BSP extends relief measures for banks
BSP extends relief measures for banksBSP Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier said the Monetary Board issued Resolution 65 last Jan. 13 approving the extension of the effectivity of prudential and operational relief measures for BSP-supervised financial institutions (BSFIs) until the end of the year. MANILA, Philippines — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has extended relief measures for banks to help sustain credit growth, and at the same time provide continued access to financial services to vulnerable sectors of the economy amid the resurgence in COVID- infections due to the more contagious Omicron variant. BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier said the Monetary Board issued Resolution 65 last Jan. 13 approving the extension of the effectivity of prudential and operational relief measures for BSP-supervised financial institutions (BSFIs) until the end of the year. Fonacier said the Monetary Board, through the same resolution, also extended operation relief for banks and financial institutions until the end of the year. Under the operation relief measures, a BSFI no longer needs to inform the BSP of the changes in its banking days, temporary closure of branches, and changes in banking hours.
Source:Philippine Star
January 19, 2022 02:05 UTC
Stock Commentary: Solar Philippines posts earnings report from Q3/21 showing (of course) no profits
Solar Philippines posts earnings report from Q3/21 showing (of course) no profitsThe PSE’s newest renewable energy company, Solar Philippines [SPNEC 1.60 0.6%], joined the exchange in mid-December of 2021, so this earnings report covers a period for which SPNEC was not technically a public company. There’s just not a lot to see in a report like this for a non-operational company. On the other hand, though, the PSE is absolutely filled with non-operational companies that produce quarterly report after quarterly report, showing zero non-interest revenue and posting (predictable) net losses. --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 19, 2022 01:07 UTC
Around 20 killed in deadliest coalition strikes on Yemen’s Sanaa since 2019
ADEN, Yemen — Air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Houthi group on the capital Sanaa killed at least 20 people overnight, including civilians, Houthi media and residents said, in one of its deadliest attacks since 2019. ADVERTISEMENTThe air strikes followed Monday’s drone and missile attack on coalition partner the United Arab Emirates that was claimed by the Iran-aligned Houthis and killed three people. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “expresses his concern and deplores” the coalition air strikes, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday. Houthi media named the Houthi military official whose home was struck as Abdullah Qassim al-Junaid, the former head of the Houthis’ aviation college. Coalition strikes around the city overnight killed a total of about 20 people, the deputy foreign minister for the Houthi administration, which holds much of northern Yemen, said on Twitter.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 19, 2022 00:13 UTC
Eala enters 3rd round at qualifiers
FILIPINO junior tennis ace Alex Eala advanced to the third round at the W25 Manacor qualifying tournament after defeating Slovak Mia Chudejova, 7-6, 6-3, at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain on Monday evening (Philippine time). I won my 1st and 2nd round qualifying matches here at the ITF 25k Pro Tournament," wrote Eala on her Facebook page early Tuesday (Philippine time). Eala was facing French Alice Rame in the third round of the qualifiers at press time on Tuesday evening. Eala, 526th in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) rankings, is the 11th seed in the qualifying tournament while the 24-year-old Rame, ranked 375th in WTA, is the top seed here. Eala outplayed Slovenian Ella Hojnik in the first round, 6-1, 6-1, on Sunday.
Source:Manila Times
January 19, 2022 00:08 UTC
Boosters up antibody levels, Covid protection – experts
TWO experts who are part of the government's vaccine panel cited the importance of getting booster shots after four studies abroad showed promise in increased protection from booster doses. Total overall recoveries was 2.933 million with 34,897 newly recovered patients, while 34 new fatalities were reported, for a total of 52,962. The Brazilian study also showed that a heterologous booster dose of the Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine can also increase antibody protection by as much as 12-fold. He also said the possibility of a fourth vaccine dose, which is now being studied in Israel, remains a question mark because a third dose remains effective against the prevalence of variants such as Omicron. But unfortunately, may variant na dumating, so we cannot wait for six months bago mabigay ng (there is a new variant, so we cannot wait for six months before we can give) boosters," he said.
Source:Manila Times
January 18, 2022 22:14 UTC
Hong Kong to cull all pet shop hamsters after the mammal tests positive for Covid-19 in world first
The hamsters from Little Boss pet shop tested positive for the coronavirus after an employee and a 67-year-old customer were diagnosed with Covid. (File)The Hong Kong government will kill all hamsters being sold in pet shops after several hamsters at a Causeway Bay pet shop tested positive for Covid-19 – the world's first such observation. The hamsters from Little Boss pet shop tested positive for the coronavirus after an employee and a 67-year-old customer were diagnosed with Covid. Eleven samples in hamsters tested positive. Yuen said it was worrying that genetic mutation was detected at the pet shop samples.
Source:The Standard
January 18, 2022 18:00 UTC
Legarda says gov’t should learn from previous disasters
MANILA, Philippines — Former Sen. Loren Legarda has urged the government to learn from previous disasters to ensure quick natural disaster response. She cited the report of Germany-based global reinsurer Munich Re, which indicated that Typhoon Odette inflicted the second-biggest number of fatalities among the world’s natural disasters in 2021. ADVERTISEMENTShe said this calls for the immediate upgrade of the government disaster preparedness system. Legarda also urged all LGUs to have evacuation centers with water and sanitation facilities, solar-powered lighting systems, charging stations, and gender-responsive comfort rooms as part of the disaster preparedness action plan. RELATED STORYLoren Legarda extends help to home province Antique, other areas badly hit by ‘Odette’Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 18, 2022 16:24 UTC
Ready, set… goals: 2022 investment outlook and goal setting
Ready, set… goals: 2022 investment outlook and goal settingEven after you’ve completed your goals for the year neatly, be flexible enough to accommodate curveballs. On Jan. 13, 2022, our company IFE Management Advisers Inc. (IFE) held an online event for our clients entitled “Ready, Set… Goals: 2022 Investment Outlook and Goal Setting.” It was a “by-invitation” event but I wish to share some parts with you. Welcome to IFE’s “Ready Set… Goals: 2022 Investment Outlook and Goal Setting Webinar”. (If you want a copy of our template, email to [email protected] with subject Family Goal Setting Template.) Here’s the clip:Goal setting by Martin FaustoBrand’eM Managing Director, Martin, gave a short and fun version of goal setting.
Source:Philippine Star
January 18, 2022 16:15 UTC
Liver cancer, diseases: A silent epidemic in PH
Based on data from The Global Cancer Observatory (GCO) and the Hepatology Society of the Philippines, as of 2020, liver cancer was the fourth most common cancer type in the Philippines after breast cancer, lung cancer, and colon cancer. As explained by the World Cancer Research Fund, this means that men are more likely to have liver cancer than women. “Cancer that begins in another area of the body — such as the colon, lung or breast — and then spreads to the liver is called metastatic cancer rather than liver cancer,” Mayo Clinic explained. The American Cancer Society, however, advised that experiencing one or more of the symptoms does not mean that a person has liver cancer. Fatty liver, DOH said, may also cause liver inflammation and, if not detected and treated early, may lead to liver cirrhosis.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 18, 2022 15:44 UTC
Passage of Human Rights Defenders Protection bill might stall at Senate
Passage of Human Rights Defenders Protection bill might stall at SenateThis file photo shows Karapatan protesting the killings of two of its members: Ryan Hubilla and Nelly Bagasala and peasant leader Nonoy Palma. The House this week approved on third and final reading the Human Rights Defenders Protection bill authored by Rep. Edcel Lagman. According to the Senate website, SBN-179 or the proposed Human Rights Defenders Protection Act has been pending at the committee level since 2019. Mary Lawlor, UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, in March 2021 called on Philippine Congress to make passage of a bill to protect human rights defenders a priority. States that enact legislation to protect human rights defenders "send a clear message about their willingness to uphold their human rights obligations," she also said.
Source:Philippine Star
January 18, 2022 14:22 UTC
DOH to distribute COVID-19 home care kits to vulnerable population
DOH to distribute COVID-19 home care kits to vulnerable populationHealth workers conduct house-to-house antigen testing for residents of West Rembo in Makati City on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health said Tuesday it will provide COVID-19 care kits to vulnerable individuals who are isolating or quarantining at home. The move to distribute COVID-19 home care kits comes nearly two years into the pandemic that has so far killed 52,929 people in the Philippines. Related Stories Duque says DOH to launch COVID-19 home care kit soonIn a briefing, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the home care kits—called “Kalinga” kits—will be distributed as soon as possible. So what's inside a ‘Kalinga’ kit?
Source:Philippine Star
January 18, 2022 13:48 UTC
Quarantine hotel cluster could be more dangerous than flight attendant infections: expert
A woman discharged from a quarantine hotel carrying an Omicron sub-variant could trigger a more dangerous cluster than the previous Cathay Pacific flight attendant transmissions, said a DNA expert on Tuesday. If those nine have each infected more people, a Covid cluster much more serious than the Cathay aircrew cluster could be created. Health authorities earlier reported that the woman was a 43-year-old Pakistani who finished 21-day quarantine at Silka Seaview Hotel in Yau Ma Tei. She was suspected to be infected by a Nepali who lived next door on the 12th floor at the quarantine hotel. Based on findings from smoke tests, Yuen said that air inside hotel rooms could diffuse into the hallway, an indication of low air change per hour.
Source:The Standard
January 18, 2022 12:59 UTC
Develop comprehensive mental health package, make meds more accessible — Go
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Tuesday called on the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and the Department of Health (DOH) to develop a more comprehensive mental health package and to make medicines more accessible. “I urge PhilHealth to develop as soon as possible a more comprehensive mental health package that will also include consultation and other outpatient services. ADVERTISEMENT“I also appeal to DOH to make its existing Medicine Access Program for Mental Health more accessible to as many Filipinos in need of mental health medicines,” he further said. The lawmaker likewise raised that government service which caters to mental health patients should be widely available across the country. “Although the National Center for Mental Health in Mandaluyong City continues to cater to mental health patients, we have to make this type of government service available to more people nationwide, especially in rural and far-flung areas,” Go pointed out.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 18, 2022 09:50 UTC
Philippines rolls out Covid-19 vaccination in select pharmacies on Jan 20-21
MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network): The government will roll out Covid-19 vaccination in select pharmacies from Jan 20 to 21, testing czar Vince Dizon announced. During President Rodrigo Duterte’s address to the nation aired on Tuesday (Jan 18), Dizon said that the programme is called Resbakuna sa mga Botika, which will start with seven participating drugstores. “We will now start with seven pharmacies in Metro Manila which we will launch on Thursday, Jan 20 and on Friday, Jan 21,” he said. According to Dizon, the move is to address the lack of health workers, including vaccinators, due to the rapid Covid-19 transmission since the last week of December 2021. The testing czar noted that their partnership with pharmacies and clinics will augment the lack in personnel and will decentralise vaccination.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 18, 2022 09:33 UTC
In Batanes, octogenarian dies of COVID-19
ITBAYAT, Batanes, Philippines — About 90 passengers of a Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight that landed in Basco town of Batanes province on Saturday were placed on quarantine after an elderly passenger tested positive for COVID-19 and died hours after arriving on the island. ADVERTISEMENTBut the man was taken to Batanes General Hospital on Saturday afternoon after experiencing difficulty in breathing and had tested positive for COVID-19 based on a rapid antigen test. The patient was the sixth COVID-19 fatality in the province, which had six active cases as of Sunday. Asked if the man was infected with the highly transmissible Omicron variant, Sande said: “Usually the genomic test results to confirm this takes weeks to come out. Local officials had no knowledge if the crew members of the PAL flight were also isolated as they had already left the province when the passenger was confirmed to be a virus carrier.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 18, 2022 04:08 UTC