-aral kaya cash na lang ibibigay namin,” sabi niya.
Bukod sa cash assistance mula sa national government, may food packs na rin na ibinigay ang Department of Welfare and Social Development (DSWD) pero hindi para sa buong populasyon ng Navotas.
“Tapos yung city hall employees namin namimigay na sila ng ayuda ngayon galing naman sa local government unit, so nagrerepack,” sabi niya.
Sa Caloocan, dumating din nitong Lunes ang ayuda mula sa national government at kanila na itong inaayos para maibahagi sa Miyerkoles.
Sa TeleRadyo, sinabi ni Mayor Oscar Malapitan na mayroon din sariling ayuda na manggagaling mula sa lokal na pamahalaan.
“Wala kaming pipiliin dito, mayaman o mahirap. Nung isang linggo pa kami nagsimula pero marami pang area hindi pa namin nakokober,” sabi niya.
Laman ng naturang ayuda ay limang kilong bigas at mga delata, sabi ng alkalde.
IMMIGRATION WARNS FOREIGNERS: DEFYING IATF PROTOCOLS MAY LEAD TO DEPORTATION CHARGES
MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration warned foreign nationals in the country that they may face deportation charges if they violate quarantine protocols set by the government’s coronavirus task force.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente in a statement on Monday stressed that foreign nationals are expected to follow Philippine laws and “blatant disregard of rules and persons of authority may be reason for their deportation.”
Foreigners who disrespect authorities may also be considered undesirable aliens. “Foreign nationals who disrespect symbols of our country and persons of authority are not welcome in the Philippines,” he added.
Immigration Intelligence chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. also said they received reports that some foreign executives of companies in the Philippines violate protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases in their workplaces.
“We will be conducting an investigation on these reports, and if found with merit, will file immigration cases against aliens involved,” Manahan added.
DOJ: COMMUNITY SERVICE, NOT JAIL TIME OR FINES, FOR QUARANTINE VIOLATORS
MANILA — It took the Department of Justice a year of arrests, another enhanced community quarantine and several dismissals of cases to reverse its position last year that those who violate quarantine protocols may be arrested.
In a major policy shift, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a Malacañang presser Monday that he has advised the Inter-Agency Task Force not to arrest or detain violators and impose community service instead.
“I also recommended that in the enforcement, the stricter enforcement of the ordinances, that LGUs consider the possibility of imposing na lamang the penalty of community service for those who will continue to violate our ordinances rather than imprison or rather than putting them in jail or fining them, eh kasi talaga ngang mahirap na ang buhay sa ECQ (because life is really difficult under the ECQ),” he explained.
Guevarra, in March last year, said the “gravity of the present situation” allowed law enforcement agents to “effect arrests” of violators.
He cited 3 laws as legal bases:
- the Revised Penal Code which punishes resistance and disobedience to a person in authority and direct assault from 6 months to 6 years in prison and fines from P100,000 to P200,000;
- RA 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act which imposes jailtime of up to 6 months and a fine of up to P50,000 for “non-cooperation” of the persons identified as having a notifiable disease and those who are supposed to report it; and
- RA 9271 or the Quarantine Act of 2004 where non-compliance with regulations set by the Bureau of Quarantine could mean 1 year in jail and a fine of up to P50,000.
DEFENSOR GIVING AWAY VETERINARY DRUG IVERMECTIN VS COVID-19 DESPITE FDA WARNINGS
MANILA - Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor on Monday said he is distributing the veterinary drug Ivermectin to COVID-19 patients and the elderly in Quezon City despite Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warnings on the unauthorized use of the product.
Defensor on Facebook said his office will prioritize distribution of the veterinary drug, which is used against worm infestations and parasites in animals, to the sick and senior citizens in the city.
The World Health Organization (WHO), European Medicines Agency, and the US FDA have all warned against the use of Ivermectin against COVID-19.
Ivermectin manufacturer Merck said there is no scientific basis showing that the anti-parasite drug is effective against COVID-19.
Responding to media queries after his post, Defensor said the Ivermectin he is giving away will be in capsule form. He claimed that the drug may be taken "once every 2 weeks" to either treat or prevent COVID-19.
He later clarified that only those with a prescription for Ivermectin will be receiving a free supply.
"There should be an accompanying prescription to it. How it should be taken and the amount based on weight. For those sick with COVID, there is also a protocol," Defensor said.
He said the capsules will be made in the same facility making the topical Ivermectin medication for humans.
"Sa compounding lab na rin. So 'pag may nagpalista gagawa 'yung lab. Yung FDA approval is to register your brand," he said.
COVID-19 cases in Philippines may reach 1M before end-April — OCTA Research
COVID-19 cases in the Philippines may reach more than a million before the end of April, an independent research group said Monday, as the country continues to deal with a spike in infections that has swamped hospitals.
In its latest report, the OCTA Research Team said strict lockdown measures have been “effective in slowing down” the increase in number of new cases in Metro Manila. However, infections still rose by 20% with an average of 5,538 additional cases per day.
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DOH: NCR TO SHIFT TO MECQ IF HEALTH CARE UTILIZATION GOES DOWN TO 60%
MANILA — The Department of Health on Monday said one of the indicators the government is looking at in easing the current quarantine protocols for the National Capital Region is the occupancy of hospital beds and equipment.
“For health care utilization, we need to see that the utilization will be down to at least 60% before we can say we are at that safe level,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said when asked during a Palace briefing about what it would take for the government to de-escalate the enhanced community quarantine in NCR.
Vergeire said that the current health care utilization rate for the region is at 78% to 80%, which is classified as high risk.
She added that currently intensive care unit (ICU) beds are almost 100% occupied in all cities in Metro Manila.
“We need to bring it down so we are able to say that our health care system can manage,” she said.
She said this includes bringing asymptomatic and mild cases to quarantine facilities so that hospitals can prioritize those with moderate to critical conditions.
PILAR PILAPIL HAS MOTHERLY ADVICE FOR DUTERTE
MANILA — Veteran actress Pilar Pilapil cautions President Rodrigo Duterte on whom to trust and to be careful with his words.
The seasoned actress plays as mother to Gabby Concepcion's fictional Philippine president character in the currently airing nightly GMA-7 drama "First Yaya."
"The advice that I can give him is to probably be more careful in addressing the public, knowing that we are a people of different ages and different ways of thinking. So I would probably constantly advice him to be more careful in addressing the public," she told the media, including Philstar.com, in a recent online press conference.
Pilar was asked a rhetorical question by the press during the show's recent virtual presscon: "If she were Duterte's mother, what advice would she give him?"
The seasoned actress plays Blesilda Acosta, mother of Glenn Acosta, played by Concepcion.
"At the same time, be very aware of the people around him. To make sure that the people around him are the people whom he can really trust and with whom the country can trust," she continued.
LRT-1 RAIL LINE INCREASES SPEED TO 60 KPH
MANILA — The private operator of the Light Rail Transit-Line 1 disclosed Monday that it had secured a safety certification that the LRT-1 can now lift the restriction of 40 kilometers per hour and safely run at a faster speed.
In a statement, the Light Rail Manila Corp. announced that the LRT-1 will run at a maximum speed of 60 kph beginning Monday as LRMC has completed all relevant improvement activities needed for the 36-year-old railway system.
The certification, the rail operator said, came from a "from a reputable international testing facility" that it did not name. It added that it tapped the "international partner to assess, perform verificatory tests, and identify the corrective works needed to be in agreement with European standards."
According to the LRMC, this is expected to result in a shorter trip time from Baclaran to Balintawak and vice-versa as well as increase the daily number of trips made by LRT-1 trains.
NEW BRIDGE CONNECTS 13 SEASIDE VILLAGES TO COTABATO CITY
COTABATO CITY — Thirteen barangays in the western coast of Maguindanao are now connected by a new P108-million bridge to this city, something first in the 48-year history of the province.
The bridge connecting both banks of the Matuber River in Datu Blah Sinsuat, Maguindanao was launched Saturday by representatives from the Bangsamoro government led by Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim.
The construction of the bridge, started in 2019, was first bankrolled by the then Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and, subsequently, continued by the newly-established Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Datu Blah Sinsuat Mayor Marshall Sinsuat told reporters after the bridge was opened to traffic on Saturday morning that he and his 13 constituent-barangay chairpersons are grateful to the BARMM government for the completion of the project.
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
‘NABUNUTAN AKO NG TINIK,’ GERALD ANDERSON SAYS OF CONFIRMING RELATIONSHIP WITH JULIA BARRETTO
MANILA — Nowadays, Gerald Anderson and Julia Barretto can more openly share their love for each other — thanks to the actor confirming their romance in early March, after more than a year of speculation.
In the past month alone, they have posted several photos and videos of each other on social media, and have become more visible together by allowing to be photographed as a couple.
As recently as Easter Sunday, they posed with their celebrity friends Vicki Belo and Hayden Kho for a group shot.
By Anderson’s own admission, revealing his relationship with Barretto felt liberating.
“Personally, it’s just something na parang naramdaman ko na kailangan ko nang gawin for peace of mind. Nabunutan ako ng tinik,” he said, when asked what has changed since his tell-all interview with TV host Boy Abunda.
Anderson, 32, addressed the question during the virtual media launch of his upcoming ABS-CBN series “Init sa Magdamag” on Monday.
In his interview with Abunda released on March 5, Anderson said he was “very happy” with Barretto. He also denied a past allegation from his prior girlfriend, actress Bea Alonzo, that he had “ghosted” her to end their relationship.
“After that, wala, tuloy lang ang buhay,” Anderson said. “Merong mas malalaking problema na hinaharap natin lahat kaysa ‘yung interview ko kay Tito Boy. Personally, it’s something na I had to do. Move on na.”
Abunda, in a subsequent interview about his own talk show, surmised similarly when asked how he sees Anderson’s confirmation to have impacted his personal and public life.
“I wouldn’t be able to speak about that interview in the context of his career, but if I have anything to say about it… With that interview, Gerald, whether deliberately or unconsciously, set himself free,” he said.
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
If you hate something thoroughly without knowing why, you can be sure there is something of it in your own nature. - Friedrich Hebbel
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