News Roundup 30 September 2020
Sep 30, 2020 • 3 min Read
COVID-19 cases in the Philippines breach 311,000 | PHILSTAR.COM – The number of confirmed novel coronavirus infections in the Philippines rose to 311,694 on Wednesday after the Department of Health added 2,426 new cases to its tally. Of these cases, 52,702 are active, while recoveries are at 253,488. Meanwhile 58 new deaths were reported by the DOH today, bringing the country’s total death toll to 5,504.
‘Manila Bay Sands’ a costly effort that won’t solve Manila Bay’s problems — marine scientists | PHILSTAR.COM – Overlaying a small portion of Manila Bay’s shoreline with crushed dolomite rocks is an expensive and temporary effort that will not help solve the bay’s environmental problems, the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute said Wednesday. “There are no shortcuts to a cleaner environment. The use of crushed dolomite sand will not help solve the environmental problems in Manila Bay. At most, it is a beautification effort that is costly and temporary,” the UP MSI said. “Dolomite sand grains will erode given the hydrodynamic conditions in coastal Metro Manila during storms. Even the breakwater off the baywalk area, elevated seas and larger waves during storms can penetrate and pound the baywalk area. Hence, continuously replacing the sand will be expensive and will not contribute to improving water quality in the bay,” UP MSI said.
Philippines begins exporting okra to Japan | INQUIRER.NET – The Philippines started to export okra (gumbo or ladies’ fingers) to Japan in what the Department of Agriculture described as a “significant development” amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Agriculture Secretary William Dar and Jelfarm Fresh Produce Enterprise’s Jeffrey Fernandez and Rap Pelayo led the initial shipment of two tons of okra on Tuesday at Pair-bags Center in Pasay City. “This is an indication that in spite of Covid-19, we are upping the game. Kagaya nitong okra export to Japan, this is a significant development,” said Dar in a statement posted on the DA’s official website. JelFarm will ship about five tons of okra daily to Japan as the harvest season begins and will increase to 13 to 15 tons daily once peak season starts. Around 300 farmers across 14 barangays in Tarlac will supply the export-grade vegetables.
Leftist solons square up with NICA chief at budget hearing | Manila Bulletin – Director General Alex Paul Monteagudo of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) confirmed Tuesday that he had shared Facebook posts allegedly falsely accusing Makabayan lawmakers of committing graft and openly aiding communists, adamantly declaring that what he did was correct based on his own personal belief. Through Muntinlupa City Rep. Ruffy Biazon, Monteagudo claimed sharing the Facebook items that were posted by anonymous on-line news agencies and other bloggers was his personal choice and had nothing to do with his being an official of the government. Biazon added that the intelligence chief shared the posts to his personnel since sharing intelligence information is part of NICA’s mandate.
Banknote with misspelled Duterte name not legal tender — BSP | The Manila Times – The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) clarified on Wednesday that a banknote bearing a misspelled name of President Rodrigo Duterte circulating online is not a legal tender. “Based on verification by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the 1000-Piso banknote with the alleged misspelled middle name of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte featured in a story in a website is not legal tender,” it said in a statement. The central bank is referring to the website Wikipedia, where a photo of the alleged banknote misspelled Duterte’s middle name as “Boa” instead of “Roa.” “The serial number shown in the said banknote does not match any of the ones issued by the BSP for the 1000-Piso Enhanced New Generation Currency banknote,” it said. With this, the Bangko Sentral gave an assurance that it will continue to work with its stakeholders, including the media in disseminating the correct information on the Philippine currency and in protecting the integrity of banknotes and coins.
