MORE THAN 5.2 MILLION CHILDREN FULLY VACCINATED VS COVID-19 — GALVEZ
MANILA — Some 5.2 million children have been fully vaccinated against coronavirus since the inoculation of minors was gradually rolled out this year, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Friday.
"We are happy that the children, over 8 million [of them] have been vaccinated and 5.2 million have received a second dose,” Galvez said in Filipino during a briefing aired on state media.
"We are negotiating with Pfizer to expedite [the vaccines] we ordered for [children ages] 5 to 11 and hopefully it arrives the second or third week of January,” he added. "We will start right away once were receive [the shipment].”
The Philippines last week approved the use of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine for children aged 5 to 11.
Prior to this, only minors aged 12 to 17 were eligible to receive either a Pfizer or Moderna shot. The vaccination drive was expanded to include them in September.
Overall, the vaccine czar said the number of people fully vaccinated had breached the 50-million mark.
Officials were hoping to inoculate 54 million people before yearend but Galvez said the onslaught of Super Typhoon Odette derailed vaccination efforts.
Galvez said the government would likely hit the 54-million mark in the first or second week of January 2022
DUTERTE SIGNS 2022 NATIONAL BUDGET INTO LAW
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday signed into law the proposed national budget for 2022, which gives the government P5.024 trillion for its projects and programs.
Speaking at the signing ceremony at the Palace, Duterte called the passage of the budget bill "reflects the healthy collaboration among all branches of government, which is crucial to the attainment of our national development goals especially during these trying times.
The Bicameral Conference Committe report on the proposed national budget set aside P785.73 billion for the Department of Public Works and Highways.
It also allocated P592.695 billion to the Department of Education while state universities and colleges were given a budget increase of P32.47 billion, bringing the outlay for state schools to P104.18 billion.
The Palace has yet to release a copy of the final version of the General Appropriations Act of 2022 as of this writing.
In his remarks, Duterte said that the national budget shows the government's "strong commitment to provide a more comfortable and productive life for each Filipino" and also "cements the administration's legacy of real change for future generations."
Duterte said that that legacy is centered on "resiliency amidst the pandemic, sustaining momentum towards recovery and continuing the legacy of infrastructure development."
PHILIPPINES' NEW YEAR'S EVE COVID TALLY FEARED TO REACH 3,000
MANILA - The Philippines could report 3,000 more COVID-19 cases on New Year's Eve, more than double from Thursday, with the positivity rate going as high as 10 percent, the UP Pandemic Response Team said.
Most of the virus cases are coming from Metro Manila, said Professor Jomar Rabajante of the University of the Philippines (UP) pandemic response team.
"I don’t want to be early in reporting this one from DOH (Department of Health), but we already know today we are going to have around 10 percent positivity rate because we already have the test results from the laboratories," he told ANC's Rundown.
"And if the number of positive (cases) for today, will be validated and reported by DOH, it will be around 3,000 we are expecting the numbers to really increase."
The rise in cases can be attributed to the increase in mobility and lax observation of minimum public health standards, Rabajante said.
"Most of the people are coming from the working class age group, coming from millennials and Gen Z, 20s and 30s. Probably because of many reasons... frontlines are also within this age range, these people are very mobile, they can already go outside," he said.
The group is also considering the possibility of the spread of the omicron variant but this has yet to be validated by the Philippine Genome Center, according to Rabajante.
"If this will be omicron, then this might be higher than the peak we had last September. We might be expecting more people to be infected during the first (few) weeks of January 2022," he said.
"We still need to wait for the DNA sequenced results from the Philippine Genome Center to really see if this is already omicron. Remember delta is also very transmissible."
DUTERTE ADMITS BEING VERY WORRIED ABOUT POSSIBLE MASS INFECTIONS DUE TO OMICRON
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday admitted being worried about the Omicron variant of COVID-19 as the country recorded increases in the number of infections during the holidays.
During the signing of the P5.024-trillion national budget for 2022, Duterte said the Omicron variant, which caused the surge in the number of infections in other countries, might "intrude into the budget" and require more expenditures.
"It’s just a little bit worrisome but I am afraid of this Omicron because it has been spreading in all areas around the world," Duterte said.
"It’s not a matter of predicting how many will die, but rather preparing for how many people that will be affected by this mutant...I just hope that we will cope...if ever, but we can hardly, you know, this budget might lose its elbow room to respond to the new challenge of a new variant of the COVID-19," the President said.
"It’s what worrying me. Otherwise, it's OK. If it comes, it stares eyeball to eyeball with us... Eventually Congress would be the one who would handle this thing. You have to pass the laws that will be needed, I said, to cope...with this new problem looming in the horizon," he added.
DILG: 15 TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 AFTER WOMAN CUT HOTEL QUARANTINE
MANILA - The woman who skipped the mandatory quarantine in a Makati hotel may have infected "about 15" people with COVID-19, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Thursday, amid the threat of the omicron variant.
In an interview on Teleradyo, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año confirmed that a certain Gwyneth Chua, a traveler from the US, went out of her hotel while under mandatory quarantine and had dinner in a restaurant.
The United States is currently battling a new wave of new infections because of the omicron variant.
She had a swab taken Dec. 26, Año said, a "clear" indication that Chua violated protocols. She later tested positive for COVID-19.
"Yung problema, yung mga nakasama niya sa dinner and sa bar, ay mga nagpa-positive na rin... Ang sabi lang about 15 yung nagpa-positive. We need to confirm that," said Año.
"Kung omicron case 'to, huwag naman sana. Kasi ang bilis talaga kung omicron... Magpa-test na lang," he said later on.
It is not immediately clear if these were the people she were with in the dinner or the party. More people, however, are coming out with information on the matter, Año said.
The investigation is still ongoing but CCTV footage confirmed that the woman got out of the quarantine facility, he added.
"Ang mga ka-party niya, marami na ring nag-positive noon. Marami na ring may symptoms doon. We still don't know if it is omicron because hindi pa, wala pang result yung genome sequencing niya," he explained.
Authorities have visited the establishments Chua went to and their personnel have been interviewed, Año said.
"Very cooperative naman sila, pinakita na rin nila yung CCTV footage sa ating CIDG investigators."
PHILIPPINES STAYS UNDER ALERT LEVEL 2 UNTIL JANUARY 15
MANILA — The Philippines will remain under Alert Level 2 until January 15 despite the uptick in COVID-19 cases and concerns over the heavily-mutated Omicron variant, Malacañang announced Thursday.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, who is also acting presidential spokesperson, said the entire country will stay under Alert Level 2 from January 1 to 15.
Under Alert Level 2, the maximum operational capacities for several businesses and activities is 50% for indoor venues, fully vaccinated persons, and those below 18 years of age, even if unvaccinated and 70% for outdoor venues provided all workers of the establishments are fully inoculated against COVID-19.
DUTERTE SAYS HE'S READY TO GO TO JAIL FOR NOT FOLLOWING PROTOCOL ON DECLARING STATE OF CALAMITY
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte is unfazed by the possibility of being sent to jail for not complying with the rule requiring the submission of reports on the extent of damage in calamity-hit areas before funds for relief efforts can be used.
Speaking to typhoon survivors in Bais City, Negros Oriental last Wednesday, Duterte apologized for the delayed relief operations, saying a law prevented him from declaring a state of calamity that would allow him to use state funds to provide them their needs.
"I don’t understand this government - you still need an assessment, evaluation and report on the extent of the damage of the typhoon, the number of casualties and the damage to infrastructure and agriculture," Duterte said.
"But the problem with the law is it prohibits me from declaring a state of calamity unless there’s a consolidated report from all government agencies," he added.
Duterte reiterated that he won't follow the rule even if it means being sent to jail for it.
"Don’t threaten me with imprisonment because I’m used to being imprisoned. In fact, for the next few days I’ll be imprisoned," the President said.
Dutetre noted that the areas ravaged by typhoon "Odette" needed immediate aid and that he could not wait for the damage assessment reports to be completed.
"Tell COA (Commission on Audit) I won’t obey them. I’d rather go to prison. Stupid law. If the assessment can’t be completed in one week, that would result to an even bigger perdition because I can’t declare a state of calamity. That’s the problem," he said in a separate meeting with typhoon victims in Manjuyod, Negros Oriental also last Wednesday.
COA FLAGS 21 SUCS OVER DEFICIENCIES
MANILA — The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged 21 state universities and colleges (SUCs) over “deficiencies” in the implementation of various projects and programs amounting to P1.67 billion.
Due to these deficiencies, the COA in its consolidated 2020 annual financial report, said the expected benefits of the billion-peso programs and projects “were not maximized and objectives were not fully attained.”
Among the state universities called out by the audit body was the Polytechnic University of the Philippines over poor utilization of its Special Trust Fund amounting to P895.06 million, unallocated actual collections and minimal utilization of its fiduciary funds.
The Bicol University was flagged over “very low accomplishment rate” of its skills training program for Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries with an allocated fund of P313.02 million.
The West Visayas State University was called out over delayed completion of 20 special projects for the WVSU main campus with total funding of P216.89 million.
The COA said there was also P4.607 million in unutilized funds for 14 completed special projects, which the WVSU has yet to return to the source agencies.
The COA asked the concerned SUCs to revisit their respective programs especially those with poor performance or output and adopt the applicable interventions.
“Assign one specific office that will monitor and consolidate the report on the employability of the graduates which can be used effectively by the offices concerned for planning purposes and development of enhanced strategies,” the agency recommended.
THE REST
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PHILIPPINES LOGS 1,623 NEW COVID-19 CASES, HIGHEST SINCE LATE NOVEMBER
MANILA— The Philippines on Thursday registered 1,623 more COVID-19 cases, nearly double the daily tally on Wednesday, as authorities continued to monitor the pandemic situation amid the threat of the omicron variant.
The day's tally is considered the highest since Nov. 21, when the country confirmed 2,227 cases, data showed. On Wednesday, the health ministry reported 889 infections.
This pushed the country's running tally to 2,841,260, of which 11,772 or 0.4 percent are active.
Positivity rate is at 6.6 percent, based on samples from 30,933 individuals screened for the virus on Tuesday. This is the highest since Oct. 31, said ABS-CBN Data Analytics head Edson Guido said.
The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday attributed the spike in fresh cases to the public's holiday-related mobility, as well as their "reduced" compliance to minimum public health standards.
The agency had said it is so far unclear whether the omicron variant is driving the surge in new cases. Authorities have so far detected 4 cases of the more transmissible variant.
Meanwhile, fatalities rose to 51,373 after the DOH confirmed 133 additional deaths.
QUEZON CITY COUNCIL GRANTS TAX RELIEF TO BUSINESSES
MANILA — The Quezon City council has approved three ordinances, which aim to give businesses additional tax relief to help them recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As the economy gradually opens, some businesses that are heavily affected by the pandemic are still struggling on their way to recovery. We want to help them in as many ways as we can, and passing this tax measure is just one of them,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
The first ordinance approved by the city council will extend the deadline for payment of business taxes for the first and second quarters of 2022, from Jan. 20 and March 20, respectively, to July 20.
The second measure will waive penalties, surcharges and interests for unpaid business taxes for 2021 and previous years.
The third ordinance will allow staggered payment of outstanding business taxes up to a maximum of 12 months installment covering 2021 and prior years.
Under the ordinance, the city treasurer is tasked to determine the manner of payment of outstanding tax balances.
“The Quezon City government recognizes business owners’ financial struggles to keep their operations going, thus providing employment to QCitizens and residents of other cities and provinces who continue to depend on such businesses for their livelihood,” Majority Leader Franz Pumaren, one of the authors of the measures, said.
QUIAPO CHURCH READY FOR NAZARENE FEAST
MANILA — The Quiapo Church is all set for the feast of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9 next year amid the threat posed by the COVID-19 Omicron variant, an official said yesterday.
Fr. Douglas Badong, the church’s parochial vicar, said processions are being held in the provinces as part of the localized traslacion to reach more devotees.
Officials of Quiapo Church have again suspended the annual traslacion, the procession held to mark the feast of the Black Nazarene.
“We are ready for the feast. We will make the necessary adjustments based on alert level status that will be imposed by the government,” Badong said.
Vaccinated devotees will be allowed to enter the Quiapo Church during the feast of the Black Nazarene, he said.
“Unvaccinated individuals will have to stay outside the church,” Badong said.
He said police would be deployed to screen vaccinated and unvaccinated devotees.
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
'NAGSISIMULA ULIT': DENNIS PADILLA SAYS HE'S REBUILDING RELATIONSHIP WITH DAUGHTER JULIA BARRETTO
MANILA — Comedian-actor Dennis Padilla said he and his daughter, actress Julia Barretto, are in the process of rebuilding their relationship.
Padilla was asked about his ties with his children during a recent virtual conference for his movie “Sanggano, Sanggago’t Sanggwapo 2: Aussie! Aussie! O Sige!”.
“Okay naman, although siyempre para kang nagsisimula ulit. Galing kami sa misunderstanding so now nagsisimula pa lang kami. One step at a time, building it up again,” he said.
“Kailangan lang talagang open ‘yung communication para lahat ng nararamdaman mo nasasabi mo na kaagad, hindi mo napupuno. So ganoon din sa side nila, kailangan naka-open ‘yung communication at tuluy-tuloy para meron kayong magandaang napag-uusapan, may magandang napupuntahan ‘yung mga topics ninyo,” he explained.
The father and daughter have had a tumultuous relationship over the years. They appeared to reconcile early this year, when Padilla was hospitalized for COVID-19.
Julia is one of Padilla’s three children with his former wife Marjorie Barretto.
In May, Julia shared a vlog where she interviewed her father about past conflicts that caused his rift with his children with Marjorie.
While that conversation ended amicably, Padilla’s subsequent interview with Ogie Diaz in June, where he aired his hurt over his differences with Julia and Marjorie, once again strained their ties.
Padilla, who has a family with his current, non-showbiz partner, shared that he was not able to celebrate the holidays with his Barretto children.
“Tawagan lang, video call. Batian lang. Siguro kami nila ni Julia, after New Year na kami mag-di-dinner kasi they were so busy din and may mga business pa sila on the side. Eh busy din ako. So sabi ko after the Christmas season,” he said.
SPORTS
NBA SCORES DEC 29
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Hornets19-17 34 37 19 26 116
Pacers14-21 27 30 25 26 108
GAINBRIDGE FIELDHOUSE, INDIANAPOLIS, IN
SCORING LEADERS
T. Rozier CHA
35 PTS 7 REB 3 AST
C. LeVert IND
27 PTS 7 REB 6 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Knicks17-18 23 25 16 30 94
Pistons5-28 20 21 30 14 85
LITTLE CAESARS ARENA, DETROIT, MI
SCORING LEADERS
A. Burks NY
34 PTS 4 REB 2 AST
S. Bey DET
32 PTS 9 REB 3 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Clippers18-17 26 21 22 22 91
Celtics16-19 21 19 23 19 82
TD GARDEN , BOSTON, MA
SCORING LEADERS
M. Morris LAC
23 PTS 10 REB 2 AST
J. Brown BOS
30 PTS 8 REB
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Hawks15-19 36 17 34 30 117
Bulls22-10 38 36 30 27 131
UNITED CENTER, CHICAGO, IL
SCORING LEADERS
T. Young ATL
26 PTS 3 REB 11 AST
Z. LaVine CHI
25 PTS 2 REB 5 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Lakers17-19 30 24 29 16 99
Grizzlies22-14 23 25 30 26 104
FEDEXFORUM, MEMPHIS, TN
Highlights: Lakers at Grizzlies
3:22
SCORING LEADERS
L. James LAL
37 PTS 13 REB 7 AST
J. Morant MEM
41 PTS 10 REB 2 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Thunder12-22 23 29 29 16 97
Suns27-7 33 27 25 30 115
FOOTPRINT CENTER, PHOENIX, AZ
SCORING LEADERS
T. Jerome OKC
24 PTS 8 REB 5 AST
D. Booker PHO
38 PTS 7 REB 5 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Jazz25-9 36 33 27 24 120
Trail Blazers13-21 27 32 23 23 105
MODA CENTER AT THE ROSE QUARTER, PORTLAND, OR
SCORING LEADERS
R. Gobert UTA
22 PTS 14 REB
D. Lillard POR
32 PTS 6 REB 4 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Mavericks16-18 30 13 31 20 94
Kings15-21 20 35 17 23 95
GOLDEN 1 CENTER, SACRAMENTO, CA
SCORING LEADERS
J. Brunson DAL
25 PTS 2 REB 6 AST
D. Fox SAC
16 PTS 1 REB 3 AST
INDICATORS
FOREX $1 = P 51.00
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Many experts lose the creativity and imagination of the less informed. They are so intimately familiar with known patterns that they fail to recognize or respect the importance of the new wrinkle. - Gavin de Becker
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