22.29% OF FILIPINOS FULLY VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19

MANILA — Official figures show that 24.31 million people have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 since the government launched its inoculation campaign over seven months ago.

This is equivalent to 22.29% of the population, far from the 90% coverage that health authorities say is needed to reach herd immunity.

It is also far from the 50 to 60 million Filipinos the government is targeting to vaccinate before the year is out.

Department of Health figures as of October 17 also show that 28 million Filipinos — or 25.68% of the population — have received a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The government again fell short of its target to vaccinate some 500,000 people daily, vaccinating an average of 375,773 people per day in the last week.

Since vaccination of the general public began this month, officials have fully inoculated 271,094 individuals not considered part of the priority sectors.

LABOR DEPT SAYS 'NO COVID-19 VACCINE, NO PAY' IS UNLAWFUL

MANILA — Employers who refuse to pay workers who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 will be investigated as this practice is “unlawful”, the labor department said on Monday.

“Under the law, hindi mo pwedeng i-hold ang sweldo ng employee unless there is a legal basis or legal cause,” said Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III.

There is no law that prohibits any employee to work unvaccinated.

“We are in a democratic country, and there is what we call ‘freedom of choice’. Di mo pwedeng pilitin ang mga tao na magpabakuna unless merong batas,” Bello said in a virtual press conference.

He confirmed the labor department received communication from the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines on alleged cases of employers withholding the salaries of unvaccinated workers.

If the employer refuses, this order "will become a final executory order" and the labor department will look for or auction the firm's assets and properties that could pay for the salaries, Bello said.

“Sana they (employers) should remember that this is a statutory obligation. 'Di pwedeng i-delay. Wala ring exemption. You have to pay to comply with your legal obligation,” he said.

TESDA CHIEF GRILLED OVER P2-BILLION FUND TRANSFER TO PITC

Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) is again linked to a questionable government fund transfer, this time regarding a P2-billion budget from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) made in 2019.

At a Senate finance committee budget hearing for TESDA and PITC, Senator Franklin Drilon asked who authorized the transfer of the P2 billion funds even if the validity to use the money has already lapsed.

"TESDA was supposed to have returned P2 billion to the national treasury. What you did was to move this to PITC even if you can no longer utilize these funds," Drilon told Isidro Lapeña, director general of TESDA.

He said the fund transfer is against the law.

But in his defense, Lapeña said he authorized the the transfer of expired funds while insisting the funds were still valid.

"I requested for the transfer of these funds to PITC, for PITC to pursue the procurement of the toolkits that were part of the scholarship program," he said.

Lapeña also explained they had a problem with the integrity of TESDA's procurement system, which is why they tapped the government-owned trading company.

But based on reports from TESDA, the toolkits were only delivered earlier in 2021, or two years after the funds were transferred to PITC.

Senator Cynthia Villar shared her own "bad experience" with the PITC when she and other local government units along Manila Bay in 2016, gave a P400 million budget to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the procurement of composting facilities and plastic processing factories.

The DENR gave that budget to the PITC but Villar said up until now, she has yet to see the project being completed.

'WALA AKONG PREPARASYON': BATO ADMITS HE DID NOT PREPARE FOR PRESIDENTIAL BID

MANILA - Presidential candidate Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa admitted Tuesday he did not make any preparations to run in next year's elections.

Dela Rosa earlier said he was picked as the presidential bet of a faction of President Rodrigo Duterte's political party just 2 hours before the filing of candidacies closed.

"Bakit ang intensyon ba kinakailangan dapat long-term intention? Hindi tayo makakabuo ng immediate intention? Kinekuwestiyon nila ang aking bona fide intention to run as president dahil nga wala akong preparasyon. Yes, totoo 'yan. Hindi ako nagpe-prepare pero 'yung intensyon, malaking debate 'yan," he told ANC's Headstart when asked if he could be considered a nuisance candidate.

They're questioning my bona fide intention to run as president because I was not prepared. That's true. I didn't prepare but my intention is a huge debate.)

"Who are you to judge my intention? The mere fact that I filed my certificate of candidacy is an overt manifestation of my clear intention to become the next president of this Republic."

The senator said he was not told that he was going to become a "placeholder" but that he expected the party to adopt Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte to substitute him.

"I'm a team player, di po ako sakim sa kapangyarihan. Kung napagdesisyunan ng partido na ipapalit si Inday Sara as a more viable, more winnable candidate, by all means I have to abide by party decisions," he said.

"But still you cannot question my bona fide intent to run because kung hindi talaga makatakbo si Inday Sara, buo ang loob ko na lumaban sa eleksyong ito."

BATO: PRESIDENT MARCOS DID MANY GOOD THINGS FOR PH

Presidential aspirant Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on Tuesday said President Ferdinand Marcos did many good things for the country, adding the Philippines was "leading by all indicators" when the late dictator was ousted in 1986 despite economic data showing otherwise.

Dela Rosa, 59, said he was old enough to have seen the effects of martial law in the country before the 1986 People Power Revolution ousted Marcos.

Asked about moves to revise history to favor the Marcoses, Dela Rosa said talking about the late dictator's accomplishments should not be labeled as revisionism.

When asked which parts of history are being "revised", he said: "Na si Pangulong Marcos ay napakawalang kwentang pangulo. Ang daming magandang nagawa niya sa ating bansa. Before siya umalis, we are leading by all indicators sa Southeast Asia."

BATO BLASTS TULFO: WHO IS HE TO SAY DRUG WAR A FAILURE?

MANILA - Presidential candidate Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Tuesday lashed back at broadcaster and senatorial aspirant Raffy Tulfo for calling the war on drugs a failure.

"Noon hangang-hanga siya sa drug war. Ngayon failure na. Sino siya para magjudge na failure ang drug war? Siguro yung mga taong nagsasabi na failure ang drug war, ito yung mga tao na nakatira sa gated community, posh subdivisions, very safe sila sa pamumuhay doon dahil guwardiyado sila," he said in an interview on ANC's Headstart.

He also denied that no big-time personalities involved in drugs have been caught by authorities.

"Ano pala ang mga Intsik na napatay dyan? Mga mayor na namatay, mga congressman na tinamaan sa war on drugs?" he said.

"It only goes to show they're ignorant about the real situation of the drug problem sa Pilipinas (in the Philippines)."

Tulfo earlier said it was President Duterte himself who admitted that the war on drugs is a failure.

"Definitely a failure, siya (Duterte) mismo umamin niyan kasi sinabi niya in 6 months’ time masosolve niya na ang problema sa drugs then lately siya mismo umamin na di ko pala kaya, kala ko kaya," he said.

He said he would focus on rehabilitation of drug addicts if he is elected senator.

"Magopen tayo ng rehabilitation centers...Pag nawala na itong mga addict, na-rehab na sila, then meron yung tinatawag na law of supply and demand. Wala nang nagdedemand, bababa na ang supply," he said.

In the interview, Dela Rosa said he would protect himself and President Rodrigo Duterte from the International Criminal Court if he wins in next year's elections.

The senator and Duterte are facing accusations of crimes against humanity before the ICC for alleged extrajudicial killings under the drug war and during the latter's mayoralty in Davao.

DIZON QUITS BCDA, STILL TESTING CZAR

MANILA — Secretary Vince Dizon has resigned as president of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, but will continue to be part of the government’s anti-COVID-19 efforts, a BCDA official said yesterday.

BCDA executive vice president Aileen Zosa confirmed Dizon’s resignation during a budget hearing at the Senate. She said Dizon’s resignation was effective last Oct. 15.

“I think it was an irrevocable resignation but he will stay in the Cabinet... for the anti-COVID efforts of the government,” Zosa told Sen. Sonny Angara, who asked about Dizon’s resignation.

Dizon serves as testing czar and deputy chief implementer of the National Task Force against COVID-19.

He is also the presidential adviser for flagship programs. Malacañang has not yet issued a statement regarding Dizon’s resignation as of press time.

Dizon is reportedly joining the team behind Manila Mayor Isko Moreno’s 2022 presidential bid.

PHILIPPINES' MOBILE INTERNET SPEED IMPROVES IN SEPTEMBER — OOKLA

MANILA — Mobile internet speed in the Philippines improved in September compared to the previous month, but fixed broadband performance weakened, according to a new report from network intelligence provider Ookla.

Results of Ookla’s latest Internet Performance Report released Tuesday showed average mobile download speed in the Philippines stood at 35.03 Mbps in September, faster than 33.77 Mbps recorded in August.

Compared with the same month last year, mobile download speed improved by 107.4%. However, it still fell below the global average of 63.15 Mbps as of September.

The Philippines, in turn, ranked 72nd out of 138 countries tracked by Ookla in terms of mobile download speed in September, up one notch from the preceding month.

Meanwhile, mobile internet upload speed averaged 8.54 Mbps in September, slower than 8.63 Mbps registered in the previous month. Year-on-year, mobile upload speed got better by 53.3%, but still lower than the global average of 13.37 Mbps.

Ookla also reported that average latency, or the time it takes for information to be transmitted from the source to its intended destination, was at 32 ms in September for mobile networks, higher than 30 ms in August. A lower latency score is better.

SC EXPANDS ON-SITE CAPACITY TO 30%; NO PERSONAL FILING IN OCTOBER

MANILA — The Supreme Court has expanded its operational capacity reporting physically to some of its offices to 30% from 15% from October 20 to 29 as Metro Manila graduates to Alert Level 3.

The latest directive contained in a memorandum signed by Acting Chief Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe covers all offices of the SC, except for the Office of the Bar Confidant, Medical and Dental Services, Security Division and Maintenance Division as these are allowed up to 50% of operational capacity.

The SC reiterated that those reporting physically to their offices shall remain on a rotation basis and will undergo a thorough checking of their health condition upon entering the Court’s premises.

They will report to the office from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Those who will be reporting to the office for the first time after working from home for more than 15 consecutive days must first undergo antigen test before proceeding to their offices, it added.

Staff assigned to physically report to office but are residing in areas placed on granular lockdown shall be replaced by those from areas with lower alert levels.

The rest meanwhile shall report under a work-from-home arrangement. Meanwhile, chiefs of offices may avail one day per week work-from-home arrangement, but they should ensure that their communication lines are open at all times.

In the same memo, the SC also extended its “no personal filing” policy until October 29.

NO AIR FARE INCREASE FOR HOLIDAYS

MANILA — Air fares will not increase for the holiday season despite the recent spike in jet fuel prices.

The maximum allowable fuel surcharge level which airlines can impose will remain the same until the end of the year, according to the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).

The CAB, in its latest advisory, said the passenger fuel surcharge for domestic and international flights from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, 2021 would stay at Level 2.

From Level 1 last July and August, the CAB had previously raised the passenger fuel surcharge to Level 2 for the September to October period, after the price of jet fuel averaged $78.75 per barrel during the June to July evaluating period.

The applicable fuel surcharge level for the next two months was determined by the CAB based on the average price of jet fuel during the months of August and September.

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PH LOGS 6,943 FRESH COVID-19 CASES; ACTIVE INFECTIONS DOWN TO 2.5% OF TOTAL

MANILA - The Philippines on Monday reported 6,943 new COVID-19 cases, the second straight day that the number of cases was below 7,000, data from the health department showed.

The last time the country recorded below 7,000 infections was on Aug. 3 when the Department of Health announced 6,879 cases, according to the ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group.

Of the total 2,727,286 cases, 68,832 or 2.5 percent were active infections, according to the latest DOH bulletin.

COVID-related deaths increased by 86, resulting in a total of 40,761.

There were also 19,687 more recoveries, raising the total number of recuperations to 2,617,693.

The number of fresh recoveries is the highest in six days or since Oct. 12 when DOH announced 25,146, the ABS-CBN IRG said.

METRO MANILA COVID-19 REPRODUCTION RATE DOWN TO 0.55 — OCTA

MANILA — Metro Manila's COVID-19 reproduction rate has gone down to its lowest since May, OCTA Research said on Tuesday in its latest monitoring.

Dr. Guido David, one of the panel's fellows, shared the rate is now at 0.55. The last time it was at this level was in May this year, or at 0.56.

Reproduction rate refers to the number of persons a COVID-19 positive individual can infect.

In September, the figure was as high as 1.03 that had decreased to 0.99 by the remaining days of the month.

"We hope we can keep [this] below 0.6 the rest of the year," David wrote on Twitter.

He said the capital region's seven-day average is also now at 1,411.

PHILIPPINES RESUMES OFW DEPLOYMENT TO GUINEA

MANILA — The deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Guinea will continue despite political as well as peace and order problems in the West African country, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) announced yesterday.

The POEA has issued a resolution allowing the deployment of OFWs to Guinea.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has declared an Alert Level 1 or “precautionary phase” in Guinea.

Although the alert level has been lowered, the Philippine embassy continues to monitor developments on the reported coup in Guinea.

Last September, the POEA sought advice from the DFA on the alert level in Guinea amid the peace and order situation there.

NATIONAL MUSEUM REOPENS TO FULLY VAXXED VISITORS

MANILA — Starting tomorrow, the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) will reopen to fully vaccinated visitors based on the guidelines imposed by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases as Metro Manila shifted to the more relaxed Alert Level 3.

In a Facebook post over the weekend, the National Museum announced that it would resume operations at a limited capacity. Only 100 fully vaccinated visitors will be allowed entry to the museum per batch.

The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Visitors are required to make reservations online a day before their scheduled visit. To book a slot, they should visit www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph and click “BOOK A TOUR.” A confirmation of their booking would be sent through e-mail.

They must present their identification and vaccination cards. Walk-ins will not be accommodated.

Visitors will be asked to fill out a health declaration form before entering the premises. This can be done online through the StaySafePh app.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

FULL TRAILER OF 'REAL LIFE FICTION' STARRING PIOLO, JASMINE UNVEILED

MANILA – The full trailer for Piolo Pascual and Jasmine Curtis-Smith’s first movie together has finally been unveiled.

The two are the lead stars of the upcoming film “Real Life Fiction” co-produced by Ten17P and Viva Films and directed by Paul Soriano.

Based on its official synopsis, the movie follows an actor “with an illustrious career," who decides to write, direct, and act in a film "that will inevitably bring him closer to his own demise before revealing that his truth may actually be far from what he has become.”

Without saying exactly when, the end of the trailer suggests that "Real Life Fiction" will be released soon.

“Real Life Fiction” marks the second collaboration between Pascual and Ten17P after “Hele Sa Hiwagang Hapis” with John Lloyd Cruz.

The same is true for Curtis-Smith after having starred in the 2017 movie “Siargao” which was likewise produced by Ten17P.

SPORTS

AROUND 96% OF NBA PLAYERS VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19, SAYS COMMISSIONER

NEW YORK – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Monday (Tuesday, Manila time) that around 96% of players in the league have now been vaccinated against COVID-19 despite union opposition to a league-wide mandate.

Speaking to reporters on the eve of the new NBA season, which tips off on Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time), Silver said the number of vaccinated players had increased and was expected to go higher after the season starts.

"Roughly 96% of our players are vaccinated, and that number will likely tick up a bit when the season starts," Silver told reporters.

Issues around vaccine hesitancy have loomed over the build-up to the 2021-2022 season, most notably with Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving effectively being sidelined over his refusal to get vaccinated.

A city regulation in New York requires individuals in public indoor spaces to be vaccinated, meaning that Irving is unable to play home games for the Nets.

The Nets subsequently said Irving would not play in either home or away games as long as he remains unvaccinated.

Silver said Monday he hoped Irving would eventually change his mind over the vaccine — but backed the New York regulations that have left his career in limbo.

"I hope that Kyrie, despite how strongly he feels about the vaccination, ultimately decides to get vaccinated because I'd love to see him play basketball this season, and I'd love to see the Brooklyn Nets have their full complement of players on the floor," Silver said.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

What recommends commerce to me is its enterprise and bravery. It does not clasp its hands and pray to Jupiter. - Henry David Thoreau