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Travel ban covers Indonesia
Duterte extends prohibition until July 31 to
ward off deadly variants
By Willie Casas, Vito Barcelo and Rio N. Araja
GREEN SANCTUARY. Actress Aubrey
Miles is visibly elated appreciating plants at the launching of Greenhouse at Village Square Alabang, the Philippines’ first and only botanical sanctuary mall that has a safety seal certification issued by the city government. It is dedicated to gardening enthusiasts and offers access to a wide range of plant varieties including indoor plants, succulents, ornamental and hydroponics from over 20 plant merchants from all over Metro Manila and nearby provinces. Danny Pata
T
RAVELERS from Indonesia are banned from entering the Philippines from July 16 to the end of the month to prevent the spread and community transmission of more infectious COVID-19 variants. The Philippines will also be exporting excess oxygen supply to Indonesia as fresh COVID-19 cases reached 54,000 in 24 hours yesterday, a surge attributed to the highly contagious Delta variant. “Oxygen supply is acutely lacking and very expensive in Indonesia,” said Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Leehiong Wee after meeting with Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez for the plan to export life-saving oxygen.
Indonesia new ‘epicenter of Asia’ as virus cases skyrocket (Story on page 2) Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the inclusion of Indonesia in the list of countries in the travel ban, which covers India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Next page
VOL. XXXV • NO. 150 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Octa Group: Focus on NCR Plus 8 to hit ‘protection’ by Sept.
FDA: Medics liable for jabs with unregistered vaccines
By Willie Casas and Joel E. Zurbano Ranjit Rye said only 10 percent of NCR resiPOPULATION protection in the National Capital Region (NCR) can be achieved by September if the government continues giving priority to the NCR Plus 8 areas in its COVID-19 vaccination program, the OCTA Research Group said Wednesday. The country seeks to vaccinate 70 percent of the population in highly urbanized areas for population protection, but OCTA’s
dents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. OCTA has urged the government to continue giving priority to NCR Plus 8, which is composed of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Batangas, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao. “If we will be able to manage the pandemic in these areas, our economy will recover, [and] we could give more jobs to the public, so we’re really looking forward to opening the economy in the NCR Plus 8,” Rye said in Filipino.
By Willie Casas DOCTORS who prescribe unregistered medicines, including vaccines, are as criminally liable as importers and sellers of these products, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chief Eric Domingo warned on Wednesday.
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PH says Hague ruling binding; Chinese envoy wants it voided By Vito Barcelo, Rey E. Requejo and Rio N. Araja
MALACAÑANG said Wednesday “no one can diminish” the 5-yearold arbitral award that junked Beijing’s sweeping maritime claims to the West Philippine Sea, despite China’s recent remark that the award was a GRAND HOMECOMING. The Philippines’ bet to the 69th Miss piece of “wastepaper.” Universe international pageant Rabiya Mateo Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian, on the fifth annipauses to answer a question during her versary of the ruling on Monday, said the arbitration award was “illegal, grand homecoming at Hilton hotel in Pasay null and void.” City on Wednesday, July 14, 2021. Mateo, “It is nothing more than a piece of wastepaper,” he said at a press briefwho finished 21st in the pageant held in ing, quoted by multiple news reports. USA on May 14, 2021, announces her plan This emerged as the Philippine government welcomed the United to distribute laptops to poor but deserving
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students in the country. Danny Pata
COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE
(AS OF 4 PM JULY 14)
1,485,457 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES
3,806 44,408 NEW
ACTIVE
26,232
140
1,414,817
6,296
DEATHS
RECOVERIES
NEW
NEW
‘PDP-Laban of yore owes Rody a lot’ By Vito Barcelo MALACAÑANG reproached critics from the ruling political party PDPLaban who are opposed to a vice presidential bid by President Rodrigo Duterte in next year’s polls, saying he party will not be as formidable as it is now without the help of the chief executive. “PDP-Laban was a small party until the President joined them. Their party members could
only fill a jeepney before the President came along,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in an online press briefing. The PDP-Laban became a political powerpower house in 2016 when Duterte, then Davao mayor, was fielded as its standard bearer. Roque also said the Palace recognizes the leadlead ership of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi as the party’s vice chairman despite being ousted by party members led by Senator Manny Pacquiao. Next page
Romualdez sees poll results ‘vote of confidence’ in Duterte By Maricel V. Cruz
THE survey result showing the Dutertes – the President and his daughter Sara – lead in the presidential and vice presidential races is proof of the people’s continued confidence in and support
Leni unfazed by low ranking By Rio N. Araja
for the administration, House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez said on Wednesday. Romualdez, chairman of the House Committee on Rules and president of the Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats, said result of the latest Pulse Asia survey was a “validation of our peo-
ple’s confidence and satisfaction on the Dutertes’ brand of public service.” “The Pulse Asia report conforms with other survey findings that show Mayor Sara is the leadlead ing candidate in the 2022 Presidential elections. Next page
Marcos still a force to reckon with By Rey E. Requejo
VICE President Leni Robredo on Wednesday remained unfazed by her low ran king in the recent Pulse Asia survey, saying her ranking on the
FORMER Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is one of the choices being considered by the FiliFili pino voters to succeed President Rodrigo Duterte when the latter bows out of office on June 30, 2022. This public preference came after Marcos rere mained one of the top presidential bets as shown by Pulse Asia’s latest survey.
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BLACK WIDOW SPINS COVID-ERA BOX-OFFICE HIT Story on C3