PHILIPPINES TO ACQUIRE 32 NEW BLACK HAWK HELICOPTERS: LORENZANA
MANILA — The Philippines is buying 32 new S-70i Black Hawk helicopters to boost its disaster response capabilities, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Sunday.
In a statement, Lorenzana said the government issued a notice of award to Poland's PZL Mielec on Dec. 28 for the project that includes logistics support and a training package for pilots and maintenance crew.
The project costs P32 billion, he said.
"The contract agreement is now being drafted, after which I will issue a notice to proceed to officially commence the project," Lorenzana said.
The defense chief said the first batch of the helicopters, composed of five units, will be delivered in 2023. The remaining batches will be delivered in the succeeding years: 10 units in 2024 and 2025, and seven units in 2026.
"The lack of transport planes and helicopters have never been more acute during the pandemic and in the aftermath of Typhoon Odette," Lorenzana said.
"This was exacerbated by our aging Hueys that have become uneconomical to maintain," he added.
PHILIPPINES CONDEMNS JAIL SENTENCE FOR SUU KYI
MANILA — The Philippines condemned the sentencing to four years in prison of Myanmar’s ousted civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, saying the military regime is using the judicial system to silence political opponents and crush the National League for Democracy.
“I will work with ASEAN colleagues in the next few weeks to find measures to ease the suffering of the people of Myanmar, and push for dialogue among all stakeholders, most especially Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and substantial progress in the Five-Point Consensus of ASEAN,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said in a statement over the weekend.
The Philippines reiterated calls for Myanmar’s military leadership to release all political prisoners, uphold democratic institutions and processes, refrain from violence, and fully respect human rights and the rule of law.
Manila also called on the military leadership to participate in an inclusive dialogue and resume the democratic transition process.
Locsin said the Special Envoy’s participation in the ceasefire talks with the Ethnic Armed Organizations is a welcome development “but these talks must include all, not just a select few.”
“Daw Aung San Suu Kyi must be there, despite her conviction. The armed forces of Myanmar have nothing to fear, and much to gain, from the democracy it introduced to Myanmar by stepping back nor by its restoration by doing so again. Suu Kyi is indispensable in a democratic restoration that will pose no threat of anarchy, dissolution, and civil conflict,” he said.
Locsin said the Special Envoy’s access to all parties concerned must not be subject to any conditionality.
“Most especially, the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus must not be tied to any roadmap, for the Consensus is the only one agreed to by the ASEAN Leaders during that meeting in Jakarta in April 2021,” he said.
COMELEC JUNKS PETITION TO CANCEL MARCOS' COC
MANILA — The Commission on Elections denied the plea filed by Martial Law victims seeking to cancel presidential aspirant’s Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s Certificate of Candidacy, petitioners’ lawyers said.
This frees Marcos of another legal challenge filed to block his presidential bid.
In a statement, the lawyers said the Comelec’s Second Division denied their petition and they received the resolution 9:50 a.m. on Monday.
"In essence, the Comelec agreed with the petitioners that the representations made in Item 11 and Box 22 of the COC of Marcos Jr. are material but disagreed that they were false; in the process, the Second Division ruled that there was no ground to cancel Marcos Jr.’s COC on the ground of material misrepresentation," they said.
The lawyers, led by Theodore Te, said they disagree with the Comelec in its ruling that “the material representations made were not false.” They said they will file an appeal before the Commission En Banc within the given five-day period.
The case may also reach up to the Supreme Court.
In a statement, Marcos spokesperson Vic Rodriguez said the petitions was "way too frivolous and unmeritorious to override the basic precepts of the Constitution."
The Marcos campaign also thanked the Comelec "for upholding the law and the right of every bona fide candidate like Bongbong Marcos to run for public office free from any form of harassment and discriminaton."
DELAY IN RELEASE OF RETURNING OFWS' VIRUS TEST RESULTS ALREADY RESOLVED: OWWA
MANILA — Returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) also faced delays in the release of their COVID-19 test results, but the problem had already been resolved, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said Sunday.
"Bumagal iyong pag-process ng ating mga swab test result," OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac told ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo.
Returning OFWs staying in hotel-facilities in Metro Manila or nearby provinces usually received their results after 24 to 48 hours.
"Pero noong nagkaproblema tayo, pero tapos na 'yong 'no, umabot ng mga 2 to 3 days. Mayroon pa nga cases na 4 days na paghihintay," Cacdac said.
Cacdac said the OWWA was able to resolve the issue by tapping COVID-19 laboratories in Cebu.
The government's one-stop shop catering to returning OFWs is also looking at partnering with private labs to hasten the processing of RT-PCR tests, he added.
The Philippines recently saw delays in the release of COVID-19 test results due to the huge demand for testing, as the country dealt with a resurgence in virus infections, suspected to be driven by the omicron variant.
Laboratories are also reportedly understaffed as their personnel have also been sickened by the virus.
Cacdac said there are around 8,500 OFWs who are currently staying in 195 hotel-facilities in Metro Manila and Calabarzon, a situation that the official described as "manageable."
DOLE, PGH TEAM UP FOR MANAGEMENT OF PH'S FIRST OFW HOSPITAL
MANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Sunday it teamed up with the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) for the management of the country's first dedicated hospital for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
In a statement, the DOLE said it recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the PGH to oversee the hospital, which is being built in San Fernando, Pampanga.
"I'm glad that the state's leading research and medical center is supporting the OFW Hospital. With PGH on our side, what could possibly go wrong?" Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in the statement.
Under the MOU, PGH will help the OFW hospital through the "training of clinical and administrative personnel, planning and acquisition of hospital equipment, and formulation of clinical and fiscal process flow."
The PGH will also guide the hospital in creating "electronic medical record and hospital information system and planning of infrastructure layout in relation to clinical services."
The 100-bed hospital building is scheduled to be completed in March this year.
UN CALLS FOR SWIFT 'RECOVERY, RECONSTRUCTION' IN ODETTE-RAVAGED REGIONS
MANILA — The United Nations on Sunday appealed for more support to hasten the "recovery and reconstruction" in areas battered by Typhoon Odette (International name: Rai) exactly a month ago.
In a statement, UN Philippines Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez noted that relief efforts for communities struck by Odette have recently been hampered by challenges, including surging COVID-19 cases that have sickened staff and forced movement restrictions causing "supply chain constrains."
"We need to urgently scale up support to put people on a path to rapid recovery and reconstruction. If we do not, their resilience will be compromised," Gonzalez said.
Gonzales said the UN's fundraising effort for Odette survivors has so far only collected 39 percent of its target $107.2 million, nearly a month since it was launched.
"On behalf of the UN and the Humanitarian Country Team, I call on everyone to support this Humanitarian Needs and Priorities Plan to complement ongoing national efforts and bring help and hope to the people of the Philippines," he said.
The UN official said his "top immediate priorities" was to ensure that typhoon survivors had adequate food, clean drinking water and shelter.
He also raised the urgent need to "restore disrupted power supplies across affected areas."
DENR CREATES METRO MANILA OFFICES TO STRENGTHEN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
MANILA — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said it created offices in Metro Manila to boost the enforcement of environmental laws and solid waste management programs in the region.
Environment chief Roy Cimatu said the DENR field offices in Metro Manila will transition into Metropolitan Environmental Offices (MEOs), which are tasked to implement the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and comply with the Writ of Continuing Mandamus for Manila Bay’s rehabilitation issued by the Supreme Court in 2008.
DENR created four field offices in Metro Manila in 2019.
“We have to strengthen our field offices to capacitate the local government units and to meet our audacious goals,” Cimatu said.
Aside from enforcing environmental laws and regulations in the capital region, MEOs are also mandated to intensify coordination efforts with partner government agencies and non-government organizations in cleaning up rivers and other bodies of water.
PHILIPPINE EMBASSY MONITORING CONDITION OF FILIPINOS IN TONGA, SAMOA, FIJI AFTER VOLCANIC ERUPTION
MANILA — The Philippine Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand is coordinating with local authorities and community leaders to check the condition of Filipinos in Tonga, Samoa and Fiji following the eruption of an underwater volcano.
The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano in Tonga erupted Saturday, triggering a tsunami that flooded Pacific coastlines from Japan to the United States.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said there are about 87 Filipinos in Tonga, 300 in Samoa and 400 in Fiji.
"The Embassy reported residents moving to higher ground and disruptions to communication systems as tsunami waves reached Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji," the DFA said in a statement released Sunday.
Tonga's capital Nuku'alofa suffered "significant" damage in the powerful volcanic eruption which triggered a tsunami but there had been no reports of injury or death, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Sunday.
"Based on all available data, the tsunami threat from this volcanic eruption has now passed," the PTWC said at 0300 GMT, adding authorities at "impacted coastal areas should monitor... to determine when it is safe to resume normal activities".
‘COMELEC SERVERS NOT HACKED’
MANILA — Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon yesterday reiterated that contrary to a news report, the servers that would be used in the upcoming national and local elections were not hacked.
In a post on her official Twitter account, Commissioner Guanzon said, “Our servers were not hacked. Fake news.”
Guanzon made the tweet after officials and agents from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) conducted a site inspection of the Comelec’s warehouse in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
In an interview over GMA 7, NBI Director Eric Distor denied that hacking took place in the Comelec’s warehouse where the vote counting machines (VCMs) are stored.
Distor said they checked the configuration and testing areas, and “we are convinced walang nangyaring hacking dito.”
But a more thorough investigation would still be conducted by the NBI’s Cybercrime Division (CCD) National Capital Region, and their Special Project Team.
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PHILIPPINES CONFIRMS OVER 37K NEW COVID CASES, TALLY NOW OVER 3.2 MILLION
MANILA - The Philippines confirmed 37,154 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the country’s total to 3,205,396.
This was the third-highest single-day tally since the pandemic began.
The positivity rate was also at 47.4 percent, which was the second-highest since testing data became available.
The Department of Health meanwhile also reported 30,037 new recoveries, pushing the total number of Filipinos who recovered from the disease to 2,864,633.
This means that the country has a total of 287,856 active cases as of 4 p.m. Sunday.
Fifty new deaths from COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the country’s death toll from the disease to 52,907.
The Philippines breached the 3.2 million mark in total confirmed COVID cases just 2 days after breaching the 3.1 million mark.
PUBLIC WARNED VS ILLEGAL PURCHASE OF MOLNUPIRAVIR
MANILA — Anti-COVID pill Molnupiravir is being marketed at a much higher price amid a surge in infections, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported yesterday.
The FDA said Molnupiravir should not be sold commercially and must be accessed only through the Department of Health (DOH) and hospitals with a compassionate special permit or CSP.
“Buying medicines from unlicensed establishments or over the internet can pose serious health risks,” the FDA warned the public.
“Drugs purchased online cannot be guaranteed as genuine and may contain no active, too much or too little active ingredient, which may not treat the patients correctly,” the FDA added.
According to the agency, anti-COVID drugs being sold in the market may not have been stored properly.
The FDA noted that Molnupiravir has been initially made available in the country through CSP.
Last month, the FDA granted an emergency use authorization (EUA) for Molnupiravir (Molnarz) 200-mg capsule.
“However, this is to emphasize that EUA is not a marketing authorization or a certificate of product registration. So it cannot be used as an authorization to market the drug commercially,” the FDA pointed out.
UNVACCINATED BARANGAY CHIEFS TOLD: RESIGN, TAKE A LEAVE OR FACE ARREST
MANILA — The national government’s strongarm approach towards the unvaccinated continues with the Department of the Interior and Local Government threatening to arrest unvaccinated barangay officials who refuse to resign or go on leave per its latest order.
Speaking in an interview aired over DZBB Super Radyo, Interior Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Diño disclosed that the DILG would be issuing its directive for barangay officials to list down unvaccinated residents “within this week.”
There is no law that says unvaccinated government officials are guilty of any crime, nor one that requires any Filipino to receive a coronavirus vaccine.
“I call on the barangays especially here in Metro Manila, almost all LGUs have issued an ordinance restricting those who have not been vaccinated... just follow the LGU and the president's order,” he said in Filipino.
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
'SCREAM' REIGNS SUPREME, OUSTING 'SPIDER-MAN' IN N.AMERICA
LOS ANGELES - New Paramount release "Scream" leapt to the top of the North American box office this weekend, showing the continuing lure of horror films while finally toppling "Spider-Man," industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.
The latest reimagining of the "Scream" franchise earned $30.6 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period en route to an expected $35 million for the full four-day Martin Luther King Jr. holiday -- more positive news for an industry still struggling with Covid-19.
David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research called it a strong opening for the slasher film, even if the latest "Scream" sequel didn't scare up numbers like "Halloween 12," which opened to $49.4 million last October.
Still, Paramount has already managed to recoup its relatively modest $25 million budget.
As in the original "Scream" from 1996, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette star.
Sony's "Spider-Man: No Way Home" slipped to second place, taking in a still-healthy $20.8 million ($26 million for the four-day weekend) as its monthlong box office reign came to an end. It has now earned Sony $704 million domestically and $926 million internationally.
In third was Universal's family-friendly "Sing 2," at $8.3 million ($10 million for four days). The voice cast of the animated musical includes Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Matthew McConaughey, Bobby Cannavale, Pharrell Williams and Bono.
Forth spot went to another Universal film, spy thriller "The 355," at $2.3 million ($3 million). It stars Jessica Chastain, Penelope Cruz and Lupita Nyong'o.
And in fifth was "The King's Man" from 20th Century, at $2.3 million ($3 million). Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans and Matthew Goode star in the spy action comedy.
Rounding out the top 10 were:
"Belle" ($1.6 million; $2 million for four days)
"American Underdog" ($1.6 million; $1.9 million)
"West Side Story" ($948,000; $1.2 million)
"The Matrix: Resurrections" ($815,000; $1 million)
"Licorice Pizza" ($800,000; $950,000)
SPORTS
NBA SCORES JAN 15
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Raptors21-19 20 26 27 30 103
Bucks27-18 29 20 20 27 96
FISERV FORUM, MILWAUKEE, WI
SCORING LEADERS
P. Siakam TOR
30 PTS 10 REB 10 AST
G. Antetokounmpo MIL
30 PTS 6 REB 4 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Trail Blazers17-25 29 39 26 21 115
Wizards22-21 24 33 23 30 110
CAPITAL ONE ARENA, WASHINGTON, DC
SCORING LEADERS
A. Simons POR
31 PTS 11 AST
S. Dinwiddie WAS
27 PTS 1 REB 7 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Pelicans16-27 22 19 36 28 105
Nets27-15 32 37 26 25 120
BARCLAYS CENTER, BROOKLYN, NY
SCORING LEADERS
B. Ingram NO
22 PTS 4 REB 8 AST
J. Harden BKN
27 PTS 8 REB 15 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Knicks22-21 31 34 20 32 117
Hawks17-25 28 23 26 31 108
STATE FARM ARENA, ATLANTA, GA
SCORING LEADERS
R. Barrett NY
26 PTS 5 REB 3 AST
T. Young ATL
29 PTS 3 REB 5 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Cavaliers26-18 24 22 37 24 107
Thunder14-28 32 24 29 17 102
PAYCOM CENTER, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
SCORING LEADERS
D. Garland CLE
27 PTS 5 REB 18 AST
S. Gilgeous-Alexander OKC
21 PTS 4 REB 7 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
76ers25-17 20 23 32 34 109
Heat27-16 29 21 23 25 98
FTX ARENA, MIAMI, FL
SCORING LEADERS
J. Embiid PHI
32 PTS 12 REB 3 AST
O. Yurtseven MIA
22 PTS 11 REB 1 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Bulls27-14 22 27 34 29 112
Celtics22-22 32 22 30 30 114
TD GARDEN , BOSTON, MA
SCORING LEADERS
N. Vucevic CHI
27 PTS 6 REB 6 AST
J. Tatum BOS
23 PTS 12 REB 4 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Clippers21-23 22 25 33 14 94
Spurs16-27 21 35 29 16 101
AT&T CENTER, SAN ANTONIO, TX
SCORING LEADERS
A. Coffey LAC
20 PTS 5 REB 1 AST
D. White SA
19 PTS 4 REB 4 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Lakers21-22 29 31 19 17 96
Nuggets22-19 34 39 29 31 133
BALL ARENA, DENVER, CO
SCORING LEADERS
L. James LAL
25 PTS 9 REB 2 AST
N. Hyland DEN
27 PTS 10 REB 2 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Magic8-36 23 20 25 24 92
Mavericks24-19 32 23 30 23 108
AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER, DALLAS, TX
SCORING LEADERS
J. Suggs ORL
16 PTS 3 REB 2 AST
L. Doncic DAL
23 PTS 9 REB 3 AST
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only to hold a man's foot long enough to enable him to put the other somewhat higher. - Thomas Huxley
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