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(Reuters) The Philippines has detected its first two cases of a coronavirus variant first identified in India, its health ministry said on Tuesday, even as confirmed daily COVID-19 infections fell to a near eight-week low.

The World Health Organization has classified the coronavirus variant, known as B.1.617, as a variant of global concern with some preliminary studies showing that it spreads more easily.

The variant had been confirmed in two Filipino seafarers who returned in April, Alethea De Guzman, director of the ministry’s epidemiology bureau, told a news conference

“We need to continually monitor what other variants we may be able to detect locally, as well as monitor the spread of the variants we have already detected,” De Guzman said, adding that the seafarers were isolated on their return and had both recovered… Read More

(Business World) THE GOVERNMENT would probably ease the lockdown in Manila, the capital and nearby cities and provinces by mid-May as coronavius infections get under control, according to the presidential palace.

The lower critical care use rate could also be a factor in easing the modified enhanced community quarantine, presidential spokesperson Herminio L. Roque, Jr. told a televised news briefing on Monday.

“I will not second-guess the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases but pursuant to the formula, it is possible,” he said.

Mr. Roque said the use rate for intensive care unit (ICU) beds in Metro Manila fell to 68% from 70% in recent weeks, showing that the critical care use rate had moderated.

He said 62% of ICU beds for coronavirus patients in the country have been used. About 44% of isolation beds have been used and 49% of ward beds were occupied. He added that 42% of ventilators in the country have been used.

Mr. Roque said 46% of isolation beds and 50% of ward beds in Metro Manila were occupied, while about 51% of ventilators have been used.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte would announce the new quarantine status for Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Cavite before it expires on May 14.

Meanwhile, an inter-agency task force placed the provinces of Cagayan, Apayao and Benguet in northern Philippines under a modified lockdown for two weeks starting May 10.

The reimposition of an altered lockdown was made due to surging infections in the areas, according to a resolution adopted by the body.

Meanwhile, Mr. Roque said the construction of a vaccination facility in an urban forest managed by the Nayong Pilipino Foundation is consistent with the President’s police power and aimed at protecting Filipinos’ right to health.

The government-owned and controled corporation earlier opposed the plan of a foundation owned by tycoon Enrique K. Razon, Jr. to put up a vaccination site on its property, citing environmental and health risks.

Citing a presidential decree, it said it is illegal to allow a private entity to operate and manage a government property.

Mr. Roque reminded the management of Nayong Pilipino that as a state company, it is under the President’s supervision.

“Hopefully, their decision won’t conflict with the important mission to protect the life of our fellowmen,” he said in Filipino.

Lucille Karen Malilong-Isberto, the state company’s executive director, has resigned amid the controversy.

Mr. Duterte last month extended the second strictest lockdown level enforced in Metro Manila and nearby provinces by another two weeks amid a fresh surge in coronavirus infections.

The modified enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Cavite was extended until May 14.

The President said he had to extend the modified lockdown to ease pressure on hospitals that were near breaking point.

The altered lockdown was also enforced in the provinces of Quirino and Abra and Santiago City in Isabela in northern Philippines until the end of May.

The provinces of Apayao, Baguio, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya in Cagayan Valley were placed under a general community quarantine.

Batangas, Quezon, Tacloban City, Iligan City and Lanao Del Sur were  also placed under a general lockdown… Read More

(GMA News) Several bus conductors have taken to asking for alms after some buses were forced off the road amid the recent resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila.

According to Darlene Cay’s report on “24 Oras” on Monday, the bus conductors have been forced to beg for alms following the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s “libreng sakay” program for authorized persons outside of residence.

“Humihingi kami ng tulong, suporta. Labag man sa kalooban namin ‘to pero wala eh, kapit talaga kami sa patalim. Gutom na pamilya namin,” bus conductor Philip Elequin said.

“Saan kami kukuha ng pangkabuhayan ng pamilya namin? Tapos ‘yong kumpanya namin wala namang suporta sa’min tapos wala namang programa ‘yong gobyerno para sa’min,” he added.

Bus operators said bus conductors had been excluded from the LTFRB’s service contracting program, the reason why they have no earnings for over a month already.

“Bahagi rin kami ng transport sector. May mga pamilya rin kami, nagugutom,” Edmel Salisad said.

Meanwhile, LTFRB chairman Atty. Martin Delgra III said while the bus drivers are the primary beneficiaries of the service contracting program, bus conductors are also included.

‘Pag makatanggap na ‘yong operator ng bayad galing sa free ride program ng service contracting, ‘yong 30% ibibigay na doon sa mga driver na nakalista. The rest of the money, as I’ve said, will cover operating costs, which includes the payment of the conductors, kung mayroon,” Delgra said… Read More

(BBC News) In the Philippines, a second surge in Covid-19 cases is putting renewed pressure on the healthcare system.
The country currently has the second highest number of cases in South East Asia behind Indonesia.
And with one of the longest and hardest lockdowns in the world, a crippling recession has forced thousands on to the streets in search of food… Read More

(Lionheartv) The newest Kapuso rom-com Heartful Cafe has a hard time keeping up on its pilot episode ratings.

During its pilot week, the Julie Anne San Jose-David Licauco starrer Kapuso show is on a downward track in terms of ratings.

From as high as 14.1% for its pilot episode on Monday, April 26–the show went down to its lowest 13.5% on Thursday, April 29.

Though the Network may have a strong pre-programmed show via First Yaya, and is currently the country’s most-watched weekday program–still it is not enough to pull Heartful Cafe’s ratings. Also, the series’ online views are dwindling throughout the week.

From the 88 thousand views on its premiere, it went down to 54 thousand on Tuesday, April 27; 52 thousand on Wednesday, April 28; 21 thousand on Thursday, April 29; and 20 thousand to end its first week on Friday, April 30.

However, while its ratings and online views are starting to get lukewarm, Netizens and their supporters continue to share warm reviews of the show–particularly on the “kilig” they are seeing with its lead stars San Jose and Licauco.

According to netizens, the chemistry of the two is undeniable and that makes them smile while watching the series… Read More

(News Agency Here) THE PESO appreciated versus the greenback for the fifth straight day as inflation was steady in April and as the daily tally of coronavirus cases remained low.

The local unit closed at P48.025 per dollar on Wednesday, appreciating by 1.3 centavos from its P48.038 finish on Tuesday, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines showed.

The peso’s close on Wednesday was its best since Feb. 15’s finish of P47.93 per dollar.

The local unit opened the session at P48.03 versus the dollar. Its weakest showing was at P48.13, while its intraday best was at P47.96 against the greenback.

Dollars traded jumped to $1.2 billion yesterday from $730.7 million on Tuesday.

The slower-than-expected April inflation print boosted market sentiment and supported the peso, a trader said in an e-mail.

Headline inflation stood at 4.5% for the second straight month in April, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Wednesday. However, this was faster than April 2020’s 2.2%.

April headline inflation was slower than the median 4.7% in an analyst poll BusinessWorld conducted late last week and settled within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) own 4.2-5% estimate.

Year to date, inflation averaged at 4.5%, still above the BSP’s 2-4% target as well as its inflation forecast of 4.2% for the year.

Inflation eased in the indices of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 4.8% in April from 5.8% in March; and alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 12% from 12.1%.

On the other hand, annual increases were noted in housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels (1.5% from 0.9%); furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house (2.1% from 1.9%); health (3.1% from 2.9%); transport (17.9% from 13.8%); communication (0.3% from 0.2%); and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services (3.4% from 3.1%), PSA data showed.

The easing number of new coronavirus infections also boosted the peso versus the dollar, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said.

The Health department reported 5,685 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday to bring the total to more than 1.073 million. Meanwhile, active cases stood at 66,060.

For Thursday, Mr. Ricafort gave a forecast range of P47.97 to P48.07 per dollar, while the trader expects the local unit to move within the P48 to P48.10 range… Read More

(PEP.ph) Jericho Rosales has had several remarkable portrayals in both television and film.

But despite having played many iconic characters, he says there were roles he wished he had played.

Totoo ba? He coveted the title role in the 2015 highest-grossing independent film, Heneral Luna?

Jericho reveals in his Calamansi live cast session with the editorial team of PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) on April 21, 2021, that he, in fact, auditioned for the role.

Although he quips, “Feeling ko, if I played that role, I would suck and the movie wouldn’t have made money,” he narrates the story of his audition where he faced director Jerrold Tarog and his team.

He recounts, “I auditioned for Heneral Luna as Heneral Luna. So, I remember being in front of the camera for Jerrold Tarog and his team. I was throwing lines.

“I remember them asking me, that was 2013, 2014. ‘Can you gain 40 pounds for the role?’”

At that time, Jericho was preparing for his wedding with his wife Kim Jones.

Laughing, Jericho continues, “2014, that was my wedding and then if I do that, I’m gonna be fat on my wedding day!”

Talking about Jerrold, Jericho says, “I think he felt the hesitation there na, ‘Wait, hold on, so you can’t gain weight?’

“Because I was skinny that time, medyo payat talaga and I need to gain weight for the role.

“Eventually, of course, we all know who got the role. He’s not fat, but he is more massive than I am, he’s more muscular, he’s way more mature for the role so I think he was the best.”

The role eventually went to veteran actor John Arcilla, who did his first lead role in many years.

And looking back, Jericho has no regrets.

Says he, “I’m really happy na I got to audition for that and that experience alone was something I could tell myself na, ‘Hey, this is the life of the actor, di ba?”.. Read More

(Topgear.com.ph) The slower a car is traveling, the less likely someone is to die after being involved in an accident with one. It’s not rocket science. Now, an urban planner and mobility group is using this logic to push for the lowering of urban speed limits in the Philippines.

According to a report by Inquirer.net, Move as One Coalition mobility expert Robert Siy raised the idea of bringing city speed limits down to 30kph in a bid to reduce traffic fatalities during a recent Department of Health (DOH) media forum.

The Urban planner cited data gathered by Australia-based pedestrian advocate group Victoria Walks that showed a 40% difference in the chances of death between being hit by a vehicle traveling at 50kph (20%) and one speeding at 80kph (60%).

“One key principle when we look all over the world for what is the top strategy to protect vulnerable road users, it has to do with speed limits,” Siy said, adding that lowering urban speed limits to 30kph or less would deliver dramatic results in terms of reducing the incidents of injury and fatality.”

Siy also suggested that road elements like humps and curves, which are designed to make cars slow down, may help, too.

“So how do we control speed limits? One is to have a sign saying maximum speed is 30kph but another way is to design our roads so that vehicles naturally slow down,” Siy said.

Following Joint Memorandum Circular 2018-001 issued by the Department of Transportation, Department of Public Works and Highways, and Department of the Interior and Local Government in 2018, local government units were tasked with classifying roads as either a ‘municipal or city street,’ a ‘barangay road,’ or a ‘crowded street.’ The first classification allows for a maximum speed of 30kph for passenger cars and motorbikes, while the latter two carry 20kph limits.

Obviously, urban thoroughfares like EDSA do not fall under those classifications. What do you think of this idea?.. Read More