News Roundup 15 September 2020
Sep 15, 2020 • 4 min Read
Philippines logs 3,544 more COVID-19 cases; total now over 269,000 | PHILSTAR.COM – The Philippines saw another huge increase in the number of new coronavirus infections as the total confirmed cases nationwide swelled to 269,407 Tuesday, six months since the government first implemented community quarantine measures. The Department of Health reported 3,544 additional COVID-19 infections, of which 90% occurred within the last two weeks. The DOH also listed 34 new fatalities related to the severe respiratory illness, raising the nation’s death toll to 4,663. A total of 207,352 people in the Philippines have survived COVID-19 after 395 more individuals were added to the list of recoveries. But the DOH said there were 538 cases that were previously reported as recovered but turned out to be two deaths and 536 active cases after final validation.
More than half of Filipinos believe worst of COVID-19 pandemic has yet to come — SWS | PHILSTAR.COM – Over half of Filipinos believe that the worst of the COVID-19 crisis has yet to come, a national poll released Tuesday found. The survey, conducted by the Social Weather Stations from July 3 to July 6, found that 57% of respondents are still bracing themselves for the worst of the pandemic, marking a 10% increase from the 47% who said the same last May. “On the other hand, those saying ‘the worst is behind us’ fell from 44% in May 2020 to 35% in July 2020, while those who did not give an answer stayed at 8%,” SWS said. According to the national poll, the proportion of those who fear that the worst is yet to come is highest in Metro Manila at 70%, marking a sharp rise of 20 points from the previous 50% recorded in May. In the Visayas, 61% believe the same, marking a seven-point increase from the 54% recorded two months previously. This sentiment also grew in Balance Luzon, which saw a proportion of 43% in May grow to 56% in July, but relatively unchanged at Mindanao at 49%. “On the other hand, those who say ‘the worst is behind us’ are highest in Mindanao (41%), followed by Balance Luzon (35%), the Visayas (33%), and Metro Manila (26%).” “Compared to May 2020, those who say ‘the worst is behind us’ fell from 49% in Balance Luzon, from 43% in Metro Manila, and from 38% in the Visayas. It hardly moved from 42% Mindanao,” the survey added.
Drilon sees overprice in COVID-19 testing kits bought by government | INQUIRER.NET – Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Monday questioned the government’s procurement of allegedly overpriced testing kits and medical equipment for COVID-19, saying the items were more than P400 million more expensive than those bought by the private sector. Drilon raised the issue at the 2021 budget hearing and asked the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to look closely at three contracts awarded by its Procurement Service (PS) and by the Department of Health (DOH). “There are a number of procurements done by the DBM-PS and based on our research, the prices were higher compared to the prices in the private sector,” he said in a separate statement.
Japan gives PH P24-B loan for COVID-19 response | Manila Bulletin – The Japanese government on Tuesday signed and exchanged notes with the Philippines for a JY50 billion (approximately Php24 billion) fresh loans in support of the country’s battle against the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. Called Post Disaster Stand-by Loan Phase 2 (PDSL 2), the loan was signed by Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koji Haneda and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. in a simple ceremony at the DFA office in Pasay City. The fresh loan seeks to support quick recovery after natural and health-related disasters, by promoting policy actions on disaster preparedness and providing quick-disbursing budgetary support for the Philippines’ calamity response.
QC boosts digital platform in villages | The Manila Times – Quezon City has partnered with the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) and Gracia Telecommunications Corp. (Gracia Telecoms) to enhance its digital platform in the community level. Mayor Josefina Belmonte said the partnership would pave the way for the provision of several automated payment machines (APMs) in selected villages. She led the city government in teaming up with LMP President and Narvacan, Ilocos Sur Mayor Luis Chavit Singson and Gracia Telecoms President and Chief Executive Officer Charisse Singson. The APM is a joint project of the LMP and Gracia Telecoms to provide local government units and their constituencies a safer and more convenient payment alternative. “Gracia Telecoms would be a big help in delivering assistance and service to the city residents especially now that we are under new normal,” Belmonte said on Monday. By using APMs, face-to-face transactions at the City Hall would be lessened, preventing the further spread of the coronavirus. Gracia Telecoms initially provided the local government with nine APM kiosks that will be installed in selected villages. It will also provide residents debit cards that can be used to make online payments and purchases and withdraw money, among others.
