Coronavirus Lockdown: Revenge Launching, Continue to Isolate, and More!

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

The House of Representatives has returned to full face-to-face sessions. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/28/23/after-3-years-house-back-to-full-in-person-ops

After more than 3 years, the House of Representatives returns to full face to face operations from Monday, July 31, following the end of the nationwide state of public emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new policy was contained in a memorandum order by Speaker Martin Romualdez dated July 25.

However, the House leader left open the option of recording attendance in sessions and nominal voting through registered mobile phones and other accounts.

"Plenary sessions shall be conducted face to face," Romualdez said in his memorandum order.

"In line with this, every Member shall be present in all sessions of the House as provided under Section 71 of the House Rules Registration of attendance in plenary sessions and nominal voting through mobile phones or other accounts previously registered with and verified by the Secretary General may be allowed subject to Sections 89, 90 and 91 of the House Rules (Conduct of Plenary Sessions through Electronic Platforms)." 

In cases when the attendance of members becomes "extremely difficult or impossible," the Speaker may authorize the conduct of sessions through electronic platforms.

The same order also maintains the livestreaming of the plenary sessions through the official online accounts of the House of Representatives.

Committee meetings, conferences, or hearings shall be conducted face to face, Romualdez ordered. 

"Virtual/Hybrid mode will be used on a case by case basis and upon the approval of the Speaker," Secretary General Reginald Velasco explained.

Velasco issued a similar memorandum for the workforce of the House.

"The House of Representatives shall revert to the 100-percent on-site workforce starting 01 August 2023. Work-from-home arrangements shall no longer be allowed except for compelling circumstances, subject to the approval of the Secretary General," it said.

No more work at home arrangements except for "compelling circumstances" whatever those might be.

Health workers have still not received their COVID-19 allowances but Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte is optimistic they will soon because Marcos made a promise during his SONA.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/7/29/villafuerte-optimistic-medical-frontliners-will-get-their-covid-19-allowances-soon

Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte is "optimistic" that local medical frontliners would be able to get their Covid-19 emergency allowances soon, following statements made by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in his States of the Nation Address (SONA).

Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte said he is "optimistic" that local medical frontliners would be able to get their Covid-19 emergency allowances soon.

This, after President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. himself ordered the release of the still-unpaid benefits during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday, July 24.

Just days before this, Malacañang lifted the state of public emergency that was first declared in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Villafuerte said the lifting of the public emergency status "caps President Marcos’ intrepid yet calibrated moves since last year to relax mobility and health restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and send a clear message to the world about the reopening of our economy to business and tourism".

“However, I had initial apprehension that this official declaration that the coronavirus pandemic is over in the Philippines might give rise to the DOH (Department of Health) putting on cold storage Secretary Ted [Herbosa]’s promise during his first day in office last June 7 to give top priority to fast-tracking the release of still-unpaid Covid-related emergency allowances to our medical frontliners in both government and private hospitals,” he said.

But the President's SONA statement has allayed the Bicol solon's doubts.

Villafuerte was a lead author of the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act” (Republic Act or RA 11469) and “Bayanihan to Recover as One Act” (RA 11494), which granted financial aid to Covid-hit sectors, including health care workers (HCWs) and non-HCWs in the health sector; and RA 11712, or the “Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances for Healthcare Workers Act,” which ensured the continued release of emergency allowances to medical frontliners after the expiration of these two Bayanihan laws.

Herbosa had assured the public in June that the payment of such financial relief would be one of his top concerns at the DOH.

Villafuerte earlier cited a United Private Hospital Unions of the Philippines (UPHUP) report, which said that 20,304 HCWs have not received their law-mandated Covid-19 allowances and other benefits totaling P1.94 billion dating back from October 2021.

Senator Bong Go is urging the DBM and DOH to release the allowances.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/7/30/go-urges-dbm-doh-release-covid-19-risk-allowances-of-healthcare-workers

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Health (DOH) should deliver the commitments President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. stated in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) as soon as possible, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go said.

In particular, Go stressed the urgent need to expedite the disbursement of risk allowances to healthcare workers who have been at the forefront of the nation's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Go pointed out the risk allowance for health workers who rendered their services during the pandemic should have been given to them a long time ago.

 

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography lamented that health workers risked their lives and made significant sacrifices during the pandemic, and therefore, the DOH and the DBM should speed up their efforts.

 

"We wouldn't be able to reach where we are today if not for the sacrifice of our medical frontliners. Let's help them, give them what they deserve,” Go said.

 

“I am begging the DBM, the DOH, hurry up. There is a fund approved in the 2023 budget, which is about P19-billion. Prioritize the previous years, pay what is due them, and act with haste,” he stressed.

 

"If you can, deliver it to their homes. Hasten the process by paying them through the ATM, put it into their accounts right away because it's a very small amount compared to the sacrifice made by our medical frontliners,” he said. 

 

Go also reiterated that even if the state of public health emergency has been lifted, it is necessary to provide what is due to the healthcare workers.

He is begging them to release the funds? The DBM and DOH should not have to be begged to do what their job. But this is the Philippines. The DOH says they are still ironing out how to make the payments.

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/7/26/DOH-ironing-out-COVID-allowance-.html

The government is still working out how to properly release the emergency allowances of health care workers who attended to COVID-19 patients, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday.

But Health Secretary Ted Herbosa gave assurance that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the allocation for the special allowances.

"He promised also that the health emergency allowances shall be given and it's in the budget. We are just ironing out the efficiency on how to deliver them to each and every health care worker that served in the COVID ward in the past three years," Herbosa said during a post-State of the Nation Address briefing.

Herbosa earlier said the DOH will set aside ₱17 billion from its proposed budget in 2024 for the release of health emergency allowances.

Marcos on Monday promised the release of the long overdue COVID-19 benefits to medical workers.

The DOH said last February that 805,000 health workers have yet to receive their emergency allowances.

How long do they need to iron out the kinks of how to distribute the money?

The health emergency is over but the scare mongering is still here. The DOH says COVID patients should continue to isolate. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/31/23/doh-covid-patients-should-still-isolate

COVID patients should continue to isolate despite the country's lifting of the public health emergency for the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Health has said.

In a Department Circular dated July 23, the DOH detailed its updated isolation and mask rules for confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Home isolation for 5 days is required for COVID-positive people, with or without symptoms. But they can end the isolation if they're "fever-free for at least 24 hours" without using medicine such as paracetamol.

For moderate to severe COVID infections, isolation is needed for at least 10 days from the start of symptoms.

According to the updated protocol, all COVID-19 positive cases should wear a well-fitted mask for 10 days.

There's no need to quarantine people who are not showing symptoms and had exposure to a COVID-positive individual. However, they should still wear a mask for 10 days.

Who is doing self testing anymore? 5-10 days of isolation is no good for the working man or anyone really especially seeing as COVID is hardly deadly. As it is cases continue to drop.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/7/31/doh-reports-lower-covid-19-cases-from-july-24-to-30

The Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,302 new Covid-19 cases from July 24 to 30—a 22 percent decrease from the previous week's tally.

In an advisory on Monday, July 31, the health department said that the average daily case count for the last week was 186.

Thirty patients are in severe and critical condition, and there were 49 deaths from July 17 to 30.

Based on the July 30 record, 356 severe and critical Covid-19 patients were admitted to hospitals.

Meanwhile, 1,802 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds and 2,413 non-ICU beds reserved for Covid-19 patients are occupied

The downward trend continues.

We have all heard of revenge spending and revenge travel. Now there is revenge launching which is companies launching a flurry of new products post-pandemic. 

https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2023/07/31/2284993/revenge-launching

Coming out of the COVID pandemic, we all hear of the phenomenon called “Revenge Buying,” where people who were denied the privilege to shop till they dropped during lockdown went all out buying stuff they wanted, didn’t need, but just had to buy it. They called it “Revenge Buying.”

After swiping their credit cards raw, the Revenge Buyers eventually came to their senses or, like extreme addicts, found themselves looking for a different high or form of satisfaction. So, they and more than half the population went on “Revenge Travels.” Rich or poor, everybody just needed to get out, get as far as possible from their area of confinement or detention or as far as their budget or bicycles would take them.

Unlike Revenge Buying, the Revenge Travelers have not quit and are still at it. They simply try to get more bang for the buck by studying alternative modes of travel, accommodations and dining. The trend will likely continue, given how millions of people got their priorities rebooted during COVID and have opted to tilt the work-life balance towards more of life. That’s all good and explains people’s “silent quitting” or radical redirection.

On the business side, I have observed how the automotive industry, more than any other industry, has embarked on “Revenge Launching” of new vehicle models, hybrid technology, electric vehicles, bold new “Lego” colors, even re-styling traditional vehicles such as pick-ups. Not a week goes by that a major brand is not launching a new crossover SUV, a mini SUV, a pick-up or commercial vehicles for commuting or transport.

After a long absence from automotive launch events, I recently accepted several invites, but it did not take long for me to get “punch drunk” from the number of vehicles being presented in 2023 -2024.

I got to attend the first Southeast Asia launch of the new generation 2024 Chevrolet Trax Crossover SUV which was hailed as longer, wider, more refined than earlier models, offering a 1.2-liter turbocharged engine. The turbo is a must have that makes the model a serious option in the category, alongside the refined interiors complimented with “a large digital cluster and infotainment system and wireless charging” that meets the needs of the digital generation.

After flying in from Taiwan, I was invited by Rommel Sytin, chairman of United Asia Automotive Group Inc,  to the high-profile launch of the all-new Chery Tiggo 5X PRO Hybrid and the Tiggo 7 PRO Hybrid. The event also highlighted the entry of industry veteran Froilan Dytianquin as the new managing director of Chery Philippines as well as the presentation of the company’s slogan: “There’s more to our cars.”

There is more to Tiggo 5 and 7 PRO models because they are all backed by one of the most comprehensive vehicle and customer assistance warranties in the market today. Chery Phl has quietly been recruiting industry veterans for management, marketing, promotions and service, which indicates that they now have the team to implement their long-term plan of raising the bar in terms of customer satisfaction and market share.

On Aug. 4 (Friday) Audi is launching a new electric model at the Bonifacio Global City or BGC where they have “lined up driving activities” intended to show the capabilities of Audi electric vehicles or EVs and help educate the public regarding how safe and reliable EVs are.

I’m glad that Audi will be hosting a “hands on” event where guests can try the Audi EV and be able to have an actual experience the media can write or talk about credibly and not “creatively” by use of imagination.

I make this point because COVID and its many restrictions created a situation where the automotive industry pulled back on “live or hands-on events” such as test drives, track days, sponsored road trips and even plant visits, all of which are necessary and helpful for motoring journalists in writing in an informed and credible manner. Because of the COVID pandemic, so many companies and industries became reliant on digital press releases, press conferences and PRs to a point that writing an article or product review seemed like writing a researched term paper. So, excuse me if I don’t do deep dives of products on static display.

What cringe way will "revenge" be used next?