Insurgency: Gasping For Breath, Without Direction

This first post of the new year about the insurgency will be a look back on the past year.  Of course the most important event to have happened was the death of CPP founder and head Joma Sison in the Netherlands. The AFP says this has left the CPP with "no sense or purpose or direction."

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191460

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) is suffering from a breakdown in communication between its units due to the neutralization of its ranking leaders as it struggles to "gasp for breath", the spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Monday.

In a statement, Col. Medel Agular said the death of CPP's chair Jose Maria Sison in the Netherlands has also left the underground movement, which observes its 54th founding anniversary Dec. 26, with "no sense of purpose and direction".

"There is a breakdown in the communication lines between the CPP Central Committee and its subordinate organs and armed group (NPA). This is primarily due to the neutralization of many of the CPP top leaders: Julius Giron; Menandro Villanueva; Jorge Madlos; etc, the silence and long absence of their supposed Chairman now, Benito Tiamzon, and the loss of their mass bases and mass organizations," Aguilar said.

The CPP is left with only 23 guerrilla fronts, only five of which are able to implement party programs and the 18 are "weak and gasping for breath", Aguilar said.

"This gives the military the opportunity to focus its superior capability against the five while the civil government needs only to implement programs that will address the source of peoples’ discontent to render the UGM’s AOM (agitate, organize and mobilize) activities inutile," he said.

Sison, who died last Dec. 16, established the CPP in 1968.

"To keep the organization afloat, the CPP through a digital person known as 'Marco Valbuena' can only come up with press releases and statements to convey the party’s directive and message to its lower organs and armed group, including its threat of tactical offensives," Aguilar said.

If the CPP-NPA is now facing disintegration and is directionless they are still not toothless. This week they engaged the AFP in a firefight in Bohol.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1709981/npa-rebels-military-troops-clash-in-bohol

A gunfight ensued between suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and government troopers in Bohol province in San Isidro town on Wednesday, Dec. 28.

Soldiers clashed with at least 10 “remnants” of NPA’s Bohol Party Committee, Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor, according to a report from the 47th “Katapatan” Infantry Battalion (IB).

San Isidro, 32 km from the capital city of Tagbilaran, has at least 9,000 residents.

In a statement, the 47th IB said residents of Sitio Bajong, Barangay Baunos, San Isidro informed soldiers about the presence of communist rebels who were allegedly extorting money from them.

The troops responded, resulting in an encounter at around10 a.m. The firefight lasted for about 10 minutes.

No fatalities were reported.

Recovered in the encounter site were different ammunition, tents, food packs, personal belongings, and subversive documents.

Meanwhile in Negros Occidental they burned sugarcane trucks.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1709974/npa-admits-burning-5-sugarcane-trucks-in-negros-oriental

The New People’s Army (NPA) claimed responsibility for the burning of five sugarcane trucks in Toboso town, Negros Occidental on Monday, December 26.

In a statement on Tuesday, December 27, Cecil Estrella, spokesperson of the Roselyn Jean Pelle Command (RJCP) – Northern Negros Guerilla Front of the NPA, said a unit of the group burned the sugarcane trucks owned by Teotimo Ballesteros on the 54th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines last Dec 26.

“The punitive action is the second incident against class enemy Ballesteros. On December 14, the NPA set fire to two cane trucks in Barangay Tabun-ac in the same town,” the statement read.

Ballesteros’ sugar lands, it said, are within the guerrilla zones.

The NPA alleged that the landowner disregarded his farm workers’ repeated calls for wage increases and benefits.

“The only peace talks the revolutionary forces in northern Negros promote is the one that addresses the wage and land issues…the peace talks should be at a national scale that tackles the root cause of armed conflict – genuine land reform to address landlessness, national industrialization to address unsecured jobs, among others,” it said.

The NPA is still very capable of causing havoc. Calling them directionless with no real leadership and at the point of disintegration is great propaganda but does not reflect the reality on the ground.

As for propaganda there was quite a lot of that in the last week of 2022. Most notably the number of reported surrenders. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191506

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191482

Ten Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) rebels have surrendered and yielded firearms to the military and police in central Negros Island from Dec. 20 to 22, a report from the Philippine Army's 62nd Infantry Battalion (62IB) said.

Capt. Dorcesimo Cuyag Jr., civil-military operations officer of the 62IB based in Isabela town, Negros Occidental province, said the 10 rebels were turned over to the Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (TF-ELCAC) of Guihulngan City during a ceremony Monday.

The CPP is commemorating its 54th founding anniversary today, Dec. 26.

"The timing is a blow to the CPP. They have no reason to celebrate because their people have already surrendered. It is us who should celebrate this victory," Cuyag told the Philippine News Agency.

Timing is certainly everything. Trotting out alleged CPP-NPA surrednerees on the founding anniversary of the CPP is a huge propaganda win. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1709680/55-npa-members-surrender-on-cpps-54th-anniversary

At least 55 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered as the local communist movement marked the 54th anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Monday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Tuesday.

The CPP was founded by Jose Maria Sison who died 10 days earlier while in exiled in the Netherlands.  Military officials believe Sison’s death dealt a huge blow to the communist movement.

In a statement, PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said the 55 NPA members were presented during a simple ceremony at the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan in Taguig City.

With Azurin during the program was NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Jonnel Estomo and officials from the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and Joint Task Force-NCR.

“These series of surrenders of the former communist rebels resulted from the relentless campaign of our police and military forces against terrorism in support of Executive Order No. 70 to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC),” Azurin said.

Of course there were anti-CPP rallies on the same day. 100 ex-rebels rallied against the CPP in Aurora. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191536

At least a hundred former members and supporters of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in this province have withdrawn their support from the communist terrorist organization and pledged allegiance to the national government.

In a peace rally conducted in front of the municipal government of San Luis on Monday, the former rebels and supporters expressed their collective sentiments against the atrocities, lies and deceptions being committed by the communist terrorist organization.

"Ka Adim", a former vice commanding officer of the NPA in this province, said on Tuesday that their group held the peace rally to demonstrate their strong stand against the terrorist acts of the communist organization.

“We do not want the future and lives of the youth be destroyed and we want to maintain the true path towards peace,” he said in an interview.

Ka Adim is also the overall president of six people’s organizations that joined the peace rally, namely IPs Association, Solo Parents Association, Samahan ng Magsasaka ng Camalatan Nonong Sr., Nagkakaisang Mamamayan sa Dicaluyongan Association, Masaganang Perlas ng Silanganan ng Aurora Province Association and Sambayanan Association.

"Ka Eric", a member of the Nagkakaisang Mamamayan sa Dicaluyongan Association, said his group fully supports the peace and nation-building efforts of the government.

A rally by former rebels was also held in Bukidnon. 

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1949446/davao/local-news/ex-rebels-hold-peace-rally-on-cpps-anniversary

FORMER rebels conducted a peace rally in line with the 54th Founding Anniversary of the Communist Peoples Party (CPP) on December 26, 2022.

10th Infantry Division (10ID) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Capt. Mark Anthony Tito in a text message sent to SunStar Davao on December 26, 2022, said this peace rally was headed by former rebels Arian Jane Ramos, also known as Marikit, together with 16 former rebels at Poblacion, Quezon, Bukidnon.

Aside from the peace rally, Tito said they have also intensified security measures in their areas of responsibility.

“Our troops are still on the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) and our recently cleared areas, conducting Focused Military Operations (FMO), CMO (Civil Military Operations), Intelligence Operations, and other lines of operations to prevent any hostile plans of the CTG (Communist Terrorist Group),”.

This rally was almost certainly sponsored by the AFP. It would not be surprising if the really in Aurora was also directed by the AFP. It's good propaganda and serves to encourage the reamaining NPA fighters to surrender. More surrenders could lead to localized peace talks. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191609

The new chief of the Philippine Army in Negros Occidental has expressed support for localized peace negotiations with members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA).

Col. Michael Samson, acting commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade (Ibde), said on Wednesday through local engagements, those willing to leave the armed revolution will have the opportunity to surrender without misgivings after being fed by propaganda that they will be harmed by government forces.

"If we erase their apprehensions, we can hold a dialogue, and eventually make a settlement. We can talk out the local issues that can be addressed by the local government units and government agencies, then it's better," he told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

"Let's talk about it, but I encourage it to be done locally. The previous national peace talks failed because they blindly follow the teachings or directives of the CPP's Central Committee," he added.

Samson said they will respond with military action to those who insist on fighting the government through terror and violence.

"If they will continue to do that, we will be forced to make their lives miserable. If it's the only way to force them to abandon the armed struggle," he added.

Will 2023 finally see the end of the insurgency? The official tally of remaining NPA fighters stands at 2,112.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/12/27/2233464/only-2112-npa-fighters-left-afp

Because of sustained military operations coupled with the whole-of-nation approach of bringing development to far-flung areas and offering benefits to surrenderees, the military believes that the New People’s Army (NPA) now has only 2,112 fighters left.

After 54 years of existence, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the communist rebel group, considered as a local terrorist organization, has suffered significant strategic losses as it lost a great number of guerrilla units, leaders and members.

The military, releasing figures yesterday, said the NPA has been reduced to 2,112 members with 1,876 firearms, from 89 to 22 guerrilla fronts with 17 already classified as weakened.

The military said NPA leaders neutralized by government forces include Helenita Pardales, secretary of the Eastern Visayas regional party committee; Ericson Acosta, top NPA leader of Komite Rehiyon-Cebu-Bohol, Negros, Siquijor; Rogelio Sapon Gerondio Jr., secretary of sub-regional committee 3 in Agusan del Norte; and Gina Belsa Granada, secretary of defunct guerrilla front in Zamboanga del Norte.

The AFP also claimed that from as high as P4.2 billion in 2017, the NPA was allegedly only able to extort P8.5 million in 2022.

Compare the stats in this article with the first one above. PNA says there are 23 fronts left with 18 weakened while Philstar claims there are 22 fronts with 17 weakened. Can the AFP get its numbers right? 2,112 is a very specific number based on what exactly? Was someone listening to Rush when they came up with these figures? Let's see how those numbers change over the course of 2023. 

Picture of the Week: Pork N' Chix Grill & Cafe

There's a new restaurant in town. Grill and cafe anyway.

Say that name out loud a few times!

Retards in the Government 290

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

  

 

https://mb.com.ph/2022/12/23/sandigan-affirms-conviction-of-ex-mayor-3-others/

The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the conviction of former Mayor Laurencia S. Edma of San Fernando town in Bukidnon and three other persons in the irregular purchase of heavy equipment for P14 million in 2004.

Affirmed was Edma’s conviction in one graft charge and three falsification charges. Former municipal accountant Felipa A. Catanus was convicted of one graft charge, while state auditor Carlito S. Matias was convicted of three falsification charges. Private individual and Mindanao Philippine Sunday Journal proprietor Bernardita G. Basay was found guilty of two counts of falsification.

They were charged and convicted in the purchase of a brand-new soil compactor from Monark Equipment Corporation through direct contracting instead of public bidding, which was a violation of the Government Procurement Act.

Despite their claim that the purchased heavy equipment in question was delivered in good condition which belied the existence of any irregularity in the procurement, their motion to reconsider their conviction was denied by the anti-graft court.

The court ruled that there was no merit in their motion and reiterated that the prosecution was able to overturn the presumption of good faith and regularity of performance of official functions.

“The accused public officials of San Fernando deliberately resorted to the alternative mode of direct contracting, in disregard of the general requirement to hold public or competitive bidding of the heavy equipment in question,” the court’s resolution stated.

“The non-compliance with conducting public bidding thus produced a snowball effect, which accumulated further violations of law,” the court stressed.

The convictions of a former mayor and three others over irregular purchase of heavy equipment has been upheld by the Sandiganbayan. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1708885/quezon-village-chief-faces-raps-for-indiscriminate-gun-firing-on-christmas-eve

Police are looking for a village chief in San Antonio town in Quezon province who escaped on Christmas Eve after firing a gun multiple times.

Quezon police reported on Sunday, Dec. 25, that a group was celebrating their Christmas party around 4:30 p.m. at the covered court in Barangay Balat Atis when the wife of chief Jose Ferdinand Castillo arrived and informed them that her husband was summoning them.

Rose Yen Carreon and seven other members of the group proceeded to the house of Castillo.

When the group was having a conversation with Catalina Castillo, the wife of the barangay chief, the village official fired his handgun several times as he shouted invectives and ordered his wife to drive the group away.

The police are conducting more investigation as formal complaints of alarms and scandal through illegal discharge of firearms are being prepared against Castillo.

Castillo, who left after the incident, remains at large, said the report.

A village chief is facing charges for firing his gun in the air on Christmas Eve. 

https://mb.com.ph/2022/12/26/cop-fatally-shoots-wife-at-police-station-in-cebu-on-christmas-day/

A police officer fatally shot his wife inside a police station in the City of Naga, southern Cebu on Christmas Day.

Lt. Col. Junnel Caadlawon, chief of the City of Naga police, identified the victim as Heronia Mata, a 39-year-old teacher.

Heronia showed up at the police station to file a complaint against her husband, Staff Sgt. Fernando Mata, 35.

Police said Heronia was inside the Women and Children’s Protection Desk (WCPD) processing her complaint when Fernando barged in at 2:40 p.m. and repeatedly shot his wife with his service firearm.

Fernando did not resist arrest. His service firearm was found on top of a table inside the office.

The victim died on the way to the hospital.

Caadlawon said the couple had an argument in their home in Barangay Tuyan, City of Naga before the victim went to the police station to file a complaint against Fernando.

Heronia had previously filed a complaint against her husband after she was allegedly beaten several times. No charges were filed against the suspect after their differences were settled.

A charge for parricide will be filed against the suspect, Caadlawon said.

A cop who beat his wife but was never charged has been charged with her murder. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1709460/cop-arrested-for-illegal-firearm-discharge-in-batangas

A police officer was arrested for indiscriminately firing his service firearm in Rosario, Batangas on Monday.

The Batangas police reported on Tuesday that Police Staff Master Sergeant Ronald Pamis, 36, assigned at Camp Crame’s Health Services Department, was nabbed by local police officers after residents of Barangay Bulihan complained of his alleged indiscriminate firing at around 8:30 p.m.

The responding police officer seized his loaded .9mm caliber pistol.

Pamis was placed under police custody and will be face an appropriate formal complaint.

A cop has been busted for indiscriminately charging his firearm. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1709691/sc-p83-m-philhealth-execs-benefits-illegal-irregular

The Supreme Court has affirmed a Commission on Audit (COA) ruling that disallowed the granting by Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) of P83.06 million in educational assistance and birthday gift benefits to its officials and employees in 2014, calling these “illegal and irregular.”

In a 21-page decision dated Sept. 27 that was made public only recently, the high tribunal dismissed PhilHealth’s petition, which challenged COA’s ruling issued in 2018 and affirmed in 2019.It also found the payees and officers who approved or certified the grant of the benefits liable for the disbursements and said they must refund the “corresponding amounts received in error.”

Citing a recent case involving PhilHealth and COA, the high court had categorically declared that the disbursements of various PhilHealth benefits, including the educational assistance allowance and birthday gift, lacked legal basis.

The beneficiaries were officials and employees in the PhilHealth head office, as well as those in the National Capital Region and Rizal regional offices. The COA, in its ruling, called PhilHealth’s arguments devoid of merit. The state health insurer had reiterated its fiscal autonomy as a government financial institution, saying the board had fixed its own compensation system while the benefits were a product of negotiations between management and employees.

But the high court reiterated its rejection of PhilHealth’s fiscal autonomy as justification for the payment of additional allowances and benefits as it cited several other previous disallowance cases against the agency. “However, it is already settled that PhilHealth does not have absolute discretion in determining the compensation of its officials,” it said in its ruling, citing a 2016 jurisprudence.

“That PhilHealth’s fiscal autonomy had been purportedly confirmed by the Chief Executive and the OGCC (Office of the Government Corporate Counsel), as PhilHealth argues, cannot undermine the consistent and unequivocal court pronouncements,” it added.

The high tribunal said that “at this point, there should no longer be any question that PhilHealth is not exempted from the application of the Salary Standardization Law.”

“Its power to fix personnel compensation is limited and must necessarily yield to the state policy of ‘equal pay for equal work.’ Thus, any disbursement of allowances and other forms of employee compensation must conform with prevailing rules and regulations issued by the President of the Philippines and/or the [Department of Budget and Management],” it added.

The disbursement of funds by PhilHealth in the guise of birthday gifts and educational assistance has been ruled illegal and irregular by the Supreme Court. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1709782/pampanga-barangay-captain-shot-dead

A barangay captain was shot dead by a lone gunman in this city on Tuesday night .

Barangay Sto. Rosario captain Jesus Liang was walking across the newly renovated public market when the male gunman approached and shot him in the head at around 8:30 p.m. before fleeing on foot toward V. Tiomico St., Lieutenant Colonel Preston Bagangan, city police chief, said in a phone interview on Wednesday.

Liang, 63, was on his third and last term.

Bagangan said a team has been dispatched to gather footage from security cameras in the area while an investigation is underway.

A barnagay captain has been assassinated. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2022/12/29/2234053/school-principal-killed-pigcawayan-ambush

Unidentified attackers killed a public school principal in an ambush in Pigcawayan town in Cotabato province.

Police Maj. Andres Sumugat, Pigcawayan municipal police chief, told reporters Thursday that Regina Cortez, 46, died on the spot from bullet wounds.

Cortez was riding a motorcycle on her way home when she was shot by gunmen positioned along a stretch of the highway in Crossing Tubon area.

Her attackers escaped on a motorcycle. 

Probers from the Pigcawayan Municipal Police Station are still trying to determine who killed Cortez and why.

A school principal has been assassinated. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1709971/negros-oriental-solon-bares-assassination-plot-against-him-family-members

A congressman in Negros Oriental on Tuesday claimed he received an information that three active scout rangers were sent to the province to assassinate him and two other members of his family.

Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. of Negros Oriental’s third district said the targets include him; his brother and former Negros Oriental Gov. Henry Teves; and his son and former Board Member Kurt Matthew Teves.

Teves said he recorded a video message on his Facebook page to inform President Marcos, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. and Secretary Roman Felix of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Military Affairs that he received an “A1 information” of the assassination plot.

Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, Army 3rd Infantry Division commander, said he had not received any information on Teves’ claims but will look into the matter.

Teves, in his video, said he was informed that the three scout rangers are in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, and their target are members of the Teves camp.

Their targets are likely the Teveses and their political allies, he said.

The information Teves received was that the three scout rangers received P250,000 each in down payment and “they were promised P40 million for the three heads.”

Teves also alleged that 50 M-16 rifles purchased by his political opponents were brought to Negros Oriental from Negros Occidental.

“They have also recruited a lot of people from the hinterlands,” he said.

Teves asked why the Army and police have not arrested the people behind the bringing in of the firearms and the conduct of the recruitment activities.

He said policemen reportedly escorted the transport of the firearms.

Teves also said his brother, Henry, was followed to a restaurant at Bonifacio Global City by five persons with Army cut hair.

The five men surrounded the area where his brother was and it was a good thing his men noticed their presence and he was able to escape.

A Congressman claims he has received word that there is an assassination plot against him and his family involving the military and the police as well as his political rivals. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191655

The Supreme Court has suspended a former provincial governor from the practice of law for one year for interfering in the service of a warrant against a former barangay chairman on drug charges.

In a resolution published online Dec. 19, the high tribunal has ordered the suspension from the practice of law of former Siquijor governor Orlando A. Fua Jr. for interfering in the arrest of his childhood friend, James Largo, the former barangay captain of Tigbawan, Lazi town, who was included in the watch list of top drug personalities of the province.

The administrative complaint against Fua was filed by then chief of the Provincial Intelligence and Investigation Branch (PIIB) of Siquijor Police Provincial Office, Reynaldo Valmoria, in connection with the implementation in 2010 of a search warrant issued by the Larena, Siquijor regional trial court (RTC Branch 46) against Largo.

According to the complaint, while the warrant was being served at Largo’s residence on Nov. 24, 2010, then governor Fua arrived and obstructed with the service of the warrant.

Fua, the complaint said, “shielded the suspect from arrest by vigorously trying to prevent and restrain the raiding team from taking him (Largo) into custody, insisting that the suspect should be left behind.

He was also accused of making unsavory remarks against some members of the arresting team.

Fua, for his part, claimed that he went to the house of his friend after he received a text message.

In 2013, the Ombudsman found Fua guilty of grave misconduct and ordered his dismissal from the service, and in 2017, the Sandiganbayan promulgated a decision finding Fua guilty of obstruction of justice and sentenced him to a fine of PHP6,000 and perpetual disqualification from holding any public office.

The SC noted that court records have shown that the search was implemented properly and in compliance with the rules.

“Interference in a legitimate police procedure was certainly not part of his duties as a provincial governor. Nor was it appropriate for him to act as a private lawyer to Largo since he was the incumbent provincial governor at that time,” said the SC as it found the lawyer guilty of having violated the lawyer’s oath and the code of professional responsibility.

Aside from the one-year suspension from the practice of law, the SC also “sternly warned” that a repetition of the same offense or similar acts will be dealt with more severely. 

A former governor has been banned from practicing law because he violated the lawyers oath and the code of professional responsibility when, while as governor, he interfered with the arrest of a barangay captain who was his friend. 

Coronavirus Lockdown: 4th State of Calamity, COVID Cases Drop, and More!

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

As pointed out in last week's COVID column the DOH Is being urged to make second boosters available in order to use up the vaccine supply to prevent wastage. They are not recommending second boosters to the general population but are encouraging health workers to get one. 

https://mb.com.ph/2022/12/21/doh-encourages-health-workers-to-take-2nd-covid-19-booster/

The Department of Health (DOH) encouraged health workers to receive their second Covid-19 booster shot. 

“Among those healthcare workers na hindi pa ho nakakapag second booster shot, tayo po still encouraging them,” said DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire in a press briefing on Tuesday, Dec. 20. 

“We cannot mandate for them to have the second booster and tell them you cannot work. We cannot do that as a precondition,” she added. 

Recently, the DOH said that 592,202 health workers in the country have yet to receive their second booster shot of the Covid-19 vaccine.

However, Vergeire said this number of health workers without a second booster is not yet a cause for concern as of this time. 

“As I’ve said the evidence really points that kapag naka first booster shot ka, it gives you more protection,” she said. 

“The protection is still there to guard you from having this severe and critical infection,” she added. 

At present, the second booster shot is only recommended for health workers, people aged 50 and above, and individuals 18 to 49 years old. 

If they can't mandate it and it's not a problem then who cares? Fully vaccinated persons can and do contract COVID. Some even die from it. 

Tourism continues to rebound to pre-pandemic levels. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1707460/baguio-city-surpasses-pre-pandemic-levels-of-tourist-arrivals

The number of tourist arrivals in Baguio City this year has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, an official said Wednesday.

Baguio tourism officer Alec Mapalo said tourist arrivals in the city have so far reached 1.7 million this year, and this does not yet include tourist arrivals in November and December.

This is already higher than the 1.5 million tourists recorded in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country.

(This just shows that we are surpassing pre-pandemic levels, and we see the desire of Filipinos to travel.)

However, even though tourist arrivals are skyrocketing, Mapalo said the city is still recovering its losses in two years of lockdowns and restrictions due to the pandemic.

He said tourism is one of the major industries in Baguio City, wherein it rakes in up to P7 billion in gross receipts per year.

(Let’s just imagine the amount we lost for two years. At this point, we are still in the recovery stage. We have not yet fully recovered the losses from the previous years.)

The Baguio official, however, expressed optimism that the city’s recovery rate can be expedited based on the current trends in tourist arrivals and traffic in its shopping centers.

(Many hotels and even malls have reported to us that they have already reached a record high, not only in arrivals of guests but also food traffic in shopping centers compared to 2019 before the pandemic.)

(We are confident that we can quicken our road to recovery.)

But of course even though the pandemic is over and even the president has rescinded the face mask mandate tourists are advised to wear face masks and observe other precautions.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191307

With the increase in tourist arrivals as Christmas nears, Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Thursday reminded anew residents and tourists that the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) remains a threat so there is the need to continue observing the minimum public health standards.

 

“We still have the pandemic so we still have to be conscious of our protocols –wearing of masks, especially in congested areas, indoors and at the same time, we want you to enjoy,” Magalong said in a media interview. 

 

Baguio remains under a low-risk category of Covid-19 despite a spike in tourist arrivals.  

It seems as if they want tourists to jumpstart the economy but are so worried that everyone will die if too many tourists arrive. It's downright schizophrenic. 

Speaking of tourism one politician has a brilliant idea on how to revive the industry: increase the travel allowances of local executives. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1708725/increasing-lgu-execs-travel-money-can-help-boost-tourism-salceda

Local government officials can indeed help boost local tourism — especially if they are given more travel money.

The idea came from Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, who noted that the domestic travel allowances of local officials were last updated years ago and that the value of the peso had shrunk since then.

Giving them an increase now “will boost domestic tourism, which suffered scarring effects due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Salceda said in a statement on Saturday. “The increase in rates will help boost our meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions or MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) scene, which suffered structural losses due to the pandemic.”

The adjustments can be made in their daily travel allowance, representation, and transportation allowances (RATA) and per diem rates, he added.

Salceda, who chairs the House committee on ways and means, directed his appeal at the Department of Budget and Management and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

“The increase should be sourced from LGU (local government unit) revenues so that it does not affect our limited national government fiscal space. But it should be done,” he stressed.

The nation has gotten along well enough without those MICE meetings for the past two years. Perhaps they are not necessary. And where would the increase in travel expense allotment come from except the taxpayer? 

China is experiencing a surge in COVID cases and now the strain causing the surge is in the Philippines. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1708433/omicron-strain-behind-china-surge-now-in-ph

A strain of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 which has been driving surges in China is now in the Philippines, according to the latest biosurveillance report of the Department of Health (DOH).

Citing that report, the DOH said on Friday that four cases of the Omicron subvariant BF.7 were detected in the country, based on the genome sequencing conducted on Dec. 14 and Dec. 15 by the Philippine Genome Center (PGC).

All four infected individuals are in Metro Manila, the department said in a statement. But it did not provide any further details.

Of the 133 samples sequenced by the PGC, 45 were found to carry XBC and 28 were found to have XBB — two Omicron recombinants, or recombined subvariants, detected in October.

The other samples yielded Omicron variants earlier found in the country, such as BA.2.3.20 and BA.5.

The DOH said: “Available evidence for BF.7 does not suggest any differences in disease severity and/or clinical manifestations compared to the original Omicron variant.”

Yet the new subvariant still had the “potential to be more transmissible” than the others, the DOH said.

This strain is not more severe than the original Omicron strain but is only possibly "more transmissible." So, there is nothing to worry about. Right? Not according to one expert. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/26/22/presence-of-covid-bf7-subvariant-in-ph-should-spark-concern-expert

A public health expert on Monday expressed concern over the presence of omicron subvariant BF.7 in the country, which is reportedly fueling COVID-19 infections in China.

The Philippines has so far detected 4 cases of BF.7.

"Well, that is a concern considering that we are not having accurate information coming from China and China has a past history of not disclosing the number of cases, the number of deaths," Dr. Tony Leachon told ANC's "Headstart".

The former adviser of the Philippine government's coronavirus task force noted the delay of the World Health Organization's declaration of the Chinese outbreak of COVID-19 in January 2020, which he said led to the global pandemic.

"We have around 2 million Chinese visitors every year and because of the lack of solid plans in terms of the procurement of the bivalent vaccines, which can address the old Wuhan strain and the new variants, this may be a concern," Leachon continued.

Despite the threat of BF.7, Leachon sees a silver lining for the Philippines.

More than 73 million Filipinos are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, he said.

As of December 21, over 21 million have already received their additional jab, DOH figures show.

"The only problem that we see right now is the lack of a secretary of health that can really guide us on the strategic goal for [2023]," Leachon said.

"I think we'll be able to sail through this particular threat coming from the BF.7 and of course, the looming surge of cases in China," Leachon said.

Sounds like there is nothing to be concerned about at all except for the lack of a health secretary. 

The public has been constantly told to be careful during Christmas. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1708619/malcanang-reminds-public-to-remain-vigilant-vs-covid-19-during-christmas-celebration

On the day before Christmas, Malacañang reminded the public to remain vigilant against COVID-19 during celebrations even with the eased restrictions on gatherings.

In its message, the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) told the public to continue complying with health protocols in celebrating Christmas and New Year.

(On Christmas, we should remember our safety and the safety our family and friends in the continuing fight against COVID-19.)

(Even though the restrictions against gatherings have eased, complying with health protocols is still an important way to celebrate Christmas and New Year.)

The OPS reminded the public to continue wearing masks, maintain hand hygiene and practice social distancing.

The public is likewise encouraged to monitor and improve airflow in their houses so that the disease will not spread so easily.

(Make sure that everyone is vaccinated against COVID-19 for a safer gathering this Christmas.)

But statistics show there has been a decrease in cases. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1709361/covid-cases-drop-in-week-of-christmas-amid-parties-events

COVID-19 cases dropped during Christmas week despite the return of in-person parties and gatherings after two years of the pandemic, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

From Dec. 19 to 25, laboratory tests confirmed an average of 813 COVID-19 cases daily, which was 25 percent lower than the 1,082 average cases detected daily during the previous week.

The DOH weekly bulletins reported an average of 1,000 to 1,100 daily detected cases in December.

In its latest bulletin, the DOH said out of 5,690 people who tested positive for the virus last week, three were in severe or critical condition.

Along with the drop in daily cases, the number of active cases or persons currently infected with the virus also went down to its lowest in nearly six months.

As of Dec. 26, there were 15,937 active cases compared to 17,593 a week ago.

Despite the drop in cases the DOLE is worried about infections in the workpalce after the holidays. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1709698/dole-worries-about-covid-19-infections-in-offices-after-holidays

With the country’s economy moving closer to full recovery, the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) biggest concern was keeping workplaces free of COVID-19 infections after the holidays, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said on Tuesday during a visit to Baguio City.Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, however, was optimistic that the cautiousness practiced by Filipinos toward COVID-19 would help prevent a surge in cases.

Laguesma said that while most industries were reaping high revenues from brisk Yuletide travel and commodity demand, business owners should continue protecting their workers by retaining practices like social distancing at workplaces and conducting periodic tests.

Labor figures have been good, according to him, with 47.11 million Filipinos currently employed as the government works to increase the manpower needed for newly pledged investments obtained by President Marcos during his recent trips to Europe, Singapore and the United States.

“So, we don’t want infections to disrupt business operations and derail progress already being made throughout the country,” Laguesma said after meeting with Baguio’s “Pony Boys,” who would benefit from the labor department’s livelihood and “employability training” program. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the 47.11 million employed Filipinos as of October represented “the highest rate recorded since January 2020,” approaching “prepandemic levels.”

The number was higher than October 2021’s 43.82 million and slightly lower than the 47.58 million employed in September this year.

To date, no workplace infections have been reported to the labor department despite a slight uptick of transmissions in Metro Manila, Laguesma said.

For Vergeire, “practices and behavior” that err on the “side of caution” would help Filipinos avert a new wave of COVID-19 infections in the country despite the entry of BF.7, an Omicron sublineage blamed for an ongoing surge in China.

“I can say it’s going to be different [for] us,” she told reporters on Tuesday.

"To date, no workplace infections have been reported to the labor department." That means this is all fear mongering in the name of erring on the side of caution by practicing worthless health measures that have not stopped and do not stop transmission of the virus. 

As of the publication of this article President Marcos has not extended the state of calamity. The DOH is advising him to do so .

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1709686/doh-seeks-4th-state-of-calamity-extension

The Department of Health (DOH) has asked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to keep the country under a “state of calamity” in relation to the pandemic until the end of 2023, as the current status is set to elapse on Dec. 31.

If approved, it will be the fourth extension of the declaration first made by Marcos’ predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte.

DOH officer in charge Maria Rosario Vergeire on Tuesday said her agency submitted to the Presidential Management Staff, during a Cabinet meeting on Friday, a memo making the recommendation.

“So we’re just waiting for the official response from the Office of the President in terms of this memo we have submitted to them,” she said in a press briefing.

Vergeire noted that the Senate, before Congress went on recess on Dec. 17, had not acted on House Bill No. 6522, which was transmitted to that chamber on Dec. 12.

The bill, a priority measure of the administration, proposes the creation of a new agency, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as the oversight body on the coronavirus pandemic.

In an earlier briefing, Vergeire said “the [proposed] CDC law states the conditions needed for our COVID-19 response to continue.”

She explained on Tuesday that without that new law, the only basis for the government’s vaccination drive, the emergency use authorization issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the disbursement of benefits to health workers would be the state of calamity.  

Only the state of calamity gives the government the authority to keep at its vaccination drive and for the FDA to issue emergency use authorization for the experimental vaccines. That means the whole COVID-19 respond is patently unlawful.