More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.
The Bureau of Immigration has deported 129 foreigners in a bid to decongest their facilities and stop the spread of COVID-19.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Thursday said it has deported 129 foreigners to decongest its detention center in Bicutan, Taguig City, and reduce the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak.
“Total (foreigners): 315. Total deported as of Sept. 15: 129 from BI Warden Facility for Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL),” BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said in a Viber message.
The 129 deported foreigners include 88 Chinese, 14 Vietnamese, seven Americans, and five Pakistanis.
Also deported were two Taiwanese, two British nationals, two Mongolians and two South Koreans, and one each from Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, and Sweden.
The bureau’s legal division and other concerned offices have fast-tracked the resolution of deportation cases and secured the necessary clearances needed to facilitate the foreigners' departure from the country.
He said overcrowding in the facility exposes both the inmates and their guards to the risk of getting infected with the virus.
This should be the norm.
The PNP is finally getting body cameras! But it's not to police the police and assure the public that all their missions are above board. It's to keep an eye on the public!
Police officers in San Juan City who will be enforcing the city’s health rules while on bicycle patrols, are now equipped with body cameras to catch violators, Mayor Francis Zamora said Thursday.
In a press briefing with reporters at Ortigas Avenue, Zamora said the bike patrols will go around dedicated bike lanes and smaller streets to apprehend those who will not be wearing face masks and face shields as well as those who will be spitting in public places.
(Body cameras are important because they will not only apprehend those who will violate the bike lanes, they will also apprehend violators of ordinances on wearing of face masks, face shields as well as the anti-spitting ordinance.)
Zamora said 30 police bike patrollers were issued body cameras to record videos or take photos of ordinance violators.
(Why do we need body cameras? Because mostly the violators will make excuses which makes room for interpretation.)
(If we have body cameras, we have videos, photos, and it is clear that there are violations. We will show these videos to you. If you want to contest the violations, traffic enforcers and Task Force Disiplina will show you the videos and photos of your violation.)
At the same time, Zamora said the bike patrollers will also ensure the safety of cyclists who will be using the modified bicycle lanes along Ortigas Avenue in San Juan.
(We launched San Juan bike patrollers today because we have bike lanes, we also have police officers on board bikes and their job is to check the bike lanes and ensure the safety of everyone who is biking and to make sure that everyone who is biking is wearing a mask.)
Aside from bike patrollers, Zamora said they will also distribute body cameras to traffic enforcers and members of the city government’s Task Force Disiplina, which also implement the health rules.
The police now have body cameras to catch COVID-19 violators. But the same reasons they give, leaves no room for interpretation, is exactly why the PNP needs to be equipped with cameras when they go out on raids.
Some experts have issued seven commandments to public transportation drivers and passengers to ensure everyone stays safe.
Use anti-virus masks. Those who wear this are 6 times less likely to get infection compared to those who don’t, said Dayrit.
Wear face shield. This will reduce the risk of infection by as much as 3 times, he said.
No talking and no eating. Respiratory droplets from the mouth and nose can spread the virus, said the former health chief.
Ensure adequate ventilation. Open the windows of vehicles every now and then to dissipate the still air, where the virus might linger. For trains, stopping at platforms and opening the door will promote airflow, he said.
Practice frequent disinfection. Transport authorities should ensure that public vehicles are cleaned with bleach, which kills the virus, he said.
No symptomatic passengers. People who feel unwell should refrain from using public transport, said Dayrit.
Observe appropriate physical distancing. “It is possible to go below one meter. It is not dogma, but we have to look at all the packages in the 7 commandments for its proper implementation,” Dayrit said.
Other experts, a group of doctors, says all lockdowns should be ended.
The 5,000 members of the Concerned Doctors and Citizens of the Philippines (CDCph) led by former health secretary Jaime Galvez-Tan called on President Duterte to adopt a national protocol for the prophylaxis and early treatment of COVID-19 as an alternative to community quarantines.
“We proposed to the President for the Philippines to adopt a national protocol for the prophylaxis and early treatment of COVID-19 that aims to reduce hospitalization and prevent loss of lives,” the CDCph said in a unity statement read by Galvez-Tan during the launching of the “#Flatten the Fear” campaign.
Galvez-Tan said the implementation of a national protocol for early treatment of COVID is an effective, safe, inexpensive and science-based solution to address the pandemic in the country.
“With this solution in mind, we appeal to the President to lift all lockdowns,” he added.
Galvez-Tan said the government should focus its efforts on early treatment and home quarantine for most patients and prophylaxis for high risk individuals such as frontliners under the proposed plan.
The lifting of lockdowns across the country will likely not happen but perhaps the government will adopt some of their other suggestions.
The pandemic has been hard on everyone. Even billionaires.
A total of 32 personalities, from business magnates to politicians, suffered a cumulative $17.4 billion drop in wealth to $60.6 billion as of September this year, Forbes said. Ten others saw some increases, two sustained their net worth from last year, four were returnees to the list, while two were heirs to the deceased.
These people are still billionaires so they will be just fine.
Duterte has extended the nationwide state of calamity for a whole year more.
President Duterte has extended for one more year the declaration of a state of calamity in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, effective Sept. 13 this year to Sept. 12, 2021.
Duterte signed on Wednesday Proclamation 1021, “extending the period of state of calamity throughout the Philippines due to Coronavirus Disease 2019” that was released to the media yesterday.
The move extended the state of calamity first imposed by the President on March 16.
Duterte invoked the authority under the Constitution on the state’s policy to protect and promote the right to health of the people.
“Whereas, through the joint efforts of the government and the public, significant strides have been achieved in enhancing and improving the country’s capability to implement measures against the spread of COVID-19,” the two-page order read.
The President added that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has recommended the extension of the declared state of calamity throughout the Philippines.
“Whereas, this extension, will, among others, effectively afford the National Government, as well as the local government units, ample latitude to continue utilizing appropriate funds, including the Quick Response Fund, in their disaster preparedness and response efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, monitor and control prices of basic necessities and prime commodities, and provide basic services to the affected populations,” Duterte said in the proclamation.
It also noted that the number of COVID-19 positive cases and deaths “continue to rise despite efforts and interventions to contain the same.”
Looks like rolling quarantines and a stalled economy will continue for the foreseeable future.
It's official. Undas 2020 has been cancelled nationwide.
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has issued Resolution No. 71, which prevents the public from observing All Souls’ and All Saints’ Days on the traditional dates this year due to the COVID pandemic.
“All private and public cemeteries and memorial parks, including columbariums and the like, throughout the country shall be closed to visitors from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4,” the IATF said in its order signed by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, co-chairpersons of the task force.
“Provided, that, the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine shall continue to govern burial and cremation activities during the said period,” the resolution read.
How will people cope? Will they be pouring into cemeteries the days before and after the closure dates? Masses can still be said inside the cemeteries but no one will be allowed to attend except the priest and his attendants.
The Catholic Church may hold Masses inside the cemeteries in Cebu City during the All Souls’ Day despite that the public is prohibited from visiting the tombs of their loved as part of the measures against the coronavirus disease COVID-19.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, in his homily during the Fiesta Mass in Danao City on Monday, September 21, 2020, said he asked Mayor Edgardo Labella to allow the holding of a Mass in the cemeteries on All Souls’ Day even without the attending public.
The only ones who will be present in the Mass at the cemeteries, Palma said, are the officiating priests and the acolytes.
Palma said Labella has already given them permission as long as there will be no other attendees for the Mass celebration.
This kind of Mass is known as
Sine Populo or without the people.
An exclusive rooftop bar was shutdown by the PNP for violating health protocols.
A total of 34 curfew violators, including 9 foreigners, were arrested at a rooftop bar in Barangay Poblacion, Makati City on Friday night after police got wind of a live video shared by one of the customers on social media.
The foreigners included 3 Koreans, an American, a Kazakh, and at least 3 Germans, one of whom was identified as a diplomat.
Makati police chief Police Col. Oscar Jacildo said police arrived at the bar past the curfew hour of 10 p.m. and found patrons drinking, dancing, and failing to observe physical distancing.
Police went to the bar after they were told of a live video being streamed by a customer. They noted that access to the rooftop was limited.
Jacildo said this was already the third Friday police had called the attention of the establishment for operating the bar.
Here's a tip: don't livestream your happy hour at an illegal rooftop bar! That guy ruined it for everyone else.
Karaoke has been banned in Cavite since the beginning of the pandemic. The Palace says they will leave it up to LGUs if they wish to follow suit.
Malacañang on Monday said it is up to local government units (LGUs) to decide on whether to copy the move of Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla to ban noisy, late-night karaoke amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
In a virtual presser, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Remulla’s decision is a “valid exercise of local government power”.
He cited Article 694 of the New Civil Code or the provision about the abatement of nuisance.
“(In the New Civil Code, we have what we call abatement of nuisance and of course, if karaoke is too loud, it can be a nuisance and abatement is in the hands of local government),” he said.
In a Facebook post last Tuesday, Remulla urged the public to report loud karaoke singers to authorities to prevent noise pollution.
This after his office received several complaints about the “tireless abuse” made by noisy karaoke singers.
He emphasized that getting a good night's sleep will help strengthen the immune system against Covid-19.
“(Curfew isn't just made to reduce nonsense night strolls. It is also meant to strengthen the body through a good and sound sleep),” Remulla said.
Remulla also said late-night karaoke is also considered as a violation of curfew hours under quarantine protocols.
“(Sorry, but even if you say you are inside your own homes, the noise it causes can be considered a violation of curfew hours),” he said.
It sounds like noisy late-night karaoke is already banned in article 694 of the New Civil Code. Either way karaoke is virtually banned across the nation due to social distancing rules.
DILG Secretary Año is boasting about the low crime rate since the lockdowns began in March.
Interior and Local Government Sec. Eduardo Año on Monday said the crime volume in the country decreased by 47 percent during the first six months that the country was placed under lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Año, citing data from the Philippine National Police (PNP), said there were 16,879 reported incidents of crime from March 17 to present.
This is almost half of the crime incidents logged six months before the lockdown, or from September 2019 to the earlier half of March 2020, where 31,1661 incidents were reported.
"From 172 cases a day to 92 cases per day," Año said during the weekly meeting of Cabinet officials with President Rodrigo Duterte.
Año also said incidents of robbery went down by 61 percent, while vehicle and motorcycle theft went down by 66 percent and 61 percent, respectively.
Murder cases also went down by 22 percent, while rape cases went down by 24 percent.
Año said the decrease in the incidents of crime can be attributed to police visibility and better coordination with the local government units.
Perhaps a stronger police visibility and constant coordination with LGUs should be the norm after the pandemic is over. The decrease can also be attributed to the fact that everyone has been forced to stay at home.
Reminder: if you are doing shots with friends make sure everyone has their own glass!
Baguio City has recorded 43 additional cases of COVID-19 as several residents shared a solitary shot glass during a social gathering, Mayor Benjamin Magalong said.
According to Darlene Cay's report on “24 Oras” on Monday, Magalong said most of the cases were from the Barangays Ferdinand and Sto. Child. The two barangays were already placed on lockdown since Sunday.
“Yesterday we had 43 cases. But that was the result of contact tracing, 82% of that was the result of contact tracing because there was a drink in a barangay, a meal and then only one glass was used in the drink so this is the size of the implication, increase the infected in that barangay, ”Magalong said.
COVID-19 or not that is absolutely disgusting.
It appears a new requirement for contact racing may be imposed on the public.
Dumaguete-based businessman Edward Du, past president of NOCCI and currently the Central Visayas regional governor of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), in an interview on Monday said “the entire business sector is now pushing for the No QR Code, No Entry Policy to gradually eliminate the use of pen and paper for contact tracing purposes”.
Du said the NOCCI has 200 members and along this line “we are united”, even if there is no approval yet from the province’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID). “We will push through because “the business sector is free to adopt its own health and safety protocols that will help increase sales,” he said.
“It is just like the ‘no face mask, no entry’ policy and business establishments are required to generate or print a hard copy of the QR Code for free,” he said.
Du said it is their advocacy to push for this contact tracing method, which will result to faster and convenient way for government workers/volunteers locating contacts of suspect or confirmed Covid-19 cases. He added that it will also benefit the public as they no longer have to stand and wait in long queues at establishments, stores, supermarkets, and even banks.
QR codes have already been placed in businesses in Manila and elsewhere now Dumaguete is seeking to impose them in all businesses. Perhaps the IATF-EID will make a pronouncement on this issue.
It really is too bad that the Offices of the President and Vice President cannot work together on any issue. Robredo can never do enough to please Duterte and Duterte can never do enough to please Robredo.
President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesperson dared Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday to come up with a solution to the COVID-19 pandemic, saying she might even become president if she has one.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque's challenge to Robredo comes after the opposition leader said the chief executive's plan to wait for a COVID-19 vaccine is "not enough."
(I am challenging VP Leni. If she has a solution that doesn't need a vaccine and a cure, reveal it and I'm sure she might just become president immediately if she could find one that doesn't need a vaccine or medicine.)
(Until there is no vaccine, no cure, there is really no solution to this pandemic.)
Robredo had on Monday made suggestions on how to respond to the pandemic after President Duterte said in a late-night public address on Monday that only a vaccine could finally solve the health crisis.
The Vice President said the Philippines could suppress the COVID-19 pandemic by "medical and non-medical" means, noting that the government needs to "overcome humanitarian emergencies" like poverty, hunger and unemployment caused by the pandemic.
The Duterte administration has been criticized for its COVID-19 response as the President opted to rely heavily on retired military generals to impose pandemic response policies.
The Philippines also has yet to completely flatten the pandemic curve despite having one of the strictest and longest lockdowns in the world.
This kind of childish rhetoric is completely unhelpful. Is Roque so stupid that he does not realize he undermines his own snide sarcasm by saying without a vaccine there is no solution? If there is no solution then the government should just let it be and stop pretending that face masks, face shields, social distancing, ECQ, GCQ, liquor bans, and all the rest are anything except a worthless burden on the public. The longest lockdown in the world has not helped reduce COVID-19 cases one bit!
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