Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Thursday, April 8, 2021.
READ: More young people getting sick – DoH
THE Department of Health (DoH) is investigating why more younger people are getting sick and dying from Covid-19 amid reports of increasing deaths in the country. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said most of the virus cases come from the 20- to 49-year-old age group, which had a higher chance of dying from the virus. She added that the younger age group are the ones who continue to work in offices every day. This development prompted Health officials to discuss with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases what industries can adopt work-from-home alternatives to decrease mobility in the region.
READ: Sara flies to Singapore
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio admitted going to Singapore on Tuesday for health reasons. In a statement, she said she was on leave from April 6 to 10 and has a travel authority to go to the island city-state from the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
READ: Church turns online to comfort Covid patients
To serve the spiritual needs of its flock, a Catholic diocese in Metro Manila turned to an online program to comfort Covid-19 patients or those in isolation. The Diocese of Novaliches launched “E-Pray,” a social media platform where people afflicted with the coronavirus disease can connect to a priest for spiritual counseling and prayer. The project uses Google Form, a free web-based application where people can type in their contact details such as mobile number or Facebook messenger account so that a priest could get in touch with them.
READ: ‘Vaccinated Filipinos must follow health protocols’
Malacañang urged those who have been vaccinated to observe minimum public health standards, saying it would take weeks before they acquire protection from Covid-19. Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said the vaccine takes time to take effect, hence the need to stick to basic health protocols.
READ: DA to impose SRP on imported pork
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Wednesday it will impose a suggested retail price (SRP) on imported pork starting on April 9. No SRP will be imposed for local pork products, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said during a joint briefing with the Department of Trade and Industry. Under the new SRP, the price of pork belly (liempo) shall be P350 per kilo, while pork ham (kasim) will be sold at P270 per kilo. The announcement came as Executive Order 124, which imposed a price cap for pork and chicken lapsed. Latest data from the agriculture department’s monitoring in selected Metro Manila markets showed that pork liempo and kasim are being sold at P330 per kilo and P360 per kilo, respectively.
READ: LMP to Duterte: Consider municipal mayors as frontliners
THE League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) has appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to classify all 1,400 mayors as frontliners and include them in the government’s priority list for Covid-19 vaccination. In a letter addressed to Duterte, LMP national president, Mayor Luis “Chavit” Singson of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur states that “mayors are active frontliners taking the lead in ensuring the health and medical wellbeing of their constituents.”
READ: Duterte appoints new CA justice
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has filled the last vacancy in the Court of Appeals with the appointment of Justice Nancy Rivas-Palmones. Rivas-Palmones, a judge at the Valenzuela Regional Trial Court, is the wife of former broadcaster and Agham Party-list representative Angelo Palmones. She was a former prosecutor in Quezon City.
BUSINESS: Finance chief wants functioning FIRB
Topping business, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd wants the newly reconstituted Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) to meet soon to discuss the body’s expanded functions under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (Create) Act once the law takes effect this month. Dominguez chairs the reconstituted FIRB under the Create Act with Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez as co-chairman.
SPORTS: Marcial has strong chance 'to win gold'
In sports, Filipino boxer Jerwin Ancajas believes that the Philippines has a strong chance of winning a gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics with Eumir Marcial. Ancajas told The Manila Times the Philippine Olympic team will get the gold medal boost because of a “changed” Marcial.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Yen Makabenta, Ramon Tulfo, and Arch. Felino Palafox Jr. are today’s front page columnists. Makabenta wants to revisit flawed polymerase chain reaction tests, Tulfo brands the Philippine National Police as the number one oppressor for the poor, while Arch. Palafox discusses the best practices and designs of vaccination centers.
Today’s editorial discusses the garbage underneath the Emden Deep. Read a full version on the paper’s opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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With Dafort Villaseran, this is Aric John Sy Cua reporting. May you have a safe Thursday ahead.