DUTERTE: JAPAN ‘UNRIVALED’ AS PHILIPPINES’S VALUED PARTNER

MANILA — President Duterte has described as “extraordinary” the Philippines’ ties with Japan and has expressed optimism that the relationship between the two countries would become stronger.

In his message for the 65th anniversary of the normalization of Philippines-Japan bilateral relationship, Duterte reiterated that Tokyo is “a friend closer than a brother.”

“Japan is unrivaled in its status as one of the Philippines’ most valued partners. Since 1956, Philippines-Japan ties have been marked with one triumph after another,” Duterte said.

“In celebrating the 65th anniversary of our diplomatic ties, let us honor the legacy of the extraordinary relationship between our country and Japan,” he added.

Duterte said only a handful of the Philippines’ bilateral ties have been as “deeply transformative” as the one with Japan.

“Our mutual decision to move forward while continuing to be aware of our shared meaningful history has truly been a gift of timeless value to our peoples,” the President said.

“I am confident that the Japan-Philippines strategic partnership will continue to strengthen as our people-to-people linkages continue to deepen,” he added.

Duterte predicted that the shared future of the two countries remains “bright and the horizon continues to ever expand.”

“There are many promises that can still be fulfilled,” he said.

Duterte also wished Japan luck in its hosting of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic games during the pandemic. He said the events have become “an enduring symbol of humanity’s unbowed spirit.”

Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide, for his part, conveyed yesterday his appreciation for the strong bond between Japan and the Philippines.

PHILIPPINES' COVID-19 RISK CLASSIFICATION BACK TO 'MODERATE': DOH

MANILA— The Philippines' COVID-19 risk classification is back to "moderate" from low risk as growth in cases swelled in the past 2 weeks, the Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday.

The growth rate of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines jumped to 1 percent in the past two weeks from a -10 percent rate some 3 to 4 weeks ago, Health spokesperson Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.

From July 22 to 28, the Philippines' average daily reported COVID-19 cases was at 1,013, which is 285 cases higher than the average the prior week, she said in an online press conference.

Nearly all regions are showing an increase in cases, with the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) as the lone high-risk region in the Philippines, data from the DOH showed.

While hospitals in CAR are half full, the growth of cases in the region jumped to 10 percent from 8 percent, with its average daily attack rate in the past 2 weeks at 7 percent, it said.

The National Capital Region (NCR) "is a cause of concern" as the DOH saw more COVID-19 cases in several cities, Vergeire said.

"In NCR, we are flagging 11 areas but we do not call this a surge," she said.

"Ayaw natin nagpapanic ang ating mga kababayan... pero kailangan nag-iingat tayo," she said.

The DOH is recommending to shorten the interval between detection of cases and isolation or quarantine to 5 days, Vergeire said.

"Rapid antigen tests may be used for confirmation of suspect or probable cases and close contacts," she said.

"Facility isolation and quarantine have to be prioritized to prevent household transmission," she said.

Independent research group OCTA earlier urged the national government to launch a "circuit-breaker lockdown" to curb the spread of the Delta variant, but the Inter-Agency Task Force opted to maintain status quo.

METRO MANILA, NEARBY PROVINCES REMAIN UNDER GCQ WITH HEIGHTENED RESTRICTIONS

MANILA—Metro Manila will be under general community quarantine with heightened restrictions from August 1 to 15, amid the threat of the Delta COVID-19 variant, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said late Wednesday.

President Rodrigo Duterte also approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force to retain the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) status of Iloilo City and Iloilo province, Cagayan de Oro City and Gingoog City from August 1 to 7.

The following areas will be under GCQ with heightened restrictions from August 1 to 15:

Metro Manila

Ilocos Sur

Cagayan

Bulacan

Laguna

Lucena City

Cavite

Rizal

Naga City

Antique

Aklan

Bacolod City

Capiz

Negros Oriental

Zamboanga del Sur

Misamis Oriental

Davao City

Davao del Norte

Davao de Oro

Davao Occidental

Butuan City

The OCTA research group has urged government to place Metro Manila under a "circuit-breaking" lockdown to curb an uptick in coronavirus infections in the capital, following the confirmation of the Delta variant's local transmission.

Based on projections from Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam, Metro Manila's health care utilization rate may be 100 percent full as early as August 15, said OCTA Research fellow Fr. Nicanor Austriaco.

"Once a Delta surge begins, it accelerates in an explosive fashion," he said in an online press conference.

These are the other quarantine classifications for August.

MODIFIED ECQ

From August 1 to 15

Bataan

Lapu-Lapu City

Mandaue City

GCQ

From August 1 to 31

Baguio City

Apayao

City of Santiago

Isabela

Nueva Vizcaya

Quirino

Quezon

Batangas

Puerto Princesa

Guimaras

Negros Occidental

Zamboanga Sibugay

City of Zamboanga

Zamboanga del Norte

Davao Oriental

Davao del Sur

General Santos City

Sultan Kudarat

Sarangani

North Cotabato

South Cotabato

Agusan del Norte

Surigao del Norte

Agusan del Sur

Dinagay Islands

Surigao del Sur

Cotabato City

The rest of the Philippines is under modified GCQ, the least stringent lockdown level.

DUTERTE: BARANGAY OFFICIALS SHOULD BAR UNVACCINATED PEOPLE FROM GOING OUTDOORS

MANILA—President Rodrigo Duterte said barangay officials should monitor the vaccination status in their areas and bar unvaccinated people from going outside their houses.

Duterte said police can escort unvaccinated people back to their homes if they are seen outside, although he did not say how those who are not immunized would be identified.

"Ito ngayong ayaw magpabakuna, sinasabi ko sa inyo, huwag kayong lumabas ng bahay. Kasi kapag lumabas kayo ng bahay, sabihin ko sa mga pulis, eh ibalik ka doon sa bahay mo. You will be escorted back to your house because you are a walking spreader," the president said in a recorded public address aired late Wednesday.

"Walang katapusan 'to kung pagbigyan ko lang kayo. 'Pag mahina ang loob ko dahil iyak iyak kayo diyan, eh ibang istorya ito. Bayan itong pinag-uusapan natin. So kung ayaw ninyong makatulong by having the vaccines, 'di 'wag na lang kayong lumabas ng bahay."

He said barangay officials should check whether residents have been inoculated.

Duterte said since there is no law to punish people who do not want to get vaccinate, he will take responsibility for any lawsuit that may arise from his order.

"We have to come up with a law punishing a guy, a person who has not been vaccinated and going around. We do not have a law, a punitive action that can be taken against the person who does not have the vaccine and go around, making it dangerous for the others to acquire the virus," he said.

Duterte said vaccines should just be given to those who want it, instead of waiting for those who don't want to get vaccinated to change their minds.

"Those who do not want it, you can die any time for all I care," he said.

Meanwwile, those who have been vaccinated are free to go out, Duterte said, since it will be pointless to get vaccinated if they cannot go out.

" 'Yung mga may bakuna, puwede na kayong magpasyal pasyal. 'Yung mga walang bakuna, tumabi muna kayo at magplano ako kung anong gawain ko sa inyo," he said.

PHILIPPINES TO RECEIVE 415,000 ASTRAZENECA JABS FROM UK

MANILA — The United Kingdom will donate 415,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to the Philippines, boosting the country’s vaccination efforts as it races against coronavirus variants.

“This is part of the first batch of the 100 million doses we’ve pledged to get the poorest parts of the world vaccinated as a matter of urgency,” UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement Wednesday.

“We’re doing this to help the most vulnerable, but also because we know we won’t be safe until everyone is safe,” he added.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. thanked the British government for the donation, calling it a “gesture of kindness and compassion.”

“This generous donation of vaccine doses to the Philippines will boost the national government’s capacity to provide the country’s most vulnerable sectors with an added layer of protection, particularly our uniformed personnel who put their lives on the line to ensure the safety and welfare of the Filipino people across the country,” he said.

UK will begin the delivery of nine million vaccine doses this week. Of the total, five million will go to vaccine sharing initiative COVAX, while four million will be shared directly with countries in need.

Over 18 million vaccine doses have been administered in the country, of which 11.3 million were given as first shots.

ROBREDO MAKING MOVES TO FORGE BROAD ALLIANCE FOR 2022

MANILA — Vice President Leni Robredo is now moving to forge a broad alliance for the 2022 elections, with her having met at least three prospective candidates for next year’s polls.

Robredo’s spokesperson, lawyer Barry Gutierrez, confirmed that Robredo met with Sens. Panfilo Lacson, Dick Gordon and Vicente “Tito” Sotto III last week as part of her “commitment to forge the broadest possible unity among groups and individuals seeking change in 2022.”

Lacson and Sotto have announced that they will be running as president and vice president, respectively, in the May 2022 elections, and have positioned themselves as alternatives to the administration and the opposition.

Earlier in the day, Lacson bared during a press briefing that he and Sotto met with Robredo along with former Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, but refused to disclose details of their meeting.

Sen. Richard Gordon, who has also stated that he is open to running again for president, also told ABS-CBN News Channel’s Headstart that he was invited to speak with Robredo, but also refused to disclose what they discussed.

Robredo, the de facto leader of the opposition, has been vocal about the need to unite against the administration’s candidate, stressing that the country cannot afford another six years of President Rodrigo Duterte’s brand of governance.

She is among the potential presidential candidates of fledgling opposition coalition 1Sambayan, but has signalled that she is willing to give way to a candidate who is more likely to win, given her poor performance in surveys.

But as early as now, her moves to form a broad united front which would go head-to-head against the administration’s bets are being frowned upon by former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who has also announced that he might be gunning for the presidency in 2022.

“Pasensya na po pero the Magdalo group would not join you and LP (Liberal Party) kung mag give way kayo para kay Sen. Lacson,” Trillanes said in a tweet.

LAWMAKER FILES BILL SEEKING TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR NATIONAL ATHLETES’ REWARDS

MANILA — A lawmaker has filed a measure seeking to exempt the rewards of weight lifter and Olympic gold-medalist Hidilyn Diaz, along with other national athletes, from all forms of taxes and fees on their rewards.

Rep. Joey Salceda (Albay 2nd District), who chairs the House committee on ways and means, disclosed Wednesday afternoon that he filed House Bill No. 9891 or the Hidilyn Diaz Act of 2021 to exempt monetary donations and rewards in favor of national athletes and coaches from taxes.

In the bill's explanatory note, Salceda said that the measure looks to ensure that "the failure to issue revenue regulations providing the implementing mechanisms for the exemption will not preclude the provision from being implemented."

"The honor that Filipino athletes have brought to the country this year is immense and historic. So unprecedented is this honor that it appears our laws were unable to anticipate the outpouring of material solidarity from different sectors of society for our winning athletes and coaches," the bill reads.

Salceda added that the bill is meant to "express the State’s solidarity and congratulations for our winning athletes and coaches."

DUTERTE SALUTES HIDILYN DIAZ, TELLS OLYMPIC CHAMP TO LET BYGONES BE BYGONES

MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte has rewarded weightlfting champ Hidilyn Diaz an additional P3 million for her historic gold medal win in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

In an online conference call with Diaz on Wednesday, shortly after her arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Duterte congratulated the Olympic hero while urging her to forget the "bad things that happened in the past."

"We cannot express even in words how we should be shouting hallelujah. Salamat sa pagtiis mo. I hope that the years of toil, the years of disappointment, and the years na hindi maganda ang nangyari in the past, just forget them," the President said.

"You already have the gold. Gold is gold. It would be good for you to let bygones be bygones and dwell solely on your victory together with your family and, of course, the nation."

Diaz, who claimed the Philippines's first Olympic gold in the women’s -55 kgs Monday night, returned to Manila on board Philippine Airlines flight PR 427 on Wednesday.

To reward her efforts, Duterte will be giving Diaz P3 million aside from the P10-million incentive she is set to receive from the government for her gold medal victory.

Duterte also accorded her the Presidential Medal of Merit, as well as a fully furnished house and lot in her hometown in Zamboanga.

"Your achievement is the achievement of the Philippine nation. We are extremely proud," said the President.

"But over and above the rewards, it's always the honor that counts. Ako naman ang magsaludo sa 'yo, Yes, ma'am!" said Duterte who stood up and gave Diaz a salute.

"Thank you so much, President. Thank you po," was Diaz's response.

Aside from Duterte's P3-million reward, Diaz stands to receive at least P35 million in incentives from the government, politicians and businessmen.

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HEARINGS, PUBLIC CONSULTATION SOUGHT ON DESTRUCTIVE DUMAGUETE RECLAMATION PLAN

MANILA — The National Academy of Science and Technology on Thursday cautioned against rushing into a massive reclamation project in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental that scientists and environmental advocates fear will devastate coastal communities and ecosystems.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros has meanwhile asked the Senate to set hearings on the planned reclamation project.

In its statement, NAST said that the National Integrated Protected Area System Act makes is government policy to secure "the perpetual existence of all native plants and animals" through a comprehensive system of integrated protected areas.

It said that Dumaguete City "has historically committed to protect its marine ecosystems" and has established four Marine Protected Areas off the villages of Bantayan, Lo-oc, Mangnao and Banilad. The planned reclamation project will "negatively impact" the MPAs "directly or indirectly", NAST said, saying also that the effects of the proposed project even on neighboring islands must be considered.

It said project proponents should release the technical, legal and due diligence reviews done and hold public consultations on the project and on the documents supporting it.

NAST, aside from recognizing and encouraging achievements in science and technology, also has an advisory function. "It is the body that the governemnt turns to for disinterested advice in science and technology," it says on its website.

Senate hearings sought

Hontiveros filed Resolution 807 on Tuesday, calling for a probe into the proposed 174-hectare reclamation project in Dumaguete City. She cited the "far-reaching implications of the project and its precedent-setting impacts."

She said the Senate must look into the project "and its avowed benefits against its costs, as well as to pursue potential reforms of our environmental laws and our laws against graft and corruption, procurement, security and defense, public-private partnership, anti-dummy, and other relevant laws."

QUEZON CITY SENIORS GET J&J JABS

MANILA — The Quezon City government has allotted its first supply of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine to senior citizens.

At least 19,000 elderly residents from the city’s second district received the COVID-19 vaccines during the special rollout yesterday.

Mayor Joy Belmonte said senior citizens must be prioritized amid the threat of the more infectious Delta variant and the high number of COVID-19 patients in the area.

“District 2 has the most number of underprivileged communities, which makes them vulnerable to the virus and the least able to afford hospital care,” Belmonte said.

“The decision to allocate the J&J supply to District 2 was based on evidence, including the number of COVID cases, deaths and other factors affecting the senior citizens in the area,” she added.

SPORTS

OLYMPICS: MARCIAL THROUGH TO QUARTERFINALS AFTER DOMINANT WIN

Filipino boxer Eumir Marcial is off to a superb start in his campaign in the Tokyo Olympics.

Marcial powered past his opponent, Younes Nemouchi of Algeria, to advance to the quarterfinals of the men's middleweight division.

HIDILYN DIAZ TO BE HONORED WITH 'FIRST OLYMPIC GOLD STAMP'

MANILA - The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) will issue a stamp in honor of Filipina weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz for winning the country's elusive first Olympic gold.

"Hidilyn, your feat made us all proud. The Philippines’ long wait for its 'First Olympic Gold Stamp' since we joined the Olympics in 1924 finally happened," PHLpost Postmaster General Norman Fulgencio said in a statement Wednesday.

Fulgencio said he had immediately tasked the creative team at the government-owned and controlled corporation to design the stamp after Diaz's win.

“The Post Office wanted the public to experience the victory and excitement of this historic win and even inspire young people to excel in their chosen sports following the footsteps of our own Filipino pride, Ms. Hidilyn Diaz," he said.

“This is our own way of honoring and acknowledging their great effort and contribution to society," he added.

Postage stamps have been used around the world to commemorate, in miniature, significant events and people. The value of stamps increased with time, turning it into an important part of a country’s identity.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 50.37

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

It's the tragedy of the world that no one knows what he doesn't know, and the less a man knows, the more sure he is that he knows everything. - Joyce Cary