HOUSE TO PRIORITIZE 5 BILLS IN DUTERTE AGENDA

MANILA — The House of Representatives will prioritize the five remaining bills in the legislative agenda of the Duterte administration when sessions resume next week, after the President delivers his last State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco yesterday said the proposed measures are the five left for the chamber to pass from among the priority bills set by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

The Marinduque congressman identified them as the proposed Philippine Virology Institute Act, Center for Disease Control Act, Amendments to the Continuing Professional Development Act of 2016, Bureau of Immigration Modernization Act and National Housing Development Act.

“We will work toward the approval of these bills once we resume session and we will also take into account the priority measures President Duterte will mention in his sixth and final SONA. We will do our best to help the President fulfill all his promises to the Filipino people,” Velasco vowed.

Congress seeks the establishment of a Philippine Virology Institute as the premier research and development institution in the field of virology, encompassing all areas in viruses and viral diseases in humans, plants and animals.

It also wants to create the Philippine Center for Disease Control that will serve as the country’s principal health protection agency tasked to prevent, protect and manage the spread of diseases and other health threats originating domestically and internationally.

The proposed Bureau of Immigration Modernization Act seeks to modernize, professionalize and improve the compensation of officials and personnel of the BI, while the proposed National Housing Development Act aims to significantly reduce the country’s housing backlog through continuous funding support for socialized housing.

5.09% OF FILIPINOS FULLY VACCINATED; GOV'T NEARS TARGET OF ADMINISTERING 500K JABS DAILY

MANILA — The government has fully vaccinated 5.56 million of the Philippines' total 109 million population since it launched its inoculation campaign almost five months ago, the latest figures released by the National Task Force Against COVID-19 show.

This means that only 5.09% of Filipinos have been fully vaccinated as of July 22. Officials have just a little over four months left to meet their target of fully inoculating another 64.91% —  for a total of 70% — of the population to achieve herd immunity.

Another 10.87 million Filipinos have received one of two shots, equivalent to 9.97% of the country's population.

NTF also said it reached a "milestone" in its vaccination rollout, administering 472,356 COVID-19 vaccines on Thursday, "the highest daily vaccination throughout the country has recorded."

"With this development, the country comes closer to reaching its target of carrying out 500,000 vaccinations per day," the task force said on Twitter.

AROUND 14,000 EVACUATE DUE TO FLOODING BROUGHT BY HABAGAT RAINS

MANILA — Around 14,000 people have fled their homes into evacuation centers in different parts of the country as heavy rain brought by the southwest monsoon or habagat is forecast to continue to drench Luzon and parts of Western Visayas.

“As of this morning po, nagkaroon tayo ng ulat na 14,000 katao po ang nag-evacuate bilang po pag-iingat sa posibleng pagtaas ng baha o pagapaw ng ilog sa kanilang mga communities,” National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council spokesperson Mark Timbal told state-run People’s Television.

Among the areas where people have evacuated are Marikina City, the towns of Taytay, San Mateo and Rodriguez in Rizal province, and Occidental Mindoro province, Timbal said.

In Marikina, all eyes are on the Marikina River where second alarm is currently hoisted as the water level there has reached 16.3 meters as of 11 a.m., prompting a preemptive evacuation.

Marikina Mayor Marcy Teodoro told ABS-CBN’s TeleRadyo that they expect the water level at the river to remain steady as long as rains do not persist over the mountains surrounding the city.

The evacuation of people from their homes is happening amid the threat of the more contagious Delta coronavirus variant. The Department of Health had earlier confirmed that there is local transmission of the variant in the country.

Timbal said people who need to evacuate but would prefer not to go to evacuation centers can try evacuating to the residences of their relatives or friends.

However, he assured that health protocols are being followed in evacuation centers.

PHILIPPINES OKS GMO ‘GOLDEN RICE’

MANILA — The Philippines became the world’s first country yesterday to approve the commercial production of genetically modified “golden rice” that experts hope will combat childhood blindness and save lives in the developing world.?

In a statement, Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) executive director John de Leon said a biosafety permit for propagating Vitamin A insufed Golden Rice was issued on July 21 by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry.

The biosafety permit issued by government regulators paves the way for the rice – enriched with the Vitamin A-precursor beta-carotene to make it more nutritional – to be grown by farmers across the country, its developers said.

“It’s a really significant step for our project because it means that we are past this regulatory phase and golden rice will be declared as safe as ordinary rice,” Russell Reinke of the Philippine-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) told AFP ahead of the announcement.

The next step was to “take our few kilos of seed and multiply it... so it can be made more widely available,” he said.

IRRI has spent two decades working with the DA-PhilRice to develop golden rice – named for its bright yellow hue.

40% OF PINOYS SEE BETTER LIFE AHEAD

MANILA — Almost four in 10 Filipinos expect their quality of life to improve in the next 12 months, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) said in its latest poll.

The survey, conducted from June 23 to 26, found 37 percent of adult Filipinos saying their quality of life will improve, termed by SWS as “optimists,” against seven percent saying it will worsen or “pessimists,” resulting in a net personal optimism score of +30, classified as “very high.”

Forty-two percent said it will stay the same in the next 12 months, while the remaining 14 percent did not give an answer.

The June 2021 net personal optimism score was six points above the high +24 in May but five points below the very high +35 in November 2020, the SWS said.

The pollsters attributed the six-point rise in the national net personal optimism score in June to the increases of 12 points in balance Luzon (or Luzon outside Metro Manila) and five points in Metro Manila, combined with steady scores in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Net personal optimism was higher in balance Luzon (very high +38) and Metro Manila (very high +34) than in Mindanao (high +24) and the Visayas (fair +15).

It was very high among college graduates (+42) and junior high school graduates (+30), and high among non-elementary graduates (+26) and elementary graduates (+25).

The survey used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults, 18 years old and above, nationwide.

CARPIO TO DUTERTE: BAN CHINESE FISHERS FROM WEST PHILIPPINE SEA

MANILA — Retired Supreme Court senior associate justice Antonio Carpio dared yesterday President Duterte to ban China from fishing within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea during his last year in office.

“I have one last test. I will wait for him to say, he has nothing to lose, ‘I will abide by the Constitution, Chinese fishermen are not allowed to fish in our EEZ’,” Carpio said at a virtual press conference.

“And that is what the Filipino fishermen want, but can he do it? I hope he will surprise me and say, ‘I will no longer allow them. I will prohibit them from violating our Constitution, violating the Arbitral Award.’ That is what I request from him,” he said.

In 2019, Duterte said he had given China the fishing rights in the country’s EEZ in the South China Sea.

“As far as I’m concerned, I’m the owner, and I’m just giving the fishing rights,” Duterte said in an interview on Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s television program on July 17, 2019.

In May, Duterte barred his Cabinet from publicly discussing the South China Sea dispute after some of his officials rebuked Beijing over the presence of Chinese vessels in the contested waters.

'REINFORCEMENT NEEDED': GOV'T TOLD TO HIRE MORE DOCTORS, NURSES AMID DELTA VARIANT THREAT

MANILA — Sen. Joel Villanueva on Friday called on the government to step up its hiring of health personnel amid the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant of COVID-19 in the country.

Local transmission of the Delta variant was confirmed by the Department of Health on Thursday night. Metro Manila was reverted to a stricter general community quarantine with heightened restrictions as a result.

Villanueva in a statement said the government should give the DOH the funds needed to "go on a hiring binge."

The country can start addressing staffing shortages, he added, by hiring the 5,008 passers of the nurses' licensure examination held earlier this month.

The 1,234 doctors who passed their licensure tests in May should be hired too, the senator said.

“Kailangan na ng reinforcements ang ating mga frontline[r]s. (Our frontliners need reinforcements now)," Villanueva said. "We’ve spent 16 months fighting this pandemic, and the unseen enemy has been mutating into more dangerous strain."

He also emphasized that the frontlines should also be “paid what is due them on time and in full" to boost morale.

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MARIKINA RIVER OVERFLOWS, RESIDENTS EVACUATE

MANILA — The Marikina River overflowed early Saturday as intense monsoon rains continued to pound Metro Manila, prompting residents to seek shelter in evacuation centers.

As of 10 a.m., the water level at the Marikina River has risen to 16.4 meters, up from earlier in the day, the Marikina Public Information Office said in an update. It was at 16.2 meters 3 hours earlier.

In an interview on TeleRadyo, Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said the river rose due to continuous rains, forcing them to conduct preemptive evacuation as a precaution.

He said authorities are doubly careful in the evacuation because of the threat of the highly contagious COVID-19 Delta variant.

"Ang mahirap ngayon doble ingat ang ginawa natin dahil sa Delta variant. Dahil nga buong linggo na ang halos na naging pag-ulan talagang tuloy-tuloy ang pagtaas ng Marikina River at nakita rin natin kagabi bandang ala-1 ng madaling araw na-experience natin pinakamalas na buhos ng ulan at nagtuloy-tuloy hanggang kaninang alas-3 ng madaling araw," he said.

Teodoro said that this forced 1,268 families or 5,375 individuals to seek higher ground.

He said 26 evacuation centers in the city are now operational, with a total 2,987 families or 12,804 individuals evacuated.

"... [H]alos lahat ay hindi pa natutulog dahil lumikas sa dilim ng gabi," he said.

Photos and videos captured by ABS-CBN News showed the river has breached the bank, inundating a riverside park.

Carrying their valuables, residents sought shelter at the Malanday Elementary School as the risk of flooding rose with non-stop rains.

Rains have drenched Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon for several days this week due to the effects of the southwest monsoon and Typhoon Fabian.

Heavy rains are expected to persist due to the monsoon, the state weather bureau said.

MMDA CHIEF: CURFEW HOURS TO BE EXTENDED IN NCR AMID COVID-19 DELTA VARIANT THREAT

MANILA— Metro Manila will see longer curfew hours following the capital region’s change in quarantine classification due to the threat of the highly infectious COVID-19 Delta variant.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Benhur Abalos Jr. said they will be releasing a new resolution on curfew hours for the National Capital Region, which will be extended to 6 hours, from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

The current curfew hours are from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m., shorter by two hours.

“Meron pa kaming resolution na itinakda, nag-meeting lang kami kahapon, it has to do with curfew. Hanggang mapirmahan na lahat ia-announce ko na lang later on about it sa Metro Manila,” Abalos said.

On Friday, the Philippine government placed Metro Manila, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Davao de Oro, and Davao del Norte under general community quarantine with heightened restrictions until the end of the month, elevating the restriction level.

Abalos said under this classification, sports, tourist activity, meetings, conference and exhibits that are held indoors are not allowed.

“'Yung personal care, mga salon, mga barbero, dati 50 percent, ngayon 30 percent na lang pero kailangang naka-mask ka all the time," he said.

"Outdoor attraction, dati 50 percent, ngayon ay 30 percent na lang. 'Yung staycation dati allowed, ngayon hotels na lamang with certificates of authority to operate 'yun lang ang pwede,” he said in an interview on TeleRadyo.

MAGNITUDE 6.6 EARTHQUAKE HITS OFF BATANGAS PROVINCE

MANILA - A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck off Batangas province early Saturday morning, Phivolcs said.

The tectonic quake occurred at 4:49 a.m. approximately 16 km southwest of Calatagan town at a depth of 116 km.

The earthquake was felt in Metro Manila, Cavite, Tagaytay, and nearby areas, rousing residents in their sleep just as monsoon rains continued to dampen parts of Luzon.

A 5.5-magnitude aftershock occurred 12 kms southwest of Calatagan minutes after the initial quake.

The quake damaged houses in Lubang Island, Occidental Mindoro, as seen in photos from Lubang Mayor Michael Orayani.

Photos from the Calatagan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, meanwhile, showed that the quake shook bottles off shelves at a convenience store.

It also triggered a landslide in the town.

As of past 7 a.m., Phivolcs has recorded 16 smaller shocks around the same area ranging from magnitude 1.7 to magnitude 3.

Phivolcs said the quake is not expected to trigger a tsunami that may threaten Philippine seaside areas.

‘FABIAN’ EXITS PHILIPPINES BUT RAINS TO PERSIST OVER LUZON, WESTERN VISAYAS

MANILA — Typhoon Fabian (international name: In-Fa) has exited the Philippine area of responsibility, but rains brought by the southwest monsoon or habagat will continue to drench Luzon and parts of Western Visayas.

PAGASA reported that Fabian left the Philippine area of responsibility at 11 p.m. on Friday and is now approaching east China.

The tropical cyclone, however, will still enhance the southwest monsoon which will bring rains in the next 24 hours over the Ilocos region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Metro Manila, most of Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and portions of Western Visayas.

The southwest monsoon is expected to bring heavy with at times torrential rains over Zambales and Bataan, while it is forecast to bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Abra, Benguet, Tarlac, Pampanga, Cavite and Batangas.

Meanwhile, light to moderate with at times heavy rains will prevail over Laguna, the rest of Cordillera Administrative Region, Bulacan, Mindoro provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, northern Palawan including Calamian and Cuyo Islands, Antique and Aklan.

Rains have persisted over parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila, since Monday, which has led to heavy flooding in some areas.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

MISS WORLD PH CORONATION MOVED TO AUG. 8 AS GOVT PUTS NCR UNDER STRICTER GCQ

MANILA -- The upcoming coronation night of Miss World Philippines 2021 has been rescheduled to August 8 after the government placed the National Capital Region and four other areas under general community quarantine with heightened restrictions on Friday.

With two more days before the finals night, originally slated on July 25, Miss World Philippines candidates will have to wait for two more weeks as the country attempts to control the transmission of the highly infectious Delta COVID-19 variant.

"In compliance with the reimposition of the IATF's heightened GCQ restrictions, the Miss World Philippines Organization is rescheduling the upcoming Miss World Philippines coronation night originally scheduled this coming Sunday, July 25, at Okada, Manila to August 8, same venue," a statement from the organization said.

Titlists will represent the Philippines in various international pageants: Miss World, Miss Supranational, Miss Eco International, Reina Hispanoamericana, Miss Tourism, Miss Eco Teen International, and Miss Environment International.

SPORTS

MARCIAL PROJECTED TO WIN GOLD; PETECIO, DIAZ AMONG FAVORITES IN TOKYO OLYMPICS

MANILA – Filipino pug Eumir Marcial has been tagged by the Associated Press to win a gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics in the men's middleweight division.

In a report published on Wednesday, the Associated Press named medal predictions for all events in the Games set to open Friday night in Tokyo.

Marcial, who drew bye in the Round of 32 and will thus wait for the winner of a first round clash between an Algerian and a Ugandan, was the heavy favorite for the gold mint, followed by Ukraine's Oleksandr Khyzhniak.

Gleb Bakshi of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and Younes Nemouchi of Algeria are joint predictions for the bronze.

Meanwhile, 2016 Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz is predicted to be the Philippines first two-time Olympic medalist since Teofilo Yldefonso in the 1928 and 1932 editions of the Summer Games.

The weightlifter, who is hoping to strike gold, is tagged to only win bronze behind China's Liao Qiuyun and Kazakhstan's Zulfiya Chinshanlo.

Marcial's fellow pug Nesthy Petecio, on the other hand, is a joint favorite for bronze in the Women's Feathweight division.

The 2019 World Champion joins ROC's Liudmila Vorontsova in the predictions for bronze.

Taiwan's Yu-ting Liu and Ireland's Michaela Walsh are pegged to be the gold and silver medalists, respectively.

Curiously absent from the list of predictions is gymnastics world champion Carlos Yulo and pole vaulter EJ Obiena, who are also seen as potential medal winners for the Philippines.

Should the Philippines clinch more than one medal in the Tokyo Games, it will be the first time Team Philippines won more than one Olympic medal since the 1932 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

We all have big changes in our lives that are more or less a second chance. - Harrison Ford