News Roundup 15 January 2021
Jan 15, 2021 • 4 min Read
COVID-19 cases in Philippines rise to 496,646 with 2,048 new infections | PHILSTAR.COM – The country’s coronavirus caseload rose to 496,646 Friday after 2,048 additional infections were added to the tally. The number of cases stands at 27,033 or 5.4% of the nation’s confirmed cases, latest data from the Department of Health showed. The DOH also announced 551 additional recovered patients, pushing total recoveries to 459,737. Meanwhile, 137 more patients died from COVID-19, raising the death toll to 9,876.
Still possible to call off purchase of Sinovac vaccines, Galvez says | PHILSTAR.COM – The government can still choose not to go through with its purchase of 25 million jabs from China’s Sinovac, the country’s vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Friday during a Senate probe on the national vaccination plan. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque during a virtual briefing on Monday confirmed that the Philippines had secured tens of millions of vaccines from Sinovac on Monday despite lingering questions on its efficacy and the lack of conclusive data released by its manufacturer. The most recent findings on the vaccine came from Brazil, whose experts on Wednesday announced that they found the jab to have an efficacy of 50.4%, barely meeting the threshold of 50% to 60% set by global authorities. Asked by Sen. Nancy Binay if the government “can still choose not to purchase Sinovac,” Galvez replied: “Yes.” The vaccine czar added that no payment has been made to Sinovac yet for the doses and that the agreement is “only an advanced market commitment.” Testing czar Vince Dizon also said: “If the vaccine expert panel does not recommend a certain vaccine then the Philippine government will not purchase and will not administer the vaccine.” Senators have been questioning the government’s decision to purchase jabs from Sinovac which they say is more expensive but less effective than most of the other jabs on the government’s portfolio. Galvez, for his part, has maintained that the vaccine prices being circulated by the media — mostly sourced from Sen. Sonny Angara’s office which obtained the data from the health department in November — are inaccurate. However, he and other top officials have refused to disclose the prices of the vaccines on the government’s portfolio, claiming that they are bound by non-disclosure agreements. Sen. Francis Pangilinan on Wednesday urged the government “to cancel the purchase” of Sinovac’s jabs.
Covid downs Calida’s anti-terror law defenders; SC resets oral argument to Feb. 2 | INQUIRER.NET – The Supreme Court has again rescheduled the oral argument on the petitions questioning the legality of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 upon Solicitor-General Jose Calida’s request. In a notice issued by the high court’s Office of the Clerk of Court, the oral argument is reset to Feb. 2 at 2:30 in the afternoon. Calida requested the resetting of the oral argument, saying that his assistant solicitor-general and some staff who would attend the debate have tested positive for Covid-19.
Paltry initial COVID vaccine budget blamed on Cayetano | Manila Bulletin – Deputy Speaker Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza blamed the previous Cayetano Speakership for the measly initial appropriation for COVID-19 vaccine procurement under the 2021 national budget. Atienza touched on this matter in a statement Friday in response to a criticism from Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano against current Speaker Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco. Cayetano and his allies have earlier faulted the Velasco leadership for not actively holding public hearing or investigations on topics of public interest, such as the vaccination and PhilHealth issues. “There were no investigations yet because we prioritized cleaning up the mess that was left in the GAB (General Appropriations Bill) and reopened the budget hearings that Cayetano and his allies unceremoniously closed, which was why we uncovered the weakest link of the GAB – the pathetic P2.5-billion budget for COVID vaccines,” Atienza said.
Sotto to House: Why rush Cha-cha? | Malaya Business Insight – Senate President Vicente Sotto III yesterday questioned the rush by which the House committee on constitutional amendments is pushing amendments to the 1987 Constitution even amid the health crisis that the country is experiencing because of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Other senators also said Charter change advocates in the lower chamber are setting a “dangerous precedent” by insisting that committee discussions on proposed Resolution of Both Houses No. 2 is synonymous to convening a constituent assembly. Sotto told reporters: “Whatever it is, they have to do it in plenary. Otherwise, that is not Congress proper. Ano ba pinagmamadali nila eh puwede nilang gawin sa Monday ‘yan sa plenary? (Why are they in such a hurry? They can do that in plenary on Monday when Congress resumes regular sessions) Can’t they wait?”
