Active COVID-19 cases in Pampanga’s capital dip below 100
MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga––The active COVID-19 cases in the City of San Fernando went down to 93 on Sunday, Nov. 7, from 244 a week ago. The city government recorded four new cases, 64 recoveries, and two deaths. ADVERTISEMENTAll four new COVID-19 cases were from Dolores village, which has the most active cases at 21. San Jose village has the second-highest active cases at nine, followed by Del Carmen at seven. Officials of the capital city attributed the downtrend in the COVID-19 cases to the continuing vaccination of residents.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 08, 2021 06:22 UTC
Family of mainland tourist killed by falling window seeks compensation
The family of a mainland tourist that was killed by a window falling from The Mira hotel has filed a court case to seek compensation. Zuo Shaofeng, 24, was hit by the window from the four-star hotel on January 21, 2019 and died on the same day. Her family member Pan Ronglan filed the writ, suing a cleaner Rai Sabita Kumari and the company managing the hotel. Also hit by the window, the boyfriend, Huang, 36, was slightly injured. She had been cleaning the room from where the window -- including its frame and the glass -- fell.
Source:The Standard
November 08, 2021 05:53 UTC
Exclude pregnant mothers from more frequent Covid tests : civil servant unionist
Hong Kong civil servants with special needs, such as pregnant women, should be allowed to skip more frequent Covid-19 tests, said Federation of Civil Service Unions' chairman Leung Chau-ting. Unvaccinated civil servants could soon be required to undergo Covid-19 testing weekly, up from the current requirement of once every two weeks, Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen revealed on Sunday as he called for the private sector to follow suit. On a radio program on Monday, unionist Leung said discretion should be given to civil servants with special needs, including pregnant women, if the government eventually decided to execute the plan. He said some pregnant women have chosen not to get the jab before giving birth as they are worried that taking the Covid vaccine would affect their babies. He said it would be difficult for civil servants not to play by the rules, which he hoped authorities could give exemptions to exceptional cases.
Source:The Standard
November 08, 2021 04:50 UTC
The strain and gains of pandemic travel
With the pandemic continuing its global rampage, seeing new places will not be a priority for most people. Since my journey was outside the country, there were far more requirements — negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test (RT-PCR) test within 72 hours prior to departure, roundtrip plane ticket and travel insurance with Covid-19 coverage. The US government's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) requires inbound travelers to present, aside from a negative RT-PCR test, a proof of vaccination. Traveling during a pandemic requires a more detailed and cautious approach. Traveling during the pandemic requires long- and short-term planning plus added expenses for insurance and Covid-19 tests.
Source:Manila Times
November 08, 2021 04:12 UTC
Return to peaceful life too slow – Mohagher Iqbal
“During [the third phase of the] decommissioning process, IDB and other normalization mechanisms or units will ensure compliance with COVID-19 health and safety protocols,” he said. The process involved the transition of the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) to a peaceful civilian life, including their disarming. Involving 12,000 MILF combatants, at least 2,100 assorted weapons and more than 500 ammunition, it ended in March 2020. So far, 12,000 of the 40,000 MILF members have been processed, he said during the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process budget hearing at the Senate. He added that 14,000 MILF combatants were supposed to have been decommissioned in 2020 and another 14,000 in 2022.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 08, 2021 03:08 UTC
House to prioritize budget bill, proposals on excise tax
House to prioritize budget bill, proposals on excise taxMANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives will be prioritizing passage of the government's P5.024-trillion 2022 national budget and proposals to cut fuel excise taxes when it resumes session on Monday, House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said Sunday. Velasco in a statement issued Sunday morning said the House will tackle proposals seeking to either suspend or cut the excise taxes on petroleum products amid rising cost in fuel prices during the resumption. This also comes after Senate leadership ruled out the possibility of a reenacted budget in 2022, an assurance that Velasco said he welcomed. "We are glad that the Senate is on the same page as the House insofar as the national budget is concerned." "With such assurance from the Senate leadership, we do not see any major stumbling block in having a ratified and enacted 2022 national budget by December."
Source:Philippine Star
November 08, 2021 02:23 UTC
DOH: COVID-19 tally up by 2,605 new cases, but 2 labs without data
DOH: COVID-19 tally up by 2,605 new cases, but 2 labs without dataCommuters sport face shields while riding the LRT Line 2 coach in Quezon City on Nov. 3, 2021. The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases eyes scrapping the mandatory wearing of face shield policy in connection with the downtrend in COVID-19 cases in the country, Malacañang spokesperson Harry Roque said in a briefing. However, the DOH added that the eight labs only accounted for 0.5% of all samples tested and 0.5% of all positive individuals. Sunday marks just the second day that that Alert Level 2 was suddenly hoisted over Metro Manila after the announcement was made on Friday night. In Metro Manila, 632 individuals remain under granular lockdown despite the designation of Alert Level 2.
Source:Philippine Star
November 08, 2021 01:41 UTC
Mining industry promises need scrutinizing
Industry players make a compelling argument in support of mining, but their promises of handsome returns require scrutiny. Stories from mining communities tell a different story however. Those mainland-based mining firms also employ informal day laborers from nearby villages who are paid under the table and denied some privileges and protections required by formal employment. On the first point, the ground and all the things that grow on it are not worthless as the mining industry suggests. More can be added to this list, but the point is many alternatives to the mining industry exist.
Source:Manila Times
November 08, 2021 00:23 UTC
Group rallies support for smoking alternatives
TOBACCO harm reduction advocate and Executive Director of the Coalition of Asia Pacific Harm Reduction Advocates Nancy Loucas urged officials of the World Health Organization (WHO) to stop turning a blind eye on tobacco alternatives that are using safer nicotine products. Loucas lamented WHO's stance against "proven and viable harm-reduced alternatives" such as vaping. Yet they close their minds to vaping as the best emerging tobacco harm reduction solution," Loucas said. Malaysian Organization of Vape Entities President Samsul Kamal Ariffin attested to how vaping helped him to smoke and supported the call for regulation of smoking alternatives instead of demonizing them. The simulcast will be available on YouTube starting 4 a.m. GMT (12 p.m. Philippine time) until midnight of November 12.
Source:Manila Times
November 07, 2021 22:05 UTC
Italy lets 800 migrants stuck at sea disembark
ROME — Italy on Saturday agreed to let 800 migrants including hundreds of minors and five pregnant women disembark after they were stuck at sea aboard an overcrowded vessel. German charity Sea Eye told AFP it had received permission to dock at Trapani in Sicily, just hours after a fellow charity delivered it urgently needed relief supplies, including food and blankets. ADVERTISEMENTThe Sea Eye 4 ship had already been carrying nearly 400 people pulled to safety at sea when it raced to the rescue of another 400 people crowded onto a wooden boat on Thursday. “Our crew is working at the limits of what is humanly possible,” Sea Eye chairman Gorden Isler was quoted as saying, ahead of the port assignment. Nearly 55,000 migrants have disembarked in Italy this year, compared to just under 30,000 last year, according to figures from the interior ministry.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 07, 2021 21:55 UTC
Eye doctor saves lives by detecting leukemia, diabetes
Previous NextErin ChanAn eye doctor has saved lives by detecting illnesses such as leukemia and diabetes through an eye exam. Indian-Hongkonger Shaheeda Mohamed, an ophthalmologist and expert in vitreoretinal diseases at the public Hong Kong Eye Hospital, received the Hospital Authority's Outstanding Staff Award this year. The man visited the eye hospital early this year complaining of several weeks of blurry vision. Mohamed said the Chinese University of Hong Kong had launched the Ophthalmic Microsurgical Training Program to enhance eye microsurgery training for young doctors. To advance local ophthalmology service quality, Mohamed and her team received training in ophthalmology centers overseas, such as Moorfields Eye Hospital in Britain and Yokohama City University in Japan.
Source:The Standard
November 07, 2021 20:19 UTC
PNP to public: Beware of scammers using personalities' names
PNP to public: Beware of scammers using personalities' namesA police officer reminds shoppers along Ylaya street in Divisoria, Manila to follow COVID-19 protocols yesterday. MANILA, Philippines — The chief of the Philippine National Police cautioned the public against scammers who could be using personalities’ names, particularly of political aspirants, to cheat the public of their hard-earned money. According to the PNP chief, Pacquiao has since denied any involvement in the scheme. The PNP chief added that there were also other political personalities who fell prey to the modus operandi of other criminal elements in order to dupe people of their money. Eleazar urged the public to immediately report to authorities if they fall victim to scammers involved in this kind of modus or any other scam.
Source:Philippine Star
November 07, 2021 17:40 UTC
Duterte to welcome 2.8 million Sputnik V vaccines tonight
Duterte to welcome 2.8 million Sputnik V vaccines tonightThis handout photo taken on May 1, 2021 and received from the Presidential Communications Operations Office shows workers unloading first batch of the Russian-made Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine from a plane shortly after arriving at the international airport in Manila. MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte is expected to receive the biggest shipment of Russian-made vaccines at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City tonight. The supply – 2,805,000 doses of Sputnik V vaccines – was procured by the Philippine government and will be flown to the country by Air Bridge Cargo Airlines. Last Wednesday, 2.7 million Sputnik V vaccine doses also arrived at the NAIA Terminal 2 on board a Philippine Airlines chartered flight from Moscow. Galvez said the government aims to administer 15 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines this month to allow more Filipinos to enjoy the Christmas season.
Source:Philippine Star
November 07, 2021 17:30 UTC
Powerhouse consortium bids for Sangley airport
Powerhouse consortium bids for Sangley airportThe unsolicited proposal was submitted to Cavite Gov. Samsung C&T built the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, the iconic Burj Khalifa in Dubai, Terminal 1 of the Incheon International Airport, and the extension of the Changi International Airport. It also built the Incheon Bridge and the Yeongjong Bridge, which are the main access and support infrastructure to Incheon International Airport. Munich Airport International GmbH, on the other hand, is the management services arm of Munich Airport, Europe’s only five-star rated airport and certified best airport for the past 14 years. The proposed partnership with Cavite province will encompass the development, design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of the Sangley airport project.
Source:Philippine Star
November 07, 2021 16:42 UTC
Case vs BBM will collapse – law dean
But as far as Nilo Divina, UST law dean, is concerned, the petition "is bound to collapse once evaluated by the Comelec." But at the end of the day, the law remains the law." One can be convicted of moral turpitude if immorality or the intention to cheat has been proven, he said. "Ang tanong ngayon ay 'yun bang hindi pag-file ng income tax return, 'yun ba ay crime involving moral turpitude? Siyempre hindi (The question now is, does the failure to file income tax return involve moral turpitude?
Source:Manila Times
November 07, 2021 16:34 UTC