(Photo courtesy of Anadolu) MANILA - The Philippines will be sending over healthcare workers and engineers and donating basic goods to victims of a magnitude 7.8 earthquake that left thousands of people from Trkiye and Syria hurt and homeless, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Tuesday. In a chance interview with reporters in Pasay City, Marcos said he has coordinated with the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to organize an 85-member group that will be traveling to the two countries to provide aid and turn over the donations. "We have organized a group of about 85 personnel together with some goods.Ang hinahanap sa atin ay mga blanket, mga winter clothing dahil siyempre yung mga nasiraan ng bahay sa Trkiye ay wala na silang tirahan (What they are looking for are blankets, winter clothing because there are people in Trkiye who are now homeless). They are exposed so they need all of these things," he told reporter
(PNA photo by Alfred Frias) MANILA - The number of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid -19) infections nationwide are less likely to reach 700 cases per day by Feb.15, a health expert said Wednesday. In a televised public briefing, infectious disease expert Dr. Rontgene Solante said the Covid-19 cases have not significantly increased after the holidays and the Feast of the Black Nazarene, noting that most active cases only have mild symptoms. "Doon sa mga na-ospital mayroon pa ring mga mangilan-ilan na na-admit, pero iyong mga hospital occupancy ng mga Covid infection, hindi tumaas more than 50 percent. So, nai-stabilize siya (There are still some admitted to hospitals, but the hospital occupancy for Covid infections, is not more than 50 percent. So, it is stabilized)," he said. Earlier, the Department of Health (DOH) warned the public that infections may reach 730 per day by mid-February if observation of minimum public health standards is ignored. Solante said the low number of
MANILA - Albay Governor Noel Rosal has five days or until Sept. 24 to file a motion for reconsideration on the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) First Division granting the disqualification case filed against him by Joseph San Juan Armogila. Acting Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said Tuesday the respondent on the disqualification case has five days upon receipt of the resolution of the Division, promulgated on Sept. 19, to appeal the decision. "Under Section 2 of Rule 19, Part IV of the Comelec Rules of Procedure, a motion to reconsider a decision, resolution, order, or ruling of a Division may be filed within five days from the promulgation thereof," he said in a statement. "This considering, as of writing, the Resolution is not yet final and executory, subject to the Rules of Procedure," he added. Given this circumstance, Laudiangco said they cannot remove Rosal yet from his post. "Technically what we are saying is that with the deci
(PNA Bacolod file photo) BACOLOD CITY - The outgoing administration headed by Mayor Evelio Leonardia is turning over a "safer Bacolod" to the city's new leadership under Mayor-elect Alfredo Benitez after logging a high coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination coverage rate. As of Tuesday, Bacolod has already vaccinated more than the target set by the Department of Health (DOH), hitting an average 146-percent level among the adult population. Dr. Chris Sorongon, medical deputy of the Emergency Operations Center Task Force (EOC-TF), said this can be attributed to the dedication and firm commitment of the volunteers in the battle against the pandemic. "This is the highest vaccination record in Western Visayas as per record of the DOH. As we step down soon, we will be turning over a safer Bacolod," he added. On Monday, Leonardia paid tribute to the city's front-liners in the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic. He called them the "modern-day heroes&
(File photo) MANILA - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will implement the dismissal order of the Office of the Ombudsman against 45 of its personnel in connection with the "pastillas" scheme. "The Bureau has received a copy of the order from the Office of the Ombudsman effectively directing the dismissal from service of 45 immigration personnel and a copy of an order from the Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissing 18 personnel. We respect the decision of the Ombudsman and the DOJ, and will implement the same immediately," said Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente in a statement issued on Tuesday. Morente also expressed hope that this will serve as a lesson for the bureau to improve its services and uphold accountability among its personnel. "We trust that this will be a new beginning for the bureau, as we enter a new chapter in government. We will strive to ensure that the advancements and improvements of the BI will continue in the years to come," he adde