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Villar pushes BIDA for Boracay Island
CITING the combined weak implementation of the environmental laws and indifference to them by the people, Sen. Cynthia A. Villar pushes for the creation of the Boracay Island Development Authority (BIDA) to sustain its rehabilitation done by President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. In filing Senate No. 1914 or an “Act Creating the Boracay Island Development Authority…
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Metro Manila mayors want GCQ until year-end
By Fernan Angeles METRO Manila mayors are inclined on keeping the general community quarantine classification, at least until the end of the year. According to Metro Manila Council chairperson and incumbent Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez, all the local chief executives in the region unanimously agreed on the idea of having their respective localities under…
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Clinical trials in PH for potential vaccine suppliers
By Fernan Angeles THE government is keen on the idea of sealing procurement deals for COVID-19 vaccines, but would rather prefer that potential vaccines be tested first in the Philippines to ensure its potency among Filipinos. In a radio interview, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez said that they are looking into building a portfolio of…
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Senate OKs P4.5T 2021 nat’l budget
By John Clifford Lintao THE Senate, voting 22-0, approved on third and final reading its version of the proposed P4.5-trillion national budget for 2021, which is anchored on the theme “Reset, Rebound, and Recover: Investing for Resiliency and Sustainability.” The passage comes well within the timeline set to ensure that the bill gets President Rodrigo…
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Typhoon Ulysses infra damage pegged at P11B
By Fernan Angeles GOVERNMENT figures representing the damage inflicted by Typhoon Ulysses now stands close to P11 billion, says the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). At the Laging Handa press briefing, NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad said damage to infrastructure due to Typhoon Ulysses has already spiked to P10.79 billion, adding that…
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Vaccine priorities identified, vaccination starts early 2021
By Fernan Angeles THE government hinted at prioritizing vaccination in areas with a minimum recorded COVID-19 active cases of 3,000 and up, says vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. on Thursday. In a statement, Galvez said that among the areas that the government is particularly looking at Bacolod, Iloilo, Cebu and Tacloban, even as the…
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Trial on Avigan, anti-influenza drug, has begun
By John Clifford Lintao JAPAN’s anti-influenza drug Avigan has commenced testing in the Philippines for its effectivity against COVID-19, says Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire. “For Avigan trial, nag-umpisa tayo noong November 20 and we already have 8 participants,” Vergeire said in a virtual press briefing. Avigan, the Japanese brand for favipiravir, previously showed promising results…
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Nurses lament delayed salaries
By Fernan Angeles AN organization of Filipino nurses lamented on what it aptly described as selective policy being implemented by the Department of Health. Citing the case of Sorsogon-based government nurses, the Filipino Nurses United (FNU) said that the DOH “was so quick to respond to Sorsogon Governor Francis Escudero on his call for the…
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Clinical trials for five COVID-19 vaccines to start in December
By Fernan Angeles AT least five potential COVID-19 vaccines would likely have its clinical trials here in the Philippines by December, says Philippine Council for Health Research Development executive director Jaime Montoya. In a radio interview, Montoya said the start of trials would depend on the compliance of manufacturers. “Ang ating prediction, mga December. Kasi…
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Villar: Successive typhoons brought P10 billion loss to agriculture
On October 25, Typhoon Quinta made five landfalls in central Philippines, particularly in Southern Tagalog and Bicol Region, Regions VI and VII, NCR, Central Luzon, Cordilleras and Northern Luzon. According to reports a total of 115,181 families or 501,289 persons were affected in 2,255 barangays in Regions III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, V, VI, VII and VIII.…