SSS: COVID-hit members covered even if not hospitalized
The Social Security System (SSS) on Thursday assured members infected with COVID-19, particularly those who just stayed at home instead of a medical facility, that they can avail themselves of sickness benefits. “For employed members, they should have used all their current company sick leave with pay and notified their employer about their sickness. Self-employed, voluntary, and OFW-members and those separated from employment must notify the SSS directly by filing a sickness benefit application,” it added. The SSS allows online filing of sickness benefit reimbursement applications via the My.SSS portal. Members can avail themselves of a maximum of 120 days’ worth of sickness benefit during one calendar year.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 21, 2022 03:19 UTC
DILG presses local gov’ts: Restrict the unvaxxed folk
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) urged local government units (LGUs) in other parts of the country to copy what the National Capital Region (NCR) did and also implement policies to restrict the movement of unvaccinated persons. Presbitero Velasco Jr. said local chief executives instructed their city and municipal councils to impose restrictions on their unvaccinated constituents. “What the local chief executives should also really pursue is to properly explain the benefits of being vaccinated,” he said. 11525, or the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act, states that vaccination shall not be considered as an additional mandatory requirement for educational or employment purposes or conducting transactions with government. He also defended the power of local governments to impose local laws to restrict the movement and access to services of unvaccinated citizens, as local governments in general may assert that it is part of their duty to protect the health of their constituents.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 21, 2022 02:39 UTC
Stock Commentary:Some quick takes from around the market
Some quick takes from around the marketHaus Talk [HTI 1.49 3.9%] falls just below offer price, to P1.49/share, the lowest it’s been since the first few moments of its trading life back on Monday. Solar Philippines NEC [SPNEC 1.60 0.62%] is the only stock out of the four most recent IPOs (HTI, SPNEC, MEDIC, and ALLDY) that is trading above its IPO offer price. All three of the next IPOs on the schedule (Figaro, CREIT, and Bank of Commerce) feature stability funds. --Merkado Barkada is a free daily newsletter on the PSE, investing and business in the Philippines. Merkado Barkada's opinions are provided for informational purposes only, and should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any particular stock.
Source:Philippine Star
January 21, 2022 01:01 UTC
Obiena: I'm not in best shape to compete
5 pole vaulter Ernest John "EJ" Obiena said he is not 100 percent, physically and mentally. "I don't think I am in the best shape of my life. I am not training the way I should be training," said Obiena during the roundtable discussion with The Manila Times on Thursday. I can pull that off, I believe, on a really, really good day. Obiena said his Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov was not happy with his performance and the many distractions in training.
Source:Manila Times
January 21, 2022 00:48 UTC
DOH ensures continuous COVID-19 benefits for HCWs
DOH ensures continuous COVID-19 benefits for HCWsHealth workers at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute attend to patients at the triage set up at the hospital lobby on Aug. 15, 2021. MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has assured health care workers (HCWs) that they will continue to be entitled to COVID-19 benefits under an allocation of P1.08 billion for the purpose in the 2022 national budget. In addition to sickness and death benefits for HCWs who contract COVID-19 in the line of duty, the DOH is coming out with new guidelines for the faster and easier release of their benefits. “We are working hard to make certain that all our HCWs are well-taken care of by providing them with benefits that will recognize their efforts in fighting through the COVID-19 pandemic,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said yesterday. Meanwhile, workers who got infected with COVID-19 in the workplace can expect a bigger sickness benefit – P30,000 from the previous P10,000 – from the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC).
Source:Philippine Star
January 20, 2022 23:06 UTC
Eastern Samar village chief nabbed for violating gun ban – police
TACLOBAN CITY — A village chairman from the town of Oras in Eastern Samar province was arrested for allegedly violating the gun ban on Thursday afternoon. Tiu, accompanied by two other cops, responded to the information and approached Quimada who did not resist arrest. “He (Quimada) was in possession of one 9 mm pistol with 15 live ammunition, and extra magazines loaded with 13 live ammunition, and one 45 caliber pistol with eight live ammunition,” Tiu said in a phone interview. Aside from the firearm tucked in his waist, the other firearm and ammunition were placed inside in a sling bag of the suspect. Since the gun ban took effect beginning Jan. 9, seven individuals across the region were arrested by policemen.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 20, 2022 21:38 UTC
Fact check: Water containers for OVP’s Angat Buhay were filters that did not use toxic materials
Fact check: Water containers for OVP’s Angat Buhay were filters that did not use toxic materialsIn this photo dated June 15, 2017, students of the UP College of Medicine and Physicians for Peace – Philippines turned over 70 units of water filters to the staff of the Office of the Vice President for the Marawi Clash Relief Operations. MANILA, Philippines — Old photographs of Vice President Leni Robredo's donation of water filters to families affected by the Marawi conflict are resurfacing ahead of the 2022 elections, this time with a completely new narrative. CLAIM: The plastic containers used to donate water under the OVP's flagship anti-poverty program Angat Buhay contained lead and other toxic materials and were unfit for donation and consumption. FACTS: The supposed containers are actually food-grade water filters that used no toxic materials when they were made. FACT CHECK: Robredo’s daughter did not skip quarantineAccording to her office, the water filters were meant to be donated to the Marawi Clash Relief Operations, where the OVP's main role was transport and logistics.
Source:Philippine Star
January 20, 2022 21:09 UTC
Go wants to ensure vaccine access
SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” GoSEN. Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go urged authorities anew to ensure the timely and efficient distribution of Covid-19 vaccines amid the threat posed by the Omicron variant. The government has announced its plan to implement simplified vaccination procedures, such as allowing walk-in admissions and dropping the medical clearance requirement. As of January 18, the government has obtained more than 213.6 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines, more than 120.6 million of which have been administered. More than 56 million are fully vaccinated while about 59 million have obtained their first dose. Additional funds have also been set aside for specialty hospitals, such as the Lung Center of the Philippines, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Children's Medical Center, and Philippine Heart Center.
Source:Manila Times
January 20, 2022 20:56 UTC
Bar Association will stay away from politics: new chairman
(First from right) Victor DawesThe Bar Association will “actively participate” in consultation of the Basic Law Article 23 legislation but will stay away from political issues, said newly-elected chairman Victor Dawes. The Bar Association shall also not speak out or handle political issues,” Dawes told a press briefing. Dawes was called to the bar in 1999 and was appointed senior counsel in 2015. The other vice chairman, Chan, specializes in criminal litigation. He was called to the bar in 2004, and was appointed senior counsel in 2018.
Source:The Standard
January 20, 2022 20:34 UTC
3rd seed Muguruza stunned in 2nd round
UPSET WIN France’s Alize Cornet serves against Spain’s Garbine Muguruza during their women’s singles match on day four of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. Cornet scored a 6-3, 6-3 victory over the third seeded Spaniard. PHOTO BY WILLIAM WEST/AFPMELBOURNE: French veteran Alize Cornet described herself as "a bit of a dinosaur" after she sent world number three and 2020 finalist Garbine Muguruza crashing out of the Australian Open in the second round Thursday, upsetting the Spaniard 6-3, 6-3. WTA Finals winner Muguruza struggled with her serve throughout the clash on Rod Laver Arena against her 61st-ranked opponent, losing in 1 hours and 27 minutes. She and Muguruza had met four times before with Cornet always proving a tough opponent.
Source:Manila Times
January 20, 2022 20:26 UTC
(Central Station) Lucky crunch for McDonalds contract workers
A crunch is about to become a strictly pleasant noise when McDonald's hands out HK$1,000-loaded red packets to more than 10,000 contract workers for the Year of the Tiger. Well, say fast-food bosses, the food and beverage sector may well be taking a hard hit due to the Covid eatery restrictions, but McDonald's crispy thighs have been selling so well that the laisee gesture is the order the day. Randy Lai Wai-sze, managing director of McDonald's (Hong Kong), says the chain has sold over 28 million crispy thighs in the past year, though orders for the deep-fried crunchy thighs have been running extra hot since October when boy band Mirror was hired to join in promotions. There's also good news for managers of McDonald's outlets. They're in for an immediate pay rise, though previously they would have had to wait until April for salary adjustments.
Source:The Standard
January 20, 2022 20:19 UTC
The 'Matrix' beyond Keanu
Fan favorites Jessica Henwick and Jonathan Groff join the cast of the newest ‘Matrix’ movie. The number one draw for seeing "The Matrix: Resurrections" is, of course, seeing Keanu Reeves return to the role of Neo after almost 20 years. Meanwhile, my favorite Jonathan Groff moment is his performance as King George singing "You'll Be Back" in the hit musical "Hamilton." He has said time and again that getting to fight Keanu Reeves is "like flying." Stahelski directed all the "John Wick" movies and was actually Keanu Reeves' stunt double for the other three "Matrix" movies.
Source:Manila Times
January 20, 2022 19:05 UTC
PH 51st on list of world’s most powerful militaries
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines, with an estimated 48 million available military manpower and at least 280,000 total military personnel, ranked 51st among 140 countries in terms of military strength in 2022. In this article, INQUIRER.net will try to detail the country’s good and bad points in terms of military strength based on data provided in the 2021 GFP report, as well as list which countries dominate globally with their military strength. Where PH performed ‘best’Based on the GFP data, the Philippines had excellent, good, average, fair, and poor ratings in over 40 factors. Corvettes: Rank 15The country again ranked 15th in the list of countries with the strongest corvette fleet. MLRSs: Rank 140This factor helps rank the countries based on the number of self-propelled Multiple Launch Rocket Projector (MLRS) vehicle fleets they own or possess.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 20, 2022 17:28 UTC
Swiss drop pre-arrival COVID-19 tests for vaccinated
GENEVA — Switzerland decided Wednesday to drop pre-arrival Covid-19 tests for vaccinated or recovered people coming into the country, in a move welcomed by the tourist industry. From Saturday, only unvaccinated people who have not recovered from Covid will need to present a negative test upon arrival in Switzerland. Switzerland is battling a fifth wave of the pandemic but Health Minister Alain Berset refused to speculate on whether the peak had passed. Switzerland, population 8.6 million, has registered more than 12,000 deaths in the pandemic and nearly 1.8 million cases. Sixty-eight percent of the Swiss population are double-vaccinated and 35 percent have had a booster dose.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 20, 2022 16:35 UTC
‘Number of pregnant women contracting COVID-19 increasing’
‘Number of pregnant women contracting COVID-19 increasing’The pregnant are seen lining up for their COVID-19 vaccine at Pinyahan Elementary School in Quezon City on Sept. 4, 2021. MANILA, Philippines — Doctors are seeing a remarkable rise in the number of pregnant women getting infected with the coronavirus disease in the last several weeks. ?She also clarified that most of the pregnant women who tested positive for COVID-19 were confined in the hospital due to other medical reasons. Dr. Marilyn Dee, POGS president, said hospitals are requiring pregnant women to get tested for COVID-19 and, surprisingly, many of them turned out positive. Except for the Russia-made Sputnik V, all available vaccines against COVID-19 are safe for pregnant and lactating women, doctors said.
Source:Philippine Star
January 20, 2022 16:06 UTC