News Roundup 19 November 2020
Nov 19, 2020 • 4 min Read
Coronavirus cases in the Philippines hit 413,430 | PHILSTAR.COM – The Department of Health on Thursday reported 1,337 new cases of COVID-19, pushing the national caseload past 413,000. Of the total 413,430 cases, 30,493 — or 7.4% — are marked active, meaning these patients are still undergoing treatment or quarantine. The total number of recoveries is at 374,939, after another 286 people were reported by the DOH to have survived the virus. However, the death toll rose to 7,998 after another 41 fatalities were recorded.
VP spox perplexed why admin still ‘analyzing’ Robredo daughters’ tweets | INQUIRER.NET – The Office of the Vice President (OVP) was perplexed why the administration was focused on the tweets of Vice President Leni Robredo’s daughters when there is still a lot of work to do after the recent typhoons’ onslaught over Luzon. Robredo’s spokesperson Barry Gutierrez said on Thursday they do not understand why a huge amount of time is being allotted to analyze the tweets of Tricia Robredo and Aika Robredo — whom Malacañang attributed as the basis for President Rodrigo Duterte’s outbursts on Tuesday night. “Good lord, 69 Filipinos killed, 325,000 displaced, over P1.5B in damages, and this administration is now spending its time analyzing TWEETS by VP Leni’s daughters?!” Gutierrez said on Twitter. “Si VP Leni balik agad trabaho. Kayo tatlong araw na ito pa rin ang hanash. Sino nga uli ang namumulitika?” he asked. (VP Leni immediately went back to work. But you have been talking about this for three days. Who is politicking again?)
7 Western Visayas routes opened for 221 provincial buses | Manila Bulletin – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has opened additional routes for more than 200 provincial buses going to and from Metro Manila and Western Visayas, allowing more passengers to travel across regions after months of quarantine lockdowns. According to the LTFRB, seven provincial bus routes were opened on Wednesday covering a total of 221 units in line with the agency’s Memorandum Circular 2020-051C. This brings the total number of authorized units to 680 plying 27 approved routes across the country since the government allowed provincial buses to return on roads last September 30. The Board has designated Sta. Rosa Integrated Terminal in Laguna as the endpoint for buses from Kalibo and Malay in Aklan; San Jose, Antique; Roxas City, Capiz; and Estancia, Iloilo City, and Miag-ao in Iloilo. The LTFRB said the provincial bus routes that have been opened underwent a thorough study made by the agency, in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and concerned local officials.
COVID-19 testing now cheaper for Makati residents, businesses | INQUIRER.NET – Testing for coronavirus through getting swab samples — considered as the gold standard of COVID-19 tests — will now be cheaper for Makati residents and business establishments, the city government said on Thursday. Makati Mayor Abby Binay said that the RT-PCR tests (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) would now be priced at P2,950, instead of the usual pricing that goes between P4,500 to over P8,000 at some private clinics and hospitals in Metro Manila. According to Binay, the city has partnered with public hospitals and private testing laboratories to allow more residents to avail of quick testing for COVID-19. “I have always believed in mass testing as a way to prevent further transmission of the coronavirus. From the very start, Makati has looked for ways to bring COVID-19 tests to our employees and residents, especially the most vulnerable sectors of society,” Binay said in a statement.
COA: Tacloban City yet to liquidate P20M Yolanda rehabilitation fund | Malaya Business Insight – THE Tacloban City government has yet to liquidate assistance funds amounting to P20.29 million transferred to it by various national agencies in 2014, 2016 and 2017 for typhoon Yolanda rehabilitation projects. In the 2019 audit of Tacloban City released by the Commission on Audit (COA) yesterday, government auditors said the non-liquidation was attributable to delayed completion by the local government unit of projects that were supposed to provide livelihood for displaced farming and fishing families when Yolanda devastated the city in November 2013. Breakdown of the unliquidated amount showed it was composed of P8.635 million from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in 2014; P6.976 million from the Department of Agriculture in 2016; and another P4.68 million also from the DA in 2017.
