Why Are Bridges in the Philippines Collapsing?

Why are bridges in the Philippines collapsing? Let's take a look at five cases from this year and see what we can learn. We shall do this in chronological order.

April 29th, 2022

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/dead-philippine-bridge-collapses-heavy-traffic-84365680

An old, earthquake-damaged bridge collapsed under heavy traffic in a central Philippine town, sending about a dozen vehicles plummeting into the river below and killing at least four people, officials said Thursday.

Regional police chief Brig. Gen. Roque Eduardo Vega said an initial investigation showed the bridge gave way under the weight of vehicles stuck in a traffic jam on it, including a truck loaded with sand and gravel to be used in the construction of a nearby bridge.

“The weight of the truck and its cargo caused serious tension to the bridge that caused its collapse,” Vega told reporters.

The bridge that collapsed had been damaged by a 2013 earthquake that devastated Bohol, but authorities allowed its temporary use while another bridge was being constructed, police said.

This bridge was earthquake-damaged but was still allowed to be used while another bridge was being constructed. The nature of the damage is not stated but how is it that in 9 years a new bridge had not been built or the old one fixed? That is unconscionable. The straw that broke the bridge's back was a truck which may or may not have been overloaded but certainly strained the bridge to the point of collapsing. 

June 15, 2022

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1176828

A personnel of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and its two on-the-job trainees (OJTs) were injured after a hanging bridge they were crossing collapsed in Barangay Latazon in the Municipality of Laua-an on Wednesday.

Antique Trade and Industry development specialist Glen Fernando, in an interview on Thursday, identified the injured as information technology personnel John Michael Villabert and OJTs Arlene Bangcaya of Barangay Necesito and Allyn Joy Necor of Barangay Intao, all from the said municipality.

Antique Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (PDRRM) Officer Broderick Train, in a separate interview, said the Municipal DRRMO of Laua-an was able to respond immediately to the scene.

“The cemented post of the hanging bridge toppled while its cable wire has collapsed that caused the accident,” he said.

The bridge collapsed due to overloading, according to Train.

“Villabert and the two OJTs were crossing the hanging bridge ahead of (Provincial) Director Dinda Tamayo when the Latazon hanging bridge gave way that caused the accident,” Fernando said in an interview.

This was only a pedestrian bridge but the cause given for the collapse is that it was overloaded. If a suspension bridge cannot be built that can handle the weight of three people that is definitely a problem.

June 16, 2022

https://mb.com.ph/2022/06/16/another-bridge-collapses-in-bohol-2nd-in-less-than-2-months/

Nobody was harmed as the Borja Bridge in Barangay Algeria, Catigbian, Bohol buckled while a 12-wheel truck was passing Thursday, June 16. 

The Catigbian Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CMDRRMO) said the truck bound for Ubay was loaded with sand when it crossed the bridge.

According to Jake Maglajos of the CMDRRMO, the truck was believed to be over the bridge’s weight limit of 20 tons, causing the structure to collapse. The driver of the truck escaped unscathed.

Maglajos said the bridge is already old and half of its lane was closed after a one-inch gap in its abutment was discovered.

The bridge, which was damaged when a strong earthquake rocked Bohol in 2013, collapsed less than two months after that in Loay, Bohol.

This is another earthquake-damaged bridge which was allowed to be in use despite authorities knowing the bridge was unsafe. Like the previous bridge it collapsed under the weight of an overloaded truck. 

September 26, 2022

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1184655

A 10-wheeler truck transporting tons of quarry materials is being linked to the collapse of a steel bridge at the boundary of Sibalom and Hamtic towns in Antique province on Monday.

The truck driven by Eljohn Orbigoso was on its way to Pavia town in Iloilo province from Sibalom when it passed by the Buhang-Egaña bridge around 3 a.m. Monday, said Sibalom Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (MDRRMO) Joel Odango in an interview.

The bridge load limit is said to be only up to 10 tons, but the truck was reportedly carrying around 30 tons of quarry materials.

“The truckload was over tonnage,” Odango said.

“We are still waiting for the DPWH investigation, which we hope would soon release its report, about the real cause of the collapse of the bridge so to know the liability of the driver or the person that had hired the truck,” he said.

The reason for collapse is said to be an overloaded truck but the MDRRMO spokesman says they are waiting fo the full DPWH investigation so they can know the real cause of the collapse. Perhaps it was not structurally sound.

October 20, 2022

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/10/21/Pangasinan-bridge-collapses-due-to-overloaded-trucks--says-mayor.html

A portion of a bridge in Bayambang, Pangasinan has collapsed due to overloaded trucks crossing the bridge, the city mayor said on Thursday.

Two trucks were on the Carlos P. Romulo Bridge when it caved in at 3:37 p.m. in Barangay Wawa, according to Bayambang Mayor Niña Jose-Quiambao.

“Ang nangyari pong insidenteng ito ay dahil sa overload ng trucks na dumadaan sa ating bridge,” the mayor said in a Facebook video.

[Translation: This incident happened due to the overload of trucks passing over our bridge.]

"We also ask for the patience and cooperation of each and everyone as we rise above the situation,” she added.

What does it mean they will "rise above the situation?" Will the companies who own the overloaded trucks be held responsible? Will the DPWH launch a thorough investigation into the structural integrity of the bridge to rule out all causes? Will anyone be held accountable for a situation that need not have happened? 

Let's look at one more collapsed bridge from last year. 

August 2, 2021

https://mb.com.ph/2021/08/02/old-steel-bridge-collapses-in-negros-1-hurt-15-rescued/

A bridge in Barangay Balabag, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental was temporarily closed to people and motorists pending its repair after it collapsed while three vehicles were crossing last Sunday, Aug. 1.

The incident was first reported to be in Hacienda La Plata, Purok Bagumbayan, Barangay Don Jorge L. Araneta, Bago City, but upon the conversation of Bago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo and La Carlota City Mayor Dr. Rex Jalando-on, it was found out that it is not in the inventory of bridges under the City of Bago.

A girl suffered minor injuries while 15 persons were rescued from three vehicles crossing the bridge.

Police Lt. Joseph Jaro, deputy police chief of Bago City, said the three vehicles were on a convoy from Pontevedra, Negros Occidental to Barangay Don Jorge L. Araneta for a ministry event when the bridge collapsed while they were in the middle.

The convoy was composed of three vehicles, Jaro said – an Isuzu Crosswind with six persons onboard driven by Christopher Trupa; a Hyundai Accent sedan driven by Anthony Ciocon with no passengers; and an Isuzu pickup truck driven by Ruel Magallanes with six passengers.

Jaro said the bridge could no longer carry more than one vehicle because it was already dilapidated. He said there was no sign placed near the bridge warning motorists to refrain from passing beyond the allowed weight of a vehicle.

He said a girl, who was crossing the bridge, sustained minor injuries, as she was walking in the middle when it collapsed. She was taken and later discharged from the hospital.

This bridge also collapsed due to overloading. However, the authorities knew it to be structurally unsound but no warning sign was placed near the bridge. 

Two footbridges collapsed in Iloilo in 2017. The first in February and the second in November. On April 27, 2018 in Zamboanga two bridges collapsed due to the use of substandard materials. 

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/regional/2018/04/27/zamboanga-bridge-collapse-NHA.html

Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco blames the National Housing Authority (NHA) for a bridge mishap at a housing site.

Climaco was inspecting projects under the Zamboanga City Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction (Z3R) in Brgy. Mariki when a portion of a wooden footbridge collapsed.

The Mayor fell into the water with Negros Occidental Representative Albee Benitez, Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat, and other local officials.

In an interview on CNN Philippines Balitaan, Climaco said what happened to them was not the only mishap in the housing area.

"A few minutes later, another bridge fell in that same site," she explained.

Climaco said she does not want these to happen to recipients of the units.

"We became ourselves, first-hand victims of the utilization of substandard materials and building projects," she said.

During the recent typhoon Paeng seven bridges in the Western Visayas collapsed .

https://www.panaynews.net/storm-puts-spotlight-on-fragility-of-wv-bridges-7-fail-to-withstand-torrential-rains-floods/

Are bridges in Western Visayas robust and climate-resilient?

At least seven bridges in the region were damaged by Tropical Storm “Paeng” over the weekend.

One bridge in Aklan, four in Antique, one in Iloilo, and another in Negros Occidental incurred varying degrees of damage due to flooding caused by torrential rains, initial data from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) showed.

It was unclear as of this writing how old those damaged bridges were.

DPWH Region 6 has also yet to clarify how often does it inspect bridges and how regular does it conduct bridge maintenance activities.

It seems the biggest contributing factor to bridges collapsing is overloading. The truck companies which own the overloaded trucks must be held accountable for allowing such a dangerous practice. The second problem is the lack of structural integrity. That bridges damaged by earthquakes are allowed to be in operation 9 years after the fact is unconscionable. The solution is for the DPWH to run an annual or bi-annual check on all bridges to make sure they are safe. That is what Senator Pimentel is calling for. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1683900/pimentel-wants-safety-review-on-bridges-after-bridge-collapse-in-pangasinan

Senate Minority Floor Leader Koko Pimentel is calling for a safety inspection of the  bridges nationwide following the recent collapse of a bridge in Pangasinan which left four persons injured.

“Are all our bridges still safe?” Pimentel said in a statement as he cited other cases of bridges collapsing like the Borja Bridge in Catigbian, Kulafu River Bridge in Davao City, a bridge in Majayjay, Laguna and Clarin Bridge over Lobo River in Loay, Bohol.

“I am worried. The incidents are very alarming. They put doubt on the structural integrity and safety of all our bridges. It is time to evaluate the safety of our bridges,” he added.

According to Pimentel, the government should start ordering an investigation especially after the collapse of Clarin Bridge in Bohol that killed four people and injured 15 more.

“Whether it is a local bridge or a DPWH-constructed and -maintained bridge, the government should order a probe and a thorough and detailed assessment of the overall safety of our bridges led by the DPWH,” Pimentel said.

He added that a regular assessment by the DPWH could prevent any similar incidents from occurring again, as he explained that nothing prevents the DPWH from setting aside some funds from their budget to inspect and rehabilitate local bridges.

With proper engineering and safety measures in place there really is no excuse for bridges in the Philippines to collapse.

Retards in the Government 282

It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.

  

https://mb.com.ph/2022/10/31/993-cops-secure-undas-in-negros-occidental-2/

A neophyte policeman died after he accidentally shot himself while cleaning his gun at his house in Barangay Mansilingan here on Sunday, Oct. 30.

The victim was identified as Patrolman Val Liansing, 24, temporarily assigned to the E.B. Magalona Municipal Police Station in Negros Occidental.

Capt. Elmer Bonilla, head of Police Station 7, said the victim was reportedly cleaning his .45 caliber personal firearm inside his bedroom when he accidentally shot himself in the jaw.

His family called for rescue and police assistance.

Liansing was taken to a private hospital but he expired Sunday night, Bonilla said.

Another cop has killed himself while cleaning his firearm. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/849968/ex-bohol-municipality-mayor-gets-up-to-40-years-for-graft/story/

The Sandiganbayan has sentenced a former mayor of Panglao, Bohol with up to 40 years of imprisonment for four counts of graft in connection with the hiring of defeated candidates during the appointment ban in 2013.

In a 49-page decision promulgated on October 26, the anti-graft court found Leonila Paredes Montero guilty beyond reasonable doubt for four counts of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

For each count, Montero is sentenced to suffer a minimum imprisonment of six years and one month and a maximum of up to 10 years.

She is also perpetually disqualified from holding public office.

The court ordered Montero to return P1.3 million to the Panglao municipality, representing the salaries paid during the one-year appointment ban, with 6% legal interest reckoned from the finality of the decision.

“After a thorough review of the evidence on record, the court finds that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt the guilt of Montero for four counts of violation of Section 3(e) of RA No. 3019,” it said.

“There is sufficient evidence showing that Montero acted with evident bad faith and manifest partiality to give unwarranted benefits to Hormachuelos, Reyes, Penales, and Fudalan,” it later added.

The cases stemmed from the hiring of four candidates in the May 2013 national and local elections as employees on a job order basis with a monthly salary of P25,000 each.

Montero had argued that the hiring of losing candidates on a job order basis is not covered by the prohibition and that the hiring of losing candidates on a job order basis is not prohibited under DILG Opinion No. 069-9.

The court, however, disagreed.

“The evidence shows that in hiring Hormachuelos, Reyes, Fudulan, and Penales as job order personnel, Montero had the furtive design and evil intent to circumvent the constitutional and statutory provisions prohibiting losing candidates from being appointed to the government within a year after elections,” it said.

A former mayor has been convicted of graft over hiring four losing candidates in 2013. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1687610/cop-dead-in-quirino-town-road-crash

A 27-year-old policeman died after his motorcycle collided with a tricycle in Barangay Villa Sur, Maddela town, Quirino province, police said on Monday, Oct. 31.

Investigators identified the fatality as Cpl. Bernie Pascual, who belonged to the 2nd Quirino Provincial Mobile Force Company and a native of Quirino’s Aglipay town.

Police said Pascual’s motorcycle was hit by the tricycle driven by 82-year-old Alfonso Blanco Jr. during a heavy downpour.

An initial investigation showed that Pascual was not wearing a helmet and was not carrying his driver’s license at the time of the accident.

Pascual was thrown off his motorcycle, causing head injuries. He was taken to a hospital but died later. I

A cop who did not wear a helmet or carry his drivers license died from head injuries after he wrecked his motorcycle. 

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1945147/cebu/local-news/cop-found-dead-with-gunshot-wound-in-head-inside-camp-barracks

A POLICEMAN was found dead with a gunshot wound in his temple inside the barracks of Camp Ceperino Genovia in Barangay Bahay in the southern town of Sibonga, Cebu on Wednesday afternoon, November 2, 2022.

He was identified as Patrolman Edgardo Pilariz Silva, a 32-year-old native of Tanjay, Negros Oriental, who was assigned at the Regional Mobile Force Battalion Central Visayas (RMFB 7).

Patrolman Rafaelito Alquizalas Mahinay walked in on Silva’s lifeless body still clutching his 9mm pistol at 4:50 p.m.

Mahinay said he earlier saw the victim dry firing, “or the practice of simulating the discharge of a firearm without any live ammunition.”

Members of the Scene of the Crime Operation (Soco) recovered the victim’s firearm loaded with 13 bullets and an empty shell.

Major Rodgene Fudotan, Sibonga Police Station chief, described the victim as a good man and hard-working.

According to Fudotan, Silva was seen going in and out of the barracks and appeared to be beside himself.

Attorney Risty Sibay, officer-in-charge of the National Police Commission Central Visayas, said the Philippine National Police (PNP) should not ignore the mental health of its personnel.

“I think this is a high time that the organization also look into the mental state of all the police officers and in the process hopefully we can establish a national mental health program for the PNP,” he said.

It appears a cop committed suicide inside his barracks. 

Coronoavirus Lockdown: Voluntary Wearing of Masks Indoors, Unvaxxed Residents Banned, and More!

More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.

Marcos has now officially signed an EO making masking wearing voluntary. 

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/10/28/marcos-face-mask-voluntary-indoors-EO-.html

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has issued an executive order allowing the voluntary wearing of face mask indoors across the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Malacañang announced on Friday.

Executive Order No. 7 also retains the previous policy of voluntary face mask use outdoors.

Under the order, a copy which was released by the Palace, face masks must still be worn inside healthcare facilities, medical transport vehicles, and public transportation.

Further, mask wearing is still encouraged among the elderly, individuals with comorbidities, pregnant women, unvaccinated individuals, and symptomatic patients.

"As a result of continued immunization, countries around the world have been instituting measures such as reopening of international borders, and relaxation of health and safety protocols and requirements, resulting in immediate positive impact to their economies," the EO read.

Other Southeast Asian countries like Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia have already relaxed their mask mandates.

Despite the eased face mask policy, the government reiterated that minimum public health standards must still be followed.

The DOH continues its fear mongering. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/10/27/2219681/covid-19-cases-could-reach-18k-day-if-masking-indoors-made-optional-doh

COVID-19 infections could go up to 18,000 a day by late 2022 if the government pushes through with making face masks optional even indoors, the Department of Health said Thursday.

Citing projections by scientists, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire told ABS CBN News Channel that daily COVID-19 cases may range from 2,500 to as high as 18,000 if masking rules are further loosened.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco earlier announced that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will issue an executive order allowing the voluntary wearing of face masks indoors.

Masks will still be required in public transportation and in medical settings, Frasco added.

Vergeire said the health department had presented possible scenarios to the government’s inter-agency task force on pandemic response concerning mask mandates. She, however, noted that the task force is a collegial body.

"There’s this agreement with [the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases] that we will still have unified messaging wherein we still highly encourage wearing of masks, especially in high-risk areas like public transport, health facilities and for the vulnerable like the elderly, pregnant women, the unvaccinated," she said.

The position of the DOH has always been to continue wearing masks to protect people from getting COVID-19. In September, the agency warned it was not yet time to ease mask wearing outdoors, but was overruled by the IATF and by the executive order of Marcos.

Interesting to note that if the DOH had its way everyone would still be forced to wear a face mask the moment they stepped outside their house! They want to make sure everyone uses "all layers of COVID-19 protection available."

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1685285/doh-experts-urge-public-to-continue-using-all-layers-of-protection-at-their-disposal

Experts from the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday appeared cautious about the impending move of the administration to make face mask use indoors voluntary.

Dr. Anna Ong-Lim, a DOH’s Technical Advisory Group Pediatric Infectious Diseases member, warned that based on past COVID-19 infection trends, virus transmission is bound to increase, especially with full face-to-face classes by November.

(So maybe for me, from the pediatric infectious disease perspective, there is nothing to lose if children continue to wear masks, especially in school settings where implementation of full in-person classes is about to start.)

She also said it might be easier to observe the effects of eased health protocols if the curbs are removed one by one.

(I think we have learned enough in the past two years to realize that masking is very valuable. Although it’s not particularly difficult, I think we’ve all gotten used to this health habit that helps not just for COVID but for many other diseases, particularly respiratory symptoms.)

“So let’s continue to use all the layers that we have at our disposal,” she added.

Metro Manila Center for Health Development (MMCHD) Director IV Dr. Alethea de Guzman likewise expressed similar sentiments, but stressed the importance of focusing more on the admission rate than the transmission rate.

She explained that once the level of protection given by the mandatory use of face masks is removed, the government and the public should then observe the number of admissions, especially in severe and critical cases.

“These past few months have shown us that even though we had increases in our cases, our health system capacity was able to actually accommodate these increases in cases. Kasama na an ICU dito (This includes the ICU),” de Guzman said.

Does that include wearing an equally useless face shield? 

Face masks are now voluntary in schools as well.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/11/01/2220794/deped-lets-students-drop-face-masks-even-indoors

A day before full face-to-face classes resume in public schools, the Department of Education announced that students are free to choose whether they will use face masks on campus — even indoors.

DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa made this announcement on Tuesday, saying that this is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Executive Order No. 7 scrapping the mask mandate.

Of course, the DepEd still recommends students wear masks to prevent a surge. 

Residents of one town in Zambales will not be allowed in the cemetery for Undas unless they have been vaccinated. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1685610/unvaxxed-residents-banned-from-cemetery-in-zambales-town-during-undas

Residents of San Marcelino town who remain unvaccinated against COVID-19 would be barred from the public cemetery during “Undas,” the local government announced.

In an advisory on Wednesday, Oct. 26, San Marcelino Mayor Elmer Soria reminded residents to follow the policies, including COVID-19-related restrictions, that the local government issued for visiting the dead on All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day (Nov. 1 and Nov. 2).

Residents were asked to continue wearing face masks to avoid the spread of the virus, according to the town’s public information office.

Unvaccinated residents are left out in the cold but both unvaccinated and vaccinated residents still have to wear face masks. Proof that the vaccine is as useless as the face mask! Why not just require everyone in the cemetery to wear a face mask? 

Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion says restaurants should ditch vaccination card requirements. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1686156/fwd-concepcion-believes-establishments-should-let-go-of-covid-19-vaccination-card-requirement

Businesses must discontinue requiring clients to present a COVID-19 vaccination card, former presidential adviser for entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion said on Friday.

Concepcion stressed that restaurants in other countries no longer require vaccination cards before consumers can dine in.

(In restaurants around the world, a vaccination card is no longer required. So, I think, we should just let it go already.)

“If the person wants to take the risk and get sick, then what can we do? I’ve attended so many engagements, and everybody is eating together without the mask,” he said in a Laging Handa public briefing.

Concepcion said that people should learn to live with the virus, noting that they already know what actions to take.

(Are we afraid of getting sick? Then use a face mask and observe social distancing.)

(But if you think that you can handle it, then don’t wear a face mask.)

Those words are heresy in this climate. If vaccination cards at restaurants go it's only a matter of time before vaccination cards across the board will be nixed and then the vaccination rate will drop which means the government will have procured billions of pesos worth of vaccines it will never use. 

Not only has Marcos now lifted the indoor mask mandate but he has also eased travel restrictions. 

https://palawan-news.com/pres-marcos-oks-easing-of-stringent-travel-restrictions/

President Ferdinand Marcos has approved the removal of the COVID-19 test requirements for incoming visitors and the lifting of the mask-wearing mandate for indoor settings.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Sec. Christina Garcia Frasco made the announcement in a press briefing at the Malacañang Palace on October 25, following the Cabinet Meeting with the President.

In line with the President’s vision to facilitate ease of travel and tourist convenience, Frasco said the direction taken by national government agencies is towards the liberalization of travel protocols in the country.

“The direction of the Marcos Administration is to lift the remainder of travel restrictions into the Philippines, and that includes easing of our mask mandates to allow our country to be at par with our ASEAN neighbors who have long liberalized their mask mandates,” said Frasco.

“In addition to this, it was also discussed that the remainder of stringent protocols, such as the requirement of pre-departure testing into the Philippines would also be removed,” added the DOT Chief.

She also announced that Marcos will issue an executive order that will allow fully-vaccinated visitors coming to the Philippines to be allowed without the COVID-19 test requirement. Meanwhile, unvaccinated guests, will be given the option to take an antigen test 24 hours before travel or upon arrival in the Philippines. This policy will supersede the stringent COVID-19 test and quarantine requirements for vaccinated and unvaccinated visitors.

Despite these kind of overtures and his willingness to get back to normal Marcos is not willing to lift the state of emergency.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/10/28/doh-marcos-wont-lift-covid-19-public-health-emergency-yet/

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. will not lift the state of public health emergency due to Covid-19 yet, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Friday, Oct. 28.

DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire was asked about it following the recent meeting of Marcos with World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“I don’t think there would be that kind of concept although Dr. Tedros told the President that there was just a recent meeting among the higher officials of the WHO which decides on this public health emergency,” said Vergeire in a press briefing. 

“He specifically told the President that in the recent meeting, the vote was to still continue on with the public health emergency,” she added. 

“‘Not yet at this time,’ he told that to the President and the President said ‘yes, we understand,’” furthered Vergeire. 

The DOH OIC believes that Marcos will not lift the public health emergency immediately. 

“I think the President would do this gradually… And of course he is trying to balance also. So, I don’t think there is this kind of thinking already…right now immediately,” said Vergeire.

Remember, as long as the state of emergency exists the government does not have to go through the proper channels to procure vaccines or any other items related to the pandemic. 

Only 32 provinces remain under alert level 2.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/11/01/32-areas-under-covid-19-alert-level-2-from-nov-1-to-15-doh/

Thirty-two areas in the country were placed under Covid-19 Alert Level 2 from Nov. 1 to Nov. 15, the Department of Health (DOH) said. 

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. approved the latest Covid-19 Alert Level System (ALS) classifications for provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities, the DOH said in a statement on Monday, Oct. 31. 

“Thirty-two provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities are under Alert Level 2,” the DOH said. 

On the other hand, 89 out of 121 provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities were placed under Alert Level 1, the DOH said. 

The DOH has observed a decline in the country’s case trend and hospital admissions. 

“This means that our key indicators, such as the healthcare utilization rate (HCUR), are showing improvements. We attribute this development to every Filipino who continues to cooperate with our Covid-19 response,” said DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire. 

“But while we see a continuous decline in case and admission trends, we must remember that deescalation does not mean that the battle with Covid-19 is already over. These current numbers are not permanent; we must all work together to maintain these low numbers,” she added. 

There is no doubt that, for all practical purposes, the pandemic is over. Now it's time to prepare for the next pandemic. That includes building a virology institute. The Philippines certainly needs a DOH secretary now and not later but the current OIC says that DOH operations have not been interrupted in the meantime. 

The same OIC, Maria Rosario Vergerie, says the Philippines is better prepared for a fresh COVID-19 surge. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/28/22/philippines-better-prepared-vs-fresh-covid-surge-doh

The Philippines is "better prepared" should there be a surge in COVID-19 infections, the country's top health official said Friday, as the government planned to further relax health protocols.

According to Department of Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, the country's healthcare system was able to "manage" hospital admissions due to COVID-19 in the past months.

(We think we are better prepared if and when cases increase again and this is what we are saying in our projections.)

Vergeire was referring to the DOH's latest forecast of up to 18,000 daily COVID-19 cases towards the end of the year.

The projection was made as the government is set to lift the indoor mask mandate despite the presence of more contagious coronavirus variants. The agency also examined the country's vaccination coverage and the public's compliance to health protocols.

Vergeire reminded the public their forecasts are "not cast in stone".

"Hindi porke na na-project ang numero, mangyayari talaga siya. These projections are used for government to plan, for government to prepare [and] for government to be guided," she added.

"If and when cases increase again?" Cases are down! Sounds like more fear mongering. At least she admits these are projections not set in stone. 

Restaurant Obstructing the Sidewalk

If there is one thing I really despise in the Philippines it's all the sidewalk and roadway obstructions.  And here's another one!

Why would they do this?  Who gave them the permit? Who gave them the go ahead?  It makes me so angry because it should not be there. Look at the first picture.  You literally have to either walk in the street or around the back. Most people will be walking in the street like the person in the first picture is doing. Remember when the president himself ordered the clearing of all sidewalk obstructions? And here we are back to zero. 

In Surigao del Norte legislation has been filed to regulate the use of sidewalks. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/20/22/surigao-del-norte-lawmaker-wants-govt-to-regulate-sidewalk-use

Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers wants government to regulate the use of sidewalks. 

Under House Bill 1545 that he filed, it is unlawful for anyone to build any edifice, stall and other similar structures, put up any business and other forms of obstruction, leave garbage and other junk materials, and engage in ambulant vending on sidewalks.

Other acts that tend to impede or obstruct the use of sidewalks which are meant to service pedestrians are also prohibited. 

Barbers' proposed measure states that special permits may be issued by authorities for the temporary use of sidewalks for businesses like vulcanizing shops, repair shops, parking spaces, eateries, advertisement spaces, and other similar activities.

Without such a permit, any act that impedes the free movement of people on sidewalks will be deemed unlawful and punishable by a penalty ranging from P 1,000 to P 10,000. 

Any objects blocking the sidewalk will be confiscated by local officials, the bill said. 

City and municipal governments will be in charge of implementing this if it lapses into law. 

"It is of no secret that urban areas have become so congested that people tend to disregard order and do things convenient to them," Barbers said in the bill's explanatory note. 

"Small businesses have used and occupied our sidewalks leaving pedestrians with no choice but to walk by the roadside, thus exposing them to greater risks of bodily injury and even death. Residents who do not have parking spaces in their houses use the streets for their parking lots," the lawmaker noted.

"Our roads are not built for such purposes and the taxpayers have all the right to complain," he said.

It is ridiculous that a bill like this has to be filed but even if it becomes law can the people really count on it being enforced?

Insurgency: Eradicate CTG Remnants

The Philippine Army's 8th Infantry Division has a new commander and he has set the lofty goal of ending the insurgency in Samar before the year is out. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1186873

Ending the local armed conflict in Eastern Visayas before the year ends will be the top priority of the new commander of the Philippine Army in the region.

Maj. Gen. Camilo Ligayo, who assumed the post as commander of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division on October 21, said the arrival of modern equipment will help them significantly reduce the number of NPA members.

“We will continue to fight against these so-called peace spoilers. As we move forward, we will continue to recognize that the insurgency campaign is a shared responsibility of everyone in government,” Ligayo said in a statement on Monday.

He added that the support from local government officials and the community will be a big factor to help achieve their goal.

Ligayo noted the number of former communists who have surrendered was an indication that the war against local insurgency is nearing its end.

"The government has a good program for those who surrender and the community is also helping in their reintegration," he added.

“I call upon all our peace and development stakeholders, the different government local units headed by their local chief executives, the regional chief executives for your commitment and support to our ultimate goal in attaining the total defeat of the communist terrorists. Surely, we will be able to attain this strategic defeat of the NPA and further prevent their resurgence in the region. Together we can succeed,” Ligayo said.

In Isabela the troops have also been ordered to eradicate the CTG remnants. 

https://www.kalinawnews.com/eradicate-ctg-remnants-bgen-pasia-startroopers-to-intensify-anti-insurgency-campaign%EF%BF%BC/

BGen Audrey L Pasia, Commander of the 5th Infantry Division, Philippine Army reiterated his guidance to all Startroopers in winning the battle cry of the Command on October 24, 2022, at Camp Melchor F Dela Cruz, Upi, Gamu, Isabela.

“Together, we will relentlessly perform our mandate to totally eradicate the remnants of the Communist Terrorist Group in our Area of Responsibility before 2022 ends,” BGen Pasia said in his speech during his first flag raising ceremony as the full-fledged Commander of 5ID.

The general also said, “While we are focused in accomplishing our mission to eradicate the armed group, I, as your Commander shall look into your welfare, to include that of your families. We get what is due us. We all have our rightful share- for yourself and for your service to the country. Alagaan ninyo ang inyong sarili because we cannot give what we do not have. Love yourself in order to give love to others.”

He also encouraged the Civilian Human Resources to help the uniformed personnel in achieving the best structure of 5ID. 

“Let us all help each other for the attainment of our goal. Magkaisa tayong lahat. We are a team. We are TEAM 5ID” the general ended.

With the Davao Region being declared insurgency free President Marcos believes the area should be developed into a tourist destination. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1685779/bongbong-marcos-to-insurgency-free-davao-region-take-optimistic-cautious-steps

Davao Region must take “optimistic but cautious” steps after it was declared “insurgency-free” by its Regional Peace and Order Council, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said.

An end to the insurgency in the Davao provinces was formally declared at a program attended by the President and the Vice President, Sara Duterte, in Panacan, Davao City on Thursday.

“Moving forward, we take an optimistic but cautious step to mind that the goal of achieving a long, lasting peace and order in the region cannot end just with this declaration,” Marcos said in his speech.

He added, “We will need to sustain it with a whole-of-nation approach to peace and development to prevent terrorist and lawless elements from recruiting, regrouping and regaining power over our countrymen.”

Marcos raised caution over the possibility of the region going “back to square one,” which, he said, cannot be afforded.

“I call on the armed forces, government agencies, local government units, and communities to continue working together to seize the gains in the region and ensure that we will carry this momentum towards the future,” he added.

Davao Region, previously a stronghold of the communist New People’s Army, also re-launched itself as a tourism and investment hotspot during the event.

“To celebrate this victory, I believe there is no better way to commemorate the eradication of insurgency in Davao than to declare the region as a tourism and investment-ready destination,” Marcos said.

That sounds good in a speech but the reality is that Mindanao remains on the danger list of many foreign states. They do not want their citizens traveling to Mindanao. Declaring Davao insurgency free is only one step and means nothing if the AFP cannot keep the NPA from regrouping. 

Christmas is just around the corner and Imee Marcos wants the AFP and NPA to enter a truce for the season. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1686320/fwd-sen-marcos-calls-on-rebels-afp-to-implement-christmas-truce

Implement a Christmas ceasefire, Senator Imee Marcos appealed to the National Democratic Front and the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Friday.

“I call upon the National Democratic Front and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to implement a Christmas truce for a peaceful celebration of the forthcoming holiday season,” Sen. Marcos said in a statement.

What is the point of a Christmas truce exactly? In 2020 Duterte said there would be no more ceasefires  with the NPA under the rest of his term because the AFP was not inclined to call for such a truce. Has something changed since then? It's an empty gesture from an empty-headed woman. 

The USA has allocated $100 million for the AFP to develop its infrastructure. The problem is that don't know what to spend it on.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/10/27/faustino-tells-afp-come-up-with-realistic-priority-list-for-us-military-grant/

Department of National Defense (DND) Officer in Charge Jose Faustino Jr. has directed the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to create a “realistic” priority list for their modernization program after the United States pledged a $100 million or more than P50 billion in military assistance.

Faustino said they were currently reviewing the projects that have yet to be completed under the Horizons 1 and 2 of the AFP’s revised modernization program to determine which must be completed immediately and which are to be set aside and included in the “recalibrated” Horizon 3 in 2023.

“We are now trying to come up with [a priority list] through the AFP. We will include the AFP modernization here. I have already instructed the Armed Forces of the Philippines as well as the Air Force, Navy, and Army to come up with a priority list where we can use the $100 million,” Faustino told reporters in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija on Wednesday, Oct. 26.

The Defense OIC said they will consider different factors in the new priority list such as the financial capability of the government to buy sophisticated equipment like multi-role air assets and ships as the Covid-19 pandemic devastated the economy.

US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson previously announced that their government will provide a $100 million in military assistance to the AFP to offset the P12.797-billion heavy-lift helicopter deal with Russia that the previous Duterte administration cancelled.

Faustino said the DND is open to receive new offers from aircraft manufacturers to provide heavy-lift helicopters to the Philippine Air Force despite President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. saying that he prefers a manufacturer from the US.

This comes on the heels of the Duterte-era Russian helicopter deal being cancelled after the invasion of Ukraine. Not only did the USA allocate money to the Philippines but they have also supplied them with several helicopters. 

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/21/philippines-gets-us-military-helicopters-after-russia-deal-dumped

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has said his country will source military helicopters from the United States after scrapping a $215m deal to buy 16 similar heavy-lift helicopters from Russia over fears of sanctions following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Manila will also seek to have Moscow return at least part of a multimillion-dollar deposit for the now-cancelled batch of Russian Mi-17 helicopters, Marcos Jr said on Thursday, in his first public comments on the touchy issue involving Russia.

“We have secured an alternative supply (for heavy-lift helicopters) from the United States,” Marcos Jr, who was elected president in May, said at a business forum.

“Unfortunately, we made a down payment (to the Russian manufacturer) that we are hoping to negotiate to get at least a percentage of that back,” he said.

“But the deal as it stood maybe at the beginning of or in the middle of last year has already been cancelled.”

The government of Marcos Jr’s predecessor Rodrigo Duterte signed the deal with Moscow in November 2021, but Duterte backed out of the agreement in the months following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February and the imposition of wide-ranging sanctions on Russia.

The US deal – which matched the price agreed with Russia – would also include maintenance services and parts, terms that were not included in the deal with Russia, defence officials told local media organisation GMA News.

Romualdez had separately told reporters that the decision to cancel the Mi-17 deal was triggered by the Ukraine war as Manila did not want to violate a 2017 US law that sanctions anyone doing business with Russia’s intelligence or defence sectors.

So much for that fabled independent foreign policy. 

Not only has the US allocated $100 million to develop the AFP's infrastructure they have also allowed $70 million to implement the EDCA.

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/207887/us-eyes-allocating-70-million-for-edca-sites-arms-in-ph

The United States is planning to allocate $70 million, or nearly P4 billion, in the next two years to implement the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), a key military deal that would allow Washington to build facilities and preposition assets in some strategically located military bases in the country.

The agreement signed in 2014 — designed to address Chinese aggression in the South China Sea and respond to natural disasters — will finally make some major headway after facing delays during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, who had repeatedly expressed his disdain for the United States since he took office in 2016.

“These improvements are designed to enhance cooperative defense capacities and support humanitarian assistance disaster response activities, in ways that best meet the needs of the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] and the alliance,” US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson said in a forum on Wednesday.

The EDCA, she said, is “another way to operationalize” the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, which binds both countries to defend each other in case of an armed attack. Prepositioned assets and weapons will allow the United States and the Philippines to respond quickly in times of disaster or crisis.

The two treaty allies have recently seen “new energy and revived confidence” under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has been reaffirming ties with Washington, marking a departure from his predecessor who sought favor from China and Russia.

It's funny how things change from one administration to the next. Although, despite Duterte's intense hatred of the USA they have not been lax to give arms, money, and other aid to the Philippines. The USA remains the strongest ally of the Philippines.