News Roundup 16 October 2020
Oct 16, 2020 • 3 min Read
Coronavirus infections in Philippines surpass 351,000 | PHILSTAR.COM – The Philippines reported 3,139 new coronavirus infections, raising the nationwide caseload to 351,750, the Department of Health said Friday. The total number of recoveries stood at 294,865 after 786 more people got better from COVID-19. The DOH also recorded 34 additional fatalities from the severe respiratory, taking the death toll to 6,531.
Still in cuffs, jailed activist buries baby born while behind bars | PHILSTAR.COM – Jailed activist and first-time mom Reina Mae Nasino could only touch the glass on the coffin of her three-month-old daughter River as she remained shackled for her last goodbye. Nasino could not hug her daughter nor even wipe her tears properly, as she remained handcuffed throughout the burial. Surrounded by jail guards and police, Nasino cried as she lamented how she never even saw River laugh. She promised: “Lalaya ako nang mas matatag. Lalaya kami na mas matatag. Hindi tayo dito nag-iisa, panandalian ‘yung pagdadalamhati natin pero babawi tayo.” (When I am released, I will be much stronger. We will all be freed stronger. We are not alone. Our grief will pass and we will come back stronger.)
COA: Contractor given ‘undue advantage’ by BCDA in SEA Games contract | INQUIRER.NET – The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) gave private contractor MTD Capital Berhad (MTD) “undue advantage” in the P8.510 billion contract for the construction of the sports facilities used in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) which the country hosted, the Commission on Audit (COA) said. In its 2019 report released Thursday, COA noted that the construction of the sports facilities in New Clark City (NCC) that were used during the November 30 to December 11, 2019 SEA Games, was negotiated into an unsolicited proposal rather than going through competitive bidding. “The Sports Facilities, planned/conceptualized by BCDA, was negotiated into an unsolicited proposal rather than going through competitive bidding following the process applicable for solicited projects gave MTD an undue advantage and negatively affects the competitiveness of the bidding,” state auditors said. The COA report said the unsolicited proposal had a total project cost of P121.785 billion where BCDA would contribute land valued at a 100-percent premium. However, after negotiation, the proposal was changed and was focused on the construction of the sports facilities to be used in the 2019 SEA Games that cost P8.510 billion. The COA pointed out that since the project was initiated and conceptualized by BCDA at its Master Development Plan (MDP), the construction of the sports facilities should have went through the procedures applicable for solicited proposals by adopting RA 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act) or RA 6957 as amended by RA 7718.
Muntinlupa City pushes hydroponics as part of urban farming program | Manila Bulletin – The Muntinlupa City government is promoting the use of hydroponics to encourage households and communities to engage in urban farming. Through its Extension Services Office (ESO), the city government launched the “Gulayan sa Lungsod ng Muntinlupa” program and has partnered with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and University of the Philippines-Los Banos Institute of Plant Breeding (UPLB-IPB) for the training of communities on innovative farming technologies.
No payment, no swab tests, PhilHealth told | The Manila Times – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is no longer accepting swab tests for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) that is chargeable under Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) because the state insurer has not paid the P930 million it owes the agency. Red Cross said it was “constrained” to cease conducting Phil-health covered tests beginning last Tuesday since it also needs funds for its own operations. “The PRC does not have unlimited resources to replenish the testing kits for its laboratories unless PhilHealth, its major creditor, settles its lawful obligations to the PRC,” the humanitarian organization said in a statement.
