News Roundup 11 July 2021
Jul 11, 2021 • 4 min Read
Philippines sees 5,916 new COVID-19 cases, total at 1.47 million | PHILSTAR.COM – The Department of Health on Sunday said 5,916 more Filipinos contracted the COVID-19, bringing the country’s total to 1,473,025. Today’s numbers saw active cases down by 276 from July 10’s 49,968. DOH added that three laboratories failed to submit testing results.
Active cases: 49,701 or 3.4% of the total
Recoveries: 6,127, bringing the number to 1,397,403
Deaths: 105, or now 25,921 in total
Robredo calls on gov’t to declare education crisis | PHILSTAR.COM – Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday pressed government to declare an education crisis and respond to a learning experience in the country which she said was worsened by the coronavirus pandemic. Her comment came days after the World Bank took down its report that 80% of Filipino students do not meet the learning standards for their grade level. The multilateral lender apologized for inadvertently publishing its findings before giving the Department of Education time to respond. In her weekly radio show, Robredo said officials’ concern should be on addressing gaps identified in the report. She noted, too, that the World Bank was sorry for the early release but not because its data was wrong. “We should declare an education crisis because our problems only grow worse when we are slow to react,” Robredo told dZXL in FIlipino. “Rather than being defensive, we should be looking for solutions.”The vice president’s call was not the first in the country during the school year amid COVID-19. Several groups have raised the alarm over difficulties met by students and teachers which they warned could have an impact in the long run. “Let’s do everything we can to subvert this crisis,” Robredo added. “It’s the children who would really suffer if we don’t do this.” DepEd had said that the World Bank used outdated information when it based its findings on three global assessments from 2018 to 2019. The agency added steps have since been taken to respond to Filipino students’ dismal showing in the international studies. Robredo urged education officials to provide an update using their latest data to give a clearer picture on the situation in the Philippines. She added many things can still be done based on doing the rounds from her office’s Community Learning Hubs across the country.
Use arbitration win to assert rights in WPS, Robredo tells gov’t as ruling’s 5th anniversary nears | INQUIRER.NET – The government should use the country’s historic arbitration win to assert its rights over the West Philippine Sea, Vice President Leni Robredo reiterated on Sunday, a day before the fifth year mark of the country’s arbitration win against China. Robredo, in her weekly radio show, said the fifth anniversary of the landmark ruling should “remind” the government to fight for the country’s sovereignty and rights of the fishermen. “Pagpapaalala ‘yong fifth anniversary bukas na mayroon tayong pinaglalaban pa, na marami tayong mga kababayan na nakabase doon ‘yong kanilang hanapbuhay,” she said on radio DZXL. (The fifth anniversary of the arbitral ruling tomorrow reminds us that we have so many things to fight for. We have country men who rely on the sea for a living.) “Ang pinag-uusapan ‘yung sovereignty, ‘yung encroachment sa territory, pero ‘yung mukha talaga nito iyong mga maliliit na mangingisda, na sumusubok lang mabuhay, tapos sila pa iyong maha-harass, sila iyong tatakutin, sila iyong papaalisin,” she added. (We are talking about sovereignty and encroachment of our territory, but our fishermen are on the forefront and they are the ones who were harassed, threatened, and driven away just for making a living.) Robredo pointed out that the country’s move to challenge China’s claim before the Permanent Court of Arbitration can be an instrument to push for multilateral talks.
Nebrija has PSA for southbound motorists who don’t want to pay toll fee at Skyway Stage 3 | Manila Bulletin – Southbound motorists coming from Quezon City who want to avoid paying the toll fee at Skyway Stage 3 have an alternate route in Mabuhay Lane no.1. In a Facebook post-slash-public service announcement (PSA) over the weekend, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic czar Edison Bong Nebrija told motorists that they do have a choice in case they feel that using Skyway Stage 3 won’t be worth it. “Hey guys I heard that Skyway 3 will start charging on Monday July 12, 2021. Just in case there will be an influx of Skyway 3 users back to [EDSA] you may want to take an alternate route to the South. Here is the main Mabuhay Lane from North to South that you may take,” he said, pointing to a photo in his upload. To prepare the lane, Nebrija warned the public that MMDA enforcers “will be in full force to clear these roads”. https://mb.com.ph/2021/07/10/motorists-encouraged-to-use-mabuhay-lanes-as-skyway-stage-3-starts-charging-toll-next-week/ “So watch out for illegal parking operations and side walk clearing operations in these areas. Out traffic engineering [office] has been tasked to put up signages to guide motorists from QC to Pasay using this Mabuhay Lane #1,” he further wrote.
