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‘Highest alert’ spreads to 41 areas—DOH
Transmission projection for end-September in NCR
By Willie Casas
1,688,040 12,021
81,399
29,374
154
1,577,267
9,591
F
ORTY-ONE areas—including nine cities and a municipality in Metro Manila—have been put under the highest COVID-19 alert classification as new infections hit a four-month high at 12,021 Wednesday. Next page
Active cases seen surging once controls are loosened
(As of 4 PM, August 11) VOL. XXXV • NO. 178 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
By Vito Barcelo METRO Manila would still reach about 18,000 active COVID-19 cases next month, but this number would be higher if it remained under a general community quarantine with heightened restrictions (GCQ-HR), Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said. Next page
10.4m Filipinos in Metro eligible for cash aid TRICYCLE driver Jesus Gomez struggled to make a living even before the capital Manila went back into a coronavirus lockdown last week that forced most of his customers to stay home and halved his meagre income. Six months behind in rent and unable to afford cooking gas, the 77-year-old joined Next page
PNP eases rules for ayuda claimants By Maricel V. Cruz, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja PEOPLE claiming financial aid for their households will be allowed to leave their homes even if they do not have quarantine passes, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said on Wednesday. “In case the designated representa-
tive of the family does not have a quarantine pass, our police officers will consider that,” Eleazar said. “We will… be lenient, once they say they will get their financial aid, so they can proceed to the distribution centers.” Eleazar said these persons will also be allowed to buy essential goods after claiming their financial aid. Police officers have been deployed to aid distribution centers in Metro Ma-
nila to prevent super spreader events for COVID-19. “We have already coordinated with the local government units of Metro Manila in this regard. Our focus is to ensure an orderly distribution of cash assistance because they also have to be protected from the coronavirus infection,” Eleazar said. Meanwhile, Joint Task Force Covid
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Individuals line up to receive cash aid from the national government at a basketball court in Manila on August 11, 2021 with the National Capital Region under Enhanced Community Quarantine until Aug. 20. AFP
Auditors ask Duque: Where did P67.3b go?
PACQUIAO’S NEW FOE UGAS VOWS ‘GOOD FIGHT’
By Rio N. Araja THE Commission on Audit has flagged the Department of Health for non-compliance with the laws and regulations in the management of P67.323 billion in COVID-19 response funds. The department said it takes the COA findings “very seriously” and that it is Next page
SPORTS / C1
NY GOV. CUOMO RESIGNS AMID 11 HARASSMENT CLAIMS
LIFE-SAVING TANKS. Workers unload medical oxygen tanks outside the emergency room of the Jose Abad Santos General
Hospital in Binondo, Manila. President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said he will ask Congress to give tax relief to oxygen manufacturers in the country as medical oxygen tanks are crucial in the fight against COVID-19. Norman Cruz
Romualdez top lawmaker in Region VIII—survey By Maricel V Cruz
WORLD / B2
HOUSE Majority Leader Martin Romualdez has emerged as the top performing congressman in Region VIII with a job approval rating of 68
percent, according to a non-commissioned and independent survey released on Tuesday. The survey, conducted by RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc., was based on data gathered in the
region from August 1 to 10, 2021. “I am very honored, humbled and grateful with the survey results. With all humility, thank you for the continued trust and confidence in me,” Next page
HK chief told: PH vax cards valid FOREIGN Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. on Wednesday said he would formally ask Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam for her government to recognize the Philippines’ COVID-19 vaccination cards, following concerns from Filipino migrant workers. “I’ll ask Carrie Lam formally why not. I have always been supportive of her superb management of Hong Kong,” Locsin said. Next page