PHILIPPINES JOINS US-LED MARITIME EXERCISES IN SINGAPORE

MANILA — The Philippines and maritime forces from 20 countries in the Indo-Pacific region are participating in the United States-led Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) maritime exercises that promote shared commitments to maritime partnerships, security and stability in Southeast Asia.

The US Indo-Pacific Command said the maritime forces from the 21 Indo-Pacific partner nations, including the US Navy, US inter-agencies and international organizations, kicked off the 20th iteration of the SEACAT in Singapore virtually last Aug. 10.

SEACAT is a multilateral exercise designed to enhance cooperation among Southeast Asian countries and provide mutual support and common goal to address crises, contingencies and illegal activities in the maritime domain using standardized tactics, techniques and procedures.

“In this region, the strength of our partnerships matter and our ability and willingness to work together is paramount,” Vice Admiral Karl Thomas, commander of US 7th Fleet, said.

The exercise scenarios are designed to encourage countries to use maritime forces and enhance understanding of the operational environment, build capacity for humanitarian support missions and uphold international laws and norms.

The 21 participating nations are Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Canada, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam.

'NO CORRUPTION': DUQUE SAYS P67.3B COVID-19 FUNDS 'ACCOUNTED FOR'

MANILA - The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday said it is "currently addressing... compliance issues and deficiencies" after the Commission on Audit (COA) flagged that the agency failed to properly account for P67-billion worth of COVID-19 funds.

Of the P79.7 billion COVID-19 funds given to the DOH, P68.9 billion have been utilized as of December 31, 2020, the agency said in a statement.

"With the enactment of RA No. 11519 extending the availability of appropriations under Bayanihan II, the Department was still able to utilize the unobligated balance for this year," the statement read.

The DOH takes COA findings "very seriously" and has been "working to further improve our processes and controls," Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.

"The Php 67.3 billion is accounted for. Wala pong kinurakot, inilaan natin ang mga pondong ito para sa ating mga kababayan," he said.

"Rest assured, that the funds allotted to the DOH are all spent for the procurement of test kits, PPEs, payment of HCWs benefits, salaries of HRH among others," he said.

"Bukas po ang aming tanggapan at handa po kaming ipakita sa ating mga kababayan na tama ang paggastos ng kanilang mga taxes."

COA REPORT QUESTIONS DUQUE’S MANAGEMENT OF DOH: THINK-TANK

MANILA – The Commission of Audit report on the Department of Health’s deficiencies in managing billions in COVID-19 response funds puts into question Secretary Francisco Duque III’s leadership, a think-tank said.

The COA flagged DOH Wednesday for not complying with existing laws and regulations in managing some P67.323 billion in COVID-19 response funds, but DOH said the funds were accounted for.

“It’s less of an accounting question. It’s more of a governance question,” Institute for Leadership, Empowerment and Democracy Executive Director Zy-Za Suzara told ANC’s “Rundown.”

“It is more of a leadership and management question on the part of Secretary Duque and the other officials of the DOH,” she said.

Suzara said the DOH didn’t seem to show any sense of urgency in releasing funds to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

“You see funds allocated to DOH and they’re unused, and you see on the ground, you hear stories about people dying in hospital beds, dying outside hospitals, in parking lots, unable to find hospitals where their relatives and family members can be confined, where you see shortages in oxygen and other medical equipment. It makes you wonder if DOH had any sense of urgency in terms of using those funds, because those funds were provided precisely in order to respond better to the pandemic,” she noted.

“So that really means an inability to on the part of DOH to buttress the pandemic response as the COA audit report rightly pointed out.”

Suzara said the undisbursed funds could have been used to beef up the country’s contact tracing system and to compensate healthcare workers on time.

The DOH could have spent the funds for the COVID-19 response in areas outside of Metro Manila, she added.

PH BEING 'EXTRA CAREFUL' IN EVALUATING SINOVAC COVID-19 VACCINE FOR MINORS

MANILA - The Philippines' Food and Drug Administration's expert panel is being "careful" in evaluating the use of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine among children, its chief said Thursday.

FDA Director General Eric Domingo said Sinovac sought a wide age range in its application to amend the emergency use authorization in the country. Its CoronaVac is only currently given to individuals 18 years old and above, but the pharmaceutical asked for it to be allowed for minors as young as 3 years old.

"Our experts are taking a very close look at the data. They gave us clinical trial results earlier this week," Domingo told ANC's Headstart.

"Medyo iniingatan lang talaga ng experts kasi ang laki ng range saka talagang mga bata (The experts are being careful because the range is big and it will be for children). Three to 17 is quite a big range. We’re being extra careful when it comes to vaccines for use in children," he said.

He pointed out that Pfizer only applied for use among those who are 12 to 17 years old. The FDA approved it emergency use in June.

Domingo said the experts are also looking at the situation in Indonesia, where a panel recommended to its FDA the approval of Sinovac on minors.

"We’re waiting din to see if Indonesia is going to give an approval for use in 3 to 17. As of now, our experts are just really looking at the data. Yung safety ang gusto nilang ma-assure (They want to be assured of safety)," he said.

China has approved the use of Sinovac on minors, but Domingo said the country has yet to roll out actual vaccination in children.

In the Philippines, only Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for use among minors, who are not yet part of the government's list of priority recipients.

However, there have been calls for urgent inoculation among this age group as more pediatric patients of the disease are reported.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said he supports proposals to vaccinate the younger age group if there is enough supply.

HEALTH WORKERS DECRY DELAYED BENEFITS, AS DOH FLAGGED FOR COVID FUND DEFICIENCIES

MANILA—A group of medical frontliners on Thursday said they have yet to receive their special risk allowance (SRA), hazard pay and other benefits.

" 'Yun nga ang nakakalungkot. Sinasabing mga bayani pero sa ngayon nga malungkot ang mga health workers dahil 'yung mga benepisyong 'yan ay hindi pa rin naibibigay," Alliance of Health Workers president Robert Mendoza told Teleradyo.

Mendoza's comments came as state auditors flagged that the Department of Health allegedly failed to account for P67-billion worth of COVID-19 funds.

He said many health workers have yet to receive their meal, accommodation and transportation benefits amounting to a maximum of P38,000.

Some have received their benefits but were given as gift check, vouchers or groceries, he added.

The group also flagged the unequal distribution of SRA as only those with direct contact to COVID-19 patients are eligible to receive it.

Mendoza cited that health workers from a certain private hospital in Metro Manila received only P400 to P500 of their SRA.

In June, the Department of Budget and Management released the P9.02-billion fund allotted for the SRA of public and private health workers attending to COVID-19 patients.

The funds covered the payment of the special risk allowances not exceeding P5,000 per month from Dec. 20, 2020 to June 30.

In the interview, Mendoza said the delayed release of their benefits might lead to more resignations among health workers.

"Dahil nakita ng mga health workers na parang hindi totoo 'yung pangangalaga, pagkalinga ng ating Department of Health kaya sa ngayon understaffed talaga tayo," he said.

"Marami na ang nag-resign dahil natatakot na rin mahawaan ng COVID. Ang iba umalis na rin ng ibang bansa," he added.

Mendoza also called on the national government to continue providing benefits to health workers.

"Dapat tuloy-tuloy ang mga benepisyo ng mga health workers. Parang on and off kasi ang benepisyo. Ang virus naman hindi naman siya on and off," he said.

SUPREME COURT URGES BAR TAKERS TO GET VACCINATED

MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday asked the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to include in the government’s vaccination program law graduates who would be taking the Bar exams in November.

Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, chairman of the 2021 Bar exams, also urged the examinees to avail themselves of the free vaccination being offered by local government units.

“We are working with the IATF to include in the vaccination program Bar applicants who do not belong to the priority groups. We are coordinating with vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. regarding this request,” Leonen said.

All Bar takers should have been fully vaccinated before the November exams, according to Leonen.

This year’s Bar exams are scheduled on Nov. 7, 14, 21 and 28.

Leonen said the SC would procure COVID-19 test kits for the Bar examinees.

CIDG FIELD OFFICE CHIEF AXED FOR EXTORTION

MANILA — The commander of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)’s Quezon City field office and another police officer were sacked from their posts yesterday for allegedly attempting to extort P3 million from a businessman.

CIDG director Maj. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro relieved Maj. Merbern Bryan Lago, chief of the agency’s field unit in Quezon City, and Senior M/Sgt. Ruel Chu.

Ferro ordered the relief of Lago and Chu based on the complaint of Adrian Dominic Ang, 32, who accused the two of extortion.

Ferro said Ang, owner of ADA Farm Agriventure, was arrested by CIDG operatives based on a warrant for violation of Republic Act 8799 or the Securities and Regulation Code.

ADA Farm had been ordered closed by the Securities and Exchange Commission for its alleged involvement in an investment scam in Cebu.

Ferro said they received information that Lago and Chu were allegedly demanding P3 million from Ang in exchange for his release from detention.

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PHILIPPINES SEES 12,021 NEW COVID-19 CASES IN HIGHEST DAILY RISE SINCE APRIL 10

MANILA — Local health authorities on Wednesday reported 12,021 more COVID-19 infections, bringing the national caseload to 1,688,040.

This is the highest single-day rise seen since April 10 when the Department of Health reported 12,674 new cases.

Active cases: 81,399 or 4.8% of the total

Recoveries: 9,591, pushing total to 1,577,267

Deaths: 154, bringing total to 29,374

MAGNITUDE 7.1 QUAKE STRIKES OFF DAVAO ORIENTAL

A 7.1-magnitude earthquake strikes off the Philippines on Thursday, the United States Geological Survey reports, briefly triggering a tsunami warning.

The quake hit 63.3 kilometres (39.2 miles) east of Pondaguitan on Mindanao, the country's second largest island, around 1:45 am (1745 GMT) at a depth of 65 km, the USGS said.

A tsunami warning was issued briefly, according to the US Tsunami Warning System, which said the threat had passed around two hours after the quake.

MAKATI DISTRIBUTED CASH AID TO 233,000 RESIDENTS ON FIRST DAY: MAYOR

MANILA - Makati City has dispensed more than half of its allocated cash aid funds on the first day of distribution, Mayor Abigail Binay said Thursday.

Some 52 percent of the P511 million was distributed to 233,000 residents via financial app GCash on Wednesday, according to Binay.

“You can decide not to have a GCash but you will wait, you will have to wait for a manual payout,” she told ANC’s Headstart.

Residents who have yet to register their numbers or update their information almost caused the city’s website portal to crash, she added.

Some 10.7 million Filipinos affected by the enhanced community quarantine from August 6 to 20 will receive P1,000 each or up to P4,000 per family, Malacañang earlier said.

Binay, meantime, said it was “very difficult to determine” what part of the P67 billion health department’s remained unobligated.

“It’s still poor budgeting because you had the money, binigyan ka ng pera ng gobyerno na hindi mo ginamit. Yun yung mali dahil nasa kanila na yung pera eh pero di nila ginamit,” she said.

SAN JUAN ACHIEVES HERD IMMUNITY VS COVID-19

MANILA — San Juan City achieved herd immunity against COVID-19 on Monday after 98,590 residents were fully vaccinated, according to Mayor Francis Zamora.

“As of yesterday, we have vaccinated 147,421 people for the first dose and 98,590 for second dose. If we base it on the projected population of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), we have fully vaccinated 106.9 percent of our target population,” Zamora told reporters.

He said the local government targets to inoculate about 92,000 residents or 70 percent of the city’s total population.

San Juan, which has a population of 132,412 based on the ADB census for this year, had administered 147,421 first dose shots.

Zamora said the local government would continue its vaccinations to fully inoculate the city’s whole population.

“We need to immunize 27,757 residents with second doses to fully vaccinate the entire population of San Juan,” Zamora said.

San Juan is also vaccinating non-residents who work in the city.

City hall has finished vaccinating persons under the A3 category or those with comorbidities.

850,000 FAMILIES IN QUEZON CITY TO GET LOCKDOWN AID

MANILA — An estimated 850,000 families in Quezon City will receive P1,000 to P4,000 in financial assistance from the national government during the two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila.

An initial 43,000 qualified beneficiaries were scheduled to receive the lockdown aid in various payout centers in the city yesterday, according to Mayor Joy Belmonte.

To avoid confusion stemming from false information, Belmonte urged the beneficiaries to refer to the list and schedules posted by the city government and respective barangays online and in their communities.

Belmonte said the barangays would assign a specific day and time to each beneficiary and put in place other guidelines to avoid overcrowding at payout sites.

56 VINTAGE BOMBS UNEARTHED IN BATAAN

BAGAC, Bataan — Fifty-six World War II vintage bombs were unearthed in this town on Monday.

Town police chief Capt. Michelle Gaviola said the projectiles measuring 76 millimeters were discovered by a farmer while clearing his backyard in Barangay Parang to plant sweet potatoes.

Col. Joel Tampis, Bataan police director, said personnel of the municipal and provincial police, provincial explosive canine and military intelligence units helped unearth the bombs.

Tampis said the bombs could still explode and cause damage to life and property if mishandled.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

KYLIE VERZOSA, ALBERT MARTINEZ IN STEAMY ‘HOUSEMAID’ TRAILER

MANILA—Kylie Verzosa and Albert Martinez star as a housemaid and her employer who start an extramarital affair, in the first trailer of “The Housemaid” released on Wednesday.

“The Housemaid” is the Philippine adaptation of the acclaimed South Korean film of the same title by Im Sang-soo. The local remake was directed by Ramon Perez Jr.

As in the original, the Viva Films production centers on the titular character, Daisy, whose affair with her married boss endangers her life.

In the trailer, Verzosa, a Miss International titlist, is seen in her most daring role yet. Aside from sharing intimate scenes with Martinez, she is also seen being by the women of the household, including the pregnant wife.

“The Housemaid” also stars Louise Delos Reyes, Alma Moreno, Elia Eliano, and Jaclyn Jose.

The erotic thriller will stream starting September 20 on VivaMax.

KRIS AQUINO GREETS MYSTERY MAN A HAPPY BIRTHDAY

MANILA – Kris Aquino has revealed that she currently has a special someone in her life, although the former Kapamilya TV host refused to identify him.

On Instagram early Wednesday, Aquino shared a post that reads: “Thank you for coming into my life… Happy birthday!”

In the caption, Aquino said she thought long and hard whether to upload the birthday greeting since she is aware that it will only lead to speculations.

Nonetheless, she still decided to make the post, noting that “he really did come when my grief was unbearable; he continues to give me unselfish support & comfort; he’s been around for all my ups and downs, health woes, and tears.”

Aquino also said her son Bimby approves of him and most importantly, he makes her feel “taken care of, secure and safe.”

“So he is deserving of this birthday greeting that all of you are now seeing (care bears na kung anong iisipin ninyo) BECAUSE for me he is #special,” she said.

When Aquino turned 50 years old last February, Bimby said in Erich Gonzales’ vlog that his wish for his mom is simply "for her to be happy in everything.”

When Gonzales prodded if he’s okay if his mom would have a love life, Bimby was straightforward in saying, “Okay lang.”

“If it makes her happy, then I’m happy. Simple lang ang buhay. Just be happy for the person who’s happy,” he said.

SPORTS

FOOTBALL: CHELSEA BEAT VILLARREAL IN SHOOTOUT WITH TWO KEPA SAVES TO WIN UEFA SUPER CUP

Substitute goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga made two shootout saves as Champions League winners Chelsea beat Spain’s Villarreal 6-5 on penalties to add the Uefa Super Cup to their trophy collection tonight.

Extra time had ended 1-1 at Belfast’s Windsor Park ground, with Chelsea replacing goalkeeper Edouard Mendy with Kepa in the final seconds in what turned out to be a master-stroke as penalties loomed.

The Blues were appearing in this European showpiece fixture for the fifth time after seeing off Manchester City in Porto in May to clinch a second Champions League triumph. Winners against Real Madrid in 1998, Chelsea finished as runners-up in 2012, 2013 and 2019, losing to Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and Liverpool respectively.

Chelsea started brightly and went ahead through Hakim Ziyech to lead 1-0 at the interval, though their joy was tempered by a worrying shoulder injury for the winger. That injury seemed to take the wind out of Chelsea’s sails for the second half, and Gerard Moreno deservedly levelled after the break to take the game to extra-time and a penalty shootout - and Kepa.

Substitute goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga made two shootout saves as Champions League winners Chelsea beat Spain’s Villarreal 6-5 on penalties to add the UEFA Super Cup to their trophy collection on Wednesday.

Extra time had ended 1-1 at Belfast’s Windsor Park ground, with Chelsea replacing goalkeeper Edouard Mendy with Kepa in the final seconds in what turned out to be a master-stroke as penalties loomed.

Kai Havertz missed the first spot-kick but after that Chelsea were perfect while both Aissa Mandi and Raul Albiol both saw their penalties saved by Kepa as Chelsea won 6-5.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 50.38

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Mistakes are always forgivable if one has the courage to admit them. - Bruce Lee