News Roundup 09 December 2020
Dec 09, 2020 • 4 min Read
Philippines logs 1,387 new cases; total now at 444,164 | PHILSTAR.COM – The Department of Health reported that 1,387 more people contracted coronavirus disease, taking the country’s caseload to 444,164. The DOH also logged 156 additional recoveries, bringing the total number of COVID-19 survivors to 408,942 or 92.1% of the country’s confirmed cases. But seven more patients succumbed to the dreaded disease. Death toll stood at 8,677. At present, there are 26,545 active cases in the country or 6% of the total recorded infections. Wednesday’s figure did not include results from 13 testing laboratories that failed to submit their data on time.
Priority from the start? Gov’t data show private-run labs do most COVID-19 tests | PHILSTAR.COM – Malacañang has said that the Duterte administration had prioritized improving the country’s coronavirus screening capacity since the start of the health crisis, but its own figures show that most of the tests were carried out by private institutions. Palace spokesman Harry Roque on Tuesday made the claim after social media users pointed out that President Rodrigo Duterte was nine months late into realizing that testing for COVID-19 is vital to fighting the pandemic. “That is not true,” he said in Filipino. “From the very beginning, we have prioritized ramping up our testing capacity that’s why we have one of the highest capacities in Asia.” Data from the health department’s tracker website as of December 7 showed a total of 6,046,742 tests run by both public and private facilities, with 5,693,758 individuals tested. Of this, 88 private-owned labs accounted for 3,474,689 tests or 3,348,680 persons screened. This is more than half of the total tests conducted and persons screened in the country, compared to the 2,392,317tests or 2,116,698 individuals screened by 82 state-run facilities. Calls for mass testing had long been rejected by government, with petitions reaching as far as the Supreme Court and only for the high tribunal to strike it down. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has said that no country could ever afford to test all its citizens for COVID-19.
Macalintal urges lawmakers to sponsor bill giving 20% toll discount to seniors | INQUIRER.NET – Election lawyer Atty. Romulo Macalintal urged lawmakers to sponsor a bill that would grant senior citizens and persons with disabilities a 20-percent discount whenever they go through tollways and skyways. This came after previous laws that once granted such discounts were repealed when Congress enacted Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 and the RA 10754 or the Expanded PWDs Privileges. “I am making this humble remarks and appeal to any one of them to sponsor a bill reinstating the word “skyways” in the list of land transportation covered by the 20% discount for SCs and PWDs and make it clear that such discount applies to toll fees in skyways and expressways and have the bill certified by President [Rodrigo] Duterte as urgent to expedite its passage,” said Macalintal in a statement Wednesday.
Leni vows office will continue aid for calamity victims | Manila Bulletin – Despite limitations, Vice President Leni Robredo assured Wednesday that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) will continue to provide assistance to communities that need help, especially in areas severely affected by the recent string of natural disasters. Robredo, during her visit to Dingalan, Aurora, said that the OVP will continue to find ways to provide assistance to communities that need help especially in the aftermath of typhoons “Rolly” and “Ulysses.” “Marahil po ang iba sa inyo alam naman na iyong opisina po namin ay halos kami po iyong pinakamaliit na budget sa lahat ng mga ahensya ng pamahalaan, maliit dahil maliit din iyong aming mandato (Most of you probably know that our office almost has the least budget among all agencies in the government, we have a small budget because our mandate is also limited),” Robredo said during her visit. Robredo led the turnover of boats and assistance at the Community Fish Landing Center for fishermen who lost their boats due to Ulysses.
POEA: Deployment ban lifted only for nurses | Malaya Business Insight – Except for nurses, other healthcare workers and medical professionals will have to stay home for a little longer. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), in its Board Resolution No. 17-2020, yesterday said the overseas deployment ban is being lifted only for newly-hired nurses, nursing aides, and nursing assistants. “The moratorium or temporary suspension of deployment of newly hired nurses, nursing aides, and nursing assistants is hereby lifted effective immediately,” said the POEA. “With regard to other medical and allied HCWs, the moratorium or temporary suspension shall remain effective until the POEA lifts the moratorium with respect to them,” it added. The limitations on the lifting of the ban were in contrast to the previous announcement of DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III.
