News Roundup 14 September 2020
Sep 14, 2020 • 3 min Read
Philippines reports 4,699 new COVID-19 cases with record 259 deaths | PHILSTAR.COM – The Department of Health recorded 4,699 new coronavirus cases Monday, taking the total number of infections to 265,888, the highest in Southeast Asia despite enforcing the longest lockdown in the region. Eighty-seven percent of the new cases occurred in the last two weeks. The death toll reached 4,630 after 259 more patients succumbed to COVID-19. The DOH also reported 249 more recovered patients, pushing the total number of recoveries to 207,504. The day before, the country saw 20,472 recoveries as part of the department’s time-based and symptoms-based Oplan Recovery program.
‘Too soon’: Doctors group opposes eased distancing in public vehicles | PHILSTAR.COM – A coalition of healthcare professionals opposed the Department of Transportation’s move to ease physical distancing controls in public transport, which is feared to trigger a surge in coronavirus disease cases. Physical distancing in public vehicles was reduced to 0.75 meters from the original one meter gap beginning Monday in a bid to increase the passenger load of public transportation. The separation would then be adjusted to 0.5 meter by September 28 and to 0.3 meter by October 12. “Tutol ang HPAAC (Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19) sa pag-relax ng social distancing measures in public utility vehicles,” Dr. Antonio Dans said Monday. (HPAAC opposes the relaxation of social distancing measures in public utility vehicles.) Members of HPAAC include medical societies that previously appealed for a “timeout” and called on the government to recalibrate its COVID-19 pandemic response, saying the country was “losing the battle” against the health crisis last month.
‘Nagpapasakop ba tayo?’ Probe sought into AFP deal with China-backed Dito | INQUIRER.NET – Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday called on her colleagues to immediately investigate an agreement that would allow China-backed Dito Telecommunity Corp. to build cell sites inside Philippine military camps.M“Nagpapasakop ba tayo? Ang isang China-owned telco sa kampo ng sarili nating militar ay lubos na kaduda-duda, lalo na at ang Tsina ay hindi humihinto sa agresibong pag-angkin sa West Philippine Sea, pagsira sa ating likas-yaman, at pag-abuso sa mga mangingisdang Pilipino,” Hontiveros said in a statement. The senator earlier filed Senate Resolution No. 137 seeking to probe the national security implications of the agreement that allows the telco company to set up equipment and facilities within the military bases of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). “I will request the Committee on National Defense to hear this resolution in the Senate immediately. Kailangan mabusisi ang kasunduang ito kasi mahirap paniwalaan na walang pansariling interes ang Tsina sa pagtayo nito ng cell sites sa sarili mismo nating military camps,” Hontiveros said.
Groups call for commitment to hold elections in 2022 | Manila Bulletin – Poll watchdog groups on Monday joined different groups in calling on President Duterte, Congress, political parties, party-list groups, as well as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to declare their commitment to holding the elections on May 9, 2022. Kontra Daya and the National Citizens Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) urged all to sign a Covenant for the 2022 Elections (C-22) which should unequivocally declare: “We commit to holding safe, free, fair, credible and transparent elections on May 9, 2022.” In a Unity Statement, the groups said the national and local elections should be held on May 9, 2022 as mandated by the Constitution. It added that any and all attempts and excuses to postpone the elections as scheduled are “unacceptable.”
Pangilinan reiterates call for Duque’s replacement | The Manila Times – Opposition Sen. Francis Pangilinan on Saturday reiterated his call to replace Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd and the rest in the task forces related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Pangilinan said the government could instead tap the services of public health experts who can lead the government to lower Covid-19 cases, higher recoveries, and a more comprehensive, logical set of guidelines that would create a better normal. “I nominate Philippine General Hospital Director Dr. Gap Legaspi, former Health secretary Manuel Dayrit or [former Health secretary] Esperanza Cabral,” he said.
