More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.
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| https://globalnation.inquirer.net/301236/born-to-roam-ph-igniting-the-spirit-of-exploration-through-the-first-philippine-overlanding-festival |
A new era of adventure travel is rolling through the Philippines as Born to Roam PH (BTR), a growing community of overlanders, makes its mark with the successful completion of its first Philippine Loop Caravan and the launch of the country’s first-ever Roam Fest — a celebration of travel, camaraderie, and the Filipino spirit of discovery.
Born to Roam PH began as a small, consistent group of hobbyists around 2016 and grew during the pandemic – a time when travel restrictions shut down malls and limited destinations. “We just wanted to keep the overlanding hobby alive,” said Alex Perez, Lead Founder of Born to Roam PH. “That’s why we started monthly camps all over Luzon — to give people a consistent venue to continue exploring, one campsite at a time.”
The name “Born to Roam” itself originated from a global campaign by Front Runner, a premium overlanding gear brand in South Africa which is locally distributed by Premium Overland Outfitters established in 2014. What began as a local extension of that movement evolved into a true community — welcoming all kinds of rigs and enthusiasts eager to test their builds, connect with nature, and rediscover freedom on the open road.
The name “Born to Roam” itself originated from a global campaign by Front Runner, a premium overlanding gear brand in South Africa which is locally distributed by Premium Overland Outfitters established in 2014. What began as a local extension of that movement evolved into a true community — welcoming all kinds of rigs and enthusiasts eager to test their builds, connect with nature, and rediscover freedom on the open road.
That realization came to life with Roam Fest 2025, held from October 16 to 19, 2025, at Camp Forest Springs in Bacolod City. The event transformed the vast campsite into a vibrant, united community of overlanders from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
“Roam Fest is more than just an event — it’s a movement,” said Perez. “It’s about reigniting our love for the outdoors, promoting sustainable travel, and celebrating how our journeys connect us as one nation.”
At its core, Roam Fest aims to become a yearly gathering that brings together overlanders and campers from across the country — creating a venue to connect, inspire, and promote new camping and overlanding destinations. The goal: to grow the lifestyle of outdoor appreciation and adventure while fostering community and environmental responsibility.
What started as a hobby for many has evolved into a full-blown lifestyle. “We used to camp alone or with a few friends,” shared Perez. “Now, people bring their partners, kids, and even their dogs. Overlanding has become a way of life — about balance, adaptability, and sharing the outdoors with family.”
Each overlander designs their own rig to fit their needs — reflecting not just their gear preferences but their way of living and exploring.
Overlanding in the Philippines has grown significantly — especially during the pandemic when people sought freedom and open spaces. “There are many of us now,” Perez said. “It became a hobby because there was nowhere else to go, but it stuck because it gave us something more meaningful — connection, nature, and peace.”
Born to Roam PH stands at the heart of this movement — inspiring others to discover their own rhythm of travel and to experience the country’s diverse landscapes through the lens of freedom, resilience, and community.
With its successful debut, Roam Fest is set to become an annual tradition — one that will continue to champion Philippine tourism, environmental appreciation, and the spirit of adventure.
“If you want the ultimate Philippine adventure — one that challenges you, strengthens your bonds, and makes you fall in love with your country — this is it,” said Perez. “All you need is time, resources, and the will to roam.”
From South Africa to the Philippines the desire to be a rambling man cannot be stamped out.
In Boracay cardilogists have decided to revive a life-saving initative. They are going to teach CPR!
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1264534 |
The newly formed Capiz-Aklan chapter of the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) will revive the CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on Wheels and Wings (CWW) program in Boracay Island.
The initiative is a joint advocacy of the group of cardiologists and the Department of Tourism (DOT), which started back in 2016, but took a backseat during the pandemic.
The campaign targets to equip health workers and non-medical individuals — including drivers, students, resort staffand vendors — with hands-only CPR in case of sudden cardiac arrest.
“The PHA national council on CPR and Capiz-Aklan chapter will spearhead the revival of the CWW, aimed to transform the country’s tourist destinations into CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED)-ready communities and establishments,” said newly minted chapter president, Dr. Rommel Mosquete, in a statement released by the PHA on Wednesday.
He said cardiovascular disease is the leading health menace in the Philippines and around the world.
"A cardiac arrest victim has to be revived within four to six minutes to prevent irreversible neurologic or brain damage. That is why knowledge of hands-only CPR among bystanders or a witness is crucial to save a life while waiting for the ambulance to arrive,” Mosquete added.
The chapter targets to hold the training in February 2026.
During the three-day training in October 2016, around 550 participants were trained in partnership with the local government of Malay through its Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the Boracay Foundation and DOT.
Meanwhile, Mosquete took his oath as president of the Aklan and Capiz chapter before PHA national president Dr. Walid Amid in a ceremony in Roxas City on Sunday.
The chapter has 13 cardiologist members who previously served under PHA Western Visayas–Panay.
They now operate as the 15th provincial chapter of the PHA.
Knowing CPR should be standard for all health workers. This only reveals how backwards the Philippines really is.
In Cebu City thousands of health workers still have not received their pandemic allowances.
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| https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/p431m-allowance-still-unreleased |
THOUSANDS of health workers in Cebu City reportedly remain unpaid for their service during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a councilor.
Years after the height of the crisis, Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover Jr. is urging immediate action to release the Health Emergency Allowance (HEA). Despite the National Government allocating funds, administrative failures and the dissolution of pandemic-response offices have left nearly 4,000 former frontliners without the benefits mandated by law.
Why is the distribution of HEA stalled
The delay persists due to a breakdown in record-keeping following the disbandment of temporary pandemic offices and the lack of designated personnel to manage the payroll lists. While funds are reportedly available, bureaucratic hurdles and redundant requirements have prevented the money from reaching the beneficiaries.
Availability of funds
The funds required to pay these workers are reportedly already in the possession of the local government. Records from the City Treasurer’s Office indicate that Cebu City received P431,324,718 intended for HEA disbursement.
Councilor Mikel Rama noted that the Department of Budget and Management released P6.767 billion nationwide for HEA allocations in November. This contradicts any claims that the City is waiting for the National Government to download the funds. Rama emphasized that the delay contradicts the intent of Republic Act (RA) 11712.
Allowance tiers and legal basis
Under RA 11712, the Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances for Health Care Workers Act, eligible workers are entitled to a monthly HEA based on their risk exposure. These mandated minimum rates are P3,000 for those in low-risk areas (office-based personnel), P6,000 for medium-risk areas (field workers) and P9,000 for those deployed in high-risk areas (hospitals and areas involving direct contact with infectious agents).
These benefits are applicable retroactively to July 1, 2021, and remain in effect for the duration of the declared public health emergency. Eligible recipients cover a broad range of public and private health care and non-health care workers, regardless of employment status (including contractual and job order personnel). This includes nurses, midwives, medical technologists and support staff, as well as registered barangay health workers who are part of the Department of Health’s response efforts. The prior law, RA 11494 (Bayanihan to Recover as One Act), provided similar but temporary benefits that expired before RA 11712 took effect.
Disbanded offices and missing records
A significant cause of the delay is the dissolution of specific units created to handle the pandemic response. These include Project Noah (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards), the Cebu City Quarantine Center, the City Health Department and the Emergency Operations Center.
When these offices closed, many personnel resigned or moved to other jobs. Consequently, there were no “focal persons” left to consolidate and track the lists of qualified recipients. This led to late or incomplete submissions of names to the Department of Health (DOH).
“This issue has been going on for a very long time. The problem is that our offices submitted their lists to the DOH late. Many offices only existed during the pandemic and have since disappeared, which is why the processing became disorganized,” Alcover said.
Redundant requirements
Despite validation processes conducted by the DOH and the City, some offices continue to demand additional documents from workers, such as office clearances, service records, computation sheets and signed undertakings.
Alcover argues that these requirements are unnecessary for workers who have already been validated and included in the master list. He contends that presenting an identification card should suffice and adding more prerequisites only prolongs the wait.
“Yet up to this day, wa gihapon sila makadawat sa Health Emergency Allowance nga gisaad sa balaod,” he said.
Consequences and next steps
The City Accounting Office and the treasurer’s office have committed to releasing the allowances by Dec. 24. However, the City Council has requested an executive session to clarify the exact status of the payroll, the amount of unutilized funds and the specific steps required to ensure lawful disbursement.
Failure to meet the December deadline would mean that thousands of workers still have to wait. The City Government must now focus on determining exactly who remains unlisted and how to process the payroll through the Management Information and Computer Services system immediately.
“This is not just delayed paperwork. This is justice… It is only right that this government fulfills its obligation to them,” Alcover said.
So much red tape for people to get what they are owed!
One journalist has recounted her harrowing experience covering the pandemic.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2152650/covering-and-learning-from-covid-19 |
The Philippines, like many other countries, was not immune to the initial shock waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reports of rising influenza-like illnesses in the past months pushed Filipinos to be more careful—yet again. Some were again seen wearing face masks.
Given the years of living under the shadow of COVID-19, such reaction to sickness is, I guess, expected.
During the pandemic, journalists played a crucial role in keeping people informed, while also experiencing difficulty delivering information about COVID-19 from government officials, some of whom were reluctant to answer queries.
Reporters worked remotely as government press conferences were held online. This led to many unanswered questions, including why the COVID-19 crisis was escalating amid class suspensions and travel restrictions.
Scary experience
The Philippine Daily Inquirer had adjusted to the pandemic to ensure that coverage continued while the safety of employees was also protected. The work arrangements included shuttle service to pick up and drop off employees, as well as the implementation of the work-from-home option.
There were instances when reporters exposed to people who tested positive for COVID-19 feared they had caught the virus, too.
I repeatedly cried out of fear that I might have brought the virus to my parents, who are both senior citizens, and my daughter, who was still a minor.
While the experience of covering the pandemic was both exciting and instructive, I must admit that it was often scary most of the time.But I also knew that despite the fears that came with the job, journalists needed to present accurate news to the public so they would know what to do, especially when more and more people began catching the virus.
These days, every time the flu season comes around, I always think that the simple act of wearing a mask is not just about safekeeping oneself or others, but is also about preventing history from repeating itself.
During the pandemic, journalists had to find alternatives and adhere to safety measures to gather news once lockdowns and compulsory social distancing measures were implemented.
Invisible subject
Reporters had to strategize when it came to news gathering, especially in verifying information and interviewing sources.
Philippine media organizations took unprecedented steps to ensure the well-being of employees while delivering timely updates to a public starving for information.
Compared to other assignments, the danger for journalists this time was that the deadly subject was invisible.
In July 2023, President Marcos lifted the “state of public health emergency” declared due to COVID-19. But while the pandemic exposed weaknesses in the country’s health-care system, the Department of Health believed it also paved the way for “transformative improvements” in health-care response.
The COVID-19 may have upended our lives, but it also encouraged us to see things in a different light, to find creative ways to thrive in the new normal and to appreciate our homes and our loved ones.
Staying positive
The pandemic forced all of us to quickly bounce back from challenging times. It allowed us to adapt in many ways—in the way we connected and engaged with people, the way we worked and the way we took care of our health.
I learned that staying positive was key. I had the opportunity to exercise, eat healthier meals and spend more time talking to my family.
But more than protecting one’s health to fight illness, I also learned pandemic survival tips that I practiced with my family.
It helps to be equipped with the right information to allow you to make cautious yet rational decisions. Thus, getting facts from verified media outlets is important amid the spread of fake news.
It also pays not to be overconfident or too complacent because of other people around us.
While we may think of ourselves as having strong immune systems, we have to be considerate of others, like our senior citizen parents, who are more vulnerable.
Taking care of oneself also means taking care of others, particularly in our own households. For many of us, it took a pandemic to drive home that truth.
Too bad she wasn't courageous enough to speak out against the experimental vaccines or to question the government's unnecessary and economically crippling lockdowns. Hoo-ray for Filipino journalism.
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