DUTERTE SAYS ODETTE SURVIVORS TO GET FUNDS FROM HIS OFFICE BY FRIDAY

 

 

 

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday committed to release funds from his office to help hundreds of thousands in the central and southern Philippines cope with the trail of destruction that typhoon Odette left late last week.

 

Duterte has placed 6 regions under a state of calamity due to Odette, which according to the disaster council left at least 156 dead, tore houses to pieces, flooded villages and farmlands, and displaced some 481,000 people.

 

"What I can promise you is that, I said, on or before Friday, the money will be downloaded," the President said in a speech that aired on the wee hours of Wednesday.

 

He said these are not contingency or calamity funds that would take time to be released.

 

"This is money from my office," he added.

 

Duterte has vowed to raise P10 billion for the survivors of typhoon Odette, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Tuesday.

 

The President instructed national agencies and local governments, "Do it faster… Kung ma-download sa inyo, pakibilisan lang [ang distribution ng pera]."

 

Duterte has visited several typhoon-ravaged provinces. He said his next stops might include Dinagat Islands and the holiday island of Siargao in Surigao Del Norte.

 

 

 

 

 

WHO: ‘SIGNIFICANT SURGE’ IN EUROPEAN CASES EXPECTED, AS OMICRON SPREADS

 

 

 

GENEVA—The World Health Organization's European head on Tuesday warned countries to brace for a "significant surge" in COVID-19 cases as omicron spreads, and advised the widespread use of boosters for protection.

 

Since it emerged in late November, omicron has been detected in at least 38 of the 53 countries in the WHO's European region and is already dominant in several of them including Denmark, Portugal and the United Kingdom, Hans Kluge told a news conference in Vienna.

 

"We can see another storm coming," said Kluge. "Within weeks, omicron will dominate in more countries of the region, pushing already stretched health systems further to the brink."

 

The WHO's Europe region includes Russia and other former Soviet republics, as well as Turkey.

 

WHO data shows the region has in recent weeks reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases compared to the population size anywhere. Even before omicron, officials had warned of a further 700,000 deaths from the disease by March.

 

WHO headquarters in Geneva has advised that vaccine boosters be saved for the most vulnerable, but Kluge urged people to "boost, boost, boost."

 

"The booster is the single most important defense against omicron," he said.

 

So far, 89% of the early omicron cases in Europe were associated with common COVID-19 symptoms such as cough, sore throat and fever, Kluge said. Most cases had been reported among adults in their 20s and 30s, spreading initially in cities at social and workplace gatherings, he added.

 

"The sheer volume of new COVID-19 infections could lead to more hospitalizations and widespread disruption to health systems and other critical services," he said.

 

 

 

 

 

DUTERTE WORRIES ABOUT FINDING MONEY TO ADDRESS OMICRON THREAT

 

 

 

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday night said he was concerned about the effects of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in the Philippines, saying addressing it would need large sums of money when government coffers have already been depleted.

 

Speaking in a televised meeting, Duterte said that there is less money to address COVID-19 because the government also had to provide aid to victims of Super Typhoon Odette.

 

The Department of Health has so far recorded three cases of the variant in the Philippines. The Philippines is set to remain under Alert Level 2 until December 31.

 

"My [concern] right now is if it would be as bad as the previous viruses already here. I'm a little scared because — let me be frank to the public — the money of the Philippines is really depleted, even coping up with the growing expenses for the typhoon victims," Duterte said in mixed Filipino and English.

 

"The problem is [that] far and between the days that are coming our way, celebration and all, Omicron really might slip through earlier than expected. It would require a huge expenditure again, to meet the challenges of the new variant."

 

"What I can promise you is that I said on or before Friday, the money will be downloaded. This is not the contingent fund or the calamity [fund]. This is the money from my office...this is all for the people," he said.

 

At the same meeting, Health Secretary Francisco Duque told the president that the latest numbers confirm early observations around the world that the Omicron variant is more transmissible. However, he said, more data is still needed.

 

In response, the president admitted that it was only a matter of time before the variant hit the country. "We cannot really prevent it totally because we have to move...people come in and out of our country."

 

 

 

 

 

PH VACCINE SUPPLY ENOUGH FOR SHORTER GAP ON BOOSTERS— OFFICIAL

 

 

 

MANILA— There is enough vaccine supply for government to carry out the approved shorter gap for booster COVID-19 shots, Department of Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Wednesday.

 

"Meron ho ang bansa na committed doses na almost 200 million doses. We were able to receive 150 million doses, so sa ngayon 'pag tiningnan natin, sobra-sobra ang supplies ng bansa (We have received 150 million of the committed 200 million doses, so we actually have more than we need)," Vergeire said in an interview with Teleradyo.

 

She assured that more supplies are expected, with about 25 million more doses set to arrive before the year ends.

 

On Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration approved the recommendation of the Philippines' vaccine expert panel to shorten to 3 months the interval for the administration of booster doses, from the previous 6-month period.

 

The health official encouraged Filipinos to get their booster shots as soon as they can with this new development.

 

"Nand'yan na ang opportunity for you to get the booster at three months interval so kunin na po natin, 'wag na nating i-delay (You are given the opportunity to get the booster sooner, so don't delay)," she urged.

 

Vergeire also clarified that those with immunocompromised conditions can also get their booster shots as early as 28 days after their second dose.

 

Those who received the Janssen vaccine can also receive their boosters 2 months after their single-primary dose. This is one month less than the initially recommended 3 months.

 

 

 

 

 

PHILIPPINES CUTS COVID-19 BOOSTER INTERVAL

 

 

 

MANILA — The Philippines shortened the waiting time for COVID-19 booster shots to three months as the country moved to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant, the Department of Health said.

 

DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said boosters may already be given to adults at least three months after the second dose. Recipients of single-dose vaccines can get booster doses after two months.

 

The new policy will be effective on December 22, Wednesday.

 

This was after the country’s Food and Drug Administration shortened the interval for the administration of booster doses.

 

The waiting time was previously set at a minimum of six months for those vaccinated with two-dose jabs, and at least three months for those immunized with one-shot vaccines.

 

“We are exploring all possible options to safely mitigate the effects of more transmissible variants of COVID-19. The approval came at an opportune time as several countries also re-strategized in light of the Omicron and other COVID-19 variants as they emerge,” Duque said.

 

 

 

 

 

MICHAEL YANG'S ELUSIVE BUSINESS ASSOCIATE IS PHARMALLY'S FINANCIAL MANAGER

 

 

 

MANILA — Senate blue ribbon chairman Richard Gordon on Tuesday bared that the elusive Lin Wei Xiong, a business associate of former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang, is the financial manager of the embattled Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp.

 

Lin, who is married to congressional candidate Rose Nono Lin and has been accused of involvement with the drug trade, has yet to appear before the Senate panel despite summonses issued as far back as September.

 

The blue ribbon has so far held 17 hearings on the government's anomalous pandemic deals, the lion's share of which were awarded to Pharmally when it was still a new and undercapitalized firm.

 

A secretary's certificate issued by Pharmally corporate secretary Mohit Dargani on May 22, 2020, names Lin as the firm's financial manager.

 

The certificate was one of several documents submitted by the Bureau of Internal Revenue to the Senate panel. They were declassified upon the motion of Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and presented by Gordon during a hearing on Tuesday.

 

Asked to explain this, Pharmally chairman Huang Tzu Yen and Dargani claimed that Lin's role as financial manager was to act as guarantor to suppliers on Michael Yang's behalf.

 

"For the purpose of returning and safeguarding that guarantee that we will pay back once [a] collection is made, yes, he was appointed financial manager," Huang said, referring to Lin.

 

This undercuts Yang's claim that he is not involved with the embattled firm. Executives of Pharmally have maintained that Yang acted as their financier and guarantor to suppliers.

 

Dargani and Huang were evasive when Gordon asked who from Pharmally's board nominated Lin as the firm's financial manager.

 

 

 

 

 

AÑO: P74-B WORTH OF DRUGS RECOVERED, OVER 300,000 SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN WAR ON DRUGS SINCE 2016

 

 

 

MANILA—The Philippine government has recovered more than P74 billion worth of illegal drugs and arrested more than 319,000 drug suspects in the administration's war on drugs since 2016.

 

In a taped briefing, Interior and Local Government Sec. Eduardo Año reported the status of the administration's war on drugs from July 1, 2016 until November 30, 2021.

 

Año said the government has recovered a total of P74.3 billion worth of various illegal drugs. Of this amount, P62.36 billion worth of shabu were recovered, or 9,755.54 kilograms.

 

More than 500 kilograms of cocaine, 149,138 pieces of ecstasy and over 9,300 kilograms of marijuana were also recovered.

 

The government has also destroyed 7,336.55 kgs of shabu, 3,784.33 kgs of marijuana, 12.64 kgs of ecstasy, 510.52 kgs of cocaine, and 3,390.74 kgs of other illegal drugs.

 

Out of 35,416 barangays in the country, 66.88 percent or 23,686 barangays have already been cleared of illegal drugs, according to Año.

 

The government has also conducted a total of 221,657 anti-illegal drug operations for the 5 five years. This resulted in the arrest of 319,929 drug suspects and the death of 6,221 others.

 

A total of 13,996 high-value targets have also been arrested, which includes 511 government officials, 394 elected officials, 126 uniformed personnel, and 349 foreign nationals.

 

Año also said the government has rescued more than 4,000 minors involved in illegal drugs.

 

 

 

 

 

THE REST

 

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STATE OF CALAMITY DECLARED IN ILOILO

 

 

 

ILOILO CITY — This city was placed under a state of calamity yesterday due to the damage caused by Typhoon Odette.

 

The city council approved the recommendation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council for a calamity declaration.

 

On Monday, Mayor Jerry Treñas asked the city council to hold a special session to pass the needed resolution.

 

Records show that Odette affected 72,523 residents or more than 15 percent of the population in the city.

 

The resolution also cited the disruption of food, electricity and water supply.

 

Treñas said more than P42 million would be utilized as financial assistance for those whose houses were either damaged or destroyed by the typhoon.

 

The city social welfare and development office has inspected, confirmed and ratified the list of those who will receive the financial assistance.

 

 

 

 

 

OVER 600 TOURISTS FLOWN OUT OF SIARGAO

 

 

 

MANILA — More than 600 tourists stranded in the world-famous Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte have been brought to Manila after the onslaught of Typhoon Odette (Rai), a lawmaker said Wednesday.

 

In an interview with TeleRadyo, Rep. Francisco Matugas II (Surigao del Norte) said there may be over 1,000 domestic tourists who are still trapped in Siargao.

 

Tourists need to go to the airport so they can be flown out of the island because there are no scheduled flights yet.

 

“Sinasabi lang naming pumunta sa airport at magpalista. (We tell them to go to the airport and register.) We will prioritize persons with disabilities, senior citizens and mothers with children because seats are limited,” Matugas said.

 

 

 

 

 

IN SPIRIT OF SYMPATHY, COURTS' CHRISTMAS LIGHTS TO BE SHUT OFF; AID READIED FOR AFFECTED PERSONNEL

 

 

 

MANILA — In the spirit of sympathy, Christmas lights in courts nationwide will be turned off and calamity aid has been readied for affected personnel due to Typhoon Odette, the Supreme Court said.

 

“In sympathy and in the spirit of the season, the Justices have decided to turn off all Christmas lights in all courts nationwide and in their official residences in Baguio City, until power supply is restored in the typhoon-affected areas,” the SC said in a statement on Wednesday.

 

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in its latest report said 239 localities reported power outages or interruption due to the powerful typhoon.

 

Of these, power supply has been restored in 34 cities or municipalities, leaving nearly 200 localities still without electricity.

 

The SC also assured court personnel, including those who volunteered to assist in the localized Bar examinations in January, that it is monitoring their situation.

 

 

 

 

 

CEBU PORT RESUMES OPERATIONS

 

 

 

CEBU — The Cebu Baseport in Cebu City, which was damaged due to Typhoon Odette, has resumed operations.

 

Cebu Port Authority general manager Leonilo Miole said cargo operations at the Cebu International Port also resumed on Saturday.

 

“It is vital that our ports remain operational to accommodate departing and incoming vessels and ensure that essential supplies, including relief goods, are delivered to all beneficiaries at the earliest possible time,” Miole said.

 

He reminded the public that only passengers with tickets and valid identification cards shall be allowed entry into the port.

 

The Maritime Industry Authority allowed domestic vessels to sail to prevent stranding of passengers and assist in the delivery of relief goods to areas affected by the typhoon.

 

Domestic ship owners were requested to prioritize the transport of relief goods.

 

Meanwhile, the Port of Lipata in Surigao City known as the “Gateway of Mindanao” has been closed.

 

 

 

 

 

BAR EXAMINEES TOLD: DON’T WRITE PRAYERS

 

 

 

MANILA — Bar examinees who write down prayers on their exam papers could be accused of cheating, according to Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Marvic Leonen.

 

“Do not write a mantra, motto, prayer to deities, special plea addressed to the examiner or the Bar Chairperson, or any other such extraneous text. Leaving or making any distinguishing mark in any submitted answer is classified as cheating and can disqualify the examinee from the whole Bar Examinations,” said Leonen, the 2020/2021 Bar chairperson, in a 14-page Omnibus Guidelines for the Bar exams on Jan. 16, 23 and 30 and Feb. 6, 2022.

 

He encouraged the examinees to undergo self-quarantine beginning Jan. 2 and “avoid staying in hotels and dormitories where there is high-risk exposure to COVID-19, unless they live in areas outside where the local testing center is located.”

 

Bar examinees who take part in “Bar operations” activities may be barred from taking the exams, Leonen added.

 

The examinees would also be required to sign a waiver releasing the SC and the local testing center from any liability if they contract COVID-19 during any of the four Sundays of the Bar.

 

For every Bar Sunday, all the examinees would be required to present their vaccination cards and COVID-19 test results upon entry.

 

 

 

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

 

 

 

 

 

‘KUN MAUPAY MAN IT PANAHON’ HOLDS SPECIAL SCREENING AHEAD OF MMFF RELEASE

 

 

 

MANILA — The acclaimed film “Kun Maupay Man It Panahon” held a special screening on Tuesday, ahead of its Philippine premiere as an entry in the 2021 Metro Manila Film Festival.

 

The screening was attended by the cast, Charo Santos-Concio, Daniel Padilla, and newcomer Rans Rifol.

 

Padilla’s long-time reel and real-life partner, Kathryn Bernardo, was among the celebrity guests at the event, which was hosted by Robi Domingo.

 

“Kun Maupay Man It Panahon,” which follows a family in the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda, has drawn critical acclaim internationally, clinching a special award at the Locarno Film Festival and the best director trophy for Carlo Francisco Manatad at the London East Asia Film Festival.

 

This year’s MMFF will open Christmas Day and will run until January 8. Owing to eased lockdown measures, it will screen entries in cinemas, unlike the 2020 edition, when it held the entire festival virtually.

 

 

 

 

 

KAPAMILYA LEADING LADIES IN ONE DAZZLING NUMBER

 

 

 

MANILA — In a rare gathering of both big-name and emerging stars, 27 Kapamilya leading ladies performed on one stage as a holiday treat to their fans, during the recent ABS-CBN Christmas special.

 

Led by screen and music icon Sharon Cuneta, the actresses donned matching red gowns as they sang a Christmas medley.

 

Among those who took part in the performance were Kathryn Bernardo, Julia Montes, Kim Chiu, Angelica Panganiban, Erich Gonzales, Lovi Poe, Janine Gutierrez, Janella Salvador, Iza Calzado, Dimples Romana, and Shaina Magdayao.

 

Also part of the number were Jane de Leon, Ivana Alawi, Charlie Dizon, Loisa Andalio, Barbie Imperial, Andrea Brillantes, Francine Diaz, Belle Mariano, Heaven Peralejo, Kira Balinger, Maymay Entrata, Vivoree, Koari Oinuma, Daniela Stranner, and Karina Bautista.

 

Among the notable absences at the Christmas special were Liza Soberano, Angel Locsin, Anne Curtis, Toni Gonzaga, and Judy Ann Santos, for various reasons.

 

 

 

 

 

SPORTS

 

 

 

 

 

NBA SCORES DEC 20

 

 

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

76ers16-15      28        23        24        33        108

 

Celtics15-16    20        29        31        23        103

 

TD GARDEN , BOSTON, MA

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

J. Embiid PHI

 

41 PTS 10 REB 5 AST

 

J. Brown BOS

 

30 PTS 5 REB 4 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Rockets10-21  26        28        29        35        118

 

Bulls19-10       35        38        32        28        133

 

UNITED CENTER, CHICAGO, IL

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            C. Wood HOU

 

23 PTS 11 REB 1 AST

 

            D. DeRozan CHI

 

26 PTS 3 REB 6 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Thunder10-19  16        31        27        28        102

 

Grizzlies19-13 28        22        22        27        99

 

FEDEXFORUM, MEMPHIS, TN

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

S. Gilgeous-Alexander OKC

 

23 PTS 5 REB 4 AST

 

D. Bane MEM

 

25 PTS 7 REB 2 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Hornets16-17  16        25        27        34        102

 

Jazz21-9         35        19        26        32        112

 

VIVINT ARENA, SALT LAKE CITY, UT

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            L. Ball CHA

 

21 PTS 6 REB 11 AST

 

            R. Gobert UTA

 

23 PTS 21 REB 2 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Kings13-19      16        30        33        19        98

 

Warriors25-6   26        32        26        29        113

 

CHASE CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO, CA

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

T. Haliburton SAC

 

24 PTS 4 REB 11 AST

 

S. Curry GS

 

30 PTS 3 REB 4 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Spurs12-18     35        27        30        24        116

 

Clippers16-15  27        21        17        27        92

 

STAPLES CENTER, LOS ANGELES, CA

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            D. Murray SA

 

24 PTS 12 REB 13 AST

 

            P. George LAC

 

25 PTS 6 REB 6 AST

 

 

 

 

 

INDICATORS

 

 

 

FOREX $1 = P 49.95

 

 

 

 

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

 

 

 

Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, professionals built the Titanic. – Anonymous