PCG's second multi-role ship launched in Japan
Photo from PCG FB pageTHE Philippine Coast Guard's (PCG) second 97-meter multirole response vessel (MRRV) was launched at the Mitsubishi Shimonoseki shipyard in Yamaguchi, Japan, where the ship was lowered to the water for the first time since its construction. The ship is the second of two MRRVs acquired by the PCG and will be among its largest assets to date. In his opening remarks, Transportation Secretary Arturo Tugade observed how this project has reflected the strong ties between the Philippines and Japan. Tugade recognized Japan as the Philippines' closest development partner, reinforced by its continued contribution to the Philippine growth story. He stressed how the MRRV will significantly improve the PCG's response capabilities in maritime search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response operations.
Source:Manila Times
November 25, 2021 01:01 UTC
Lakas-CMD adopts Marcos Jr. as presidential bet, sealing tandem with Sara
Lakas-CMD adopts Marcos Jr. as presidential bet, sealing tandem with SaraFormer Sen. Bongbong Marcos and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio walk the aisle at the wedding of the daughter of Lakas-CMD chairperson Sen. Bong Revilla. MANILA, Philippines — Lakas – Christian Muslim Democrats has adopted former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as its presidential bet, sealing his team-up with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio for the 2022 elections. In separate resolutions passed Wednesday, Lakas-CMD gave its chairperson, Duterte-Carpio, the power to choose her running mate and formalized its adoption of Marcos Jr. as the party’s presidential candidate. Duterte-Carpio first announced last week that Lakas-CMD had sought support for her and Marcos Jr., the standard bearer of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas and cousin of Lakas-CMD president and House Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. Marcos Jr. is the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, whose more than two-decade rule over the Philippines was marked by thousands of human rights violations and billions of pesos stolen from government coffers.
Source:Philippine Star
November 24, 2021 23:48 UTC
Bets rush to take drug tests in wake of Duterte's cocaine comments
Bets rush to take drug tests in wake of Duterte's cocaine commentsMANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte's off-the-cuff comments that a candidate for president does cocaine has raised questions about the "drug war" and has prompted candidates to subject themselves to drug tests. "It’s a little self-serving because when I submit, isn’t it, I will submit for a drug test. Candidates rush to display negative drug test resultsConversations surrounding drug tests for election aspirants were sparked after Duterte publicly accused a candidate of doing cocaine. Manny Pacquiao, Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III — candidates for president and vice president — have since undergone voluntary drug tests. He went on to praise Duterte's drug war, under which police data acknowledges 6,100 deaths in official operations.
Source:Philippine Star
November 24, 2021 21:21 UTC
Local COPD guideline ensures equitable treatment starting at primary care level
Local COPD guideline ensures equitable treatment starting at primary care levelOn November 16, members of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians Council on COPD and Pulmonary Rehabilitation presented the local adaptation of the COPD guideline with emphasis on protocols at the primary care level to make it consistent with universal healthcare. According to Dr. Fernandez, one of the proponents of the consensus guideline, the main reason is to implement equity in treating COPD. They want the public to be aware of the ill effects of COPD for early detection and primary care as it could cause irreversible damage to one’s health. Aside from the COPD guideline, the group is expected to look into crafting a guideline on the overlapping of asthma cases with COPD as suggested by Dr. Ong-Dela Cruz. Complete copy of the COPD guideline can be viewed at www.philchest.org.
Source:Philippine Star
November 24, 2021 19:49 UTC
CSC: Gov't staff skipping work for COVID-19 vaccination may be excused
CSC: Gov't staff skipping work for COVID-19 vaccination may be excusedA medical worker counts syringes with the BioNtech-Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine during the inoculation of the population aged 12-17 at a stadium in San Juan City, suburban Manila on November 3, 2021. MANILA, Philippines — Government officials and employees who will not report for work due to COVID-19 vaccination may be considered excused, the Civil Service Commission said Wednesday. “Absence from work during the day of inoculation of the first and second dose of COVID-19 vaccine, including future booster shots, whenever applicable, shall be considered as excused absence,” read the interim guidelines issued by the CSC. The use of vaccination leave credits will be allowed if an employee exhausts their sick leave credits. In case the vacation leave credits have already been exhausted, a worker may apply for sick leave of absence without pay.
Source:Philippine Star
November 24, 2021 19:41 UTC
The Chinese dad making medicine to treat his dying son
Haoyang has Menkes Syndrome, a genetic disorder that impacts how copper — which is crucial for brain and nervous system development — is processed in the body. Most online documents on Menkes Syndrome were in English, but undeterred Xu used translation software to understand them, before setting up a home lab in his father’s gym. Menkes Syndrome is more prevalent in boys than girls, and it is estimated one in 100,000 babies are born with the disease globally according to organisation Rare Diseases. Gene therapyHis work has led to interest from VectorBuilder, an international biotech company, which is now launching gene therapy research with Xu into Menkes syndrome, along with another Chinese group called Lantu. Even if we fail, I want my son to have hope.”ADVERTISEMENTSubscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 24, 2021 18:57 UTC
While COVID cases in PH decline, number of patients in critical condition doubles
MANILA, Philippines — While there are less than a thousand cases of COVID-19 reported in the country on Wednesday, the percentage of patients under critical condition have actually doubled, data from the Department of Health (DOH) revealed. However, the percentage of patients under the critical condition as of Wednesday now stands at six percent. On November 1, the number of patients under critical condition was only three percent. On the other hand, the total number of recoveries is now at 2,763,114 or 97.7 percent of all infections, after 1,710 new patients survived the virus. RELATED STORY:August worst month for COVID-19 deaths – DOHJPVSubscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 24, 2021 18:21 UTC
The Republic of Barbados to be born as shackles of colonialism shaken off
A statue of Royal Navy Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson stands with its plinth vandalized a day after the government of the Caribbean Island of Barbados said it wished to remove Britain's Queen Elizabeth as its head of state and become a republic. He said this was a historic moment for Barbados, the Caribbean, and all post-colonial societies. Barbados received 600,000 enslaved Africans between 1627 and 1833, who were put to work in the sugar plantations, earning fortunes for the English owners. "Barbados under English colonial rules became the laboratory for plantation societies in the Caribbean," said Richard Drayton, a professor of imperial and global history at Kings College, London who lived in Barbados as a child. The republic of Barbados will be declared at a ceremony which begins late in the evening on Monday, Nov. 29 at the National Heroes Square in Bridgetown.
Source:The Standard
November 24, 2021 17:55 UTC
Next president to inherit unfinished drug war
Cuy told The Times that there were about 1.7 million drug users as of 2019, down from between 4 million and 5 million before the government waged its drug war. But he added that there were still 12,254 barangay (villages) that had a drug problem. Campaign promisePresident Duterte ascended the presidency on a promise to eradicate the drug problem within the first three months of his presidency. Cuy admitted that much has to be done to mitigate the illegal drug problem nationwide. Eleazar, who is running for a Senate seat, explained that the illegal drug system was structured like a "pyramid."
Source:Manila Times
November 24, 2021 16:26 UTC
All systems go for reopening of PH to foreign tourists -- Immigration
IT'S all systems go for the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for the eventual reopening of Philippine borders to foreign tourists amid the continuous drop in Covid-19 cases in the country. Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said on Wednesday that the bureau's manpower and corresponding facilities were on standby and fully prepared if the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) would give its go signal to allow the entry of foreign tourists in the country. In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente stated that while no definite date has been decided on when the Philippines will reopen to foreign tourists, he is confident that this will be very soon. The BI also stated that 99 new immigration officers have been recently hired for deployment in the BI's ports and different offices nationwide. "Most probably, those coming from green list countries will be the first ones to be allowed entry," said Morente.
Source:Manila Times
November 24, 2021 15:25 UTC
Duterte says "just spend money” as Philippines offers fast-food for getting vaccinated
(Bloomberg)The Philippines is targeting to vaccinate 15 million people against Covid-19 during a three-day drive, doubling down its push especially in remote areas as it lags neighbors in inoculations. President Rodrigo Duterte ordered government workers to “use all available resources” during the vaccination drive from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1. The Southeast Asian nation will have to increase its daily vaccinations by seven times to achieve its target for the three-day drive, with a current average of 691,800 doses per day. As of Nov. 23, more than 33.5 million people out of a population of 109 million have been fully vaccinated, Duterte said. Effective Dec. 1, businesses must require workers who report in person to be vaccinated, according to a government order.
Source:The Standard
November 24, 2021 07:50 UTC
Three arrested over street racing hit-and-run
Hong Kong police have arrested three people in connection with a hit-and-run collision during a suspected illegal race at Tolo Harbour. A police investigation later revealed the hit-and-run vehicle had been towed away at Tai Po Market after stopping by the roadside, with the driver fleeing in another car. The male driver involved in the crash was arrested later that afternoon. The three, aged 28 to 46, were arrested for illegal road racing, failing to stop and report an accident, and obstruction of justice respectively. The police spokesperson said the case is still under investigation, and the force would not rule out further arrests of drivers involved in the illegal race that day.
Source:The Standard
November 24, 2021 06:00 UTC
FDA: Vaccination for minors under 12 possible before 2022
FDA: Vaccination for minors under 12 possible before 2022Children enjoy playing at the Bernardo Park in Quezon City on July 10, 2021. MANILA, Philippines — Minors under 12 years old may not have to wait until 2022 for their COVID-19 shots, the Food and Drug Administration signalled Tuesday. As it currently stands, the national government is already rolling out vaccination for minors aged 12 to 17. "So those are the two possible vaccines for our children coming soon." Asked about possible side effects of the ongoing pediatric vaccination, Domingo said: "I think the most severe was allergies and and another child patient hyperventilated.
Source:Philippine Star
November 24, 2021 04:05 UTC
Manila Water, partners sign Saudi Arabia water contract
Manila Water, partners sign Saudi Arabia water contractMANILA, Philippines — Manila Water Co. Inc., together with French water distributor Saur Group and Saudi’s Miahona Co., have signed a seven-year water contract in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Manila Water said the consortium signed the management, operation and maintenance contract (MOMC) of the National Water Company (NWC) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the country’s eastern cluster. It includes the cities of Dammam, Al Hofuf, Al Jubail, Al Khobar, Al Qatif and Hafar Al Batin. In December 2020, Manila Water won the bid for its first project in Saudi Arabia. It signed a seven-year agreement to manage and implement improvement initiatives for the water and wastewater systems of the north west cluster.
Source:Philippine Star
November 24, 2021 03:53 UTC
PH ‘slowly but surely’ beating COVID-19 – Duterte
MANILA, Philippines — “We are slowly but surely making progress in our COVID-19 campaign,” President Rodrigo Duterte said in his weekly taped public address that aired late Tuesday night. He also cited reports of the Department of Health (DOH) on the “continuous decline” of active COVID-19 cases in the country, which is down to less than 19,000 on Nov. 23. READ: DOH reports higher COVID cases despite fewer testsThe number of new COVID-19 cases also decreased on Tuesday as compared to those recorded on Nov. 18. But we should still follow health protocols being implemented by government if we really want to make headway,” he said, speaking in a mix of Filipino and English. ADVERTISEMENTRELATED STORYExpect 27K active cases by yearend with increased mobility, low MPHS complianceATMSubscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 24, 2021 02:38 UTC