News Roundup 28 May 2020
May 28, 2020 • 3 min Read
UN calls for halt of hostilities after mortar shelling in Maguindanao | PHILSTAR.COM – The United Nations in the Philippines condemned the mortar shelling in Maguindanao province that killed two children as it called for a halt to armed conflicts in the country. Two girls, aged 10 and seven years old, were killed when a mortar projectile hit at least four houses in Barangay Kitango in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town during the celebration of Eid’l Fitr last Sunday. The incident also left 14 others injured. In a statement Thursday, the UN in the Philippines called attacks that result in the death of innocent children unacceptable. “We join the government of the Republic of the Philippines in condemning these attacks, which violate international human rights and humanitarian law. The indiscriminate use of weapons impacting civilian areas must stop,” Gustavo Gonzales, UN resident coordinator in the Philippines, said.
Children have right to education even amid pandemic, says welfare group | INQUIRER.NET – Children have the right to education even amid the coronavirus pandemic, a group promoting children’s rights and welfare said Thursday. Save the Children Philippines Chief Executive Officer Alberto Muyot said the Department of Education, other concerned government agencies, and local government units (LGUs) should implement “proactive and adaptive” preparations to ensure that a child’s learning and well-being will continue despite prevailing quarantine measures in the country.
Over 7,000 positive COVID-19 cases not yet in DOH list – UP experts | Manila Bulletin – There are still 7,119 individuals nationwide who have tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) but have not yet been logged in the official count of the Department of Health (DOH), according to University of the Philippines (UP) experts. If included, the number of COVID-19 positive cases in the country should have already reached 21,154 on May 24, the team said. In a study released on Thursday by the experts, led by professors Guido David and Ranjit Singh Rye with research associate Ma. Patricia Agbulos, the more than 7,000 cases tested positive by the 36 testing centers nationwide have yet to be validated by the DOH. Citing the DOH data, the UP experts pointed out that after 10 days of modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), from May 16 to 25, “there was almost no change in the week-to-week number of new COVID-19 cases in the NCR (National Capital Region).” “The estimates are based on confirmed COVID-19 cases, and do not include cases that are still for validation, which as of May 25 account for 1,498 cases in NCR, nor do they include the 7,119 individuals nationwide (that are still not logged in the official DOH count),” they said.
OFWs renew fight vs hike in PhilHealth premium | Malaya Business Insight – With just five days to go before the implementation of the premium rate hike of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) on Wednesday asked President Duterte to order the junking of the mandatory increase as provided under the Universal Health Care (UHC) law. Earlier this month, President Duterte ordered PhilHealth to suspend the collection of higher premiums from OFWs because of the COVID-19 pandemic which has resulted in loss of jobs for Filipinos overseas. Migrante chairperson Joanna Concepcion said her group wants “the complete abrogation and junking of the unjust mandatory PhilHealth requirement and annual premium rate increase.” “We believe that the temporary suspension was only meant to tranquilize OFWs and avert their indignation. We will not allow ourselves to be fooled,” she said.
