News Roundup 01 January 2022
Jan 01, 2022 • 3 min Read
PH logs 3,617 new COVID-19 cases on New Year’s Day; active cases now 17,374 | INQUIRER.NET – The number of active COVID-19 cases in the country jumped to 17,374 as the Department of Health (DOH) logged 3,617 new cases on New Year’s Eve, Saturday. This brought the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines to over 2.8 million, according to the DOH’s daily bulletin. The health department likewise recorded 468 new recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to over 2.7 million. Meanwhile, 43 more individuals succumbed to the disease, raising the country’s COVID-19 death toll to 51,545. The Philippines is currently seeing a dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases, prompting the government to place its capital region, Metro Manila, under a stricter alert level in a bid to curb mobility and the rise of cases.
Odette death toll climbs to 405; 82 still missing | PHILSTAR.COM – The total number of fatalities from Typhoon Odette in the Visayas and Mindanao has now reached 405 with at least 82 persons still missing and 1,147 injured, according to the latest report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Based on data gathered from regional disaster management units, those who died include persons who drowned, were hit by falling trees, were trapped in debris, collapsed structures and landslides. The NDRRMC said 6,526 barangays in 479 cities and municipalities in 38 provinces in 11 regions were affected by Typhoon Odette, while displaced persons numbered some 500,626 across 1,325 evacuation centers. The damage to agriculture due to Odette has reached P9 billion, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center. Volume production loss also stood at 194,671 metric tons covering 351,932 hectares of agricultural land. The DA also reported that 2,947 hectares of high value crops worth P330 million were damaged. In addition, 1.3 million heads of chicken, swine, carabao, goat, sheep, horse, duck, turkey and guinea fowl valued at P350.8 million were also lost. The department said it would provide at least P2.9 billion worth of readily available assistance to affected farmers and fishers. According to the Department of Public Works and Highways, damage to public infrastructure has reached P3.71 billion – about P2.87 billion in roads, P602.48 million in bridges, P349.26 million in flood-control structures and P650,000 in public buildings. Central Visayas suffered the largest infrastructure damage, costing P1.68 billion, followed by Eastern Visayas (P963.64 million), Western Visayas (P549.65 million), Caraga (P230 million), Mimaropa (P157.83 million) and Northern Mindanao (P134.34 million).
Solon calls for immediate release of ‘Odette’ funds | Manila Bulletin – Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has called on the national government to immediately disburse more funds to help the victims of Typhoon Odette. Rodriguez particularly asked the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release the 2022 national budget “as early as this coming Monday”, which was already signed by President Duterte, because “our people in Mindanao, the Visayas and in Southern Luzon suffering in the aftermath of the recent strong typhoon are still waiting for government assistance.” The lawmaker made the call as only part of the P10-billion assistance, which was promised by the President, has so far been released. “We should help them rebuild their homes, livelihood, their communities, and their lives,” added Rodriguez, whose home province was also hardest-hit by “Odette”. According to Rodriguez, at least P27 billion in disaster response-related funds are available in the 2022 national budget to help those affected by “Odette”. He said there is a P7-billion contingency fund in the said budget, which the government can use. Another source, he added, is the P20-billion national disaster risk reduction and management fund.
