PHILIPPINES LISTS 640 NEW DELTA CASES, GENOME CENTER FOCUSES ON SEQUENCING

MANILA — Health authorities on Monday said they detected 640 more cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19.

That figure makes up 85.6% of the 748 samples sent for genome sequencing, according to the Department of Health.

Of the additional infections, the agency said 584 were local cases, 52 were returning Filipinos from abroad, while four are still being verified.

Thirteen of the new Delta cases had died, three were active and 624 have been listed as recovered.

Top regions that had indicated address of Delta patients were: Metro Manila with 112, Cagayan Valley with 52 and Calabarzon with 49.

DOH said the total number of Delta variant cases in the Philippines is now at 2,708.

'NO ADVERSE FINDING': RED CROSS SAYS DONATIONS 'FAITHFULLY ACCOUNTED FOR'

MANILA - The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said Sunday it has "faithfully accounted for the use" of donations after President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to stop government's transactions with the humanitarian organization if it refuses to undergo a state audit.

"To date, there has not been any adverse finding on any transaction whereby government funds were given to the Philippine Red Cross," the organization said, adding its records of donations may be obtained directly from donor state agencies.

"The Philippine Red Cross has faithfully accounted for the use of such funds in compliance with the donor agencies’ liquidation and reportorial requirements. These government agencies, in turn, are subject to annual audit by the Commission on Audit," it said in a statement.

PHILIPPINES RECEIVES 2 MILLION MORE SINOVAC DOSES

The Philippines received Monday an additional two million doses of Sinovac vaccines as the country continues to fight a surge in COVID-19 infections.

The new batch of Sinovac doses, which is part of the 12 million doses procured by government, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 past 7 a.m.

The Philippines has among the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths in Asia and has been battling an epidemic since March last year, which has hamstrung efforts to revive an economy that contracted more than 9% in 2020.

Galvez, meanwhile, said the Philippine Medical Association has not advised the start of COVID-19 vaccinations for children since many adults have yet to be fully vaccinated against coronavirus.

The Philippines has so far fully vaccinated some 16.1 million people, with 21.5 million yet to receive their second dose.

Once the vaccination of minors starts, priority will be given to children 12-17 years old particularly children of health care workers and those with co-morbidities.

The government is also studying booster shots for healthcare workers.

ADULTS MUST STILL BE PRIORITY FOR COVID-19 VACCINATION: PEDIATRICIANS

MANILA - Adults should still be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccination, at least two groups of pediatric doctors said Sunday following government's approval for Moderna and Pfizer to be used on children.

The Philippine Pediatric Society, Inc. (PPS) and the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines, Inc (PIDSP) said adults and more vulnerable age groups "should still be priority in the vaccination rollout, with the aim of equitable distribution among different regions of the country."

"Once the whole country has a sufficient percentage vaccinated in the priority adult groups, children 12 years-old and above may be considered for vaccination," it said in a statement.

"As such the vaccine rollout can be initiated in high-transmission areas and should prioritize adolescents who are qualified in the A3 (children with comorbidities) and A1 (children of healthcare frontliners) category."

HUGPONG ALL OUT FOR SARA IN PRESIDENTIAL RACE

MANILA — The organization that has been persuading Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte to join the May 2022 elections remains unfazed despite the categorical pronouncements of the President’s daughter that she is backing out from the presidential race.

In a statement over the weekend, the more than 10,000-strong Hugpong Para kay Sara (HPS) vowed to push through with its scheduled official launching today, and its supporters and chapter members nationwide will take their oath promising to support a Duterte candidacy.

“We will proceed with the HPS launching in spite of the recent pronouncement of Mayor Sara that she will not run for president because we still believe she is the most qualified to lead our nation for the next six years,” said Deputy Speaker Bernadette Herrera, the group’s spokesperson.

Herrera, Bagong Henerasyon party-list representative, said the launching aims at “providing research and support” to Mayor Duterte to help her decide to throw her hat into the presidential derby next year.

“We share a common aspiration – to effect true and lasting change for the country. We believe Mayor Sara is the perfect person with her personality and being confident, yet quiet and reserved but willing to fight and has a genuine commitment for the country,” she said partly in Filipino.

Over 10,000 new members and chapters of HPS in the National Capital Region (NCR) and other regions in the country as well as supporters abroad, including in the Middle East, Canada and the US, will pledge their loyalty to support and encourage Mayor Duterte to seek the presidency.

PANELO URGES RED CROSS TO SUBMIT TO AUDITPANELO: GOV'T CAN GO TO COURT IF PHILIPPINE RED CROSS WITHHOLDS FINANCIAL REPORTS

Presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo said Sunday that the Duterte administration could ask the court to compel the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to submit the required financial reports.

Panelo's remark came after Palace spokesman Harry Roque cited PRC's failure to submit its financial status to President Rodrigo Duterte as an honorary president of the humanitarian organization.

"For one, kung hindi kusa magbigay ng report (if they can't voluntarily give the report), we can go to court to compel them to comply with what the law asks them to do," Panelo said over Dobol B TV.

"Kapag hindi pa rin sila gumawa niyan, mayroon silang liability. Kung five years sila hindi nagsusumite, mayroon silang violation" (If they fail to submit, they have liability. If it has been five years of failing to comply, they have a violation), Panelo added.

GMA News Online has contacted PRC chairman Senator Richard Gordon for comment but has yet to receive a statement.

President Rodrigo Duterte had threatened to stop all government transactions with the Red Cross as the Senate was doing an inquiry into the alleged overpricing of medical supplies the Department of Health purchased in 2020 for COVID-19 response.

Gordon leads the Senate blue ribbon committee probe into the alleged overpricing.

Earlier, Duterte said he wanted the Commission on Audit to conduct an audit on the finances of the PRC, a non-government humanitarian organization.

However, COA said that it has no jurisdiction over the PRC.

In response to Duterte's threat to stop all government transactions with PRC, Gordon said, "It's up to the President."

'BUWIS-BUHAY': MANPOWER WOES AT PGH AS VOLUNTEER DOCTORS OPT NOT TO RENEW CONTRACTS

MANILA - Volunteer doctors at the Philippine General Hospital opted not to renew their contracts, further highlighting the staffing crisis at the country's premiere COVID-19 referral facility, its spokesperson said Monday.

Dr. Jonas Del Rosario said manpower in PGH is currently stretched out as coronavirus patients continue coming in, while healthcare workers are getting sick and some volunteer doctors quitting.

"Talagang nararamdaman namin yung problema namin sa manpower (We really feel the problem on manpower). A lot of our healthcare workers are getting sick also. Marami na ring pagod at (many are sick and) some are also exposed to the virus so they have to undergo the mandatory quarantine," he told ANC's Headstart.

"So if you take this altogether on top of that some of the healthcare workers—these are volunteers who decided not to renew their contracts, and understandably so. They have been helping us for almost a year. So if you will take this into account and a lot of patients are coming in, we’re operating on full capacity, talagang naii-stretch out yung aming manpower," he said.

He said over the last year, PGH had 25 volunteer doctors, but some of them had to quit to pursue their subspecialty.

FOREIGNERS WITH EXPIRED VISAS CAN STAY IN PHILIPPINES – BI

MANILA — Foreigners whose temporary visitor’s visa has expired are allowed to stay longer in the country as the Bureau of Immigration (BI) suspended the issuance of OTL or Order to Leave.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente signed an order suspending the OTL last Sept. 7, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said.

Morente said several foreigners were unable to leave the country because of the travel restrictions imposed by the government during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said holders of temporary visitor’s visas or foreigners who have been overstaying are still allowed to stay in the Philippines.

PHARMALLY DIRECTOR CONTRACTS COVID, PLACED UNDER HOUSE ARREST: SOTTO

MANILA - The director of Pharmally Pharmaceuticals is under house arrest, an official said as the Senate continues its investigation into the alleged overpricing of medical supplies.

Pharmally director Linconn Ong had tested positive for COVID-19, said Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III.

"We have security personnel on duty checking on him, but I cannot divulge where," Senate sergeant-at-arms Rene Samonte said.

Former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang will attend the Senate hearing later Monday, Sotto added.

"I have no word on Yang but his lawyer said he will be attending (today) virtually," he said.

PHILIPPINES IS STILL ASIA'S DEADLIEST COUNTRY FOR PROTECTORS OF NATURE

MANILA — The Philippines remained the worst place in Asia for land and environmental defenders in 2020, with at least 29 people killed for their defense of nature, according to a report of an international rights watchdog.

In a report published on Monday, Global Witness said 227 protectors of the Earth were registered killed last year—more than four a week on average.

For the second year in a row, Colombia was the deadliest country for land and environmental activists, with 65 recorded deaths. Mexico had the second highest number of deaths worldwide, with 30.

The Philippines was the third most dangerous nation in the world for environmental defenders.

It was followed by Brazil (20), Honduras (17), Democratic Republic of Congo (15), Guatemala (13), Nicaragua (12), Peru (6), India (4) and Indonesia (3).

Seventy percent of the victims had been working to defend forests from deforestation and industrial development, while others died for their work to protect rivers, coastal areas and the oceans.

“The unaccountable exploitation and greed driving the climate crisis is also having an increasingly violent impact on people,” the report said.

“This is a crisis against humanity.”

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PHILIPPINES OPENS SCHOOLS VIRTUALLY AGAIN WITH NO NOD YET ON CLASSROOM LEARNING

MANILA — The Philippines on Monday began a new school year for over 24 million students under a learning setup still carried out remotely with no government approval yet for limited in-person classes.

Enrollment figures as of early morning of September 13 was 93.8% of last year's turnout, or 24.60 million against the 26.22 million in 2020.

Broken down, most students or 18.56 million are in public schools, only 1.44 million in private, while 198,297 in the Department of Education's Alternative Learning System. Those in ALS make up only 33.08% of the 599,365 last year.

DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said there is indication those who skipped schooling in 2020 would be returning this year. The agency said it will continue accepting enrollment until September 30.

"The challenges we are facing now are even tougher than those we battled last year," said Secretary Leonor Briones in a program to mark the school opening that groups said is still marred by the same difficulties in 2020.

COVID CONSTRAINTS PUSH FIILIPINOS TO BUY ONLINE: TWITTER SURVEY

MANILA - Restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic are driving Twitter users in the Philippines to purchase goods online, data from the social media platform said.

A total of 84 percent of people on Twitter in the Philippines purchased online in the past 6 months, Twitter-Asia Pacific Head of Research Martyn U’Ren told ANC, citing a Twitter Insights Survey.

"A lot of these are because of all the constraints that we had in our everyday lives… that has sort of driven people into using online in a different way," U'Ren said.

Online buyers are also receptive to consumer reviews, comments on Twitter as well as ads, he said.

E-commerce, logistics and even financial services have grown exponentially during the pandemic as Filipinos stuck at home sought ways to continue their day-to-day activities despite restrictions.

FREE MASS TESTING: COMPROMISE PROPOSED IN METRO MANILA ALERT LEVEL POLICY

MANILA - Government should conduct free mass testing and allow only vaccinated workers outside their homes if it will enforce the proposed alert level and granular lockdown policy in Metro Manila, a public health advocate said Monday.

Mass testing, intensified contact tracing, and increased vaccination should be in place as the policy will grant more mobility to the public, according to Dr. Tony Leachon, who previously served as special adviser to the National Task Force Against COVID-19.

"Kung i-apply natin ang granular lockdown, baka yung mobility will actually increase transmission and we'll reach 30,000 [daily new cases] by September," he told ANC's Headstart.

"You only do granular lockdowns when the cases are manageable. The 9,000 [cases] in NCR (National Capital Region) is bigger than the total new cases in Indonesia."

The alternative would be to implement a strict lockdown and conduct mass testing, Leachon said.

"I don’t believe in lockdown...but the timing is off. I know we have to live with the virus but they should have done their homework weeks or months ago. Kasi the infrastructure--testing, contact tracing--ay hindi (are not) in place," he said.

PHILIPPINE’S OLDEST PERSON MARKS 124TH BIRTHDAY

BACOLOD CITY — Francisca Susano, the country’s oldest living person, celebrated her 124th birthday on Saturday with ranking government officials among her guests and well-wishers.

Wearing a terno, Lola Francisca received her guests – who brought her presents – at her home in Barangay Oringao in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.

Among the visitors were Franklin Quijano, chief of the National Commission of Senior Citizens, and Jorge Largado, head of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.

Documents for Lola Francisca’s possible declaration as the world’s oldest living person have been submitted to the Guinness Organization.

LTFRB RESUMES FREE RIDE PROGRAM TODAY

MANILA — Passengers in Metro Manila can avail themselves of free rides in public utility vehicles as the government resumes today the service contracting program (SCP) for PUV drivers, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced over the weekend.

The LTFRB said P3 billion has been allocated in the 2021 General Appropriations Act for the second phase of SCP.

The program was suspended last July following the expiration of funds under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act.

With the resumption of the program, free rides would be offered again for medical frontliners, essential workers and authorized persons outside of residence.

The SCP was re-launched on Friday.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

ATE GAY, NAHIHIYA SA PAGKADAWIT NI VICE GANDA SA MGA ISYU NIYA

MAYNILA -- Aminado ang komedyanteng si Ate Gay o Gil Morales sa totoong buhay na nahihiya na siya sa palagiang pagkakadawit ng pangalan ni Vice Ganda tuwing siya ay may isyu.

Kamakailan lang umalma si Ate Gay sa bashers na nagsabing hindi na siya dapat tinulungan ni Vice Ganda noong siya ay naospital.

Sa vlog ng kapwa komedyante at beteranong showbiz writer na si Ogie Diaz, iginiit ni Ate Gay na nahihiya na siya sa "It's Showtime" host.

"Laging pinagdidikit ang mukha ko saka ni Vice Ganda, nahihiya ako kay Vice. Actually tumulong si Vice... 'Yung nang ba-bash sa akin feeling nila si Vice 'yung nagbayad ng bill ko sa ospital, parang ganoon. Parang nahihiya ako kay Vice kumbaga. Lagi na lang siyang nadadawit sa kapag may isyu ako," ani Ate Gay.

Paglilinaw ni Ate Gay, ang kanyang kapatid ang nagbayad sa nagastos niya sa ospital na umabot ng P600,000.

"Nahihiya ako sa kanya (kay Vice Ganda) dahil sa panahon na nahihirapan ako sa ospital ay 'yung naalala ka lang niya ay okay na yon, eh tumulong pa siya maraming salamat," dagdag ni Ate Gay na inaming naapektuhan siya sa mga banat ng basher.

May pakiusap din si Ate Gay sa mga kritiko o basher.

"Sa mga basher matuto kayong sumagot ng malumanay para naman napapakinggan 'yung mga hinaing niyo rin sa buhay. Matuto kayong sumagot ng magandang pananalita. Paano kayo sasagutin ng maayos kung ang pagsasalita niyo ay hindi maayos. Hindi naman ako nakikialam sa mga opinyon niyo, huwag niyo rin pakiaalaman ang opinyon ko. Ang mali ko lang kasi parang nagmando ako na idi-delete ko ang mga ganito," kuwento ng komedyante.

Naging sunod-sunod ang banat ng kritiko kay Ate Gay dahil sa post niya tungkol sa mga nagrereklamo sa gobyerno.

Matatandaang Abril nang ibahagi ni Ate Gay sa kanyang mga tagahanga ang kanyang paggaling mula sa karamdaman.

SPORTS

PBA: TNT DEALS GINEBRA ITS SECOND STRAIGHT LOSS

MANILA - Rookie guard Mikey Williams led the way as the TNT Tropang GIGA locked up a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup, thanks to an 88-67 victory over Barangay Ginebra.

Williams fired 27 points, while Jayson Castro put up 14 points, five assists and four rebounds as the Tropang GIGA cruised to a comfortable win, Sunday at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.

PBA: RAIN OR SHINE RALLIES TO DOWN SAN MIGUEL

MANILA - Rey Nambatac hit the go-ahead shot with 2.5 seconds left as the Rain or Shine outlasted the San Miguel Beermen, 95-93, for their sixth win of the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup.

The Elasto Painters had to recover from a slow start that saw them fall behind by as much as 13 points in Sunday's game at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga. Rookie Santi Santillan sparked Rain or Shine's comeback, scoring all of his career-best 21 points in the second half.

PBA: SURGING NORTHPORT ADDS TO NLEX'S WOES

MANILA - The NorthPort Batang Pier survived a late rally by the NLEX Road Warriors for a 96-94 victory, their third straight of the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup.

Robert Bolick had 26 points and five assists as the Batang Pier improved to 4-3 in the standings, Sunday at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga. Rookie forward Jamie Malonzo had 13 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists, and veteran Sean Anthony added 14 points.

NorthPort led by as much as 16 points but needed a tough defensive stand in the final minute to outlast the Road Warriors, who absorbed their third consecutive defeat in the conference.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information. - T. S. Eliot