The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) urged local government units (LGUs) to strengthen the implementation of minimum public health standards and to ramp up vaccination, including boosters, to avert community transmission of the Omicron variant. In a news release Monday, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said vaccination, including boosters, is essential for added protection against Omicron and new coronavirus variants. The Philippines has detected at least 14 confirmed Omicron cases. “Hinihimok po ang mga pamahalaang lokal na tiyakin ang 100% vaccination rate ng lahat ng kanilang senior citizens o A2 priority group at ang lahat ng kanilang persons
The country is ready for a possible Omicron variant wave which Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said on Monday seems to be upon the Philippines as the Covid-19 infections continue to increase. “Well, it looks like the Omicron wave is upon us,” Vega, also the country treatment czar, said in an interview with ANC television. Vega said the Philippines has been experiencing a “steady increase” in terms of the Omicron just like what happened across South Africa and Europe. “Our numbers have doubled and this is the start and we are very sure that this will peak. When
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation in Eastern Visayas has paid at least PHP258 million for the testing of suspected and confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients from March 2020 to mid-December last year. PhilHealth Eastern Visayas acting regional vice president Rosario Suyom on Monday said the amount paid to three accredited testing laboratories in the region is on top of the agency’s refund to Covid-19 patients admitted in hospitals and those who stayed in isolation centers. “We are mandated to pay regardless of the number of tests done to one patient. PhilHealth has reserve funds to shoulder the cost of
A murder case was filed on Monday at the Alaminos City Regional Trial Court against the suspect in the shooting of the former town mayor here on January 1. In a press conference, Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO) acting director Col. Richmond Tadina said despite the arrest of the suspect and the filing of a case, the investigation on the shooting of former Anda Mayor Aldrin Cerdan will continue. “There are six witnesses who are ready to testify while the case was filed based on the gathered evidence although the motive is yet to be established as we continue with
The Supreme Court (SC) has acquitted a man convicted on drug charges in 2017 as it again reminded apprehending officers to ensure that evidence obtained in operations must be marked on-site. In an 11-page resolution uploaded December 27, the SC Second Division acquitted Kenneth Chan and reversed the Court of Appeals ruling. Chan was arrested on Dec. 6, 2016 in Barangay Poblacion, Bugallon, Pangasinan for selling .030 grams of shabu for PHP300 to undercover policemen. He was convicted on July 6, 2017 by the Lingayen Regional Trial Court. The SC noted a deviation by policemen handling evidence as the illegal
The Philippines has already administered 108,853,491 doses of the coronavirus vaccines, including second shots for 49,853,264 Filipinos and 1,847,926 booster or additional doses, as of Monday. The country’s total vaccines doses received stand at 210,633,110, both procured and donated, as of the end of 2021. National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 chief implementer, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. warned the country is “not yet out of the woods” as the cases are spiking once again. He reminded of the need to inoculate more Filipinos as much as possible, especially the elderly and those with comorbidities. “As what we have said, vaccine
