News Roundup 28 September 2021
Sep 28, 2021 • 4 min Read
Philippines lists 13,846 more coronavirus cases | PHILSTAR.COM – Local health authorities on Tuesday reported 13,846 more COVID-19 infections, bringing the national caseload to 2,522,965. Today’s numbers saw active cases down by 26,030 from the 158,169 reported on September 27. The Department of Health said seven laboratories did not submit screening results.
- Active cases: 132,139 or 5.2% of the total
- Recoveries: 39,980, pushing total to 2,353,140
- Deaths: 91, bringing total to 37,686
Comelec gives in: Voter registration to be extended until October 31 | PHILSTAR.COM – Giving in to pressure from Congress, the Commission on Elections will be extending voter registration by a month until October 31. Rep. Francisco Matugas (Surigao del Norte), speaking on behalf of the Comelec, confirmed this during the House of Representatives’ deliberation on the proposed 2022 budget of the poll body. Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez earlier said that it is “likely” that the en banc wil extend registration beyond the September 30 deadline. “After consultation with Comelec officials, and in consideration of the public clamor, it is likely that an extension of the period of voter registration will be granted,” Jimenez said.
Robredo, still gripped by indecision, tells LP: I’m aware time is running out | INQUIRER.NET – As she struggles to decide whether to run for president in 2022, Vice President Leni Robredo assured the Liberal Party (LP) that she is aware that the deadlines she imposed are fast approaching. During LP’s National Executive Council (NECO) meeting on Tuesday, Robredo said that she is aware that as LP chairperson, she should embody the goals of the party, which is to form a liberal society and change the current “anti-democratic, anti-rights, corrupt and self-serving” government. “Alam kong tumatakbo ang oras. Mulat ako sa deadlines. Mulat din ako sa tungkulin ko bilang pinuno, bilang Chairman ng ating party, at in a sense, pinuno rin ng lahat ng taong kahanay natin sa layuning ito,” Robredo told LP officials and members present. (I know time is closing in. I am aware of deadlines. I am aware of my responsibilities as the Chairman of our party and, in a sense, as the leader of all those who are undertaking this endeavor with us.) “Pinakamahalaga: Mulat ako na being a liberal means, at the end of the day, always doing right by the country. Pinakita sa atin ‘yan ni PNoy–‘yung resolve para laging itanong sa sarili, “Ano ba ang tamang gawin? Ano ba ang kailangan ng bansa natin?” she asked. (Most importantly: I realize that being a liberal means, at the end of the day, doing what is right for the country. PNoy showed us that the resolve to always ask ourselves, “What is the right thing to do? What does our country need?) Just a few days before the filing of the certificates of candidacy for the 2022 national polls, Robredo is still undecided on whether she should run for president, focusing on building an opposition coalition to defeat the administration’s nominee and prevent a Marcos return.
Drilon to DTI Secretary Lopez: Am I dreaming? | Manila Bulletin – Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon on Tuesday grilled Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez for painting in his one-hour budget presentation that all is well in the country. Drilon said the real picture is in the reverse. On hearing Lopez, Drilon said he felt that he was not in the Philippines because the economy is very good as described by Lopez. The DTI sought a P23.7 billion for 2022. Drilon said he was disappointed because Lopez appeared to have sidestepped the real issue which is the real economic difficulties the Philippines is facing now. ‘’My impression is Secretary Lopez is that you do not give us the real score in so far as the industry is concerned, given the beautiful picture who painted but you find it hard to give us specifics,’’ he pointed out. Before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Lopez said there were 1.5 million micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) registered and this rose to 1.7 million in 2020 and two million in 2021. There were closures and registrations in these periods because of community quarantine lockdowns, he explained. Lopez said that 76,000 businesses or four percent that closed down but could not give the numbers of employees that lost their jobs. Drilon asked Lopez to give the Senate a true picture of the economy and the status of the business sector.
