Monday, April 12, 2021
Navotas mayor gets first Sinovac dose 'with a heavy heart'
Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco on Monday received his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine from Sinovac, days after saying that he has a "heavy heart" in getting China-made jabs.
Tiangco said the reluctance to get the Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccine was "not medical" but more about his "right or wrong sense of patriotism."
"I have no issue against Sinovac, or any Chinese company for that matter, I have an issue with the Chinese government," the mayor told ABS-CBN News in a text message.
"Kasi diba parang kasabay ng pagdala na bakuna ay yung pag dami naman ng barko sa West Philippine Sea. Parang nakaka-insulto," he said.
(The vaccines arrived almost the same time Chinese ships increased in number in the West Philippine Sea.)
Last month, at least 220 Chinese ships were seen moored near the Julian Felipe Reef, a resource-rich area within the Philippines exclusive economic zone.
Earlier this month, Chinese ships - armed with missiles - also chased away a Filipino fishing boat in the West Philippine Sea.
"The issue was not medical but sabi ko nga di ko alam kung it is a right or wrong sense of patriotism," he said.
Tiangco said he was unable to secure a dose from AstraZeneca as these jabs were reserved for senior citizens in Navotas.
Despite his misgivings, Tiangco said he decided to receive his first Sinovac dose due to his responsibilities as the mayor of Navotas.
"During this time of the pandemic, I have a responsibility to my constituents, to show them that I believe that it is safe," he said.
The local government of Navotas has been conducting "vaccination orientations to various sectors" in the area to improve confidence on COVID-19 vaccines, especially those from China, Tiangco told ABS-CBN News in a separate interview last month.
Sinovac jabs reportedly have a lower efficacy rate compared to COVID-19 vaccines produced by American and European pharmaceutical giants.
The city "conducted webinars with health experts" and "posted on social media testimonies of Navoteño frontliners in other countries who have been vaccinated," Tiangco said.
"[It's] part of the process to improve vaccine confidence," the Navotas mayor said.
As of April 12, Navotas has vaccinated 3,618 medical frontliners, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities.
"Susunod na po rito ang ating mga economic essential workers," Tiangco said.
(We will soon vaccinate economic essential workers.)
"Malaki po ang maitutulong ng pagpapabakuna para matapos na ang pandemya, at mapaangat na natin ang ating buhay at kabuhayan," he said.
(The vaccination program will greatly help us end the pandemic and improve the quality of life and livelihood here.)
In February, Tiangco said Navotas' COVID-19 vaccination program would include those who work and study in the city regardless of their place of residence.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/12/21/navotas-mayor-gets-first-sinovac-dose-with-a-heavy-heart
2 Laguna village officers face raps for mauling curfew violator
By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
Two village security officers will face charges for mauling a quarantine violator in Calamba, Laguna who later collapsed and died, an official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Monday.
"The DILG condemns what happened in Calamba and will ensure that all those responsible will be prosecuted and held accountable for their actions. The Calamba PNP (Philippine National Police) was able to get witness testimony from the relatives of the victim as well as from other individuals and they are preparing the cases to be filed against those responsible who allegedly were members of the Barangay Quick Reaction Team of Barangay Turbina, Calamba," said DILG spokesperson Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya in a message sent to reporters when sought for a comment.
Malaya said the Calamba police is just waiting for the issuance of the death certificate of the victim identified as Ernanie Jimenez before filing homicide charges against the suspects identified as Arjay Arbieta and Joel Ortiez.
Jimenez died in the hospital due to serious injuries when Arbieta and Ortiez allegedly kicked him several times after a brief chase.
PNP spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana, meanwhile said follow-up operations are now being conducted against the two suspects who allegedly fled after the incident.
Based on a police report, Jimenez was accosted by the Quick Response Team (QRT) of Barangay Turbina for violating the curfew.
The incident occurred between 10:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on April 7, when the province was still under enhanced community quarantine.
“According to the witnesses, the victim was repeatedly beaten by the alleged QRT personnel of Barangay Turbina this City,” the report read.
It added that the victim collapsed and was brought to Calamba Medical Center Hospital for treatment and "later expired".
Solon pushes for targeted household lockdowns
By Filane Mikee Cervantes
A lawmaker on Monday urged the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to shift to a more targeted approach of household lockdowns to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Marikina City Rep. Stella Quimbo said implementing variations of community quarantines covering a wide area, such as an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) or a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) is “simply too broad”.
Quimbo said under her proposed targeted approach, only affected households will be required to adhere to a strict stay-at-home policy, and given the corresponding assurance that necessary cash aid is guaranteed and healthcare will be provided, whether at home or in the hospitals as needed.
“Kailangan ng mas targeted na approach. Kailangan surgical ang attack at hindi shotgun approach. (We need a more targeted approach. The attack should be surgical, and not a shotgun approach.) Our resources are limited, so let’s be strategic about using them,” Quimbo said.
Quimbo said under the targeted lockdown, the government could effectively use its limited budget for the impacted households and it would not need to close down the economy.
“Under this proposal, the wheels of the economy can go on turning and this ensures that our workers can keep their jobs, their livelihoods are preserved while at the same time ensuring their safety and health,” she said.
Quimbo expressed some apprehensions on the effectiveness of a MECQ in controlling the further spread of Covid-19 while jump-starting the economy.
She noted that back in August 2020 with over 6,000 cases daily, the IATF implemented MECQ from August 4 to 18, which proved to be effective later in keeping new cases to an average of about 4,000 a day during the period, and subsequently, after three weeks, to averages of around 2,500 to 3,900 cases a day.
“The previous MECQ in August seemed to have been implemented at the right time, hence, the Covid curve somewhat stabilized at lower levels of new daily cases. Of course, we would have wanted it to stabilize at much lower levels,” she said.
She said that if the new MECQ would have the same effect as the one implemented last August, at best, the current levels of 10,000 to 15,000 new daily cases can drop by a maximum of 40 percent to 6,000 to 9,000 new cases per day, which are “still very high levels” and pose significant risks to Filipinos’ safety.
“Moreover, the IATF is lifting the ECQ at a time when the number of deaths is at a peak, with 401 deaths reported just last April 9. While I do not disagree with moving to a less stringent quarantine level for NCR plus, we must keep in mind that we must do this with a more responsive plan in place,” she said.
She said a swift and effective rollout of the vaccine program is also necessary. “We need to ensure that the vaccine supplies are forthcoming as planned, without any delay and that these are swiftly and safely distributed to the public.”
President Rodrigo Duterte has placed Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, known as NCR Plus under the less restrictive modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from April 12 to April 30.
Besides NCR Plus, also under MECQ are the City of Santiago in Isabela, Quirino province in Region 2, and Abra in the Cordillera Administrative Region.
Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya (Region 2), Batangas (Region 4-A), Tacloban City (Region 8), Iligan City (Region 10), Davao City (Region 11), and Lanao del Sur (BARMM), and Quezon will be under general community quarantine (GCQ).
The rest of the Philippines will be under the least restrictive modified GCQ.
According to amended omnibus guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) as of April 3, 2021, strict home quarantine shall be observed in all households under MECQ.
Movement of persons shall be limited to accessing essential goods and services, and for work in permitted offices or establishments or such activities allowed.
Persons below 18 years old, those who are over 65 years old, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidity, or other health risks, and pregnant women shall be required to remain at home at all times except for obtaining essential goods and services or for work.
Allowing faithful inside churches up to priests: Cubao diocese
By Ferdinand Patinio
The Diocese of Cubao is allowing priests to decide whether they will open their parishes to the faithful.
“The bishop of Cubao, Most Rev. Honesto Ongtioco, D.D. has left it to the discretion of the Parish Priests of Cubao whether to already open their parish church in compliance with the directive of the local government or to postpone the opening of the church for face to face worship,” the diocese said in a Facebook post on Monday.
This came after the Quezon City government allowed 10 percent seating capacity in religious gatherings following Metro Manila's shift to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
At the same time, it reminded parishes that will accept attendees to strictly observe the minimum health protocols and follow the curfew hours.
“For those who decide to open their parishes, the usual minimum health protocols must be observed, as well as the 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew for massgoers and volunteers. Utmost consideration on the situation of the spread of infection and its mitigation in the barangays where the parish is located need to be given careful thought,” it added.
Metro Manila, the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Abra, Quirino and Santiago City, Isabela will be under MECQ until April 30.
NCR Plus strict lockdown 'effective,' COVID trend to decline by next week: OCTA
(UPDATE) - The strict lockdown imposed in Metro Manila and nearby provinces was "effective" and the COVID-19 trend in the capital region might decline by next week, OCTA Research Group said Monday.
President Rodrigo Duterte has eased restrictions in the NCR Plus bubble to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) beginning Monday after a 2-week ECQ.
The capital region's COVID-19 reproduction rate has slowed down to 1.24 from 1.88 following the 14-day strict lockdown, according to OCTA Research fellow Guido David.
"Effective naman ang ECQ kasi nakita nating bumaba ang reproduction number sa NCR...Di pa masasabing nagfa-flatten na ang curve kasi 1.24 pa ang reproduction number pero may ilang lungsod sa Metro Manila na pababa na katulad ng Pasay at Marikina bumababa na ang cases doon," he told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.
(We can see the ECQ was effective because the reproduction number in NCR declined...We can't say the curve is flattening because the reproduction number is 1.24 but there are some cities in Metro Manila where the number of cases is declining, like Pasay and Marikina.)
"Nakikita natin magpapatuloy ang trend, we're hoping bumababa na siya to 1 by next week, by Sunday."
(We can see the trend will continue, we're hoping it will decline to 1 by next week, by Sunday.)
ECQ EFFECT TO REFLECT IN 2 WEEKS: DOH
The Department of Health, however, said the effect of the ECQ would reflect "2 weeks from now."
"The hope would be because of all of these measures that we are doing, in about 2 weeks’ time we will see the decline in the number of cases," DOH spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire told ANC.
Government decided to ease the bubble's quarantine following a cost-benefit analysis from the National Economic and Development Authority, Vergeire said.
"So we can be able to manage better and focus our response to other sectors where people are losing income and do not have money anymore to buy food, she said.
"(Just) because we shifted to MECQ that we’re not going to implement measures, we’re stepping up measures in different response strategies we are having and local governments are stepping up their efforts."
Guido urged the public to continue observing health protocols as the new COVID-19 variants were more infectious.
"Mas malala itong spike na ito, umabot na tayo ng 5,000 cases sa NCR. Nung August, 2,000 cases lang, 2,400, hindi tayo lumagpas ng 3,000 sa NCR," he said.
(This spike in cases was worse, we reached 5,000 daily average cases in NCR. In August, we only had 2,000, 2400 cases, we did not exceed 3,000 cases in NCR.)
"Nakita natin mas maraming nahawa din na 0-17 (years old), ang
dahil dito nga sa nakikita natin, 'yung mga variant, mas nakakahawa sila at mas infectious pati sa mga minor."
(We also saw more 0-17 years old infected with COVID-19, which may be due to the variants, which are more infectious even to minors.)
The Philippines on Sunday reported 11,681 more COVID-19 cases, bringing its total to 864,868. Of this figure, 146,519 or 16.9 percent are active infections.
It is forecast to reach 1 million virus cases by the end of the month, OCTA Research earlier said.
San Juan begins inoculating elderly with Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccine
San Juan City began Monday its inoculation of senior citizens with Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccine, its mayor Francis Zamora said.
"With a stable supply, we are very confident we can vaccinate 'yung (our) entire population namin as long as they register, are qualified, and as long as their doctors and our doctors deem them fit and healthy to be vaccinated," he told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.
San Juan will open in the "next few days" container vans that will serve as quarantine facilities equipped with airconditioning and bathroom, Zamora added.
The city currently has 1,050 active infections, leaving its hospital San Juan Medical Center with 85 percent occupancy and its "kalinga" or main quarantine facility 96 percent occupied, according to the mayor.
The San Juan National High School, also being used as an isolation facility, is 39 percent occupied, he added.
Metro Manila and nearby provinces Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal was placed under modified enhanced community quarantine beginning Monday following a 2-week lockdown to curb rising virus cases.
Duterte OKs bill splitting Rizal’s 2nd district into three
President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law that divides the second legislative district of Rizal province into three new districts that are hoped to better respond to the needs of residents and facilitate long-term recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.
Duterte signed Republic Act 11533 which splits the second district into three, “to take effect in the 2022 national and local elections.”
“Each district shall be composed of the following municipalities,” under the law.
SECOND LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
- Cardona
- Baras
- Tanay
- Morong
- Jala-jala
- Pililia
- Teresa
THIRD LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
- San Mateo
FOURTH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
- Rodriguez
The law, signed last March 25, directs the Commission on Elections to “issue the necessary implementing rules and regulations” within 30 days of the measure’s effectivity.
The Senate in February approved the bill reapportioning the second district of Rizal into three legislative districts.
The move aims to “help the local government units involved to better respond to the needs of the people and also help facilitate in the long-term rehabilitation and the capacity building efforts of the province following this pandemic,” said the bill’s sponsor Sen. Francis "Tol" Tolentino.
Rizal is home to about 2.9 million people, 2015 government data showed.
The new second district has a population of 449,103, the third district 252,527 people, and the fourth district is home to 369,222, said Tolentino, chair of the Senate local government committee.
Under the constitution, a locality with at least 250,000 residents is entitled to one representative in the House of Representatives, he said in a statement.
The House of Representatives passed the same measure on June 1, 2020.
Rizal is under the third strictest of four lockdown levels until the end of April to curb a surge in COVID-19 infections.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/12/21/duterte-oks-bill-splitting-rizals-2nd-district-into-three
Karagdagang ruta ng traditional jeepney, provincial buses bubuksan sa Metro Manila
Bubuksan ngayong linggo ang karagdagang ruta ng traditional jeepneys at provincial buses sa Metro Manila, ayon sa Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board nitong Lunes.
Nakatakdang buksan ang 62 ruta ng traditional jeepney at 195 ruta ng provincial buses sa Metro Manila, ayon kay LTFRB-Metro Manila regional director Zona Tamayo.
Hindi apektado ng curfew ang biyahe ng pampublikong sasakyan sa NCR Plus, dagdag niya.
Simula Lunes, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. na ang curfew sa Metro Manila matapos ito isailalim sa modified enhanced community quarantine.
"Sa guidelines po ng IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force Against COVID-19) tuloy po ang ating public transportation kaya hindi ho affected ang ating operations ng curfew pero syempre po ang ating mananakaya ay dapat sumunod pa rin sa curfew na ipinapatupad," aniya sa ABS-CBN Teleradyo.
Shabu sa pakete ng tsaa nasabat, 3 drug suspek patay
Patay ang 3 drug suspek sa magkakahiwalay na buy-bust operation sa Pasay at Parañaque nitong Sabado at Linggo.
Nasa P81.6 milyong halaga ng shabu na nakatago sa mga pakete ng tsaa ang nasabat sa 2 operasyon, ayon sa pulisya.
Noong Sabado, patay ang isang alyas Richard sa West Service Road, Barangay Sun Valley sa Parañaque matapos makatunog na pulis ang katransaksiyon niya at magpapaputok ng baril.
Nakuha ang 5 kilo ng shabu na may halagang P43 milyon na nakatago sa pakete ng tsaa.
Nitong Linggo, 2 suspek ang patay sa C5 Extension sa Pasay.
Nakuha ang 7 kilo ng shabu na may halagang 47.6 milyon mula kila alyas Domeng at alyas Rey.
Ang mga suspek ay kilalang nagtutulak umano ng droga sa lugar at ang mga supplier umano nila ay mga Chinese, ayon kay Metro Manila Police chief Vicente Danao.
Dagdag niya, hindi parte ng plano ang pagkamatay ng mga drug suspek, pero kailangan umanong gawin para protektahan ang buhay ng mga pulis at mga sibilyan.
--Ulat ni Jekki Pascual, ABS-CBN News
https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/04/12/21/shabu-sa-pakete-ng-tsaa-nasabat-3-drug-suspek-patay
Clearing works sa itatayong ‘airport train’ ng Pinas, sinimulan
MALOLOS CITY, Philippines — Pinasimulan na ng Philippine National Railways (PNR) ang clearing works para sa eksaktong pagtatayuan ng bagong istasyon ng tinaguriang kauna-unahang magiging “airport train” ng Pilipinas sa Brgy. Iba O’ Este, Calumpit, Bulacan na mag-uugnay sa Clark International Airport sa Pampanga.
Ayon kay Asec. Goddes Hope Libiran ng Department of Transportation (DOTr), ang clearing works ay bahagi ng pre-construction activities bilang paghahanda sa aktuwal na pagtatayo ng Phase 2 ng North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Project. Tinatawag din itong Malolos-Clark Railway Project na bubuhay sa dating ruta ng riles ng PNR mula Malolos.
Ang itatayong tatlong palapag na Calumpit station ay sakop ng Contract Package N-01 na maglalatag ng riles ng tren mula Malolos hanggang sa Apalit, Pampanga. Gagawin ito ng kontratista na joint venture ng Korean companies na Hyundai Engineering & Construction Corp. Ltd., Dong-Ah Geological Engineers Corp. Ltd. at Pilipinong kompanya na Megawide Construction Corporation.
Nagkakahalaga ang Contract Package N-01 ng P28.3-bilyon na bahagi ng kabuuang P286-bilyong pahiram na pondo ng Asian Development Bank (ADB). May hiwalay pang P201-bilyong Official Development Assistance (ODA) ang Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) para sa pag-assemble ng mga bagon ng tren para sa NSCR Phase 2. Isa ang proyektong ito sa mga bilateral agreements na nilagdaan bilang resulta ng mga opisyal na pagbisita ni Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte sa Japan.
Tinagurian na kauna-unahang “airport train” ng Pilipinas ang NSCR Phase 2 dahil aabot ang riles at istasyon sa mismong Clark International Airport na may 53 kilometro mula sa Malolos.
Kapag natapos ang proyekto sa 2023, ikakabit ito sa riles ng NSCR Phase 1 sa Malolos. Mula rito, aabot hanggang sa Tutuban sa Maynila ang biyahe ng tren.
Ayon kay Calumpit Mayor Jessie De Jesus, ang pagkakalipat ng lokasyon ng Calumpit station mula sa Brgy. Balungao ay inaasahang maghahatid ng mas masiglang komersiyo sa katimugang bahagi ng bayan.
Target na simulan ang aktuwal na konstruksyon ng airport train sa kalagitnaan ng 2021 at maaaring buksan ang partial operation nito sa 2023.