Free bus and train services on LegCo election day
Citizens can travel on public transport, including MTR, KMB, Citybus, and tram, for free on Legislative Council election day, government announced on Friday. It said the public can enjoy free bus services provided by KMB, Citybus, New World First Bus, Long Win Bus, and New Lantao Bus on election day. MTR will also provide free train services that day, including light rail and MTR Bus. On the other hand, citizens can travel on all tram routes for free. The government thanked the public transport operators for their cooperation and reminded citizens to allow more time for their journeys.
Source:The Standard
December 11, 2021 03:45 UTC
HCW deployment cap raised to 7,000
HCW deployment cap raised to 7,000MANILA, Philippines — The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has increased the annual deployment limit of new hire health workers abroad from 6,500 to 7,000, Malacañang announced yesterday. “(The government) raised the 2021 annual deployment ceiling of newly hired health care workers to 7,000 for jobs identified by the Department of Labor and Employment as mission critical skills,” Nograles said at a media briefing. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration ordered the temporary suspension on the processing and issuance of overseas employment certificates of new medical workers overseas in late October after the 6,500 annual cap was reached. The government said the deployment cap was merely temporary to ensure that the country has a sufficient number of health care workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Health care workers under government-to-government labor agreement, however, are exempted from the deployment limit, Malacañang said.
Source:Philippine Star
December 11, 2021 01:07 UTC
Four sheep killed in a farm in Ta Kwu Ling
Four sheep at a farm in Phoenix Lake Village in Ta Kwu Ling were killed, and one of the sheep had only its head left with its main body missing. The incident was reported to police by the farm owner surnamed Yu at around noon, saying that someone suspectedly broke into the farm and killed four sheep. Yu said that a man earlier trespassed into the area of the farm and left after a disruption. As Yu returned to the farm to check on the plants and the sheep, he found four sheep dying and immediately reported the incident. In the farm, an adult female sheep sustained a bite to its hind leg on the left.
Source:The Standard
December 10, 2021 23:33 UTC
Boxing, weightlifting in danger of losing Olympic spots
Modern pentathlon has effectively been told by the IOC to remove equestrian jumping from the event, provoking a backlash from angry athletes. BAD NEWS FOR PH Boxing and weightlifting, two sports where the Philippines won medals in the Tokyo Olympics, as well as modern pentathlon, are in danger of losing their spots in the 2028 Olympics. Modern pentathlon also needs to replace horse riding with a more inclusive discipline accessible to young people worldwide. The current cycle of men's World Cups would put any biennial tournament in a direct clash with the Los Angeles Olympics. They were added by organizers to the Tokyo Olympics, along with karate, to appeal to Japanese fans.
Source:Manila Times
December 10, 2021 23:06 UTC
PSC, PDRCI ink deal on sports arbitration
PHILIPPINE Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William "Butch" Ramirez and Philippine Dispute Resolution Center Inc. (PDRCI) president Atty. "This is a historic partnership not only for both the PSC and the PDRCI, but also for our stakeholders, to promote arbitration as means to resolve sports-related disputes," said Ramirez. The Commission will also refer sports-related disputes between and among stakeholders of national amateur sports associations to the PDRCI for early resolution. Also present on behalf of the PSC Board were PSC commissioner Charles Maxey and executive director Atty. Arleo Magtibay Jr. and PDRCI Sports Arbitration Committee Chairman Atty.
Source:Manila Times
December 10, 2021 23:06 UTC
Pandemic task force approves mock elections on December 29
Pandemic task force approves mock elections on December 29San Juan City residents take part in a voting simulation at the San Juan Elementary School on October 23, 2021. The Comelec exercise aims to test the efficiency of the process and the implementation of basic health protocols. MANILA, Philippines — Nationwide mock polls exercises will be held on December 29 in preparation for elections next year, Malacañang announced Friday. Acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles during a press briefing said the pandemic task force approved the Commission on Elections' proposal to hold the mock polls in order to test the efficiency of the implementation of basic health protocols. To prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the elections, Comelec said it would limit to 10 persons the number of voters allowed inside a polling place.
Source:Philippine Star
December 10, 2021 21:32 UTC
FDIs already beat BSP's 2021 forecast with September growth
MANILA, Philippines — Foreign direct investments to the Philippines continued their ascent in September despite intense investor panic created by the hyper-contagious Delta variant at the time, with the year-to-date tally already running above the central bank’s forecast for the entire 2021. What’s newFDIs posted a net inflow of $660 million in September, up 30.4% year-on-year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported Friday. A net inflow means more of these job-generating foreign investments entered the country against those that left. In nine months, FDIs recorded a net inflow of $7.29 billion, 43.8% larger compared with a year ago and already exceeding the BSP’s forecast of $7 billion net inflow for the entire 2021. With its full-year projection already exceeded, the BSP may announce a higher FDI forecast for 2021 on Friday.
Source:Philippine Star
December 10, 2021 17:01 UTC
Authorities locate traveler from S. Africa; found COVID-free upon repeat swab test
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY––One of the travelers from South Africa being traced by the Department of Health (DOH) had been located in this city using a local contact-tracing system. Mayor Oscar Moreno told reporters Thursday that the DOH regional office advised the City Health Office (CHO) about the person Sunday evening. ADVERTISEMENTIn less than four hours, local authorities tracked the traveler, Moreno added. The traveler from South Africa, a resident of this city, arrived in Manila on Nov. 20. A repeat swab test on Dec. 6 found he was negative of the virus, Yu said.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
December 10, 2021 16:05 UTC
Serena won't play in Australian Open
Serena Williams AP FILE PHOTOMELBOURNE, Australia: Not long after Serena Williams' name was absent from the entry list for the Australian Open, she confirmed the obvious: the seven-time champion won't play the 2022 edition of the season-opening major in January. She won the last of her 23 Grand Slam singles titles at the 2017 Australian Open, and was beaten in the semifinals this year by Naomi Osaka in straight sets. The Australian Open's website Wednesday said the seven-time women's singles champion would not compete in Melbourne "following advice from her medical team." The nine-time Australian Open champion is tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the men's record of 20 Grand Slam singles titles. Nadal is also entered for the Australian Open, which starts January 17, but Federer is skipping the tournament as he continues his recovery from surgery.
Source:Manila Times
December 10, 2021 04:13 UTC
5 more travelers from South Africa already located — DOH
MANILA, Philippines — Government authorities have already located five of the seven travelers who recently arrived in the Philippines from South Africa, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday. “We have already located another five, so we are just trying to locate two of these travelers,” DOH Undersecretary and spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire told reporters in a Viber message. ADVERTISEMENTIn an earlier interview with CNN Philippines’ The Source, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said four of the seven travelers had been located. There were originally eight missing travelers from South Africa who arrived in the Philippines before the start of the travel ban. The eight travelers were among the 253 individuals who arrived in the Philippines from South Africa between November 15 to 29.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
December 10, 2021 02:53 UTC
HKU develops first stainless steel that kills Covid
(From left) Professor Huang Mingxin, Department of Mechanical Engineering, HKU; and Liu Litao, Ph.D student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, HKU. University of Hong Kong researchers have developed the world's first stainless steel that kills the Covid-19 virus. The HKU team found that stainless steel containing high copper content can kill the coronavirus on its surface within hours, which they say could help lower risk of accidental infection. Researchers have been liaising with industrial partners to generate prototypes of stainless steel products such as lift buttons, doorknobs and handrails for further tests and trials. “The present anti-Covid-19 stainless steel can be mass produced using existing mature technologies.
Source:The Standard
December 10, 2021 01:36 UTC
3rd vaccine dose: Boosting immunity and costs in PH
More vaccine doses, according to Galvez, will arrive in 2022 to be used as booster shots for more eligible beneficiaries. Borrowings for booster shotsThe government had already sought funds from multilateral lenders for the procurement of COVID booster doses to be administered next year. ADVERTISEMENTIt also said the fund aims to support the government in expanding its vaccine coverage against COVID and provide more vaccine doses to vulnerable groups. “Exploratory discussions with the Asian Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the World Bank have been initiated to help determine possible funding sources for additional vaccine requirements in 2022. These upcoming loans will finance the P45.3 billion allocated for booster doses in the proposed P5.02-trillion 2022 national budget.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
December 10, 2021 00:09 UTC
Lawyers to fight for nullification of 24-day warantless arrest under anti-terrorism law
MANILA, Philippines — Petitioners have hurdled questions on mounting a facial challenge against the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 as the Supreme Court struck down parts of the law in its historic vote on Tuesday. Petitioners mounted a facial challenge against the law, arguing that the ATA infringes on freedom of expression and creates a chilling effect on the public. A facial challenge is a petition contending the assailed law is unconstitutional on its face. As it stands, most parts of the feared law, including the controversial powers of the Anti-Terrorism Council to designate terrorists, was affirmed by the SC. Progressive groups said they will continue to call for the junking of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 in protests on Human Rights Day on Friday.
Source:Philippine Star
December 09, 2021 23:29 UTC
Record number of journalists jailed in 2021
NEW YORK: The number of journalists jailed around the world hit a new record in 2021, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday, with China and Myanmar having put a quarter of the 293 media workers behind bars. In its annual report, the CPJ listed 50 journalists imprisoned in China, 26 in Burma, 25 in Egypt, 23 in Vietnam and 19 in Belarus. "This is the sixth year in a row that CPJ has documented record numbers of journalists imprisoned around the world," said Joel Simon, executive director of the group. "Imprisoning journalists for reporting the news is the hallmark of an authoritarian regime," he said in a statement. The CPJ said the number of journalists behind bars reflects "increasing intolerance for independent reporting around the world."
Source:Manila Times
December 09, 2021 22:27 UTC