News Roundup 09 August 2020
Aug 09, 2020 • 5 min Read
3,109 more COVID-19 infections bring PH total to 129,913 cases | INQUIRER.NET – The country’s total confirmed COVID-19 cases is nearing the 130,000-mark after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 3,109 additional infected patients on Sunday. According to DOH’s COVID-19 bulletin, 59,970 of the 129,913 cases are considered active cases, while recoveries surged to 67,673 after another 654 patients recovered. Meanwhile, 61 new deaths due to the coronavirus brings the total death toll to 2,270.
GDP shrink could have been eased by public transport during quarantine — Robredo | INQUIRER.NET – The shrink in the country’s economy could have been eased had the government allowed public transportation to operate safely during the quarantine period, said Vice President Leni Robredo. Robredo on Sunday, who insisted that while bad gross domestic product (GDP) numbers were unavoidable, it should not have been this bad especially as the -16.5 percent contraction is the worst in the Southeast Asian region. “Iyong negative 16.5% grabe iyan. Parang kung hindi ako nagkakamali […] parang ang epekto noong pagkawala ng public transport, parang nasa 52%? Napakalaki noon. Ito iyong parati nating sinasabi na sana noong nag-GCQ tayo, puwede na sana iyong public transport doon. Ayusin na lang. Siguraduhin na mayroong social distancing,” Robredo said in her radio program. (The negative 16.5 percent is just bad. If I am not mistaken, the effect of the public transportation ban on the economy was around 52 percent? That is big. It reflects what we have been saying that when we were at a GCQ, we could have allowed public transport then. Just fix it, ensure that there is social distancing.) “Ayusin na iyong pinaka-maliliit na drivers nakakapagbiyahe na lalo na iyong mga jeepney drivers. Sana ayusin kung papaano makaka-observe ng social distancing using jeepneys kasi marami talagang apektado. Nakakalungkot kasi iyong sa mga ASEAN countries, tayo iyong pinakamalala,” she added. (Fix the system so that small operators and drivers can make trips, especially jeepney drivers. I hope they find a way to observe social distancing using jeepneys because a lot of people are affected. It is saddening to know that of all ASEAN countries, we have the worst economy.)
PhilHealth employees call for health insurance expert as caretaker as execs face probe | PHISTAR.COM – President Duterte should put a health insurance expert as an interm caretaker for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., the state firm’s rank-and-file union said Sunday. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III should “take a back seat” on the investigation into alleged irregularities at PhilHealth, it also said. In a statement shared by labor center Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, the PhilHealth Workers for Hope, Integrity, Transparency and Empowerment (PhilHealth-WHITE) said it welcomed the justice department’s investigation into alleged multibillion-peso fraud. “With the leave of absence of two of our most senior officers, and the resignation of one, we nonetheless call for President Duterte to put in charge a caretaker who is an expert in the field of health insurance with proven integrity and incorruptibility — someone who is not himself or herself under investigation. Someone devoid of vested interest…by doing so, all doubts about whitewashing and cover-up would be dispelled, and we would therefore be ensured of a fair and honest investigation that will weed out the guilty and not simply hang scapegoats,” the union’s statement read. “PhilHealth-WHITE cannot be subservient to executives whose integrity is in question. The Chairperson of the PhilHealth Board, Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque is no exception and should take a back seat being the subject of several investigations,” it added.
Robredo hears teachers’ plight on school opening woes | Manila Bulletin – Several teachers still don’t have copies of learning modules and they are not yet ready for the opening of classes on August 24, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Sunday. During her weekly radio show, Robredo recalled her last Friday’s meeting with a group of teachers where they raised their issues with the modular learning preparations. “Noong Friday, 17 days before the opening of classes, hindi pa nila alam kung saan nila kukunin iyong modules (they don’t know where to get their modules),” Robredo said on her “BISErbisyong Leni” radio program. The teachers also told Robredo about their concerns on the printing of the modules, postponement of the opening of classes to a later date, as well as the occupational health and safety in their workplace amid the coronavirus pandemic. “Humihiling sila na sana man lang ma-test sila. Humihiling sila ng regular medical check up. Humihiling sila na siguraduhin lang na habang nagre-render sila ng service, protektado (They are requesting that they will be tested. They are asking for regular medical check up. They are requesting they will be protected while they render service),” she said. Heeding the call of teachers, Robredo said she will send a formal letter to inform DepEd about the plight of the teachers.
Makati offers job opportunities for displaced teachers | The Manila Times – The Makati City government is looking for teachers, teaching assistants or aides, and tutors to join its Makati Mobile Learning Hub Project, Mayor Mar-Len Abigail “Abby” Binay announced on Saturday. In a statement, Binay said the Makati Mobile Learning Hub Project aimed to ensure that the youth of Makati would continue learning despite the coronavirus pandemic. The mayor said the city government would deploy mobile learning hubs throughout the city when classes open this August to assist students and their parents in coping with the “blended learning” mode under the new normal. She said each hub would be equipped with computers with internet connection, books and supplementary materials. “This project seeks to address inadequacies that may hamper the successful implementation of the blended learning approach. It is primarily intended for students who lack gadgets and other learning tools, and parents who have difficulties guiding and teaching their children using the self-directed learning modules,” she said. The mayor urged professional educators, tutors and teaching assistants to apply for the program. Qualifications include having a degree in education or any related courses in mathematics, science, Filipino and English; and having a valid teaching license from the Professional Regulation Commission.
