More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.
The Philippine government has been patting itself on the back saying atta-boy in judging their response to the pandemic. Outside observers have been less quick to heap on the praise.
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| https://business.inquirer.net/310165/ph-virus-response-fails-to-make-imf-cut |
Although it imposed the longest and most stringent COVID-19 lockdown in the Asia-Pacific region, the delay in mass testing and dodgy contact tracing failed to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus in the Philippines, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said.
In its Asia and Pacific Regional Economic Outlook report released on Wednesday, the Washington-based multilateral lender lumped the Philippines with India and Indonesia as among countries that were “still striving to flatten the pandemic curve” while Pacific island-countries had already contained the disease.
The IMF earlier projected the Philippines’ gross domestic product (GDP) to shrink by a record 8.3 percent this year, no thanks to slow COVID-19 containment on top of the pandemic-induced tourism slump, as well as the global recession’s impact on overseas Filipino workers’ remittances—the country’s biggest dollar source that used to drive the economy by spurring spending.
The IMF noted that the Philippines, Malaysia and New Zealand imposed “near-complete lockdowns for more than a month” with the Philippines enforcing two and a half months of enhanced community quarantine that halted 75 percent of the economy.
The GDP thus fell by 16.5 percent year-on-year during the second quarter, shedding millions of jobs and likely sliding back millions of Filipinos to poverty, especially in urban areas.
“Limited health-care capacity, including in testing and tracing, may have also affected the effectiveness of lockdowns. Several countries ramped up testing and tracing capabilities, but some countries lagged behind,” the IMF added, specifically pointing to Indonesia and the Philippines, which currently lead Southeast Asia in the number of infections.
“Some countries reopened before infection rates fell significantly and experienced an increase in cases after opening. India started easing restrictions while virus cases were still rising, and Indonesia and the Philippines had seen a stabilization in cases but had not suppressed the virus,” the IMF noted.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1351018/no-christmas-parties-for-military |
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday ordered all its service branches to forgo Christmas parties and instead set aside the funds for such celebrations for the military’s COVID-19 response and servicemen who have caught the novel coronavirus.
AFP chief Gen. Gilbert Gapay ordered the military to defer holiday parties “as an austerity measure,” AFP spokesperson Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said in a statement.
“[The AFP shall] defer Christmas parties and similar celebrations as an austerity measure and as a gesture of sensitivity to our countrymen,” Gapay said in his order.
Quoting Gapay, Arevalo noted that the cancellation of any parties and the realignment of the budget for said parties is “the least that we can do.”
“Fellow Filipinos here and abroad have been suffering. And this is the least we can do to commiserate with the people we have sworn to secure and serve especially in this time of crisis,” Arevalo said.
No party for PNP, too?
In a separate interview also on Wednesday, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan said he was also considering whether to cancel Christmas parties for the police force as well.
“I am contemplating no Christmas party for the PNP. They will understand that. Instead of giving the funds for [the] Christmas party, we will give it out for COVID patients or maybe for the COVID fund,” Cascolan told reporters at the sidelines of the inauguration of the Civil Security Group’s satellite office in Manila on Wednesday.
It's the least they can do. Right.
The Black Nazarene procession has also been cancelled.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1351547/no-black-nazarene-grand-procession-next-year-manila-govt |
The image of the Black Nazarene will not be out for the grand procession, called the Traslacion, early next year to prevent the transmission of the coronavirus disease, the Manila government revealed on Friday.
“The grand procession of the image of the Black Nazarene will no longer push through on January 9, 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Manila Public Information Office (PIO) said in a statement.
“This after the Manila City government and the Quiapo Church have agreed to cancel the procession for the first time to ensure that public health protocols will be implemented on the day of the annual ‘Traslacion,’” it added.
This event is not for two and half more months. So much for flattening the curve and winning the war against COVID-19.
The Bureau of Prisons was tasked with decongesting the jails because of the virus and so far 80,000 criminals have been released.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/10/23/2051761/chief-justice-peralta-more-80000-pdls-released-march |
Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta on Friday said in a virtual press conference that 81,888 persons deprived of liberty (PDL) were released from March 17 to October 16.
Of the releases, 46,032 were done through videoconference, which the SC ramped up when strict health and safety protocol was enforced.
There are 19,173 PDLs who were released through bail/recognizance; 2,980 who have already served minimum imposable penalty recognizance and 8,669 released on probation or fine.
Peralta also said that 4,575 were released after their cases were dismissed; 1,556 were acquitted; 3,905 have already served minimum penalty and 5,175 served maximum penalty.
Even with the releases based on SC circulars, arrests in the time of pandemic have not stopped, with President Rodrigo Duterte, in July, even giving orders to arrest those not wearing masks to “give [them] a lesson for all time.”
Prisoners have been released for various reason including dismissal of cases but others are still being arrested just for not wearing a face mask!
Last week the IATF gave the go ahead for malls to have sales. Now the DTI is OKing raising temperatures and turning on the free Wi-Fi.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/10/23/2051734/cooler-shopping-dti-eases-control-measures-malls |
Control measures enforced at malls and shopping centers were relaxed beginning yesterday to allow more patrons to enjoy their visit, encourage spending and spur economic activity, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.
Under Memorandum Circular 20-55, the DTI relaxed certain control measures and now allows malls and commercial centers to set air conditioning to cooler temperatures, provide free WiFi services for customers, and hold sales and promo events.
Specifically, air-conditioning temperature can now be set below 24 degrees Celsius while free WiFi service, which usually attracts more customers, can be switched on.
The DTI had been requiring malls to keep it a little hot to discourage customers from hanging out. But now they can lower the A/C. Why? What is the scientific basis for any of this? How did they monitor this rule anyway?
Vaccines are being developed and could be here soon. China says the Philippines must be ready.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/761038/china-wants-philippines-ready-to-receive-covid-19-vaccines-says-envoy/story/ |
China has imposed no condition for prioritizing the Philippines in its distribution of COVID-19 vaccines once they are available, Ambassador to Beijing Chito Sta. Romana said on Thursday.
Romana, however, said that Chinese pharmaceutical firms involved in developing the vaccine asked that the Philippines be ready with adequate cold chain storage facilities.
“It’s not a condition. It’s just a reminder that if you get the vaccine and you don’t have cold chain storage, then it’s useless,” Sta. Romana said.
He said an effective cold chain was necessary because vaccines could lose their potency if exposed to temperatures that are either too high or too low.
“I think the health experts are very much aware of this, I just don’t know the condition of cold storage in the Philippines that’s why I want to reiterate this necessary condition for effective deployment and effective distribution of the vaccine," Sta. Romana said.
As far as cold storage goes the Philippines is not ready at all and the amount of time it would take to get ready by building the proper storage facilities is not clear. Even if there was proper storage facilities distribution might be a problem which is why one man is suggesting Duterte appoint a vaccine czar.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/761243/recto-urges-palace-to-name-a-vaccine-czar-to-ensure-covid-19-vaccine-supply/story/ |
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Saturday suggested that Malacañang name a "vaccine czar" who can ensure 110 million Filipinos would have access to the COVID-19 vaccine once available.
Recto said the vaccine czar can solve the "importation to injection" challenges since rich countries who are financing the development of COVID-19 vaccines will get the supplies first.
The vaccine czar can also start setting up a "supply-to-syringe cold chain" to store the vaccines in freezing temperatures here, the senator added.
“Like any frozen delight, the vaccine needs to be refrigerated. Filling the cold chain gap ranks high in the vaccine czar’s many duties,” Recto said in a statement.
A "frozen delight" is a strange way to refer to a vaccine. Would a vaccine czar mean more bureaucracy?
With the loss of so many jobs and the need to invent new ones to replace the old a new economy is rising.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1119609 |
Residents in the agricultural town of San Luis have found a new source of income amid the challenges brought by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
As some of them are struggling to survive due to the impact of the health crisis, the municipal government has offered a program that serves as saving grace in these trying times.
The program is a PHP1-million bounty to contain rat infestation that affects palay crops in the town.
Mayor Jayson Sagum, in a video post on his social media page last Monday, announced that the municipal government will pay PHP5 for each “rat tail” surrendered to the Municipal Agricultural Office.
“At PHP5 per tail, the PHP1-million bounty is equivalent to 200,000 dead rats. Multiply that to the 25 kilos of palay each rat destroys and then at the usual price of PHP15 per kilo and you will get PHP75 million cost of destruction,” Sagum said.
The program is seen by some residents as a perfect opportunity to earn extra income.
Rolando Ramirez, of Barangay Sto. Tomas, said he and his friends search the fields for rats as early as 6 a.m. to search.
“Maaga palang talagang naghahanap na kami ng daga, sayang din ang kikitain namin para sa pang-araw-araw na gastusin (We are looking for rats early. What we are going to earn is for our daily expenses),” Mesa said in an interview.
He was among the early birds on Friday at a desk set up at the town hall’s ground floor to claim the payment for 418 rat tails, amounting to PHP2,405.
For Merly Bautista of Barangay Sta. Monica, the payment for dead rats that their family caught will be used to buy basic necessities.
“Malaking bagay ito para sa amin. Bukod sa karagdagang kita at nakatutulong pa sa mga magsasaka (This is a big thing for us. Aside from additional income, this could also help the farmers),” said Bautista, who received PHP1,100 for 220 rat tails.
It's not a bad initiative but how where they controlling the rat infestation prior to this program?
We all know Metro Manila has the most COVID-19 cases but take a guess which region has the least number of cases.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1119586 |
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) still has the lowest cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the country even after registering 38 new cases as of Friday evening, an official said.Dr. Ameril Usman, acting BARMM health minister, said in a virtual press conference Saturday that the region has 1,538 total Covid-19 cases as of Friday since the pandemic began in March.Usman attributed the low number to the prompt reporting and timely action undertaken by local health workers, and “most importantly, the cooperation of every stakeholder.”“Just sharing the statistics. We are not victorious with this; the battle continues,” he said, adding that trailing BARMM in terms of the least number of cases is Region 4-B (Mimaropa), which has recorded a total of 1,881 cases.BARMM officials foresee that the region will remain at the bottom in the country’s list of Covid-19 cases.Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, minister of the Interior and Local Government, said a total of PHP13 billion was allocated for BARMM Response and Recovery Action Plan for Covid-19 Pandemic (2020-2021), funded through the regional government's contingency plan.
How does a government literally run by terrorists have a better response to the pandemic than the national government?
Here is a piece of bizarre news coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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| https://business.inquirer.net/310145/dpwh-asked-to-ease-right-of-way-rules-for-telco-towers |
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is being asked to ease regulations under a 2014 order that banned the construction of telco infrastructure along national roads amid surging demand for connectivity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was disclosed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), which said it joined the National Telecommunications Commission in asking the DPWH to consider proposed amendments to Department Order No. 73, series of 2014.
The order was issued to address the problem of fallen electrical and utility poles on national roads during calamities.
The order said these “create imminent danger to lives and properties and hamper speedy relief operations.” Among others, the rules banned the construction of posts for power and telco companies along national roads.
But the DICT said these restrictions slowed down the roll out of crucial telecommunications infrastructure.
“The indispensable use not just of telecommunications, but also of the Internet and other information services in the new normal, highlights the urgent need for equitable access to affordable, quality and reliable ICT connectivity,” Information and Communications Technology Secretary Gregorio Honasan II said in the statement.
Is anyone so stupid to think that the DICT cares about the surging demand for ICT connectivity? They want to get rid of safety regulations so they can just throw up towers and poles with no regard to the community. All under the guise of the pandemic.
