Posibilidad na di gumana ang MECQ sa NCR ikinabahala ng eksperto

Nababahala ang grupong OCTA Research na posibleng mag-iba ang trend ngayong niluwagan na ang coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions sa National Capital Region (NCR Plus) bubble. 

Ito ay sa nagpapatuloy na pagtaas ng bilang ng mga nagkaka-COVID-19 sa bansa ngayong modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ). 

"Sa totoo lang, we are getting very concerned na the MECQ is not working. I’m sorry, this is the first time na were saying it, pero we’re just being transparent about the data. Sinasabi naman namin noon, the ECQ was working; nagkaroon ng negative growth rate. Now, maybe the MECQ is not working,” ani OCTA Research Fellow Guido David. 

Sa datos na inilabas ng OCTA Research, bumaba na sa 1.16 ang reproduction number - nangangahulungan ito na isang tao ang nahahawa at maliit na tsana ang makahawa ng dalawang tao ang isang nagka-COVID-19. 

Ayon sa OCTA Research, dahil dito ay nangangahulugang epektibo ang pagpapatupad noon ng ECQ sa Kamaynilaan at sa mga karatig-probinsiya nito. 

Sabi naman ng kasamahan ni David sa OCTA Research na si Butch Ong, nagpapatuloy ang pagbaba ng reproduction number sa paglipat sa MECQ. 

“Hindi nasayang (ang ECQ) dahil bumaba naman talaga ang ating reproduction number. In the transition ng MECQ, we still continue to see a lowering of the reproduction number,” ani Ong. 

Ipinaalala ng OCTA Research na mag-ingat pa rin kahit nakita ang pagbaba ng reproduction rate nito. 

“Hinihikayat ko na para ma-hit natin nag target natin magkaroon na tayo ng mindset na ECQ tayo na taasan natin ang vigilance at disiplina kasi mas maluwag at may risk na baka tumaas ng bahagya habang nasa MECQ so kailangang mas maging disiplinado tayo,” ani Ong. 

Nakatakdang maglabas sa susunod na linggo ng panibagong report ang OCTA Research, kung saan umano nila makikita kung naabot na ng Metro Manila ang reproduction number na kailangan nitong makamit.

— Ulat ni Michael Delizo, ABS-CBN News

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/17/21/posibilidad-na-di-gumana-ang-mecq-sa-ncr-ikinabahala-ng-eksperto

11 sugatan sa banggaan ng bus at truck sa Iloilo

Sugatan ang 11 na katao matapos magbanggaan ang isang bus at truck sa Lambunao, Iloilo Biyernes ng hapon.

Sa imbestigasyon ng Lambunao PNP, magkasalubong ang dalawang sasakyan sa isang kalsada sa Brgy. Poblacion nang mawalan ng preno ang truck at bumangga sa bus.

Nagtamo ng malubhang sugat ang driver ng truck matapos maipit sa driver seat.

Agad dinala sa ospital ang sampung sakay ng bus kasama ang driver matapos magtamo ng sugat at makaramdam ng pananakit ng katawan.--Ulat ni Rolen Escaniel

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/17/21/11-sugatan-sa-banggaan-ng-bus-at-truck-sa-iloilo

New COVID-19 restrictions delay LRT-2 extension launch

The launch of the awaited LRT-2 East Extension project has been delayed due to new restrictions set in place to curb COVID-19 transmission in Metro Manila, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Friday.

The official inauguration of the train project was initially scheduled on April 26, but will now take place on June 23 due to strict implementation of health protocols, such as physical distancing and operational capacity of workforce.

"The schedule adjustment was made following recent developments in the country’s COVID-19 situation despite the project already being substantially complete. Instead of a formal inauguration, an operational trial run will be conducted on 26 April 2021," the DOTr said in a statement.

The change came after the transit line's officials meeting around Holy Week, the DOTr said, when COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, especially in Metro Manila, surged in an alarming rate.

"Moreover, foreign rail experts who are necessary in the final stages of installation, testing, and commissioning works for the project have been unable to report for work or enter the Philippines due to stringent restrictions being enforced," the department noted, citing the two-week lockdown to contain the surge in Metro Manila and nearby provinces from March 29 to April 11.

TJ Batan, DOTr Undersecretary for Railways, said it was unfortunate the project's launch will be delayed but it was understandable since public health and safety should come first.

"Excited po tayo na makitang matatapos na itong long-delayed na proyekto na nagumpisa pa nuong 2012, pero mahalaga din po na lahat tayo ay ligtas, malusog, at higit sa lahat, buhay,” he said.

The LRT-2 East Extension project, which consists of two new additional stations, namely the Marikina Station and the Antipolo Station, is already at 96.51 percent complete as of February 28, the DOTr said.

The department earlier estimated the new stations, which will service commuters from Recto, Manila going to Masinag, Antipolo and back, will cut travel time from Recto to Masinag by just 40 minutes.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/16/21/new-covid-19-restrictions-delay-lrt-2-extension-launch