MANILA - The Department of Health (DOH) has detected 924 new cases of the highly-transmissible Omicron subvariants. In its latest Covid-19 biosurveillance report, the agency noted that there were 1,078 samples sequenced by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center on Jan. 28 to Feb. 3. Out of the total samples, 454 or 42.12 percent were classified as BA.2.3.20; 196 or 18.18 percent as XBB (including one case of XBB.1.5; 79 or 7.33 percent as XBC; 28 or 2.60 percent as BA.5 (including six cases classified as BQ.1); seven or 0.65 percent as BA.2.75 (including three cases classified as CH.1.1 and three cases classified as BN.1); and 160 or 14.84 percent as other Omicron sublineages. Screenshotfrom DOH website "The additional BA.2.3.20 cases were local cases from all regions except Eastern Visayas, while XBB cases were found in all regions except Eastern Visayas and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM
CAPIZ FLOODS. Flooding hits an area in Capiz on Saturday (April 16, 2022) after the onslaught of Tropical Storm Agaton. President Rodrigo Duterte conducted an aerial inspection of the province to assess damage from the storm. (Photo Courtesy: Rey Baniquet/ Presidential Photo) MANILA - The Department of Agriculture (DA) reported on Monday increased damage and losses to the agricultural sector amounting to PHP725.2 million in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Agaton's onslaught. The latest bulletin showed it has affected 19,424 farmers thus far, particularly in Western and Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen, and Caraga, with 17,925 hectares of agricultural lands damaged. This equates to 41,580 metric tons of total volume loss, with rice production worst hit, reaching 92.68 percent or 40,122 metric tons of loss, amounting to PHP672.2 million Moreover, loss to high-value crop production was estimated at PHP24.7 million; loss to corn production at PHP21.1 million; and loss
One Hospital Command Center(File photo) MANILA - Referrals to the One Hospital Command Center (OHCC) declined by at least 700 the past week. Dr. Marylaine Padlan, OHCC officer, said the center received an average of 200 to 300 calls daily this week, still higher than December figures but lower than the average 1,000 calls per day during the surge in January caused by the Omicron variant. Request for isolation of health care workers is also decreasing, according to Padlan. Most of the concerns were requests for isolation facilities, hospital admission, and other inquiries on Covid-19 cases. Some callers also inquired about vaccination and protocols for home isolation. "Karamihan ng mga nare-receive namin ay either asymptomatic or mild sila (Usually, the callers were either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms)," she said during the Laging Handa public briefing. Calls mostly came from Metro Manila and Calabarzon (Region IV-A) while regional centers got the most calls from the Dav
MANILA - There is a rising possibility for flash floods and landslides in the Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga, the weather bureau said. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather forecaster Ana Clauren said rains from the shear line can trigger such dangerous events in those areas. "Shear lines can affect the areas in the next four days," she said Monday. PAGASA said either flash floods or landslides are possible during moderate to at times heavy rainfall. Clauren said the shear line will soon begin affecting Mindanao to a lesser degree. (PNA) }
MASSIVE DAMAGE. A firetruck in Limasawa Island, Southern Leyte stands as a mute witness to the damage caused by Typhoon Odette in this undated photo. Firemen were among the first responders after the Dec. 16, 2021 landfall in the province and continue to conduct clearing operations. (Photo courtesy of Southern Leyte Update Facebook) MANILA - The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday reported PHP11.7 billion worth of damage in Typhoon Odette-hit regions but early intervention enabled farmers to save their crops. The agency's PHP2.9 billion worth of various programs are also being used to help 411,038 farmers and fisherfolk get back on their feet. All concerned DA agenciesare monitoring the damage to identify effective ways for the speedy recovery of the victims. The Dec. 16 and 17, 2021 typhoon caused 267,369 metric tons of production losses and damaged 442,674 hectares of agricultural areas in Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboa