News Roundup 16 November 2020
Nov 16, 2020 • 4 min Read
COVID-19 tally in Philippines hits 409,574 with over 1,700 new infections | PHILSTAR.COM – The Department of Health reported 1,738 additional coronavirus cases Monday as the confirmed number of COVID-19 infections nationwide rose to 409,574. Some 374,366 people have since recovered from COVID-19 after the department announced 45 recoveries. The DOH announced Sunday 11,290 additional recoveries as it implemented its weekly “mass recovery” program. Seven more deaths due to the respiratory illness were logged, bringing the COVID-19 death toll in the Philippines to 7,839. Of the total confirmed cases, 27,369 or 6.7% are still undergoing treatment or quarantine. Eighty-three percent are exhibiting mild symptoms, around 9% are asymptomatic, 3% are severe cases and 5% are in critical condition and 0.20% are moderate cases.
De Lima asserts lawyers’ statements on case trial ‘factual’ | PHILSTAR.COM – Sen. Leila De Lima asserted that the media updates of her lawyers on the ongoing drug trial against her are factual, following the prosecution’s denial that the witnesses recanted their testimony against her. “What my lawyers, particularly Atty. Boni Tacardon, the spokesperson of my legal defense team, have been sharing with media and the public as to the developments in my cases are factual,” De Lima said in her latest dispatch from Camp Crame. “There is no liar in our camp,” she added in Filipino. “As their principal, I authorized my lawyers to disclose to the public material and significant particulars from witnesses’ declarations during the hearings, and other case developments in the interest of truth and transparency,” De Lima also said.
Robredo says Dep’t of Disaster might be ‘unnecessary’ level of bureaucracy | INQUIRER.NET – Vice President Leni Robredo has expressed skepticism over proposals to create a Department of Disaster that would address calamities in the country, saying that it might only add an unnecessary level of bureaucracy. Robredo explained on Monday that there already exists a government agency that would address these issues, and that is the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC). She said it should first be assessed if there is really a need to set up a new department to address these concerns. “Mayroon kasi tayong NDRRMC, […] under Office of Civil Defense. Ako, iyong sa akin, it is worth studying pero i-assess muna [kung] kailangan ba talaga, ano iyong kakulangan ng present set-up na kinakailangan pa nating gumagawa ng another department,” Robredo told ABS-CBN News Channel’s Headstart. (We already have the NDRRMC under the Office of Civil Defense. For me, it is worth studying but we should assess first what is needed in the present set-up, and why we need to create another department.)
Marikina suspends classes in all levels for one month due to typhoon ‘Ulysses’ | Manila Bulletin – Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro on Monday announced the one-month suspension of classes in all levels in the city, as Marikina reels from the effects of typhoon “Ulysses” amid the pandemic. “One month suspension [of classes] from this week, starting today Monday (November 16), and for the next four weeks,” Teodoro said in a statement. The mayor said the suspension was to give school officials ample time to reproduce and redistribute learning modules damaged by the recent typhoon. He also noted that some parts of the city are still experiencing power outages and unstable Internet connection which could affect online classes of students. “Paano makakapag klase ‘yung mga bata maski may module at gadget siya kung nakalubog sa putik ang kanyang paa habang nag aaral (How can students attend their classes, despite having modules and gadgets, if their feet are submerged in mud while studying,” he said. “We need to establish a proper environment. ‘Yun ang tingin ko na kailangang-kailangan natin gawin sa ngayon (That’s what I think we really need to do right now),” he added.
Leni brings relief goods to Cagayan province | Malaya Business Insight – Vice President Leni Robredo visited Cagayan province yesterday to provide relief goods, including mattresses, to victims of typhoon “Ulysses.” Robredo arrived ahead of President Duterte who also held a Cabinet meeting in Tuguegarao City in the province. Robredo, who is expected to be the Liberal Party’s standard-bearer in the 2022 presidential elections, said she was not competing with the President in bringing relief to the province which is now under a state of calamity. “Hindi naman iyon unahan. Maganda nga na parang nagse-spread out din kami ng — kasi hindi lang kami ni Presidente pero pati iyong ibang government officials. Tingin ko kapag mga incidents na ganito, nakakatulong sa pag-boost ng morale ng tao na nakikita kami kasi nagbibigay din iyon ng pag-asa. (It’s not really a race. It’s good that we’re spread out, not just the President and I but also other government officials. I think incidents like this help boost the people’s morale because they see us bring hope),” she told reporters. The Vice President said it is important for her and other public officials led by the President to visit the province to show the typhoon victims that they are there to commiserate and bring help.
