News Roundup 29 September 2020
Sep 29, 2020 • 3 min Read
Philippines logs 2,025 new cases; total rises to over 309,000 | PHILSTAR.COM – The number of coronavirus cases in the Philippines rose to over 309,000 Tuesday after 2,025 new infections were added to the tally. This pushed the total caseload to 309,303. Total recoveries climbed to 259,930 after the DOH reported 290 additional recovered patients. Meanwhile, 68 more people died from the severe respiratory disease, raising the country’s death toll to 5,448.
Jeepney drivers run to SC against ‘arbitrary’ transportation policies during lockdown | PHILSTAR.COM – Assailing the arbitrariness of government actions on public transportation during lockdown and discrimination against traditional jeepney drivers, three groups trooped to the Supreme Court and urged it to strike down several issuances of the government. Three groups of traditional jeepney drivers on Tuesday filed a Petition for Certiorari and Prohibition, asking the SC to strike down as null several issuances of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and of the Inter-Agency Task Force. They specifically assailed the issuances on the prohibition and eventual resumption of mass transportation amid the ongoing lockdown, for violating the separation of powers, valid exercise of police power, equal protection and international law. The groups also asked the SC to hold oral arguments on their petition, prepared through the Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services Inc.
Hontiveros bares ‘evidence’ on ‘overpriced’ PPE purchase | INQUIRER.NET – Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday hit back at Anakalusugan Partylist Rep. Mike Defensor as she bared “evidence” of the allegedly overpriced government procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) sets. Hontiveros previously said the government may have lost at least P1 billion in public funds after the Department of Budget Management (DBM) purchased from April to May allegedly overpriced PPEs, mostly from Chinese firms. “You want evidence? Here are 11 pieces. DBM should plainly explain these contracts. Huwag nilang linlangin ang taumbayan gamit ang pagpapa-ikot ng maling impormasyon. (They should not deceive the Filipino public) What we need is clarity,” Hontiveros said in a statement. “Representative Mike Defensor also came out to defend DBM, claiming that what the agency procured was cheaper than that procured by the previous administration,” she said.
Robredo urges gov’t to increase investments in agriculture | Manila Bulletin – Vice President Leni Robredo urged the government to invest more on agriculture to ensure that the current health crisis does not become a food crisis. Robredo said food production must increase to avoid supply shortage and stabilize food prices. “May mga bagay na talagang gobyerno lang ang may pondo na malaki at makinaryang magsulong (There are things that it’s only the government has huge funds and machinery to implement),” she noted. “Malinaw ang next steps na kailangang gawin: Dapat mag-invest sa agrikultura para masigurong this health crisis does not turn into a food crisis (The next steps that need be done are clear: invest in agriculture to make sure this health crisis does not turn into food crisis),” she said. The vice president made the call during the recent AgriCOOPh Virtual Partnership and 2nd General Assembly, where she was a keynote speaker. Robredo gave her suggestions on how to increase investments in areas that benefit the agriculture sector—particularly in technology and farm-to-market infrastructure.
Velasco to Cayetano: Honor term-sharing deal | The Manila Times – Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco called on Speaker Alan Cayetano to honor the term-sharing deal brokered by President Rodrigo Duterte concerning the top post at the House of Representatives.“Let us uphold the agreement as this was made ‘for God and our Country 1521”. I have always intended to honor the agreement. We all should. Our people deserve nothing less,” he said in a Facebook post on Monday evening along with photos of him, Cayetano, and Majority Leader Martin Romualdez signing a sealed envelope. “When the House Speakership term-sharing agreement was entered into, it was based on mutual trust and confidence. After all, it was an agreement brokered by and forged in the presence of no less than President Rodrigo Duterte,” he added. Velasco made the statement after lawmakers crossed party lines to express support on the continued stay of Cayetano as speaker.
