News Roundup 09 February 2021
Feb 09, 2021 • 3 min Read
Coronavirus cases in Philippines rise to over 540,000 | PHILSTAR.COM – The Department of Health recorded 1,235 additional infections Tuesday, taking the country’s total case count to 540,227. Active cases represent 5.4% or 29,167 of the country’s confirmed cases. Of these, 94.1% are mild cases and asymptomatic. The recovery count increased to 499,764 after a new batch of 53 recoveries was registered. Meanwhile, the death toll reached 11,296 after 65 more people succumbed to the severe respiratory disease.
Amid China’s warning, Biden calls US warship in South China Sea | PHILSTAR.COM – Days after China warned off a US warship in the South China Sea, US President Joe Biden called the crew aboard another aircraft carrier in the area. Biden spoke to the leadership of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group on February 8 during the Super Bowl. According to a report from the US Pacific Fleet, the new US commander-in-chief thanked the crew for their work during their deployment in the South China Sea. “It was an honor to have the opportunity to talk with President Biden during the Super Bowl. The Sailors and Marines of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group continue to answer the nation’s call as we conduct maritime security operations in the South China Sea,” Rear Adm. Jim Kirk, commander of the strike group, said. USS Nimitz (CVN-68), flagship of the strike group, entered the South China Sea last week. The supercarrier and its escorts have been deployed in the area since June last year.
‘Medyo kalokohan:’ Senators hit face mask policy for private vehicles | INQUIRER.NET – Several senators on Tuesday questioned the rationale of mandating drivers and passengers of private vehicles to wear face masks regardless of whether they are from the same household, with one lawmaker quipping that policymakers are probably suffering from lack of sleep. “Meron ba ditong makakapagsabi na sa ibang bansa na ito din ang nagiging regulasyon, dapat naka-mask ang mga miyembro ng pamilya sa loob ng sasakyan?” Senator Grace Poe, chair of the Senate public services committee, said during a hearing. (Is there anyone here who can say that other countries have similar regulations, that family members should still wear face masks inside their vehicle?) “Wala bang nagsabi sa IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases) na medyo kalokohan naman itong suggestion na ‘to? Anong ibig sabihin? Paguwi mo sa bahay magkakasama pa rin kayo, naka-mask pa rin kayo dapat?” she asked. (Did anyone say to the IATF how this suggestion does not make sense? Does this mean that even inside our homes, we should still wear a face mask?) When she received no immediate response from transport officials present during the hearing, the senator said this policy’s discussion would probably not yield answers. “Walang sagot, walang patutunguhan ‘tong discussion na ‘to dahil alam nating sa umpisa pa lang, malabo na talaga ito,” she added. (No answers, this discussion will go nowhere because, from the start, this policy is already ambiguous.) Senator Joel Villanueva echoed Poe’s sentiments and lamented that no official answered the latter’s questions.
Senators favor deferment of child car seat law | Manila Bulletin – For lack of adequate government information campaign, majority senators on Tuesday are in favor of the deferment or suspension of the implementation of the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act. This was the assessment by Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate public services committee, after conducting a hybrid public hearing on Republic Act (RA) 11229 which became effective this month, a year after its passage in Congress. Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III delivered a privilege speech Monday stressing that RA 11229 is a good law but is being misinterpreted and expressed confidence that the hybrid hearing today would clear the air. Leading the call for the deferment of the law is former Senator Joseph Victor ‘’JV’’ Ejercito, principal sponsor of the measure, who said the child seat belt measure has become ‘’muddled.’’ Stressing that RA 11229 is a ‘’good law with good intentions,’’ Ejercito said implementing it during the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is ‘’untimely and illogical.’’ He said government agencies lacked information campaign favoring the measure. ‘’I support the suspension while there is a pandemic,’’ he told Poe.
