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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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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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Fontana workers use indigenous materials for Christmas decors in Clark
By Mar T. Supnad CLARK FREEPORT – More than 200 art pieces and wood works were produced in a month’s time by hand using purely indigenous materials by a group of four people as Christmas decorations inside the Fontana Leisure Park here. Fontana Art Manager Reginald Dy made full use of available materials on a…
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Palace to tiangge operators: Comply protocols or closure
By Fernan Angeles MALACAÑANG gave tiangge owners two options — to implement the minimum public health standards to prevent the spread of COVID-19 or face closure. In a news conference, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque issued the warning after shoppers recently packed the streets of Divisoria in Manila and Baclaran in Parañaque to beat the Christmas…
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Duterte to make advance payment for vaccines
By Fernan Angeles TAKING cue from the recommendations made by the National Task Force Against COVID-19, President Rodrigo Duterte agreed to enter into advance supply agreements and provide early payments to COVID-19 vaccine producers. At the regular press briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the President made the decision based on the recommendations of National…
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Gov’t to borrow US$300M for COVID-19 vaccines
By Fernan Angeles PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte appealed to the public not to fear COVID-19 because vaccines would soon be available for the Filipinos. However, the President hinted on the idea of borrowing funds to defray its cost. “Hindi na nakakatakot ang COVID-19. Andito na ang bakuna,” said the President in his taped public address. The…
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DOH issues guidelines for the holidays
By Fernan Angeles THE Department of Health (DOH) has issued public health guidelines aimed at making sure the surge of infections does not take place while Filipinos celebrate the holidays. In releasing DOH circular No. 2020-0355, Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire advised limited face-to-face activities even during the holidays and instead conduct celebrations virtually, do their…
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K-9 dogs as COVID-19 indicators
By Fernan Angeles K-9 dogs are not just good at sniffing baggage in trying to find dopes. They are also capable of detecting presence of the highly-infectious COVID-19 virus from Wuhan, China. In fact, the Antipolo City government in Rizal Province hinted at tapping and deploying their K-9 dogs “very soon.” In her Facebook post,…
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Samal launches essay writing for youth on COVID-19
By Mar T. Supnad SAMAL, Bataan – The Municipal Council for the Protection of Children, Municipal Social Welfare Development (MSWD) and Local Youth Development Office launched an Essay Writing Competition dubbed “Youth Challenges in COVID-19 Pandemic”. Mayor Aida de Guia Macalinao said “Ito ay nagbigay ng oportunidad sa ating mga kabataan na may edad 15…
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MGCQ for entire PH by first quarter of 2021
By Fernan Angeles BY the first quarter of next year, the entire country would have been placed under the most relaxed community quarantine protocol, says Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire. Vergeire said the DOH along with the Inter-Agency Task Force against COVID-19 have already set their target seen to determine whether or not a local government…