INBRIEF

Immunize babies, Mayor Joy tells QC

QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte on

Monday urged parents to have their babies immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles, rubella, and polio, under the Chikiting Ligtas program.

To further ramp up the immunization activity, she instructed the health workers to strategically put up temporary vaccination posts in markets and covered courts. She said there is a need to conduct house-to-house inoculation activities for children in the most remote corners of the communities.

“Vaccine is the most effective and efficient way to protect our children. That is why our health workers would go around even in small alleys and inner streets to ensure that children are protected vaccinepreventable diseases,” the mayor cited.

The city government aims to vaccinate 230,347 children ages five years and below (0 to 59 months) with the measles vaccine, and 270,977 kids (0 to 59 months) with the oral polio vaccine this month. Rio N. Araja

Man behind ‘beggar syndicate’ arrested

ANGELES CITY—The city government here nabbed a man allegedly involved in a “beggar syndicate” by bringing indigenous people to the public market daily to beg for alms.

The man, identified as Daniel Lingad, 57, is currently facing charges for allegedly violating Republic Act 9208, also known as Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.

Lingad, a resident of Barangay Pandan and a jeepney driver plying the Pampang-Pandan route, has allegedly been using his public transportation to fetch and transfer the IPs, as captured by the city’s CCTV records.

Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. condemned this act, saying that the city’s task force team will continue the strict reinforcement of the anti-mendicancy law.

Lazatin said the city government is also continuously conducting rescue operations throughout the city to eradicate begging and alms-giving. Butch Gunio

Lumontad tapped to lead BOC Limay

ALEXANDRA Y. Lumontad is the new district collector of Bureau of Customs

Port of Limay.

Outgoing district collector William Balayo officially handed over leadership responsibilities to his successor on Monday at the Port of Limay in Bataan.

Balayo said the event signifies the smooth transition of power at the port and reinforces the Bureau of Customs’ commitment to operational efficiency and exceptional service.

Expressing his gratitude, Balayo acknowledged the unwavering support of the personnel and stakeholders during his tenure.

He highlighted the remarkable achievements and milestones attained under his leadership, praising the dedication and hard work of the entire team. In her address, Lumontad expressed her gratitude for the trust placed in her and assured everyone of her dedication to maintaining momentum and further improving the port’s efficiency. Butch Gunio size with renewed vigor, carefully guided by the stinging lessons of the pandemic, we can now refocus our priorities on the development of our economy and the betterment of the lives of ordinary Filipinos,” the President said.

However, the COVID-19 positivity rate in the National Capital Region (NCR) in- creased slightly last week to 25.7%, data released Monday by independent monitoring group OCTA Research showed. OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David said NCR’s positivity rate — the percentage of people who were found positive for COVID-19 among the total number of individuals tested — was “almost flat” from 25.4% on May 13, to 25.7% on May 20.

“In NCR, it was almost flat from 25.4% to 25.7% suggesting that it may be decreasing this week,” he said in a tweet. David said, however, that the WHO’s declaration does not mean abandoning the universal health protocols.

“Thankfully, because of swift breakthroughs in virology and vaccinology, communities were able to build effective response systems while humanity was

VESPA DAY EVENT. Over 1,000 members of 49 Vespa Clubs across Metro Manila gather at the MOA Globe to celebrate Vespa Day sponsored by Army Navy. With the help of the Highway Patrol Group and the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the pack went from EDSA to Andres Bonifacio Bonifacio Circle in Caloocan and back to Okada able to boost its immune system,” Mr. Marcos said.

The President recalled that when he met with the ADB’s Board of Governors last September, he highlighted the need for the Philippines to “safely navigate through the waters of the post-pandemic world.”

“The pandemic did not blur our national vision... Our goal remains to be the same as in pre-pandemic circumstances. Our goal is to evolve our economy into one that is defined by sustainability, climate resilience, responsiveness, and of course inclusivity,” Mr. Marcos said.

A Reuters report said the WHO’s emergency committee first declared that COVID represented its highest level of alert on January 30, 2020. The status helps focus international attention on a health threat as well as bolstering collaboration on vaccines and treatments.

Lifting it is a sign of the progress the world has made in these areas, but COVID-19 is here to stay, the WHO has said, even if it no longer represents an emergency.

Meanwhile, Mr. Marcos expressed hope that the ADB will continue “to be there by our side to lend its support throughout our transformative journey.”

In another development, Isabela’s positivity rate soared to 67.4% from 36.6%, over the same period.

Other provinces also posted high positivity rates such as Bataan, Batangas, Benguet, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines Sur, Cavite, La Union, Laguna, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Pampanga, Quezon, Rizal, and Zambales.