Manila Standard - 2021 May 20 - Thursday

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Cases spike in urban centers

DOH also notes rising infections in 10 regions, but OCTA still not alarmed By Willie Casas

S

OME urban centers outside Metro Manila are experiencing a significant rise in COVID-19 cases, a research group tracking the pandemic said Wednesday.

“Significant increases in new cases were observed in Cagayan de Oro, Davao City and Iloilo City,” the OCTA Research Group said in its latest report. Iloilo had 58 new cases, up 99 percent from last week, while Cagayan de Oro and Davao posted a weekly increase of 52 percent and 36 percent, respectively, OCTA said. Zamboanga City still recorded the highest number of new infections over the past week with 158 cases, representing a 4 percent rise. OCTA, on the other hand, has said the increases outside Metro Manila, while significant, were not yet alarming and still supported allocating the bulk of vaccines to the National Capital Region, which it considers the epicenter of the pandemic. For the period May 11 to 17, Metro Manila’s average daily attack rate (ADAR) was 9.91 per 100,000 people. Next page

DRIVE-THRU JAB. A nurse gets ready to inject a coronavirus vaccine to a driver, one of as many as 110 people belonging to the A1 to A3 priority group from Barangay Pasong Putik who were vaccinated in the drive-thru vaccination at the SM Fairview carpark on Wednesday. The drive-thru vaccination site aims to make vaccination safer and more convenient for QCitizens. QC PIO Photo

PM Suga says Japan shares PH ‘grave concerns’ on WPS issues PRIME Minister Yoshihide Suga ex- stability in the region under the rule pressed Japan’s opposition to China’s of law such as the UNCLOS” (United “continued and strengthNations Convention for ened unilateral attempts the Law of the Sea). to change the status quo in It was one of four topthe East China Sea and the ics the leaders discussed South China Sea” as the in the phone call, as Presicountry aligned with the dent Duterte expressed Philippines on the issues in his gratitude to the Japathe West Philippine Sea. nese government for its In a phone conversation assistance to the Philipwith President Rodrigo Du- Yoshihide Suga pines amid the coronaviterte on Wednesday, Suga rus pandemic. also shared “grave concerns” Grants 3rd tranche In a related development, about recent developments in of loan worth P8.7b the government of Japan China, including its far-reachthrough the Japan Internaing Coast Guard Law. tional Cooperation Agency A press release issued by the Japa- (JICA) is slated to release 20 billion yen nese Embassy said the two leaders (P8.78 billion) to Manila in June as the concurred “to work together closely third tranche under the Post-Disaster toward the maintenance of peace and Next page

VOL. XXXV • NO. 94 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Enrile softened his previous stand on sea row’ By Joyce Pangco Pañares and Macon Ramos-Araneta FORMER Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile has contradicted his own position on maritime standoff with China over the West Philippine Sea, a veteran journalist who wrote a book about the events that led to the 2016 United Na-

tions arbitral ruling. “He softened his position. He contradicted his previous position,” journalist Marites Vitug told Manila Standard in an interview. Vitug recalled that when she interviewed Enrile for the book “Rock Solid: How the Philippines Won Its Maritime Case against China,” he recalled advis-

AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM MAY 19)

1,159,071

By Maricel V. Cruz

TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

4,700 NEW

ACTIVE

19,372

136

1,089,613

6,986

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

NEW

mainly because, at the start, Sinovac was not recommended for them. “That has always been the principle,” she said. “Other than that, there should be no right of refusal. Whatever the vaccine,

HOUSE Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez on Wednesday said the adoption of four concurrent resolutions granting amnesty to the members of four rebel groups is an initial step to full implementation of President Rodrigo Duterte’s program to reintegrate them into civilian life. Romualdez, chairman of the House committee on rules, said the resolutions will enhance the Duterte administration’s reconciliation and peace building efforts by welcoming rebels who will lay down their arms and return to the fold of the law. Lawmakers adopted House Concurrent Resolutions 12 to 15 concurring with Presidential Proclamations 1090 to 1093 granting amnesty to Muslim and communist rebels who have committed crimes in furtherance of their

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FULL COURT. Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas visits the packed vaccination center at the Central University of the Philippines (CPU). Around 3,000 Ilonggos lined up for their first dose of the AstraZeneca jab, even as Iloilo was identified as one of three cities outside of Metro Manila with a significant rise in COVID-19 cases. Iloilo City Mayor’s Office

No more brand disclosure before jabs, refusal means back in line By Willie Casas THE Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday that COVID-19 vaccine brands will no longer be disclosed to recipients before inoculation to speed up the rollout and avoid overcrowding at

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Romualdez hails granting amnesty to 4 rebel groups

COVID-19 PH

49,951

ing then President Benigno Aquino III to ‘assert our rights’ while pursuing bilateral talks with Beijing. Enrile, for his part, said he could not recall having been interviewed by Vitug. “I don’t recall I was interviewed by Ms. Vitug about the West Philippine Sea. Maybe my memory is failing, but

vaccination sites. The strategy is expected to prevent a repeat of long queues for Pfizer vaccines at vaccination sites in Parañaque City and Manila earlier this week, Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said during an online briefing.

Cabotaje said those who will refuse vaccination because they prefer a different brand will have to go back to the tail of the line. She pointed out that only the A1 or health workers who are vulnerable groups were granted the “right of first refusal”

WFH injuries, death now compensable DISABILITY or death due to injuries sustained by employees while working from home are now compensable under the Employees Compensation Program, Department of Labor and Employment Information and Public Service Director Rolly Francia told a virtual briefing Wednesday. In a separate statement, the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC), an attached

VP ROBREDO GETS FIRST ‘ASTRA’ DOSE ALONG WITH STAFF

agency under the DOLE, said its governing board approved Board Resolution No. 21-03-09 on March 11. The resolution creates a policy on “the compensability of disability or death due to injuries sustained by employees in the public and private sector while in the performance of their duties

By Rio N. Araja

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PNP to beef up ranks with 17k new cops

THE National Police Commission on Wednesday said it approved the recruitment of 17,314 patrolmen and patrolwomen to replenish personnel losses, increase personnel strength, enhance police visibility, and improve police-to-population ratio and peace and order in the operational areas covered by the respective Police Regional

Offices and National Support Units. The NAPOLCOM En Banc, headed by Interior Secretary and commission chairman Eduardo Año, issued Resolution No. 2021-0475, dated April 27, 2021, approving the CY 2021 Regular and Attrition Recruitment Program of the Philippine National Next page

ONE DOWN. Vice President

Leni Robredo on Wednesday gets her first dose of the anticoronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca, two months after the government launched its COVID-19 immunization drive.

VICE President Leni Robredo on Wednesday got her first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19 at Pinyahan Elementary School in Quezon City. In a Facebook post, Robredo said her whole staff at the Office of the Vice President was also inoculated. A photo of a vaccination card was uploaded to Robredo’s Facebook account. Next page


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