WHO WARNS WORLD CREATING 'TOXIC' RECIPE FOR NEW VARIANTS

GENEVA, Switzerland — The WHO warned Wednesday that the world was creating toxic conditions for new Covid-19 variants like Omicron to emerge and then spread around the globe.

The World Health Organization said the combination of low vaccination coverage across the planet, mixed with very low testing to track the virus, was a fertile breeding ground.

The UN health agency stressed that measures to stop the globally-dominant Delta variant would also hinder Omicron.

The new variant of concern has rattled countries around the world.

"We need to use the tools we already have to prevent transmission and save lives from Delta. And if we do that, we will also prevent transmission and save lives from Omicron," WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference.

"But if countries and individuals don't do what they need to do to stop transmission of Delta, they won't stop Omicron either.

"Globally, we have a toxic mix of low vaccine coverage, and very low testing — a recipe for breeding and amplifying variants.

"That's why we continue to urge countries to... ensure equitable access to vaccines, tests and therapeutics all over the world."

3 FILIPINOS WHO RETURNED FROM S. AFRICA FULLY VACCINATED, NO COVID SYMPTOMS: DOH

MANILA — Three Filipinos who were isolated following their return from South Africa are fully vaccinated and are not showing COVID-19 symptoms, the Department of Health said Thursday.

The Bureau of Quarantine earlier said the Filipinos quarantined in Negros Oriental had arrived before the country imposed a travel ban on South Africa following the classification of Omicron as a variant of concern.

"They were immediately isolated once it was reported they were from South Africa. They are fully vaccinated, they do not have signs and symptoms. They were just isolated because they were from South Africa," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told ANC's Headstart.

"Accordingly, the Bureau of Quarantine already said that when they released the 3 individuals, they were cleared by the Bureau of Quarantine. So extra measures are being done in Negros Oriental when they were again isolated."

The confirmatory swab test results of the 3 Filipinos have yet to be released, Vergeire added.

Some 64 Filipinos who returned from red list countries prior to their classification are also being monitored by the quarantine bureau, according to Vergeire.

The Philippines has yet to detect the Omicron variant, the DOH spokesperson earlier said.

"Just to be clear, no detection yet of Omicron, we are still processing (the) next batch of whole genome sequences," she told reporters Wednesday.

The Philippine Genome Center can "already do immediate processing of sequencing and immediately issue out the results in about 24-30 hours," said Vergeire.

The Omicron variant, first detected in South Africa, has some 50 mutations, including those in the spike protein region which may affect vaccine efficacy and lead to increased transmissibility, according to Vergeire.

LACSON BARES PROPOSED AMENDMENTS IN 2022 BUDGET

MANILA — In the spirit of transparency, Sen. Panfilo Lacson yesterday bared his proposed amendment in the 2022 national budget involving over P6 billion to fund programs for education, connectivity, defense and children’s welfare.

The Senate meanwhile unanimously approved on third and final reading the P5.024-trillion 2022 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), which put a lot of weight on health and education – two sectors that continue to face heavy challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

With 22 affirmative votes and no negative vote, senators approved House Bill 10153 or the 2022 GAB, the proposed national expenditure programs for next year.

Lacson made public his proposed institutional amendments to the 2022 budget bill, seeking to slash questionable appropriations and ensuring enough funding for priority programs, activities and projects.

He proposed reducing funds for items such as farm-to-market roads and right-of-way payments to fund key programs on education, connectivity, anti-cybercrime and defense needs for next year.

His proposed amendments include some P300 million to improve the facilities in Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea, which he visited last Nov. 20. The Department of Education (DepEd) approved the Pag-asa Island Integrated Elementary and High School effective school year 2022-2023.

One of Lacson’s proposed amendments involves an increase in the “connectivity load” for teachers and DepEd personnel to deliver online lessons amid the pandemic, based on estimates that 20 GB would be consumed if a teacher does continuous online teaching for 20 days at four hours per day.

He also introduced a special provision allowing local government units (LGUs) to directly contract the services of transport cooperatives – empowering LGUs to co-implement, collect fares and co-finance service contracting.

Meanwhile, Angara said the Senate version of the 2022 national budget builds on the gains made in the past year in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

He assured the public that the budget would be responsive to new developments that emerged over the past months.

GUIDELINES FOR ADULT BOOSTER SHOTS EYED NEXT WEEK: DOH

MANILA - The initial date for the release of guidelines for the booster shots of all adult Filipinos is on December 10, the Department of Health said Thursday.

The Food and Drug Administration on Monday amended the emergency use authorization of COVID-19 vaccines in the country to include booster shots for ages 18 and above, according to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

Operational guidelines for the booster rollout have yet to be released, she said.

"There would be some considerations as to operations when we implement this because it might mix in or have additional load for our workers on the ground when we start doing the boosters for now. I think the initial date is Dec. 10," Vergeire told ANC's Headstart.

"Yesterday we issued the specific mandate for our local governments, for our vaccination sites that they can already give boosters but the operational guidelines would need to be drafted and issued out by the national vaccines operations cluster."

Healthcare workers, senior citizens and the immunocompromised must still be prioritized for third doses and booster shots, the DOH spokesperson reiterated.

Government has also extended its "National Vaccination Day" until Friday, December 3, Vergeire said. Another run of the initially 3-day vaccination drive is set on Dec. 15 to 17, she added.

SARA DUTERTE ON BONG GO WITHDRAWAL: TULOY-TULOY NA TAYO SA ATING PAGKAKAISA

Davao City Mayor and vice-presidential candidate Sara Duterte Carpio on Thursday sees a further consolidation of support after Sen. Bong Go dropped out of the 2022 presidential race.

In a statement, the vice-presidential bet said she had earlier called on all those who support the Duterte administration to unite with one goal to continue the good things started by her father.

"Now that Sen. Bong Go has declared his withdrawal from the Presidential race and to quote him, 'for the sake of unity among our supporters and leaders', tuloy-tuloy na po tayo sa ating pagkakaisa kasama ang BBM-SARA Uniteam upang tayo ay magtagumpay sa ating hangarin para sa bansa," Duterte-Carpio said.

Go, the President's preferred successor, announced on Tuesday he was dropping out of the presidential race, leaving the administration without a candidate in next year's polls.

Political observers say Go's withdrawal from the race would likely benefit the ticket of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr-Sara Duterte Carpio as it would consolidate the Dutertes' voter base behind the 43-year-old mayor and that support could extend to Marcos.

"There is no more confusion in terms of administration support," said Aries Arugay, visiting fellow at the ISEAS Yusof-Ishak Institute and political science professor at the University of the Philippines.

Marcos is up against other presidential aspirants, including former boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, Vice President Leni Robredo, Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso, and Senator Panfilo Lacson. He is facing several disqualification cases grounded on a nearly three-decade old conviction for tax evasion.

Four political parties - Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, and Hugpong ng Pagbabago - earlier formed an alliance to support the Marcos-Duterte tandem.

JINGGOY ESTRADA JOINS MARCOS SLATE

MANILA — Former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday confirmed that he will run in the 2022 polls under the slate of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

Estrada, who was part of the caravan of Marcos and Duterte-Carpio tandem in the southern Luzon province, said he is “very fortunate” to be included in the slate of the Marcos-Duterte tandem, which has been dubbed the "UniTeam".

Marcos, in the event streamed on Estrada's Facebook, said it is easy to campaign for a person whom he calls his friend.

"We have seen that in the long time that he (Estrada) was senator his record that he has passed many laws that helped many people," he said in Filipino.

"’Yun lamang eh napag-initan ng kaunti ng ating kaibigan sa Malacañang noon kaya medyo naiba ang takbo ng kanyang career ngunit ngayon ay tayong lahat ay magtutulungan para maibalik sya sa senado para makapag serbisyo muli," the presidential aspirant added.

It is unclear what Marcos was referring to, but Estrada was charged with plunder and graft cases related to the “pork barrel” scam in 2014.

He is accused of amassing P183 million worth of kickbacks by allocating portions of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to bogus foundations allegedly set up by alleged pork scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles. Estrada  was allowed to post bail in 2017, after three years of detention.

He is eyeing a comeback to the Senate, after a failed bid in 2019, under Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), the party of his father, former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada.

HOUSE OKS BILL LETTING MARRIED WOMEN KEEP THEIR MAIDEN NAMES

MANILA — The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill that lets women keep their maiden name even after marriage.

Voting 227-0, the House approved House Bill No. 10459 which seeks to amend the New Civil Code of the Philippines to clarify that married women can continue using their maiden name.

“This is no small feat for women,” said Rep. Arlene Brosas (Gabriela party-list) who co-authored the bill. “In fact, this is a welcome development in recognizing the legal identity of women apart from their spouse.”

Jurisprudence already provides that it is optional for women to use their husband’s surname.

As such, married women may continue using their maiden name, their maiden first name and surname with her husband’s surname, her maiden first name and her husband’s surname or her husband’s full name prefixed by “Mrs.”

PNP OPENS APPLICATION FOR GUN BAN EXEMPTION

MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday started accepting applications for exemption on the ban on firearms and security detail for the May 2022 elections.

PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos said the task would be part of its cooperation with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), particularly in processing certifications of authority by assessing the threat being faced by an applicant.

“The PNP will assist in the issuance of threat assessment and will endorse the approval to grant gun ban exemption if it is deemed urgent and necessary,” Carlos said in a statement.

The applications for gun ban exemption will run until May 25 next year, the PNP said.

The gun ban will take effect on Jan. 9 next year until June 8.

Applications can be filed online through the Comelec website.

CONTROL GATE TO REPLACE CONTROVERSIAL BUCOR WALL IN BILIBID AREA

MANILA — The Bureau of Corrections will remove the wall it put up on a road in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP)'s reservation, which sealed off a pathway for residents of Muntinlupa City, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Wednesday.

"The BuCor, after consultations with the [Department of Justice], will remove the road block off the Katarungan Villages as soon as a control gate, which was the original plan, has been put," he told reporters.

Guevarra said the BuCor will install the control gate as soon as possible. "Once in place, they will remove the concrete barriers. But pedestrians can pass, I was so informed," he added partly in Filipino.

Last week, BuCor built a wall along the NBP Road that cut the access of Katarungan Village Phase 1 and 2 residents to the city proper. Irate residents demolished it within hours.

Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi raised that the bureau did not seek a permit from city hall, while BuCor asserted that the the move was part of its mandate to ensure the security of the prison facility amid reports of illegal activities at the New Bilibid Prison camp.

The row also resulted in the Muntinlupa City Council declaring BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag persona non grata.

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METRO MANILA SCHOOLS TO JOIN PILOT RUN OF FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES NEXT WEEK

MANILA— The Department of Education said Thursday 177 public more schools, including 28 from Metro Manila, are joining the pilot implementation of in-person classes.

The 177 schools are on top of the 100 public schools and 18 private schools that have already resumed in-person classes last November following a nearly two-year closure due to the threat of COVID-19.

DepEd Public Service Affairs Director June Arvin Gudoy said the Metro Manila schools would start classes on Monday, December 6, while most of the schools from the regions already returned to classroom instruction this week.

"Marami na nagumpisa this week (Many have started classes this week)... as long as they are given clearance to proceed and safety assessment is done," he told ABS-CBN News, referring to the schools in the regions.

The pilot study is the first of the government's three-phased plan to resume in-person classes in basic education after almost 2 years of distance learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

WITH LOW COVID-19 CASES, SOME NCR HOSPITALS FOCUS ON NON-CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS

MANILA— Many hospitals in Metro Manila are now focusing on non-COVID patients as the number of coronavirus cases continue to decline.

Dr. Jonas del Rosario, spokesman of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), said that based on the latest census, they now only have 57 COVID-19 cases in their facility out of the 320 beds allocated for COVID.

“That’s barely 20 percent of our bed. Ang ibig sabihin nito, nagkaroon kami ng pagkakataon na buksan 'yung ibang wards para ma-cater ang non-COVID patients na napakaraming dumarating sa PGH ngayon,” said Del Rosario.

He said their ICU occupancy is also down by half, which he said is a good sign.

“Sana hindi na magaya nung Delta surge at hopefully mas maingat tayo ngayon habang tayo ay nage-enjoy sa holidays at nag-ease up ang restrictions. I think ituloy muna ang pagmamaskara, iwasan masyadong siksikan para talagang tuloy-tuloy na masayang pasko natin,” he said.

In an interview on TeleRadyo, Del Rosario said they have also administered the booster shots to about 40 percent of their health care workers.

PNP MONITORING 138 PRIVATE ARMED GROUPS

MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) is profiling 138 private armed groups that may pose a threat to next year’s national and local elections.

PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos said six active private armed groups and other terrorist organizations that may disrupt the holding of orderly and peaceful campaign and election day are also being monitored.

“Now that the election is fast approaching, we might expect that these groups may be activated,” Carlos said.

He said police are checking the connections and capabilities of the members of the group.

“The goal is to halt their ill intentions in spreading fear and harassing the members of the community,” the PNP chief said.

Carlos said the PNP would ramp up intelligence gathering and operations against loose firearms.

“This is two-way traffic. We call on the public to help us by reporting suspicious individuals lurking in their areas,” he said.

Carlos said police visibility would be enhanced in areas where there is presence of private armed groups.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

‘MAY BABAE KA BA?’ JODI ASKS ZANJOE IN ‘THE BROKEN MARRIAGE VOW’ TEASER

“May babae ka ba?” Jill Ilustre (Jodi Sta. Maria) asks her husband David (Zanjoe Marudo) in the first teaser of ABS-CBN’s highly anticipated drama “The Broken Marriage Vow.”

Released on Wednesday, the teaser shows the first glimpse of Jill suspecting that David is having an affair with another woman.

Lexy Lucero (Sue Ramirez), David’s mistress, is also seen holding hands with him in the open, just as Jill finally pieces together clues that confirm her worst fear.

The half-minute preview was released leading up to the December 15 premiere of the series’ full trailer.

“The Broken Marriage Vow” is based on the global BBC hit “Doctor Foster,” about the title character whose family is ruined by her husband’s infidelity.

The Philippine remake also stars Zaijan Jaranilla as Jill and David’s son Gio, whose life is upended after the separation of his parents.

Directed by Connie Macatuno and Andoy Ranay, “The Broken Marriage Vow” was unveiled early this year, and has been filming in Baguio City.

The Dreamscape Entertainment production is the sixth international adaptation of “Doctor Foster,” following its versions in France, Russia, Turkey, India, and South Korea.

The Korean remake, “The World of the Married,” became the country’s highest rated cable TV drama, and also courted a massive following from Filipino viewers. It was also aired locally by ABS-CBN.

SPORTS

NBA SCORES NOV 30

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

Grizzlies11-10   27        23        20        28        98

Raptors9-13      18        21        28        24        91

SCOTIABANK ARENA, TORONTO, ON

SCORING LEADERS

            J. Jackson Jr. MEM

25 PTS 6 REB 1 AST

            P. Siakam TOR

20 PTS 6 REB 5 AST

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

Knicks11-10      28        33        23        26        110

Nets15-6           33        27        28        24        112

BARCLAYS CENTER, BROOKLYN, NY

SCORING LEADERS

A. Burks NY

25 PTS 5 REB 5 AST

J. Harden BKN

34 PTS 10 REB 8 AST

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

Pistons4-17       21        24        17        30        92

Trail Blazers11-11         27        27        29        27        110

MODA CENTER AT THE ROSE QUARTER, PORTLAND, OR

SCORING LEADERS

C. Cunningham DET

26 PTS 7 REB 1 AST

C. McCollum POR

28 PTS 4 REB 6 AST

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

Warriors18-3     35        19        24        18        96

Suns18-3          31        25        24        24        104

FOOTPRINT CENTER, PHOENIX, AZ

SCORING LEADERS

J. Poole GS

28 PTS 5 REB 3 AST

D. Ayton PHO

24 PTS 11 REB 2 AST

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

Lakers12-11      20        30        37        30        117

Kings8-14         28        31        15        18        92

GOLDEN 1 CENTER, SACRAMENTO, CA

SCORING LEADERS

A. Davis LAL

25 PTS 7 REB 3 AST

R. Holmes SAC

27 PTS 9 REB 2 AST

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 50.34

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Besides learning to see, there is another art to be learned - not to see what is not. - Maria Mitchell