Photo courtesy of NTF Against Covid-19 MANILA - The government's vaccination program against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is helping the economy amidst another surge of infections, an official of First Metro Investment Corporation (FMIC) said. In a virtual briefing on Tuesday, FMIC head of research Cristina Ulang said daily Covid-19 cases have reached around 33,000 but the economy remains open, with the movement restriction still at Alert Level 3 instead of Alert Level 4 as some sectors have suggested. "And that's really the result of our vaccination rate of 50 percent. The economy is able to function," she said. The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday reported 33,169 daily Covid-19 cases. Daily cases are lower at 28,007 on Tuesday, it said. Ulang said the utilization rate of hospital intensive care units (ICUs) and non-ICU beds remains at around 50 percent. "That's why we're not yet being raised on Alert Level 4 and that's the beauty of i
DON'T GO OUT. Dr. Maria Socorro Quinon, head of the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO), on Thursday (Jan. 6, 2022) urges Ilonggos to shift to "rest mode" and stay home as precautionary measures amid increasing Covid-19 cases. She said on Wednesday (Jan. 5) the province has recorded 18 news cases, with nine local infections.(Screen grab from Balita Halin sa Kapitolyo live streaming) ILOILO CITY - Ilonggos are encouraged to stay home and limit their non-essential trips outside as cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) are on the rise amid the Omicron variant threat. In a press conference on Thursday, Dr. Maria Socorro Quinon, head of the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) said the malls were filled with people during the holidays but since the vacation is over, then it would be better if the residents would shift to "rest mode". "As of now there is a big chance that these symptoms such as runny nose could be already Omicron only they were no
ILLEGAL FIRECRACKERS. Members of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office look on as a member of the Bureau of Fire Protection sprays water on the seized illegal firecrackers and pyrotechnics in Lingayen, Pangasinan on Monday (Jan. 3, 2022). The firecrackers and pyrotechnics were confiscated by the police from Dec. 21, 2021 to Jan. 3, 2022. (Photo by Jerick James Pasiliao) LINGAYEN, Pangasinan - At least 2,832 pieces of confiscated illegal firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices amounting to PHP33,596 were simultaneously destroyed at the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO) compound on Monday. During the ceremonial destruction, PPPO acting director, Col. Richmond Tadina, said the items were seized during 15 police operations in the entire province during the Christmas and New Year holidays. He said operations conducted were in support of the government's campaign against the use of illegal firecrackers during the New Year revelry. "We will continuously and strictly enforce t
GARBAGE FEES. A worker at Baguio City'sbiodegradable composting facility sprays a chemical onto the garbage to preventit from emitting a foul smell. The city government is coming up with a schemethat would make residents pay garbage fees based on weight,also a way to encourage waste segregation and recycling. (File photo) BAGUIO CITY - The city government is mulling charging garbage fees based on weight to encourage waste segregation. City Information Office chief Aileen Refuerzo said the city government and the barangays are discussing how to implement the plan, specifically the weighing of garbage brought out by residents on collection day. Based on a survey, many residents wanted to help the city government improve its garbage collection and disposal. The survey showed that residents are willing to get charged with a fee of about PHP10 per 10 kilos of garbage and an additional PHP5 for every kilo above 10 kilos. Refuerzo said other respondents were also willing to do community s
ISTANBUL - Save the Children, a global non-government organization (NGO), on Tuesday confirmed that two of its staff members were among the 35 people killed in an attack blamed on the Myanmar military. "It is with profound sadness that we are confirming today that two members of Save the Children's staff were among at least 35 people, including women and children, who were killed on Friday 24th December in an attack by the Myanmar military in Kayah State, in the east of the country," the NGO said in a statement. "The two staff were both new fathers who were passionate about educating children. One was 32, with a 10-month-old son, and had worked at Save the Children for two years, training teachers. The other, 28, with a three-month-old daughter, joined the charity six years ago. They are not being identified for security reasons," the statement noted. They were on their way back to their office after working on humanitarian response nearby when they were attacke