News Roundup 05 September 2020
Sep 05, 2020 • 3 min Read
Philippines sees 2,529 new COVID-19 cases as total hits 234,570 | PHILSTAR.COM – The Department of Health on Saturday logged 2,529 new infections of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), raising the country’s total caseload to 234,570. The death toll has reached 3,790 after 53 more mortalities were reported by the Health department. Meanwhile, the local COVID-19 recovery count stands at 161,668 with the announcement of 1,136 additional survivors. There are still 69,112 total active cases or patients who are still infected with the coronavirus. This week saw 21,439 additional infections on top of the 213,131 recorded as of last Saturday.
Anti-corruption advocate shot dead in Mountain Province | PHILSTAR.COM – A barangay kagawad and anti-corruption advocate was gunned down in Bauko, Mountain Province on Wednesday. Salvador Liked, secretary general of the Citizen Crime Watch (CCW)-Cordillera, was shot as he emerged from his house in Barangay Balintaugan before 9 p.m. CCW had filed complaints against several government officials over questionable public works projects in the Cordilleras.
‘Manila, Province of China’ product also sold in Davao City; group calls for deeper probe | INQUIRER.NET – The beauty product sold in Binondo, Manila that tagged Manila as a province of China is likewise being peddled in Davao City and other parts of the country, according to an advocacy group. In a letter to Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles dated Friday, Pinoy Aksyon for Governance and the Environment chairperson BenCyrus Ellorin showed screenshots of social media posts indicating that the Chinese hair care product, Ashley Shine Keratin Treatment Deep Repair, was bought in Davao City. “We have learned that this product has found its way to the Davao City market and elsewhere in the country,” Ellorin said in the letter. The advocacy group leader also asked Nograles to conduct a “deeper investigation” on the matter.
Dolomite boulders harmful – fisher group | Manila Bulletin – Dolomite contains high amount of heavy metals that contribute to pollution and acidity of Manila Bay, said a fisherfolk group that has looked into the impact of the dumping of white sand along the Manila Baywalk. The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) warned of even more drastic consequences that the people will face due to the sand that came from crushed dolomite boulders in Cebu. “One of the objectives of Manila Bay rehabilitation is to decrease the amount of its heavy metal. Then why is the DENR, which leads the rehabilitation campaign, filling dolomite boulders that would increase and further the harmful chemical element?” Pamalakaya chair Fernando Hicap asked. The group said dolomite contains high amount of heavy metals such as aluminum, lead, and mercury, which put human health at risk. Pamalakaya also cited toxic heavy metals, which were found in Manila Bay’s sediment samples in the past, are “detrimental to the environment.” “These synthetic materials can easily contaminate Manila Bay when a heavy rainfall washes them away from the shore, tainting the already polluted water and endangering the fishery resources,” Hicap said. Human exposure to the heavy metals has chronic and acute health effects, he added.
Lapid bats for ‘lifetime validity’ of PWD IDs | The Manila Times – Sen. Manuel “Lito” Lapid has filed a bill that seeks to provide persons with permanent disabilities with identification cards that have no expiration date to eliminate their burden of having to renew their IDs every three years. “Our countrymen who are disabled deserve wider understanding and consideration. Let’s ease some of the requirements in getting their PWD (persons with disabilities) IDs to ensure their benefits and privileges. They should not be burdened with renewing their PWD IDs, especially if their disability is permanent. Renewing their ID every three years is burdensome,” Lapid said in Filipino in filing Senate Bill 1795. PWDs are required to renew their IDs every three years as part of a reevaluation of their status and ensure that the information is accurate.
