News Roundup 15 April 2021
Apr 15, 2021 • 3 min Read
Philippines logs 11,429 new COVID-19 infections; active cases now at 183,527 | PHILSTAR.COM – The Philippines on Thursday recorded 11,429 additional COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections to 904,285.
- Active cases: 183,527 or 20.3% of the total
- Recoveries: 856, pushing total to 705,164
- Deaths: 148, bringing total to 15,594
US donates P170M to support COVID-19 vaccination in the Philippines | PHILSTAR.COM – After the Palace incorrectly claimed that the US has not donated a single vaccine dose to the Philippines, its embassy on Thursday said Washington has donated an additional P170 million to the country’s vaccination program, bringing its total pandemic assistance to nearly P1.3 billion. The US Embassy in the Philippines in a statement said the donation was coursed through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and handed over to the Department of Health. “Through this new funding, USAID will support the Philippines in strengthening the vaccine supply chain, monitoring vaccine safety, and delivering effective communication campaigns to address vaccine hesitancy,” the embassy said. “This assistance will also support local government units as they plan for, track, and administer vaccines.”
Use Manila Bay dolomite project funds for COVID-19 response, says group | INQUIRER.NET – A group of scientists on Thursday urged the government to prioritize the COVID-19 pandemic instead of dumping crushed dolomite in Manila Bay’s “white beach” which it said is harmful to its ecosystem. Despite criticisms from scientists and various environmental organizations, the Advocates of Science and Technology for the People collectively known as Agham lamented how the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has continued to dump loads of crushed dolomite in Manila Bay. “What is more important now is to address the growing anxiety over the failed COVID-19 pandemic response of the Duterte government. Why don’t the government use the fund for the dolomite project, instead, to buy and develop more testing kits in order to implement free mass testing?” Agham said in a statement. “Effectively curbing the spread of the pandemic will surely contribute positively to our mental health,” it added.
Ex-DFA chief Del Rosario shares Clinton’s concern over China’s growing influence in PH | Manila Bulletin – Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario on Thursday concurred with the concern of former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that the Philippines could become a ‘subject’ of China if it will not stand up to Beijing’s “duplicity and being a bully”. Del Rosario was reacting to the statement made by Clinton on Tuesday, stating that the Philippines – if left unchecked – would increasingly find itself unable to act without Beijing’s approval. “In our opinion, Secretary Clinton is absolutely correct in expressing her fear that the Philippines could become a subject of China. To the last Filipino, under the leadership of (Foreign Affairs) Secretary (Teodoro) Locsin and (Defense) Secretary (Delfin) Lorenzana, we must finally stand up to Beijing’s duplicity and being a bully,” the former DFA secretary said. Clinton was apparently referring to the close relationship forged by the Duterte administration with Beijing even after the Philippines had won its arbitration case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague against China’s excessive nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea.
