BEACON OF HOPE.
The University of the Philippines Diliman ushers in the Christmas season with its longstanding tradition of switching on the campus’ festive lights (Pag-iilaw) Friday evening. This year’s community event, which has the theme ‘Abot-Kamay, AbotTanaw: Sulong sa Bago at Mas Mainam na Bukas,’ aims to stir hope and anticipation for a brighter future as all commit to one goal of overcoming the global public health crisis. The centerpiece of the Pag-iilaw is Toym Imao’s installation ‘Parola,’ composed of ladders, humanshaped lanterns and red poles. According to Imao, the red bamboo poles crisscross the ladders to bind the installation together, representing the challenges the figures have to overcome and the pandemic that has restricted everyone’s way of life. These are also the catalysts for the ‘damayan’ efforts by the community amid the lockdown. UPD
VOL. XXXIV • NO. 268 • 2 SECTIONS 8 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Flooding, landslide in N. Luzon
• Magat Dam released water anew • Heavy rains caused by tail-end of cold front By Maricel V. Cruz
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HILE Cagayan Valley was still reeling from the devastation caused by destructive typhoons this month, monstrous rains from the tail-end of a frontal system caused flooding in the rice-rich area and a landslide in Mountain Province, according to a report on 24 Oras News Alert on Saturday. The flooding coincided with a warning from the National Irrigation Administration-Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-MRIIS) on Saturday of possible flooding, announcing it would discharge almost 800 cubic meters per second (cms) of water. Residents of upper, middle and lower Cagayan were warned of possible flooding due to the release of water from Magat Dam. NIA received criticisms that the release of water from Magat Dam caused widespread flooding in Cagayan and Isabela two weeks ago. In San Mateo, Isabela, 50 families had their houses flooded after the irrigation canal nearby overflowed its banks. In a related development, a congressional leader called on the government to convene what she described as a “flood
AT A GLANCE
By Willie Casas
(AS OF 4 PM NOV. 28)
427,797 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES
1,893 31,402 ACTIVE
8,333
79
388,062
474
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doy swear that Ulysses was even worse. What have we done during those 11 years? What measures have we taken to prevent similar flooding?” Castelo asked. Meanwhile, a rescue van from Cagayan got stranded in mud and was hit by rocks after a landslide occurred in Mountain Province. About 40 families on Saturday were evacuated from a barangay in Tuguegarao after the city in Cagayan experienced flooding anew resulting from incessant rains brought by the tail-end of a cold front. PAGASA said the tail-end of a frontal system would bring rains over the eastern side of Northern Luzon on Saturday. NIA Administrator Ricardo Visaya however said the gates of Magat Dam had to be opened amid heavy rains from Ulysses to prevent the dam from breaking
“We cannot afford disasters like that. The economy and our people will suffer further, “ she stressed. She proposed that the flood summit involve all concerned agencies, like the Office of Civil Defense, Department of Interior and Local Government, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Department of National Defense, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Metro Manila Development Authority, and the Office of the President. “Local government officials should be involved in a comprehensive flooding and disaster response program because they are the implementers and foot soldiers on the ground,” Castelo said. She said the national government could pattern its flood prevention measures after the programs of some European countries that have successfully contained flooding. She said it was possible that some of the concerned agencies had sent personnel to these countries to study their programs and the flood containment structures they have built.
Experts studying impact of COVID-19 on male fertility—DOH
COVID-19 PH
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summit” to prevent flooding similar to what occurred in Metro Manila and Cagayan Valley during the onslaught of typhoon Ulysses. “We have not learned our lesson from Ondoy and past destructive typhoons that visited the country. There must be a comprehensive, holistic and well coordinated effort to avert flooding,” Assistant Majority Leader and Quezon City Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo said. Castelo, vice chair of the House committee on Metro Manila Development, said the extensive damage and flooding caused by Ondoy was repeated on the same communities by Ulysses like Marikina and low-lying parts of Quezon City’s second district, which she represents. “Eleven years after, we faced the same problem. Many of those flooded by On-
and causing a bigger catastrophe. Visaya also maintained that the opening of the water gates of Magat Dam was not the major cause of the flooding in Cagayan and Isabela. The House Committee on Agriculture and Food thus conducted an investigation to look into the decision of NIA to open the spillway gates of Magat Dam, and if such a move was done following established guidelines and protocols. At the hearing, Visaya said the Magat Dam was not designed for flood control, as he cited their operations manual that said “[i]t is emphasized that there is no provision for the storage of floodwater in the Magat reservoir unless the reservoir is below the full supply level of 193 (meters) when the flood arrives.” Visaya added the P5 to P10-million annual budget for the maintenance of the Magat Dam is not enough. Castelo said the damage to lives, property and the economy in general caused by recent typhoons Rolly and Ulysses “is catastrophic, especially considering that these monsters struck us at a time when we are struggling to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.”
THE Department of Health is looking into reports that the novel coronavirus disease can have an impact on male fertility. “We are studying this carefully. We have asked experts to look into this and give us an appropriate explanation,” Health Undersec Undersecretary Rosario Vergeiere said. “We will release an explanation next week,” she added. A series of autopsy studies has shown that there is evidence of testes damage from COVID-19. Researchers from the University of Miami in Florida found that testes tissues of six men who died of COVID-19 had dam damages that could lead to infertility. A separate research team from China,
HOMESCHOOLING MASTERCLASS
on the other hand, found that some COVID-19 patients’ immune systems “attacked” the testes, causing severe inflammation, or orchitis. Daily case log remains below 2,000 The Philippines logged on Saturday 1,893 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 427,797 as eleven laboratories failed to submit data on time, the Department of Health said. Top cities and provinces with new cases are Davao City, 200; Negros Occidental, 123; Western Samar, 84; Pampanga, 60; and Quezon City, 57. The DOH reported 31,402 active cases, which is 7.3 percent of the total infections.
LOCAL ROUNDUP
‘LITTLE PINK HOUSES FOR YOU AND ME...’
Parents today have suddenly found themselves standing in for their children’s teachers—helping answer homework, explaining lessons they themselves sometimes don’t have any idea about, and building an environment conducive to learning.
Contrary to popular belief, not all homes are beige, brick red or grey. Nowadays, it seems like there are more colorful houses popping up.
VOICE KIDS CHAMPION’S HOLIDAY SONG Vanjoss Bayaban’s “Cupid Santa” is a heartwarming holiday song that knows to keep its message simple: love is the greatest gift you can give and receive.
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The DOH also recorded 474 new recoveries, bringing the total to 388,062, or 90.7 percent of the total cases. PH won’t use vaccines not rolled out in country of origin The country’s vaccine czar, Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr., said AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine would still undergo stringent clinical trial in the Philippines. “We will not use a vaccine that has not rolled out in its country or origin. Don’t worry because we have a process. We have a high regulatory process,” he said. The Philippines will get 2.6 million doses of AstraZenica’s vaccine, which will enable it to inoculate 1.3 million people next year.
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Galvez said the private sector will cover the cost of the vaccine, under a tripartite agreement between the Philippine government, the private sector and the British pharmaceutical company AstraZenica. He said negotiations were ongoing for another 1 million doses of the vaccine. AstraZeneca-Oxford’s COVID-19 vaccine has been found 70 percent effective against COVID-19 at first dose, but it increases to 90 percent after the second dose is administered a month after the first dose. AstraZeneca’s vaccine is expected to cost $3 to $4 a dose, much cheaper than drugs being developed by American companies Pfizer and Moderna, and does not need to be stored in ultra-low temperatures.
BOOBOO’S GIFT: OVERCOMING GRIEF I heard it said that grief is love with nowhere to go. In the case of Booboo’s tran-sition, this is true. I had to cope with the huge chasm that appeared when Booboo passed.
PETS / A4
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