Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Tuesday, June 1, 2021.
READ: Duterte urged to run for VP
THE Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) has adopted a resolution urging President Rodrigo Duterte to run for vice president in next year's elections. The resolution was adopted during the ruling party's National Council meeting on Monday in Cebu City. PDP-Laban Vice President for External Affairs and Secretary Raul Lambino moved for the adoption of the resolution, which also empowered Duterte to name his running mate. Lambino's motion, which was seconded, was approved by the party's vice chairman, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi. Also approved was a motion to call a party meeting on July 16 and another national assembly on July 17 to elect party officers, subject to the approval of the party chairman, President Duterte. In a press conference after the assembly, Cusi said if Duterte does not accept the call, the party will hold a national convention to decide its standard-bearer.
READ: Frontline workers jabbed according to age
OLDER frontline economic workers in the A4 group will be the first to get the Covid-19 vaccine, according to the Department of Health (DoH). The government will start inoculating this month the subgroup, which has been divided into private and government employees and informal sector workers, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Monday. Vergeire said the age classification was decided because older workers are more vulnerable to infection and vaccine supply is limited. She said the vaccination of the A4 group will start once the guidelines are out and the date for the launch announced by vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.
READ: Study: VCO can speed up recovery from Covid
A STUDY by the Department of Science and Technology's Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DoST-FNRI) found that adding virgin coconut oil (VCO) to meals speeded up the recovery of those suspected to have Covid-19. One group was given a standardized meal and the rest of the participants a meal mixed with a predefined dosage of VCO.
Changes in clinical markers were measured before the meals were given, and 14 days and 28 days later. On the 14th day, the group receiving VCO-mixed meals showed a significant decline in the C-reactive protein (CRP) level, normalized to an average of fewer than 5 milligrams per deciliter.
READ: Govt won't take vaccines donated by private sector
THE government will no longer accept Covid-19 vaccines the private sector has pledged to donate. Speaking at a forum hosted by Go Negosyo on Monday, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez said that following discussions with the National Immunization Technology Advisory Group, the government "decided that it will no longer get the 50-percent vaccines the private sector committed to donate."
READ: Eleazar to go after drug dealers in jails
The Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed to stop the illegal drug trade inside jails and corrections facilities in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and Bureau of Corrections. PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar announced the tighter partnership following the confiscation of shabu with an estimated street value of P6.9 million from two suspected drug couriers at the Cebu City Jail over the weekend. The suspects were allegedly caught while transacting with a jail inmate.
BUSINESS: BSP sees May inflation at above 4%
In business, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the country's headline inflation rate this month likely remained at above 4 percent. Central bank governor Benjamin Diokno said the BSP projects May 2021 inflation to settle within the range of 4.0 to 4.8 percent. Headline inflation settled at 4.5 percent last month. Inflation in May last year was at 2.1 percent. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) will release official May inflation data on June 5.
SPORTS: Pacquiao reinstatement as WBA champ looms
Topping sports, Filipino boxing great Manny Pacquiao is likely to be reinstated as the World Boxing Association's (WBA) super welterweight titlist, according to WBA president Gilberto Mendoza. At the end of January this year, the WBA stripped Pacquiao off his 'super' welterweight belt for his inactivity, as the 42-year-old last fought in July 2019 when he beat Keith Thurman to win the title which eventually got stripped off of him. If the plan to reinstate Pacquiao as the WBA super welterweight champ materialized, then his fight against Spence Jr. on August 21 in Las Vegas, Nevada would be a three-belt unification match in the division, as Spence Jr. holds the World Boxing Council (WBC) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) titles.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Antonio Contreras and Yen Makabenta are today's front page columnists. Contreras talks about Catholicism, higher education and workers' rights, while Makabenta believes the debate on climate change has not yet been settled.
Today's editorial discusses how to overcome vaccine hesitancy. Read the 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 Tuesday ahead.