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(CNN Philippines) Metro Manila — The government aims to finish the COVID-19 vaccination of minors by December, so it can focus on giving third dose to health workers and other sectors, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Monday.

During President Rodrigo Duterte’s public address, Galvez underscored the need to accelerate the vaccination of minors to protect them from severe COVID-19 and hospitalization, reopen all schools, protect the education sector, mitigate social risks among children and adults, boost the economy, and recover lost time of children.

The Department of Health recently approved the vaccine experts’ recommendation to administer booster shots among health workers, senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals… Read More

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 21)— A subtype of the Delta variant which has reportedly contributed to the rise in coronavirus infections in the United Kingdom has not yet been detected in the Philippines, the Department of Health said Thursday.

In a statement, the DOH said the country’s biosurveillance team has been “closely monitoring” 46 sublineages of the Delta variant, but has so far not seen the feared AY.4.2… Read More

(BusinessWorld) Malaysia and the Philippines on Wednesday decried continued incursions by Chinese vessels in areas of the South China Sea they claim as their own in yet another sign of continuing tensions in the disputed waters.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said it protested provocative actions by Chinese government vessels that used “the unlawful issuance of over 200 radio challenges, sounding of sirens, and blowing of horns” against Philippine authorities that were “conducting legitimate, customary and routine patrols.”

“These provocative acts threaten the peace, good order, and security of the South China Sea and run contrary to China’s obligations under international law,” the agency said on its official Twitter account.

Tensions between the two nations over the disputed sea have escalated over the past months with the Philippines repeatedly protesting the presence of Chinese ships in the area. Manila has been backed by the U.S., while Beijing has said its actions were normal and legitimate… Read More

(CNN Philippines) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 21) — Motorists need not worry as the implementation of the mandatory vehicle testing by private motor vehicle inspection centers (PMVICs) is still suspended, transportation authorities clarified Thursday after reports surfaced that some provinces have resumed the controversial inspection scheme.

In a statement, Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Edgar Galvante said while the conduct of mandatory vehicle testing is at a halt, the operations of PMVICs continue.

“Hindi naman na-suspend ang operation ng PMVICs. They can still operate… Ibig sabihin, sa mga lugar kung saan may mga PMVIC, malaya pa ring makapamimili ang tao kung sa PMVIC o PETC magpapa-inspect ng sasakyan bago magpa-rehistro,” he was quoted as saying in a statement.

[Translation: The operation of PMVICs was not suspended. They can still operate… People are still free to choose if they want PMVIC or PETC (private emission testing center) to inspect their vehicle before registering.]

On Wednesday, Senator Grace Poe issued a statement regarding reports that some provinces have resumed the new vehicle inspection system despite the Department of Transportation’s suspension order… Read More

(People) More details surrounding the case of missing California mother May “Maya” Millete have been released by authorities after her husband, Larry Millete, was arrested in connection to her murder.

In a press conference on Tuesday, San Diego County district attorney Summer Stephan announced that Larry, 40, is now facing charges of murder and illegal possession of an assault weapon.

Investigators believe that Maya — who was 39 when she was last seen at her Chula Vista home on the evening of Jan. 7 — was killed by Larry after seeking a divorce, according to Stephan.

“Sometimes missing persons cases remain unsolved, but as the evidence unfolded in this case, meticulously and carefully, block-by-block, it pointed in one direction: May was murdered,” Stephan said. “The only thing we can do in the face of this senseless violence is to bring justice.”

California law allows prosecutors to file murder charges even if a body is missing, something that Stephan believes in this case is “circumstantial evidence that there was foul play, and that it was murder, because somebody who took their own life can’t hide their own body.”.. Read More

(GMA News) The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Wednesday advised the public to be responsible tourists as more restrictions in light of COVID-19 have been eased up due to the decline in the number of infections.

Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita, DOT Assistant Secretary Woodrow Maquiling Jr. said tourists have to be more conscious with minimum public health standards.

“We have to be responsible tourists kahit dito sa sariling bayan natin [even in our own country]. We have to be more responsible sa paglabas natin at mas conscious tayo [when going out and to be more conscious],” he said.

Maquiling made the statement following reports on the increasing number of visitors in some tourist spots in the country.

He added that the public should follow the preventive measures to ensure that the country will not go back to the “peak” of COVID-19 infections.

According to Maquiling, the DOT has been coordinating with local government units to monitor the compliance of establishments with the established health protocols… Read More

(CNN Philippines) Metro Manila — Mobility restrictions in Metro Manila may be downgraded further by Christmas if COVID-19 figures continue to decline in the capital region, a health expert said on Monday.

“Kung mapagpatuloy natin ito at bumaba ang hospital utilization and other metrics, baka mas mapababa pa natin (alert level). Lalo na sa Pasko, baka maka-level 2 na tayo,” Dr. Edsel Salvaña, infectious diseases specialist and a member of the Health department’s technical advisory group, said in a virtual briefing Monday.

[Translation: If we can continue this and further lower hospital utilization and other metrics, the (alert level) may be downgraded even more. Especially at Christmas, we might be placed under level 2.]

Metro Manila is under Alert Level 3 until the end of October, allowing establishments to expand their operations, with 50% outdoor venue capacity and an indoor venue capacity of 30% for fully vaccinated individuals… Read More

(The Manila Times) We were among those invited at the special preview of “Yorme,” the biopic of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno produced by Saranggola Media and Viva Films under the direction of Joven Tan.

We were not expecting anything grand, knowing that the movie was shot during the pandemic and there were restrictions due to health protocols.

We liked the movie. We are giving Direk Joven more than a passing grade for his work in Yorme which is a musical film. He also wrote the script and composed the 15 songs used in film.

We find the movie touching. It doesn’t have intention to make you cry but there scenes in the movie that will tug at your heart and make you shed a tear or two. It is an inspiring story of rising from the lowly beginning, of wanting and dreaming to have a better life. The film revolves around Yorme’s story of rising from nobody, a lowly basurero into somebody through hard work, perseverance and aiming for the stars… Read More