News Roundup 05 November 2020
Nov 05, 2020 • 3 min Read
PH now has 389,725 total COVID-19 infections; 32,773 active cases | INQUIRER.NET – The Philippines has logged 1,594 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, raising the total number of cases to 389,725. As of 4 p.m. on Thursday, the Department of Health also recorded 32,773 active cases of COVID-19, which makes up 8.4 percent of the total cases. DOH also documented 468 more recoveries, increasing the total sum of survivors to 349,543. Meanwhile, COVID-19 death toll reached 7,409, with 42 new fatalities of respiratory disease.
More senators back move to defund ‘red-tagging’ task force – Drilon | INQUIRER.NET – Senators from both the majority and the minority blocs are supporting the realignment of the P19.1-billion funding proposed for a multiagency anti-insurgency task force to augment next year’s budget for housing and the government’s pandemic response, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said on Wednesday. In a Viber message, Drilon said at least seven senators were likely to vote in favor of either a partial or a total realignment of the 2021 appropriation for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac), which had generated a blowback for branding progressive lawmakers, activists and administration critics as communists and enemies of the state. Drilon declined to identify the other senators but said he himself wanted the entire NTF-Elcac budget realigned.
China bars entry of non-Chinese visitors from Philippines over COVID-19 concern | PHILSTAR.COM – China has temporarily suspended entry of non-Chinese nationals traveling from the Philippines even if they hold valid visas and residence permits, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said Thursday. “The suspension is a temporary response necessitated by the current situation of COVID-19,” the embassy said in a statement. Only those with diplomatic, service, courtesy or C visas will not be covered by the suspension. Entry by non-Chinese nationals in the Philippines with visas issued after November 3, 2020 will not be also affected.
De Lima urges probe on BCDA deal with Malaysian firm on SEA Games facilities | Manila Bulletin – Detained Senator Leila de Lima has urged Congress to probe the reported irregularities in the joint venture agreement entered into by the Bases and Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) with Malaysia construction firm MTD Capital Berhad for the construction of the P8.51-billion sports facilities project for the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. In filing Senate Resolution No. 555, de Lima said it is incumbent for lawmakers to conduct a thorough probe into the said sports facilities which entailed unnecessary additional government spending. “A thorough probe is warranted in the billion peso project in order to understand the choices made by the BCDA that culminated in the deal which not only failed to comply with laws, but likewise cost the government significant public funds, considering that there are other arrangements that could promote better transparency, competitiveness, equity, efficiency and economy for the government infrastructure projects,” De Lima said in a statement. “Di birong halaga ito. Bilyon-bilyong piso na naman ng kaban ng bayan ang maaaring nalustay nang walang pakundangan. Anong akala nila sa buwis ng taumbayan, sarili nilang alkansya? (The amount spent by the government is no joke. Billions of pesos of public funds were wasted. Do they think of public funds as their own money box?” the senator added.
VP Leni visits towns ravaged by Super Typhoon Rolly | Malaya Business Insight – Vice President Leni Robredo continues her visits to communities terribly hit by Super Typhoon Rolly. On Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, VP Leni’s first stop was Brgy. Salingogon in Minalabac, Camarines Sur, another coastal community where households were damaged due to the onslaught of the typhoon. To get to the area, VP Leni traveled more than an hour from the town proper, passing along uneven roads and slopes. She was accompanied by Mayor Chris Lizardo and other local officials. Also joining the visit were representatives from Angat Buhay partners, Rotary Club of Makati and Jovenes de Bicolandia 102 Lions Club, which helped the OVP provide relief assistance to the community.
