DATELINE PHILIPPINES Philippines recognizes su erings of

World War II ’comfort women’

it added.

by DANIZA FERNANDEZ Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Philippines stressed that it is acknowledging the sufferings of World War II “comfort women” despite a United Nations (UN) body decision saying that the country failed to give the victims reparations, social support, and recognition.

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) ruled that the Philippine government failed to provide reparations, social support, and recognition for the “comfort women” despite their clamor, hence violating the victims’ rights.

“The Government of the Philippines recognizes the suffering of female victims of atrocious violations that occurred during the Second World War. In this regard, we note that some reparations have been made and the Supreme Court has adjudicated on the matter,” the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a statement.

“The Government of the Philippines remains fully committed to women’s rights pursuant to its international human rights obligations and national laws and jurisprudence,”

The PCO said they will study the panel’s views and submit a written response to CEDAW within six months.

The “comfort women” were victims of sexual slavery committed by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. CEDAW’s decision is in response to a case brought by a group of Filipino comfort women in 2019.

The committee urges the Philippine government to “provide the victims full reparation, including recognition and redress, an official apology and material and moral damages.” 

60 million COVID-19 vaccines expiring this month

by RHODINA VILLANUEVA CECILLE SUERTE FELIPE Philstar.com

MANILA — The number of wasted COVID vaccine doses may reach 60 million by September unless the government ramps up its rollout, Department of Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire confirmed before a Senate panel.

“Our wastage is 17.5 percent, the quantities would be 44 million doses-plus,” Vergeire told the Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing on Friday, March 10 on the vaccination program.

“But for the quantity expired for the national government procurement, we have 2.97 percent. For local government procurement, we have 33.4 percent. For private procurement, we have 44.8 percent and for COVAX procurement, we have 13.9 percent. And for the bilateral agreements and procurement or agreements donations, it will be 7.06 percent,” Vergeire said.

She said that by the end of March, the vaccine wastage could reach 50.74 million doses because there are 6.74 million doses expiring within the month.

Basing on the high rate of wastage, Blue Ribbon chairman Sen. Francis Tolentino asked if the number of expired vaccine doses was likely to hit 60 million by September and Vergeire answered in the affirmative.

She also noted that COVAX agreed to replace some of the expired vaccines.

“We have an agreement with COVAX as early as July 2022,” said Vergeire. “They offered to replace the expired vaccine in the country. We were able to have some 398,000 doses replaced by COVAX.”

She admitted, though, that the vaccination rates are still low, especially in the provinces, but noted the DOH’s plan to include the administration of COVID-19 vaccines in its regular community vaccination program to give more people access to them.

At present, an average of 46,000 Filipinos get vaccinated in a week or between 6,000 to 10,000 vaccines administered daily. However, there is a lower rate of booster shots at 27.65 percent or 21.5 million Filipinos, said Vergeire.

Tolentino commented that, perhaps, the absence of regular televised COVID-19 status briefings as seen at the height of the pandemic has contributed to the public’s dwindling interest in vaccines and boosters.

“People might think that there is no urgency to get vaccinated,” he said. Vergeire clarified that the DOH issues public updates on COVID-19 deaths and severe cases twice a week on its DOH website, the senator noted that some people might not be checking the website in the first place.

Meanwhile, Vergeire also said the DOH is waiting on a go-signal from Malacañang to accept COVID-19 bivalent vaccine doses donated through the COVAX Facility. She said “COVAX is set to donate to the country these doses for the bivalent vaccine” but that the donation of Pfizer should be covered by immunity from liability.

“We are currently negotiating. We just need some form of guidance from the Office of the President in terms of Pfizer’s requirement for immunity from liability,” she said.

Donate expiring doses

Tolentino asked Vergeire whether or not the vaccines near expiry could be donated to other countries like Turkey and Syria, which were hit by massive earthquakes.

“Are we allowed to donate vaccines in our possession to other countries? Our 15 million doses which we might not use and Africa or Turkiye and Syria, added. immigration officers are set to graduate soon from the Philippine Immigration Academy.

MANILA – Some 50,000 travelers are expected to arrive in the country for the summer months, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Friday, March 10.

“Now, we see around 36,000 departures and around 30,000 arrivals; but during Holy Week, as the summer season enters, maybe we can see that it can hit around 40,000 to 50,000 per day,” BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said in a Laging Handa briefing Friday.

Sandoval said they expect an influx of tourists as most travel restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic have already been lifted.

On the other hand, she also noted that they are opening additional immigration counters to be able to serve more passengers amid reports of long queues.

“Apart from maximizing our manpower here at our airports, particularly here at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, where most of the departing and arriving people pass through there,” the BI official said.

She added that they are also coordinating with airport stakeholders to minimize passenger queues.

“Right now we have 38 Immigration officers in our Philippine Immigration Academy that are set to graduate soon. So we will immediately deploy them after graduation. There's another 147 batch of Immigration officers whose hiring process is ongoing. So our hiring is continuous so that we can really fill all the Immigration officers we need,” Sandoval added.

“This is a big difference from the past two years when our tourism has really fallen, the number of travelers will be less primarily because we have an arrival cap and we have travel restrictions not only in the Philippines but also in other countries. Now, as the world eases up here with our restrictions during the height of the pandemic, we're seeing that the number of travelers is really going up,” Sandoval

“We are also contacting and working with the airport authorities because we see this problem, the length of the queue, it's a problem that requires a multisectoral approach. Apart from the BI maximizing its manpower, we also have many airport stakeholders such as airlines and airport authorities who can help a lot to ease the queues at our airports,” she added.

She also advised travelers to go to the airport three hours before their scheduled flights to spare them from hustles.

“Since many of us want to go sightseeing inside and outside the country. We at the Bureau of Immigration are ready to serve you. We highly suggest to be at the airport three hours prior to your flight, check-in early and go straight to the immigration area so that there will be no problems so that your travel will be smooth and seamless,” Sandoval added. (PNA) 

The BI spokesperson reported that more than 30

Gradual phaseout

AFTER only two days, public utility vehicle operators and drivers decided to end what was supposed to be a week-long strike. This was after Malacañang announced that the planned phaseout of traditional jeepneys, which have only until Dec. 31 to operate, would be gradual. How gradual is unclear, but President Marcos said he understood the problems raised by the protesting transport operators and drivers in complying with the PUV modernization program.

Among the biggest issues raised by the protesters is the steep price of the modern jeepney that is supposed to replace the iconic traditional vehicle. Prices range from P2.2 million to P2.6 million, against the traditional one that costs from P600,000 to P700,000.

Editorial

Among the required technical specifications are passenger access on the curbside rather than the rear, an interior that allows passengers to stand at full height along the aisles, and compliance with Euro-4 emission standards. The top-of-theline models have air conditioning, closed-circuit television, WiFi access and global positioning system. Some makers are addressing calls to install special access for persons with disabilities.

PUV modernization has gained support, but the concerns about the steep price of the modern jeepney cannot be brushed aside. Some transport groups are asking for a higher government subsidy, currently at P160,000 per unit, for purchasing the modern jeepney. Another option is to make available modern jeepneys that meet the technical requirements, but with a much lower price tag.

Such models are already being rolled out. Automotive giants Hyundai and Isuzu are offering models for around P1.5 million.

The Department of Science and Technology is launching a more affordable e-jeepney developed by its scientists and technologists.

This week the Association of Committed Transport Organizations Nationwide Corp. or Actona presented a locally developed prototype of a jeepney that retains the traditional gaily painted exterior but meets the interior and engine specs.

The price tag is just P1.3 million to P1.5 million, depending on whether there is air-conditioning.

Actona’s prototype jeepney is powered by a Euro 5 engine. It has two doors, at the rear and curbside, and interior height that allows standing along the aisles. There is a detachable ramp at the rear for PWDs. Sarao Motors, one of the earliest jeepney makers in the country, has developed such a model, with a price tag of P1.5 million to P2 million.

The aim of providing a clean, comfortable and more efficient commute, in a vehicle that is kinder on the environment, has gained support for the PUV modernization, which has been in the works for several years now. With the lingering concerns of the PUV operators addressed, the effort could be turned into a win-win situation for all. (Philstar.com)