PHILIPPINES TO AUTHORIZE PFIZER COVID-19 VACCINE FOR EMERGENCY USE IN 12-15 YEAR OLDS

MANILA — The Philippines will allow the Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in children aged 12-15, the head of its Food and Drugs Administration said, widening the number of people in the country that will be protected against the virus.

“Within the week, we will be issuing an amendment to the emergency use authorization of Pfizer and we will be able to use it in children 12-15 year olds,” Food and Drug Administration chief Rolando Enrique Domingo said during a televised meeting with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte late on Wednesday.

Pfizer/BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine is one of the seven brands of coronavirus shots allowed for emergency use in the Philippines.

NO MORE 'HERD IMMUNITY'; GOV'T NOW EYES 'POPULATION PROTECTION' VS COVID-19

MANILA — Instead of herd immunity, the Philippines is now eyeing “population protection” against the novel coronavirus before the end of the year, the Department of Health said on Wednesday, amid the presence of more infectious COVID-19 variants.

“We are shifting to the term 'population protection' through mass immunization kasi po iyong ating herd immunity, marami pong mga kaakibat na mga criteria,” Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said during a televised public briefing.

“We are considering the variant,” she added.

“Herd immunity” usually refers to continuous protection, said Cabotaje, who is chairperson of the National Vaccinations Operations Center.

Experts remain uncertain about whether or not booster shots are needed to maintain a vaccine's efficacy, and whether vaccines can work against COVID-19 variants, she said.

“We were looking before at targeting 70 million na Filipinos by end of this year or early next year,” recalled Cabotaje.

“Medyo ni-refocus natin ito at ang target natin ay about 50 to 60 percent, naka-concentrate iyan sa NCR Plus, para mas mapabilis – mass vaccination, population protection in geographic setting. So naka-limit sa certain geographic areas.”

However, the country may still be able to reach its initial target of inoculating 70 million if “the supply will be good and the global market will improve,” she said.

GOV'T WON'T PRIORITIZE AREAS OF DUTERTE ALLIES IN VACCINE DISTRIBUTION: ROQUE

MANILA - Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque on Thursday said the Duterte administration will not discriminate in its COVID-19 vaccine distribution based on political leaning.

Roque dismissed fears that the Duterte administration would prioritize his allies in the vaccine distribution, saying it makes no sense scientifically to discriminate based on political lines.

"Scientifically, you can’t discriminate because you’re defeating the purpose of a mass vaccination. No one is safe until we are all safe. It does not make sense if you give priority to areas just because they are political supporters and ignore other areas because the nature of the virus is it does not discriminate against or for political allies or opponents," he said.

The Philippines has been vaccinating its citizens against COVID-19 since March. A monitoring by the ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group found that about 8 million doses have arrived in the country and 4,495,375 have been administered.

HOUSE JUSTICE PANEL JUNKS IMPEACHMENT COMPLAINT VS LEONEN

MANILA — Voting 37-0, the House justice committee swiftly dismissed Thursday the impeachment complaint against Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen.

Lawmakers, including several House leaders, pointed out that the complaint largely relied on news reports, did not include original documents, and was not based on the complainant’s personal knowledge.

“[It’s] a mere scrap of paper,” Senior Deputy Speaker Salvador “Doy” Leachon (Oriental Mindoro) said during the hearing.

Edwin Cordevilla, who identified himself as secretary general of the Filipino League of Advocates for Good Government, filed the complaint against Leonen which was endorsed by Rep. Angelo Barba (Ilocos Norte).

Barba is the cousin of former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos whose poll protest was unanimously junked by the Supreme Court in a decision penned by Leonen.

COMELEC TO LIMIT CANDIDATES’ COMPANIONS

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) plans to limit the number of companions of persons who will file their certificate of candidacy (COC) for the 2022 national and local elections to avoid mass gatherings.

Comelec Commissioner Antonio Kho said yesterday that this year’s filing of COCs for the 2022 polls will be different from the previous elections where supporters of a potential candidate may gather outside the Comelec offices.

Kho said that limiting the number of people who will accompany a potential candidate will be part of the poll body’s measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.

“We will definitely implement that. That will be part of our anti-COVID-19 measures during the COC filing. We can probably limit (the allowed persons) to candidates and lawyers or family members to join the actual filing inside the office,” Kho said.

Kho, who heads the new normal committee of the Comelec, said that limiting the number of persons during the filing of the COC will be discussed during their meeting with other officials of the poll body.

He said that the Comelec has still no concrete plans yet as far as the COC filing is concerned, but there are already plans on how to ensure that the 2022 presidential elections will be safe, clean and credible.

The Comelec has set the filing of the COC from Oct. 1 to 8.

WARRANTLESS ARRESTS ALLOWED IF BARANGAY LEADERS PRESENT IN SUPER-SPREADER EVENTS: ROQUE

Roque says other individuals in these events would also be held liable

MANILA - Barangay leaders who are present at mass gatherings that turn into super-spreader events could be arrested without warrant, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Thursday.

President Rodrigo Duterte warned village leaders that they would be the first to be arrested for letting these gatherings take place within their jurisdiction, citing them for dereliction of duty.

Roque noted that law enforcers can perform warrantless arrests if they personally witness a crime.

"If there is for instance, a super-spreader event ongoing, such as what happened in that swimming pool, and the barangay captain is in the area and knows about it, then that in fact is an indication that he personally knew about the breach being committed and did nothing to prevent it. That would be sufficient for a warrantless arrest on the basis of dereliction of duty," he told ANC's Headstart.

Asked again if he meant the barangay chairperson would have to be "at the scene," Roque said yes.

If the leader is not at the scene but allowed the gathering to happen, Roque said the "normal procedure" would have to be followed, where complaints would have to be filed before the prosecutor's office. If there would be probable cause, it would be forwarded to the court and the court would then decide whether or not to issue a warrant of arrest.

He added, the guests in these events and the owner of the place where it was held would also be liable. He said while there is yet to be a national law on quarantine protocols, there are existing ordinances and specific provisions of the Revised Penal Code that outline these.

NO MORE MASKS? GOV'T URGED TO EXPLORE EASING RESTRICTIONS FOR THE FULLY VACCINATED

MANILA - Is it time to ease restrictions for Filipinos who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19?

OCTA Research fellow Fr. Nicanor Austriaco made the proposal, saying other countries such as the United States and South Korea have allowed those inoculated against COVID-19 not to wear face masks outdoors.

Israel has also rescinded its order to wear face mask outdoors but the requirement is applied for indoor public spaces.

"The government has to be ready to gradually relax minimum health standards as more and more Filipinos are vaccinated to do two things: to give us hope and to give an incentive to those who are hesitant," Austriaco told ANC's Headstart.

ELEAZAR ORDERS CRACKDOWN VS TUPADA

MANILA — Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar yesterday ordered a crackdown against illegal cockfights.

Eleazar issued the directive after a barangay captain and four other persons were arrested for holding an illegal cockfighting game in Calamba, Laguna on Sunday.

Larry Dimayuga, 47, chairman of Barangay Canlubang, and his companions were apprehended by agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the middle of a cockfighting game.

Another tupada in Valenzuela City occurred on the same day, which led to the death of a teenager with autism.

“I am ordering all police commanders to launch a crackdown against this form of illegal activity,” Eleazar said.

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METRO MANILA MAYORS SEEK VACCINATION OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS, OPENING UP MORE BUSINESSES

MANILA - Metro Manila mayors have agreed to recommend the vaccination of essential workers (A4) and expansion of establishments' capacity, an official said Thursday.

The mayors also agreed to expand churches' seating capacity up to 50 percent while curfew will remain between 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., said Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos.

"Ang napagkasunduan ng mga alkalde kagabi ay number 1 lakihan pa ang capacity at to have more activities at mga negosyo," he told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.

"Itinutulak po ng mga alkalde na pati A4, bakunahan na. Ang depinisiyon po ng NEDA ay lahat ng manggagawa except those working from home."

The capital region, home to a tenth of the country's 100 million people, is ready to ease restrictions "slowly but very cautious," according to Abalos.

"Bago po magdecide, nagreport po ang DOH (Department of Health) at napakaganda, bumababa na ang mga kaso, medyo maganda na ang (sitwasyon ng) ating ICU (intensive care units) at hospital beds kaya we take this with caution," he said.

The capital region on Wednesday tallied 988 new COVID-19 cases, bringing its total active infections to 10,723 or 23.92 percent of the country's 46,037 active cases.

QC COUNCILOR SLAPPED WITH SHOW-CAUSE ORDER OVER FOOD DISTRIBUTION ACTIVITY

MANILA — The Quezon City local government issued a show-cause order Wednesday to Councilor Franz Pumaren demanding an explanation for his food distribution activity in Brgy. Old Balara and the subsequent quarantine violations.

In a statement, the LGU said that the City Legal Department is already conducting the necessary investigation over these reports and will file cases "as warranted", while the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit has been instructed to conduct COVID-19 testing among participants of the activity.

A spot report from Batasan Police Station 6 said that Pumaren filed a request to conduct his "Kongsina ni Franz (Meals on Wheels)" activity to distribute 300 sacks of rice intended for 6,000 residents of the community at Liwanag-Dupax Street with some 50 members of his staff.

The report also noted that barangay watchmen were absent to assist the eleven enforcers present in the enforcement, adding that the crowd "inadvertently forgot the physical distancing" after a sudden rain shower. "Due to a voluminous number of people their effort proved futile," it read.

Pumaren at a press conference asserted that the barangay had been furnished a letter informing them of the activity but admitted that no contact tracing forms were given to the food pack recipients.

He insisted, though, that health protocols were still enforced by his staff.

QUEZON CITY ROLLS OUT ‘TRASH TO CASH’ PROGRAM

MANILA — The Quezon City government will roll out its “trash to cashback” program to promote solid waste management and encourage the public to recycle and adopt a more sustainable lifestyle.

First launched in March at the city hall, the program enables residents to trade recyclable materials for environmental points that may be exchanged for basic commodities such as rice, eggs, vegetables and other grocery items.

“Together with our partner, Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies (BEST), we are bringing this project down to the barangays to make it more accessible and convenient to residents who are willing to trade their trash into groceries. Hopefully, we can launch it by June in celebration of the Environment Month,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said yesterday.

The city government requested barangays to identify drop-off points in their areas where residents can bring their waste.

WANT A COW? GET VACCINATED: MAYOR OFFERS TO RAFFLE OFF COWS FOR VACCINE DRIVE

MANILA - The local government of San Luis town in Pampanga will be raffling off cows to residents who received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in a move to boost their vaccination program.

Mayor Jayson Sagum said the raffle will begin in July once vaccine supply picks up.

“Every end of the month magra-raffle tayo ng isang baka para doon sa mga nabakunahan natin kababayan,” Sagum said.

In an interview on TeleRadyo, Sagum said vaccine hesitancy is still high, especially among seniors.

“Sa amin sa senior citizen, ang nabakunahan sa amin 20 percent pa lang. Marami pa tayong babakunahan na senior citizen at comorbidities,” he said.

But Sagum is confident that with their strategy, they have slowly convinced many of those who initially said no to COVID-19 vaccines to get vaccinated.

The raffle, he said, will last for 12 months or until June 2022. Residents who had one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine are eligible for the raffle.

BOHOL REMAINS INSURGENCY-FREE — AFP

MANILA — Bohol remains free of communist insurgents despite Tuesday’s encounter that left five New People’s Army (NPA) rebels dead and a soldier wounded in Barangay Cabacnitan in Bilar town, according to the military.

Maj. Cenon Pancito, 3rd Infantry Battalion spokesman, said NPA rebels have yet to establish a strong presence in the province.

“Is there an insurgency-problem in Bohol? Definitely... yes... They are trying to revive the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines)-NPA clout in Bohol, but they are having a hard time,” Pancito said.

He said there is no “full-blown insurgency” in the province, noting that only former members were being recruited to join the communist movement.

“But in terms of expanding and making Bohol... a significant committee party committee, wala pa silang na-achieve,” Pancito said.

UP TO 15 CYCLONES TO HIT PHILIPPINES UNTIL NOVEMBER

MANILA — Up to 15 tropical cyclones may enter or develop in the country between June and November this year, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned the public yesterday.

Ana Liza Solis, chief of PAGASA’s climate monitoring and prediction section, said one to three cyclones are expected in June, two to four in July and two or three each month from August to November.

Solis said global forecast showed a “slightly active” tropical cyclone formation in June, July and August in the Western North Pacific.

The state weather bureau said the rainy season associated with the southwest monsoon is expected to start between this week and the first half of June.

Solis said the occurrence of thunderstorms in some parts of the country, including Metro Manila, is an indication of the arrival of the southwest monsoon.

“Thunderstorm activities are precursory signs… but we have yet to see widespread rainfall distribution,” she told a virtual climate forum.

Solis said generally near normal rainfall conditions are expected from June to August except for patches of below normal rainfall in Luzon in June.

She said near normal rainfall could be expected in September, except for below normal rains in some parts of western Luzon and above normal rain in parts of Bicol, central and eastern Visayas and Caraga.

Generally near normal rainfall is forecast over most parts of the country in October while central and southern Luzon and eastern Visayas are likely to receive above normal rainfall.

In November, generally above normal rainfall is expected in most parts of Luzon and parts of the Visayas – Antique, Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros Oriental – and Mindanao – Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental, South Cotabato, Sarangani and Basilan.

Near normal rainfall can be expected in the rest of the country.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

OSCAR BODY SLOWS GROWTH OF NEW MEMBERS BUT REAFFIRMS DIVERSITY GOALS

LOS ANGELES - The drive to expand the number of film professionals who vote on the annual Oscar winners will slow down in 2021 after several years of rapid growth aimed at increasing diversity, the Film Academy said on Wednesday.

In the past few years, some 800-950 actors, directors, cinematographer’s, producers and other film makers from around the world have been invited each year to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

“This year’s growth in membership will be limited to roughly half that of recent years,” the Academy said in a statement, adding that recent annual growth of 10% was straining its resources.

Reducing the number of newcomers would allow the organization to better serve existing members, it said.

The Academy said last year it had exceeded a goal it set in response to the #OscarsSoWhite scandal in 2016 of doubling the number of women and people of color in its ranks.

On Wednesday, it said it was committed to a range of programs aimed at increasing “equity and inclusion in the stories told through film.”

This year’s Academy Awards, held in April, were the most diverse in years. Nine of the 20 acting nominations went to people of color.

Chinese-born Chloe Zhao won for best director, Black British actor Daniel Kaluuya took the supporting actor Oscar and South Korea’s Youn Yuh-jung won in the supporting actress field.

The names of new members invited to join the Academy are traditionally released in June.

SPORTS

NBA SCORES MAY 25

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

7 Celtics0-2       26        21        35        26        108

2 Nets2-0          40        31        38        21        130

SCORING LEADERS

M. Smart BOS

19 PTS 3 REB 6 AST

K. Durant BKN

26 PTS 8 REB 5 AST

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

7 Lakers1-1      30        23        26        30        109

2 Suns1-1         24        23        25        30        102

SCORING LEADERS

A. Davis LAL

34 PTS 10 REB 7 AST

D. Booker PHO

31 PTS 1 REB 3 AST

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

5 Mavericks2-0 35        36        30        26        127

4 Clippers0-2    33        40        19        29        121

SCORING LEADERS

L. Doncic DAL

39 PTS 7 REB 7 AST

K. Leonard LAC

41 PTS 6 REB 4 AST

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 48.15

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Wisdom means keeping a sense of the fallibility of all our views and opinions and of the uncertainty and instability of the things we most count on. – Gerald Brenan