News Roundup 03 May 2021
May 03, 2021 • 4 min Read
7,255 new COVID-19 cases push overall count to 1.06 million | PHILSTAR.COM – The Department of Health on Monday reported 7,255 new coronavirus cases, with the country’s total now at 1,062,225 Today’s development saw active cases downby 2,006 from the 71,472 yesterday. Some 15 laboratories also did not turn in screening results.
- Active cases: 69,466 or 6.5% of the total
- Recoveries: 9,214, bringing the number to 975,234
- Deaths: 94, or now 17,525 in total
Hontiveros calls for special audit of ‘Bayanihan’ funds | PHILSTAR.COM – A lawmaker on Monday sought for a special audit of government funds in its pandemic handling, saying the billions allocated do not seem to be felt on the ground. In a resolution, Sen. Risa Hontiveros urged the Commission on Audit to make the move and present its findings before Congress begins its deliberation for next year’s national budget. The chambers last year passed two financial aid packages known as the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act in March and the Bayanihan to Recover Act in September. Hontiveros cited figures from the Department of Budget and Management that P570 billion had been used from its funds. Despite this, she said many health workers have yet to receive their hazard pay, families still do not have assistance, and medical facilities are still lacking. “Billions are said to be spent from people’s money but their sufferings are not eased,” she said partly in Filipino. “Government must take a hard look in the mirror by doing a special audit of its financial decisions.” The senator also pressed Malacañang to regularly release financial reports on ‘Bayanihan 2’ to identify which areas in the government’s COVID-19 response are still not addressed. Under the said law, President Rodrigo Duterte’s office is required to submit a report every first Monday of the month. But Hontiveros said the last time that was done was in January. “Filipinos are not able to see where their money has gone when there is a huge spike in COVID-19 cases,” she continued. “How much is left? It is irresponsible and illegal not to make financial reports public during a crisis.” The resolution is already the second that Hontiveros filed in calling for a special audit. She said evaluating government’s expenses are crucial as lawmakers will soon begin budget hearings by the second half of the year. “It is our right to know if people are benefitting from the billions which were allocated and loaned for COVID-19,” Hontiveros added. “It is our duty as legislators to exercise our power of the purse judiciously.”
Robredo says accurate reportage also key to solving pandemic | INQUIRER.NET – Vice President Leni Robredo has stressed the importance of a free press in fighting problems brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that these can be solved through an accurate reporting of issues and solutions. In her statement on Monday, World Press Freedom Day, Robredo said that the country — from communities to leaders in the government — must support a free press that allows the public to fairly assess the problems exacerbated by the health crisis and the measures that may solve them. “Our capacity to successfully overcome the urgent challenges of our time – including the current pandemic – depends on an accurate, and truthful, appreciation of both the issues that confront us and the solutions that are available,” Robredo said in a statement. “Today, let us renew our determination to support a free press that makes such an appreciation possible,” she added. The Vice President also stressed that it is the responsibility of governments to ensure that the freedom of the press is upheld and respected.
Robredo camp hopes PH can emulate US, Israel’s return to normalcy | Manila Bulletin – It’s a new day in the United States and Israel as their governments finally lifted the wearing of masks in outdoor spaces, something that Vice President Leni Robredo’s camp wishes for the Philippines to achieve, too. Lawyer Barry Gutierrez, Robredo’s spokesman, said the decision made by Israel early on to buy the vaccines even at a higher price finally paid off. Israel reportedly paid more than the other countries to purchase Pfizer-BioNTech’s and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines. “Oo, kasi inisip nila iyong dagdag nating bayad na iyon, mababawi natin iyan kasi mas maaga tayong makakapagbukas ng ating ekonomiya, ng ating lipunan, mas maagang mali-lift iyong mga restrictions (Yes, because they believe that they can recover from the additional payment since they’ll be reopening the economy earlier, they’ll lift the restrictions earlier),” he said over dzXL. In the United States, President Joe Biden’s promise of vaccinating 100 million people in his first 100 days in office was achieved in just 58 days. With almost 50 percent of the US’ 332 million population already inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine, Biden recently announced that fully-vaccinated Americans can go without masks in outdoor spaces. For Robredo’s camp, it’s important to look at the best practices of these countries because the only way for the country to survive the pandemic is to address the gaps in the health care system and to improve the vaccination program.
