News Roundup 06 March 2021
Mar 06, 2021 • 3 min Read
Philippines logs over 3,000 new COVID-19 cases for the 2nd day in a row | PHILSTAR.COM – The Department of Health on Saturday logged 3,439 new coronavirus infections, bringing the national caseload to 591,138. Of the total number of cases recorded, 43,323 or 7.3% are marked by the department as active. Recoveries hit 535,350 after 160 more people recovered from the virus. But the death toll rose to 12,465 after 42 more patients succumbed to the disease.
Constitution Framer Joaquin Bernas dies | PHILSTAR.COM – Fr. Joaquin Bernas, SJ — one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution — passed away early Saturday. The Jesuit priest, a lawyer and a noted constitutionalist, was 88 years old. Bernas’ passing was confirmed by Ateneo Law School Dean Jose Maria Hofileña in a memo to the school community. “We take solace in the knowledge that his was an earthly life filled with meaning and purpose. An earthly life dedicated to service, standards of excellence, to the greater glory of God,” Holifeña said. “He has contributed immeasurably to keeping the Ateneo Law School true to its identity and calling. The Ateneo Law School’s debt of gratitude to Fr. Bernas can never truly be fully repaid.” Bernas served as president of the Ateneo de Manila University from 1984 to 1993. He also served as the Dean of the Ateneo Law School twice before retiring in 2004. Upon his retirement, Bernas was conferred with the position of Dean Emeritus of the Ateneo Law School.
CBCP urges youth to register and vote | INQUIRER.NET – The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines on Saturday called on the youth sector to register and participate in the 2022 national elections. Bishop Rex Alarcon, the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth chairperson, said in an interview with Church-ran Radio Veritas that voting is more than a responsibility and that it’s a right of the youth in shaping the country for the future. “I invite, encourage, and urge our young people to register for the upcoming election because this is our contribution and obligation to society and to the community in choosing our leaders and that is also how we participate,” said Alarcon. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, first time voters can still register online through the Comelec website. “Elections are times when we participate directly in governance also that is how we also make a difference even by a single vote speak of what is called the power of one, a single vote is very powerful,” said Alarcon. Registration for the 2022 national elections will run until September 30, 2021.
Two barangay officials in Pasay City refute OCTA reports on spike in COVID-19 cases | Manila Bulletin – Two barangay officials in Pasay City on Saturday, March 6 advised the OCTA Research Group to double check their data first before releasing any statements to the public. This was after a report by OCTA Research Group said that 128 new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases were recorded in Barangay 76 in the past week which is equivalent to 18 per day. Rimel Ramiro of Barangay 76 Health Emergency Response Team, however, said the barangay has only 12 cases and has recorded four new cases in the past week. “Maling mali po ang bilang na iyon. Hindi namin alam kung saan nakuha ng OCTA yun (The number is very much wrong. We don’t know where the OCTA got the said number),” Ramiro said. Data from the City Public Information Office showed that there are only 154 confirmed cases in the barangay since the start of the pandemic. Chairman Zengel La Torre of Barangay 59 also belied the data from OCTA which said it has recorded 59 cases in the past week. La Torre said the barangay has recorded only 28 cases since the pandemic. The barangay officials said that any erroneous data released by OCTA, especially about the jump cases, can cause undue panic and alarm since the UP-based group has already become a legitimate source of information as far as developments on COVID-19 cases in the country are concerned.
Photo: Aurora Memorial National Park (Eco-tourism Destination) between Nueva Ecija and Aurora Provinces, Philippines
Photo Source: By Ramon FVelasquez – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24317023
