PHILIPPINES TO START NATIONWIDE VACCINATION OF MINORS ON NOV 5
MANILA - The Philippines will begin the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination of minors aged 12 to 17 on November 5, the Department of Health said Wednesday.
Guidelines are being drafted, said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.
Government earlier this month began the vaccination of children with existing health conditions following the approval of Pfizer and Moderna for minors.
It has inoculated 9,928 children with health risks as of Monday, Vergeire earlier said.
DUTERTE REMINDS PUBLIC: OBSERVE PANDEMIC PROTOCOLS
MANILA — Despite the downward trend in COVID-19 infections, President Duterte is reminding the public to follow the safety measures set by the government to contain the pandemic.
Duterte noted that as of Oct. 23, the three-day tally of new COVID-19 cases went down to 5,000 and a similar downward trend for positivity rate was recorded from 10.3 percent last Oct. 23 to nine percent on Oct. 25, meaning only one out of 10 persons tested for COVID-19 gets a positive result.
“We thank God for the decline and let us continue to follow the government. If you do not want to follow, you may want me to force you to comply and that’s not good,” the President said.
Duterte recalled how he had persuaded people to follow the law when he was mayor of Davao City for more than two decades.
Duterte also asserted that the epidemic is “controlled and declining” as the reproduction rate of COVID-19 went down from 0.55 last Oct. 21 to 0.52 on Oct. 23.
“According to a criteria published by the World Health Organization on May 12, 2020, a reproduction rate of one, below one, is the decline indication that the epidemic is controlled, it is controlled and declining,” he added.
As of Oct. 25, the Philippines has about 57,763 active cases, 76.2 percent of them mild, with a 96.4 percent recovery rate and a 1.52 percent case fatality rate.
PDP-LABAN CUSI WING INKS ALLIANCE WITH REFORM PARTY
MANILA — The PDP-Laban party led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi signed an alliance agreement with the Reform Party to push for the programs initiated by President Duterte.
Joined by PDP-Laban secretary general Melvin Matibag, Cusi signed the agreement with former Magdalo member and Reform Party president Col. James Layug who pledged to endorse Sen. Bong Go’s bid for vice president in the 2022 elections.
The alliance, held at the Manila Yacht Club, has yet to announce their common candidate for president for the May 2022 elections.
Layug also said the party will support the senatorial candidacies of Sen. Gringo Honasan and Secretaries Mark Villar and Greco Belgica.
The PDP-Laban under Cusi pushed Sen. Ronald dela Rosa to file his certificate of candidacy at the last minute on the deadline of the filing on Oct. 8.
Some groups have expressed doubts about whether Dela Rosa would really run in the May 2022 presidential elections, as he has been vocal in encouraging Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to run since she has a better chance of winning.
“(You may ask) why it is not included, you will think why the Reform Party has not yet endorsed (Sen. Bato for president), they say we are still talking, but I’m sure when Nov. 16 comes we will have one common candidate,” Cusi explained.
COMELEC SPOX DISAGREES WITH ROBREDO: VOTE-BUYING IS AN ELECTION OFFENSE
MANILA - The spokesman of the Commission on Elections on Tuesday publicly disagreed with Vice President Leni Robredo for saying that voters who are offered money by politicians should accept the money but still vote according to their conscience.
In a tweet, Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez said he disagrees with "the notion of taking the money and voting according to your conscience."
"Vote buying is an election offense regardless of financial situation or noble intentions. Di dapat ginagawa, at di dapat sina-suggest yan sa mga botante," he said.
In an online forum Tuesday, Robredo, who is now running for president, said the public can take money from unscrupulous politicians, but vote according to their conscience in the 2022 elections.
"Mali iyong pagbili boto, pero iyong sinasabi ko sa tao, tanggapin n’yo. Parati kong sinasabi tanggapin n’yo kasi galing ‘yan sa atin. Iyong pinangbibili ng boto, pera rin ‘yan ng taongbayan," she said in an online forum organized by Kasambahay For Leni.
"Pero tatanggapin mo, pero ang iboboto mo kung sino iyong nasa konsensya mo. Huwag kang boboto dahil pakiramdam mo meron kang utang na loob kasi tinanggap mo," continued the Vice President.
Robredo said there was no way for politicians to know if the people who accepted the money actually voted for them.
If they lose, it would make them realize that buying votes is not effective and they would stay away from this strategy, she said.
WHO: PANDEMIC ‘FAR FROM OVER’ DESPITE VACCINE, VIRUS-ANALYSIS PROGRESS
The COVID-19 crisis is far from over, the World Health Organization's emergency committee said Tuesday as it called for research into next-generation vaccines for long-term control of the pandemic.
The 19-member committee meets every three months to discuss the pandemic and make recommendations.
"While progress has been made through increased uptake of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics, analysis of the present situation and forecasting models indicate that the pandemic is far from finished," the WHO said in a statement on Friday's four-hour virtual meeting.
The committee called for further research into reusable masks and respirators, and next-generation vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics "for long-term control of the pandemic".
"The use of masks, physical distancing, hand hygiene, and improving ventilation of indoor spaces remain key to reducing transmission of SARS CoV-2," the statement stressed.
The committee said the protracted pandemic was making humanitarian emergencies, mass migration and other crises more complex. States should therefore revise their preparedness and response plans.
It raised concerns about Africa's challenges in tackling the pandemic, including access to vaccines, tests and treatments, as well as collecting and analysing data to monitor the pandemic's evolution.
Just 14 vaccine doses have been administered per 100 people in Africa, according to an AFP calculation.
That figure stands at 128 doses in the United States and Canada; 113 in Europe; 106 in Latin America and the Caribbean; 103 in Oceania; 102 in Asia; and 78 in the Middle East.
ISKO: NO REGRETS
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno yesterday said he does not regret calling supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo “yellowtards.”
The mayor touted his straightforward style in talking to his constituents, adding that he is “tired” of politicians “sugarcoating” their words.
“I don’t regret anything. I was just being honest. If I offended them, I’m sorry, but I’m no angel, definitely I’m no devil. I don’t like sugarcoating in a challenging time. This is not about Mr. and Ms. Congeniality,” Moreno said in ANC‘s Headstart yesterday.
Moreno’s party Aksyon Demokratiko only has three senatorial candidates so far – Marawi civic leader Samira Gutoc, former councilor Jopet Sison, and entrepreneur Carl Balita.
ISKO MORENO CHALLENGED AFTER HE DARED IATF TO SLAP RAPS OVER MANILA BAY CROWDING
A presidential aspirant’s dare for the pandemic task force to file charges against the environment agency on the dolomite beach overcrowding was met by another challenge.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, more commonly known as Moreno, on Tuesday said that officials of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) should file charges against the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
He said charges should be made for violations against the government-imposed public health protocols in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Ang ironic kasi diyan, sila yung nagpapatupad, sila rin ‘yung lumalabag,” Moreno told ANC’s “The Headstart.”
“Now I’m challenging agencies of government under IATF to file charges in violation sa mga kapwa nila national government [officials],” he added.
The city chief described the dolomite beach overcrowding as a potential “superspreader” event and slammed the DENR for opening the area without informing the Manila city government.
“Binuksan nila, hindi naman kami ininform,” Moreno said, referring to the Manila Bay Coordinating Office. It is an agency under DENR tasked to coordinate with offices and agencies involved in the rehabilitation, restoration and conservation of the bay.
“If we cannot implement it within our offices, then there’s no point in implementing it sa mga taongbayan. Pinahihirapan natin ang taongbayan, pero ang unang naglalabag ay tayo rin sa national government. It doesn’t make sense,” Moreno said.
COMELEC RECORDS 400,000 NEW REGISTRANTS DURING EXTENDED PERIOD
MANILA — At least 400,000 new voters have been added to the list of registered voters for the May 2022 general elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez told One News aired over Cignal TV/TV 5 that the number of new voters surpassed the poll body’s expectations of around 300,000, noting the figure will still increase in the remaining days of the registration period.
The voter registration will end on Oct. 30, after it was extended from its original deadline of Sept. 30.
“I think we might have exceeded the target. I don’t have the final figures in yet, but early indications show that we’re closer to 400,000 than 300,000. It looks like we really did exceed our expectations even for this extension,” Jimenez said.
“There’s still more coming actually and we expect the crowd to be getting larger as we get closer to the deadline,” he said.
Jimenez said the poll body had reached its target of 65 million registered voters for the 2022 elections, including the 63 million locally registered voters as well as the 1.6 million overseas voters.
The figure is way higher than Comelec’s projection of 59 million voters.
60 PCT OF PLASTIC WASTE ON PAG-ASA ISLAND SHORES CAME FROM NEARBY COUNTRIES: EXPERT
MANILA - Sixty percent of plastic garbage found on the shores of Pag-asa Island did not come from the local community, a UP Marine Science Institute study showed.
The survey, led by country's top oceanographer and marine scientist Deo Florence Onda, showed that majority of the plastics are from neighboring countries Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and China.
"Kung titingnan mo yung label ng mga plastic makikita mo na galing sila sa Vietnam, Malaysia, China, at Indonesia. Ibig sabihin yung basura dito ay di galing sa isla mismo kundi pinapadpad ng tubig mula sa Pag-asa. Mahalaga ito kasi yung effort para iprotect ang Pag-asa Island ay dapat regional," he said.
The study is part of the Upgrade CIA project led by UP Marine Institute, which aims to gain a better understanding of the relatively unexplored Kalayaan Island Group.
Coastal cleanups in Pag-asa Island are being done by residents every Sunday. Every week, they gather more than 10 sacks of plastic garbage alone.
The garbage problem in Pag-asa is quite worrisome because most residents bury their garbage in small backyard landfills. Experts say that if there will be no system in place to recycle plastics, soon, residents will run out of space to bury their garbage.
Dr. Onda said their findings should prompt the government to invite neighboring countries to create plans to address environmental issues.
"Mahalaga ito kasi yung effort para iprotect ang Pag-asa ay dapat regional."
Dr. Onda also said the government must resolve to create and implement laws that will manage the problem of plastic pollution in the West Philippine Sea.
"On the larger scale, ang Pilipinas meron pa lang tayong dinadraft na law on marine litter."
"Wala pa tayong maraming batas na nakatutok sa plastics, meron tayong initial na batas pero wala tayong basehan, wala tayong pag-aaral, and I think that's call to action na we have to support more research, not just on plastics itself but on the status of the entire South China Sea, and the West Philippine Sea," he said.
THE REST
========
MAGPAPAREHISTRO PARA SA HALALAN 2022, MAGDAMAG PUMILA SA TAPAT NG MALL SA CALOOCAN
MAYNILA - Tatlong araw na lang bago ang deadline ng pagpaparehistro para makaboto sa eleksiyon sa susunod na taon.
Sa Sangandaan, Caloocan, mahigit 200 indibidwal ang nagpalipas ng gabi sa tapat ng isang mall para lang mauna sa registration ngayong Miyerkoles.
May tatlong distrito ang lungsod at sa bawat distrito ay may nakalaan na 250 slots para sa mga walk-in.
May 300 slots naman para sa mga may online appointment at unlimited slots naman para sa mga senior citizens, persons with disabilities, at buntis. Kailangan lamang nilang magpakita ng valid ID o pruweba na sila ay pasok sa mga nabanggit na kategorya.
MORE FUN WITH YOU': MORE TOURIST DESTINATIONS TO ALLOW FULLY VACCINATED TRAVELERS
MANILA - More tourist destinations will allow fully vaccinated travelers without confirmatory swab tests as their workers receive full protection against COVID-19, the Department of Tourism said Wednesday.
Baguio, Iloilo City, Negros Occidental have fully vaccinated its tourism workers and travelers with two doses of the COVID-19 jab are no longer required to present a negative RT-PCR test, according to Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.
Boracay will soon follow after it reaches 100 percent vaccination rate by next month, Romulo-Puyat said.
Individuals are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose, she added.
"Our goal na lang is we want to vaccinate 100 percent (of tourism workers) before the Christmas season," she told ANC's Headstart.
"There's really no problem with the tourism sector. Everybody, all our tourism workers want to be vaccinated."
Boracay no longer has an active COVID-19 case, according to Romulo-Puyat. Its latest virus patient was reported last week who suffered from mild symptoms, she added.
OLDER DAYS AHEAD AS AMIHAN COMES EARLY
MANILA — This year’s onset of the northeast monsoon, which will bring colder days all the way to February next year throughout the country, has begun.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said 2021’s northeast monsoon season is starting a little earlier than last year.
For the past several days, the weather bureau said strong to gale-force northeasterly winds have prevailed over northern Luzon, due to the strengthening of the high-pressure system over Siberia, enhanced by the passing of low-pressure areas.
“Moreover, gradual cooling of the surface air temperature over the northeastern part of Luzon has been observed. These meteorological conditions indicate the onset of the northeast monsoon season in the country,” it added.
PAGASA administrator Vicente Malano explained that with such developments, “the northeast wind flow is expected to gradually become more dominant over northern Luzon, bringing cold and dry air.”
According to him, “surges of cold temperatures may also be expected in the coming months,” especially from December to February next year as the Christmas and New Year season nears.
PAGASA further announced that with the ongoing La Niña, northeast monsoon rainfall may be enhanced that could trigger floods, flash floods and rain-induced landslides over susceptible areas.
“Therefore, all concerned government agencies and the public are advised to take precautionary measures to mitigate the potential impacts of these events,” Malano said.
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
HEAVEN PERALEJO CONFIRMS SHE'S SINGLE, BUT 'NOT READY TO MINGLE'
MANILA -- A month after deleting aAccording to Peralejo, she has moved on and is now enjoying her life.
"Nandito ako sa phase na... Sobrang cliche, but I'm just loving myself. I'm getting to know me. Ibang phase talaga 'yon," she said. "Kaya nandito ako rin sa Siargao kasi I want to learn independence, enjoy life, na I don't need any relationship. I just need my friends, and I just need me."
"I am really happy right now, super happy. As in walang bigat sa puso ko, nandoon ako sa phase na 'yon," she added.
The actress made the revelation in her newest vlog as she did the "Drink or Spill" challenge with her friends.
Asked about her relationship status, she answered: "I am single, but not ready to mingle."
According to Peralejo, she has moved on and is now enjoying her life.
"Nandito ako sa phase na... Sobrang cliche, but I'm just loving myself. I'm getting to know me. Ibang phase talaga 'yon," she said. "Kaya nandito ako rin sa Siargao kasi I want to learn independence, enjoy life, na I don't need any relationship. I just need my friends, and I just need me."
"I am really happy right now, super happy. As in walang bigat sa puso ko, nandoon ako sa phase na 'yon," she added.
SPORTS
NBA SCORES OCT 25
FINAL/OT
1 2 3 4 OT T
Celtics2-2 33 35 26 28 18 140
Hornets3-1 33 33 31 25 7 129
SPECTRUM CENTER, CHARLOTTE, NC
SCORING LEADERS
J. Tatum BOS
41 PTS 7 REB 8 AST
L. Ball CHA
25 PTS 5 REB 9 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Bucks3-1 34 32 35 18 119
Pacers1-3 30 27 29 23 109
GAINBRIDGE FIELDHOUSE, INDIANAPOLIS, IN
SCORING LEADERS
G. Antetokounmpo MIL
30 PTS 10 REB 9 AST
M. Brogdon IND
25 PTS 4 REB 7 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Bulls4-0 24 37 31 19 111
Raptors1-3 24 27 29 28 108
SCOTIABANK ARENA, TORONTO, ON
SCORING LEADERS
D. DeRozan CHI
26 PTS 4 REB 6 AST
O. Anunoby TOR
22 PTS 8 REB 5 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Pistons0-3 18 36 25 25 104
Hawks2-1 28 34 33 27 122
STATE FARM ARENA, ATLANTA, GA
SCORING LEADERS
S. Bey DET
21 PTS 7 REB 3 AST
T. Young ATL
32 PTS 4 REB 9 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Magic1-3 15 29 26 20 90
Heat2-1 27 30 24 26 107
FTX ARENA, MIAMI, FL
SCORING LEADERS
J. Suggs ORL
15 PTS 4 REB 2 AST
J. Butler MIA
36 PTS 3 REB 2 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Wizards2-1 20 22 22 26 90
Nets2-2 38 21 23 22 104
BARCLAYS CENTER, BROOKLYN, NY
SCORING LEADERS
B. Beal WAS
19 PTS 3 REB 4 AST
K. Durant BKN
25 PTS 8 REB 4 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Pelicans1-3 25 29 26 27 107
Timberwolves2-1 19 24 30 25 98
TARGET CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
SCORING LEADERS
B. Ingram NO
27 PTS 9 REB 1 AST
K. Towns MIN
32 PTS 14 REB 7 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Cavaliers2-2 29 21 25 24 99
Nuggets2-1 24 22 24 17 87
BALL ARENA, DENVER, CO
SCORING LEADERS
K. Love CLE
22 PTS 6 REB
N. Jokic DEN
24 PTS 19 REB 3 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Trail Blazers1-2 17 25 19 25 86
Clippers1-2 31 25 35 25 116
STAPLES CENTER, LOS ANGELES, CA
SCORING LEADERS
C. McCollum POR
20 PTS 4 REB 4 AST
L. Kennard LAC
23 PTS 4 REB 3 AST
INDICATORS
FOREX $1 = P 50.76
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears. - Nelson Mandela
Comments (0)