8 GENSAN NURSES ARRIVE TO AUGMENT NCR HOSPITAL FRONT-LINERS

By Richelyn Gubalani

VOLUNTEERS. Photo shows the eight nurses of the St. Elizabeth Hospital in General Santos City who volunteered for temporary deployment in the National Capital Region to augment the hospital workforce amid the increasing Covid-19 cases. The group, which flew to Manila on Monday, is the second batch of health workers from the hospital that was sent to the NCR since last year. (Photo courtesy of St. Elizabeth Hospital)

Eight health care workers from this city left for the National Capital Region on Monday to augment the workforce in a major hospital in the wake of the continuing surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases. The health workers, all nurses of the St. Elizabeth Hospital here, volunteered for temporary deployment at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City, the hospital said in a statement on Tuesday. It said the eight nurses arrived in Manila Monday afternoon aboard a Philippine Airlines flight and will undergo mandatory quarantine as well as online orientation before taking on their assignments. volunteers from St. Elizabeth Hospital flew to Manila to lend a hand to our sister hospitals in NCR,” the hospital management said.

During the initial stages of the pandemic last year, eight of its nurses also volunteered to be assigned at the Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Manila. The latest volunteers are Norlaynie Abolais, Ryan Davis Cabarlo, Rex Congson, Geraldine Domanio, Elviro Firmalino Jr., Donna Lyn Juridico, Raffy Franz Manabat and Jayson Montano.

Congson said he did not hesitate to volunteer for the deployment in Metro Manila despite the risky situation in the area due to the increasing Covid-19 cases that already affected the local health system. He said it is his duty to render help to their colleagues as what he had sworn when he entered the profession.

The nurse, who was among the initial batch of health workers here who earlier received the Sinovac vaccine, said his inoculation also gave him the confidence of having protection from the disease.

“There is a call to help our hospitals in Manila and as a nurse, I think this is an opportunity to serve our people. But more than that I think it is our mandate to really help whether there is a pandemic or not,” he said. St. Elizabeth Hospital, which is operated by the Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings, Inc., is one of the six referral facilities here for Covid-19 patients. (PNA)

NATIONAL NEWS

ANDANAR RECOVERS FROM COVID-19 ANDANAR RECOVERS FROM COVID-19

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar has recovered from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) after completing the mandatory 14-day quarantine at home. “I am pleased to share that I have fully recovered from Covid-19 after undergoing a 14-day home quarantine,” Andanar said in a press statement issued on Saturday. He made the announcement after he confirmed on March 29 that he got infected. The result of his March 27 reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test turned positive. He, however, was asymptomatic. Andanar took the swab test when he arrived in Manila after visiting Loreto, Dinagat

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos

Islands for the conduct of the “Explain, Explain, Explain” information campaign on the National Covid-19 Vaccination Roadmap.

He was thankful that with God’s assistance and everyone’s prayers, he is fully recovered.

“I thank the Lord for this blessing of being able to overcome the virus. I am also very grateful for my family, loved ones, and colleagues, among others, for all their support and prayers while I undertook my recovery,” he said.

Despite his recovery, Andanar said he would still observe another five days of “voluntary” quarantine to ensure the safety of people around him and those who will possibly meet him after his isolation. Filipinos to continue following the minimum public health standards to stop the further transmission of Covid-19 in the country. For people who have tested positive for Covid-19, he encouraged them not to lose hope.

“With this, I call on those who have contracted the virus to remain strong-willed and to be hopeful of their recovery. And to trust that our Divine Creator will hear our prayers of healing and health,” Andanar said.

The Philippines logged a total of 840,554 Covid-19 infections after recording 12,225 new cases as of Friday. There are 178,351 active Covid-19 cases and around 647,683 infected individuals have already recovered, while 14,520 have died. (PNA)

ANDANAR HAILS MEDIA WORKERS’ INCLUSION IN VAX PRIORITY

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar lauded Friday the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) for including media workers in the A4 priority group for the inoculation of vaccine against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). This, after the IATF-EID on Thursday approved the recommendation of PCOO and the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) to make frontline workers in private and government news media fall under the A4 category. Andanar, also serving as PTFoMs co-chairperson, said the IATF-EID’s approval reflects the Duterte government’s vow to ensure the safety and security of media workers in the country, especially amid the Covid-19 pandemic. “Their inclusion as a priority in the ongoing vaccination program are among the reflections of the Duterte administration’s commitment to upholding and protecting the rights and welfare of media workers, especially during this pandemic as they are exposed to health risks and hazards as they carry out their work for the benefit of the public,” he said in a press statement.

Andanar and PTFoMS Executive Director Joel Sy Egco earlier sent a formal communication

to the IATF-EID to request media members’ inclusion on the A4 priority list. The initial plan was to include media in the B classification with other workers in the society, but the IATF-EID, in its Resolution 110, placed media workers under the A4.9 group. Andanar welcomed the IATF-EID’s move, saying front-line media workers must be recognized as among the essential workers “who have worked tirelessly and

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

have risked their lives to fulfill their duties.”

“The media should truly be included in the A4 priority group, along with other individuals who play a significant part in our seamless and uninterrupted societal activities. We have seen firsthand the importance of their work in delivering news and information to every household, especially when the pandemic started to unfold and interrupted traditional work arrangements,” he said. Andanar also stressed that front-line media workers are playing a vital role to ensure the success of the country’s fight against Covid-19. “Their indispensable and invaluable contributions have provided us with important and life-saving information on all matters relative to the contagion and the responses of the Duterte administration,” Andanar said.

Andanar said media workers should be protected from the health risk posed by the coronavirus.

He reminded them to continue observing health protocols while waiting for their turn to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

“As we wait for our turn to receive the vaccine, through the ongoing vaccine inoculation, let us continue to observe all health protocols to ensure that we contribute to the collective fight against the virus, and play our part in the healing and recovery of our nation,” Andanar said. (PNA)

NOGRALES DISTRIBUTES VCO TO LEVEL 1 HOSPITALS TO HELP TREAT COVID PATIENTS

With over 150,000 active COVID-19 cases in the country, every possible treatment for the dreaded disease should be studied and explored in order to prevent severe and fatal COVID-19 cases.

This was stressed by Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, who on Tuesday distributed free virgin coconut oil (VCO) to level 1 hospitals in Metro Manila. Nograles personally turned over the VCO to the directors of the Caloocan City Medical Center, San Lorenzo Ruiz Women’s Hospital, and Ospital ng Malabon, and revealed that 61 patients confined in the three hospitals had agreed to take VCO on top of treatments they were already receiving. “At this point, we have to explore possible and potential treatments for COVID-19––treatments that are supported by science and pose no threat to the health of the COVID patients,” said Nograles.

According to the IATF co-chair, “the DOST has done its due diligence and said that there is enough data to recommend the use of VCO for COVID patients with

mild symptoms, which is why I am personally distributing VCO to willing recipients so that we can help them as well as determine how effective it can be against COVID-19.” “Let’s explore all safe and science-backed options to beat COVID-19. At this point, to address the fears and anxiety of those afflicted with COVID, we need remedies, not more speculation.” The DOST had earlier released the results of an initial study that showed that VCO could be used to prevent COVID-19 symptoms from worsening. In the study, patients who regularly took VCO experienced diminished or reduced COVID-19 symptoms in around two weeks.

It recommended that VCO “be used as an adjunct supplement to probable and suspect cases of COVID 19. It could prevent COVID-19 positive cases from becoming severe.” The DOST likewise said that more studies are recommended to determine the effectiveness of VCO as adjunct therapy for COVID- 19 patients with other co-morbidities.

Patients with COVID-19 symptoms are advised to take one tablespoon of VCO after each meal - breakfast, lunch and dinner - for three straight days. If tolerated well, then they can double the dosage from the fourth day onward, until the patient tests negative. Patients may also rub VCO on their nostrils and gargle with VCO to help alleviate symptoms.

NO HARM IN TRYING VCO VS COVID-19, SAYS NOGRALES

With the surge in the number of active COVID-19 cases in the country, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Thursday that all safe and possible treatments for COVID-19 should be explored and studied as he continued distributing free virgin coconut oil (VCO) to Level 1 hospitals to help patients now suffering from mild symptoms of the dreaded disease.

The Palace official, who also co-chairs the InterAgency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), clarified that the distribution of VCO was a personal initiative, not an official IATF undertaking, and that private funds were used to purchase VCO supplies on top of VCO that had been donated by concerned parties. According to Nograles, he decided to distribute free VCO to Level 1 hospitals “after consulting the DOST (Deparment of Science and Technology),

doctors, and experts who said that VCO could have possible benefits for COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms.”

“More importantly, there are zero risks involved; VCO may help them, and certainly will not endanger their lives,” he stressed.

“At this point, we should be doing everything we can to help those who have contracted COVID-19. If there are possible treatments out there backed up by science, and trying these treatments have little or no risk involved, subukan natin.” Nograles pointed out that the DOST had already conducted studies that showed that there were possible benefits for COVID-19 patients who take VCO regularly. The clinical trials showed that VCO could be used to prevent COVID-19 symptoms from worsening, as patients who regularly took VCO experienced diminished or reduced COVID-19 symptoms in around two weeks.

The study recommended that VCO be used as an adjunct supplement to “probable and suspect cases of COVID 19” and theorized based on the trials that VCO could prevent COVID-19 mild positive cases from becoming more severe. The Palace official on Wednesday personally led the distribution of VCO to two NCR Level 1 hospitals, turning over 72 bottles of VCO to the SDS Medical Center and 48 bottles to Novaliches General Hospital in Novaliches, Quezon City. Previously, Nograles distributed VCO to Caloocan City Medical Center, San Lorenzo Ruiz Women’s Hospital, and Ospital ng Malabon. The VCO will be given to patients voluntarily, and their progress will be monitored in order to document the effects of VCO intake. Patients with COVID-19 symptoms are advised to take one tablespoon of VCO with each meal for three straight days. If tolerated well, they may double the dosage from the fourth day onward, until the patient tests negative. Patients may also swab VCO on their nostrils and gargle with VCO to help alleviate symptoms.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Malacañang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse in Malacañang Park, Manila on April 15, 2021. KING RODRIGUEZ/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

GOV’T TO FINISH MAJOR INFRA PROJECTS DESPITE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, SAYS TRANSPORT CHIEF

The government’s Build, Build, Build infrastructure program has remained on track despite the current coronavirus pandemic, the transportation department said, noting it expected to finish major infrastructure projects before President Rodrigo Roa Duterte steps down from power.

During the Cabinet meeting Thursday night, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade reported to President Duterte the progress of the Build, Build, Build (BBB) projects spearheaded by the administration.

“Habang tayo’y nakikipagbaka at nilalabanan ang pandemya, ang Build, Build, Build ho ay tuloytuloy. Hindi ho ito nawala,” Tugade said. The transportation chief reported that many projects have already been completed not only in the Metro Manila but also in other areas such as Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro City, General Santos City, Zamboanga, Siargao, Surigao and other places.

Tugade announced the completion of the rehabilitation of Calbayog airport which is set to be inaugurated on April 22. Also, the Bicol

International Airport, a long overdue project, will be finished this year. “Iyong konstruksyon ng Bicol International Airport matatapos po ‘yan ng June or July at tatargetin namin maging operational ‘yan before the end of the year,” Tugade said. “Matagal hong nakabinbin ‘yan at talaga hong kaawaawa ‘yong Republika noon, dekada na nag-delay ‘yan. Mr. President, tatapusin po natin sa iyong termino ‘yan.” Subway and Light Rail Transit (LRT) extension projects are also being cited to be finished within President Duterte’s term. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) led the development and construction of big-ticket infrastructure projects following the launch of the Duterte administration’s Build, Build, Build program, the centerpiece program of the administration aimed at ushering the “Golden age of infrastructure development” in the Philippines.

“Sa riles, ‘yong subway ho may partial operability akong tutumbukin at itutuloy before the end of your term. Iyong LRT extension, mao-operate ko ‘yan at magiging operational ‘yan. Ito ho ‘yong rail operations ng Marikina at Antipolo. Maraming taon din na pinag-antay-antay ng ating kababayan ‘yan. Sir, ready for delivery, ready for operation this year,” Tugade reported.

With the primary goal of improving the quality of life of Filipinos, the Duterte government focused on improving the country’s infrastructures having in mind that such massive investment could boost economic development.

Meanwhile, Tugade said the DOTr eyes adding more bus routes and issuing more franchises to alleviate transport woes in the midst of the pandemic.

“Mr. President, habang tinitingnan ho natin ang Build, Build, Build at itinutuloy, marami hong nagsasabi na dahil lang sa pandemya, kulang ang sasakyan, bus, at jeep,” he said. “Tama ho sila kaya nga ba’t naglulunsad ho tayo ng proyekto na madagdagan ‘yong ruta, madagdagan ‘yong prangkisa, at matutuloy ho ‘yong provincial routes.”

Aside from the efforts initiated by the government, other stakeholders have thrown their support to make the government program successful, according to Tugade. “Marami hong tumulong at nakikipagkapit-bisig upang ‘yong mga proyekto na katulad nito ay natatapos po,” said Tugade. PND

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Malacañang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse in Malacañang Park, Manila on April 15, 2021. KING RODRIGUEZ/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

GOV’T ON TOP OF COVID-19 FIGHT, PRESIDENT DUTERTE ASSURES FILIPINOS

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said Thursday night he is prepared to invoke the police power of the state to effectively respond to the coronavirus pandemic, allaying fears that government is running out of interventions in the present health crisis. at a critical condition, there is no space for the doctors and the nurses to move and stay healthy, then we begin to exercise the police power of the state. When we are pushed to the wall, either by the microbe itself or by external, internal, I can always order the military and the police to go there and confiscate the operation of the hotels,” President Duterte said in a televised address.

“So kayong mga kababayan ko, huwag kayong matakot diyan sa ano. Hindi naman tayo talagang walangwala eh. We are not really at a total loss of what to do. We know

what to do.”

The chief executive, however, said he will only invoke such power to control private facilities once officials declare the country’s healthcare system is at maximum capacity. But he noted that exercising state control over the private sector is the least favorable option in a democratic state.

President Duterte then said that his administration is doing all it can to come up with interventions that mitigate, rather than aggravate, the medical and socio-economic impact of the pandemic. Despite government efforts, the President said the country’s only hope to fully recover from COVID-19 lies solely on massive vaccination program, noting, however, that the country has to compete with other nations in securing sufficient supply considering the current global vaccine shortage. “Do not be afraid. Government is working. Government is busy doing everything, not nothing. Government is trying to get the things to fix all of us. Iyong mga bagay ngayon nandiyan pero wala sa ating mga kamay. Nandiyan ang bakuna, hindi sa ating kamay. Sa kamay ng ibang tao. And this will go I think before it gets better, we’ll have to go to the worst of times,” he said. The Philippines is negotiating with vaccine manufacturers Sinovac Biotech Ltd., Sinopharm, Pfizer Inc., Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Novavax, and Gamaleya Research Institute to procure enough doses to cover 70 percent of the country’s adult population.

The government has started inoculating healthcare workers, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities using the initial vaccine deliveries from China and the World Health Organization-led COVAX facility.

Next in line to take the jab will be economic frontliners, state security forces and other vulnerable groups. The Department of Health (DOH) has recorded 11, 429 new infections on April 15, bringing the country’s total number of COVID-19 cases to 904, 295 with 705,164 recoveries and 15,594 deaths. PND

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte presides over a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATFEID) core members prior to his talk to the people at the Malacañang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse in Malacañang Park, Manila on April 12, 2021. KING RODRIGUEZ/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

FDA TO COMPLETE EVALUATION OF J&J’S COVID-19 VACCINE THIS WEEK

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expects to complete its evaluation of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine within this week following its application for an emergency use authorization (EUA), the FDA chief said on Monday. Reporting to President Rodrigo Duterte during the President’s Talk to the People, FDA head Eric Domingo said Janssen’s single dose vaccine already has EUA in the US, Europe, Canada, Switzerland, and also secured the World Health Organization’s (WHO) emergency use listing.

In the case of China’s Sinopharm, Domingo said somebody sent them a letter conveying the drugmaker’s intention to apply for an EUA but it is yet to comply the requirements of the FDA.

America’s Moderna, on the other hand, is still completing its documents and its local partner will submit them hopefully this week, according to Domingo.

“Iyong Moderna mayroon na rin po ‘yang EUA sa US at saka sa European Union so hindi naman po tayo matatagalan sa pagevaluate po niyan. Medyo nagbabasa-basa na nga po tayo, ‘yong ating mga evaluators kahit wala pa pong submission,” he told the President.

Domingo also said they expect Novavax to apply after the second quarter. There is still no EUA issued on Novavax elsewhere and it appears that the drugmaker will apply in May or June. In the Philippines, the company may possibly apply for an EUA towards the later part of the year, the FDA head said.

Pharmaceutical companies which were granted EUA include Pfizer Inc., AstraZeneca, Sinovac, and Gamaleya Research Institute. A fifth drugmaker, Bharat Biotech from India has a pending application.

Domingo also reported on the supply the COVID-19 therapeutic drugs. Because of the surge in cases, there is difficulty in the distribution of Remdesivir in hospitals.

But Domingo said suppliers have made an assurance that there is availability of stocks for at least one month and importations are ongoing. Hospitals secure compassionate special permit from the FDA for Remdesivir so that they could administer the drug to their patients.

In the case of Avigan, Domingo said there is enough supply of the drug, which is usually given to mild and moderate COVID-19 cases. Hospitals also has to apply for compassionate special permit for Avigan since the drug is not yet fully registered in the Philippines.

Tocilizumab, another therapeutic drug, is in short supply this week because there is only one manufacturer and supplier for the drug, according to Domingo. “It’s a patented drug at although ang magandang balita naman po, kanina nag-email na po ‘yong supplier nito at may padating na po daw sila na 5,000 doses sa Pilipinas this week so this will be distributed to the hospitals. This is a registered drug so wala pong problema ito. Mayroon po itong CPR,” he said.

Also in his report, Domingo said Ivermectin is not yet included in the treatment protocol being followed by Department of Health (DOH) as well as by the Infectious disease specialists.

Although the drug is approved for animal use, Domingo said three companies signified their intention to register Ivermectin so that it could be administered to humans.

“Binigyan na po namin sila ng listahan ng requirements at basta naman po sila magsubmit eh ie-evaluate naman po agad ito ng FDA,” he said. PND

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Malacañang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse in Malacañang Park, Manila on April 12, 2021. KING RODRIGUEZ/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

PHILHEALTH’S MULTI-BILLION PAYOUT

BREATHES LIFE INTO HEALTHCARE SYSTEM’S COVID-19 FIGHT

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) payout of less than P10 billion ordered by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will greatly help the country’s healthcare system to effectively combat COVID-19, the country’s vaccine czar said on Monday. “Mr. President, nagpapasalamat po ang mga ospital at saka po ‘yung private at saka mga LGUs, private at saka public hospital dahil kasi po first time po na nangyari na napakalaking babayaran po ng PhilHealth na more or less 10 billion,” Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said in a report to President Duterte. ninyo po na talagang magkaroon po ng collective decision sa pag-ano po ng PhilHealth ay napakaganda po dahil kasi ‘yung pagbayad ng PhilHealth ng more or less 9.577 billion for NCR, Region IV, at saka Region III, ay nangako po sila na mage-expand po sila ng kanilang mga ICU beds.”

Hospitals promised to allocate 164 ICU beds and open 1,157 beds for moderate and severe COVID-19 cases.

PhilHealth’s payment is expected to boost the hospitals’ bleeding resources since the start of the pandemic, Galvez said, noting as a result of the President’s instruction, more or less 60 percent of their valid claims will be paid. “Ang tagal po nilang hinintay po no’n last year at saka po ngayon kaya tuwang-tuwa po sila noong --- noong maibibigay na po ‘yung mga tseke para po sa kanila. And then makakapag-hire na rin po sila ng mga additional staff,” he said.

LGU hospitals in the National Capital Region (NCR) will also benefit from the payout, according to Galvez, who is also the chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19. Galvez reported that Quezon City, Taguig, Caloocan, Manila, Pasay, Valenzuela, San Juan, Navotas, Parañaque and Makati have initially committed to put up additional 30 ICU beds for critical patients and additional 1,350 regular COVID beds for moderate, mild and asymptomatic cases.

With more than 100,000 active COVID-19 cases, the country will be needing additional 2,000 beds for severe and critical cases. It has a current inventory of 1,395 ICU beds.

A total of 605 ICU beds should be put up to address those cases, the vaccine czar said, adding the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are working to increase bed capacity. Based on the President’s instruction, PhilHealth will initially pay 60 percent of the hospitals’ outstanding claims starting March 2020 to April 2021. In his report to the President, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said government hospitals have their own budget for the procurement of other capital outlay. “So ito po ang isa sa mga pinagba-budgetan po ng ating gobyerno para po sa kanilang mga kama. Pero kung halimbawa nagkaroon nga ng ganitong state of public health emergency na kinakailangan palawigin ang capacity ay puwede naman po nilang magamit iyong PhilHealth reimbursements,” he said.

President Duterte advised government agencies not to be reluctant in spending their money on essential goods and services amid the pandemic, noting, however, that to avoid trouble, they should observe the guidelines on government procurements.

“Do not be afraid to spend money because that is really intended to be spent. Kaya nga natin nilalagay sa budget para gastusin. Huwag kayong matakot magastos. Just follow rules,” he said. PND

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Malacañang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse in Malacañang Park, Manila on April 12, 2021. KING RODRIGUEZ/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

PRESIDENT DUTERTE SAYS HE’S PHYSICALLY FIT TO FUNCTION AS PRESIDENT

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has assured the Filipino public Monday that he has no illness that could prevent him from doing his duties as president.

President Duterte was responding to speculations regarding his health especially due to his long absence from the public view.

“Kung sabihin mo may sakit ako, may sakit ako. Pero kung sabihin mo may sakit ako ngayon that would prevent me from exercising the powers of the presidency, wala ho,” he said during his Talk to the People address. ako nakaka-swing ng golf, tapos nagmomotor eh kasi kaya ko pa.” Meanwhile, President Duterte said he is willing to waive his slot in the government vaccination program and would prefer to give the jab to a young and productive individual.

“Kami, okay na ako. Maski kami ‘yong ano. Ako, magwiwaive ako. Magwi-waive ako. Basta 70 above... Alam mo 70 above, ano mang ma --- ano mang makuha mo magsige ka dream?” he said. “Dream of what? Living until kingdom come? Ako magwi-waive ako. Kung sino ‘yong may gusto sa slot ko, ibigay ko. Wala akong ano masyado sa ano…” The government has so far administered COVID-19 shots to the country’s healthcare workers, senior citizens and persons with comorbidities. The Department of Health (DOH) has reported 11,378 new cases on Monday, April 12, bringing the country’s total COVID-19 active infections to 157,451.

With 267 patients recovering from the virus, the country’s a total recovery tally is now at 703,625. The DOH also reported 204 individuals who succumbed from the virus, breaching the 15,000 death toll.

The Philippines has a total of 876,225 confirmed COVID-19 cases. PND

VACCINATION PRIORITY. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases core members at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang Park, Manila on Monday night (April 12, 2021). Duterte said he is willing to waive getting a Covid-19 vaccine, saying it is better to prioritize those who need the vaccine to “live productively.” (Presidential photo by King Rodriguez)

PRRD WILLING TO WAIVE COVID-19 VACCINATION SLOT

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night said he is willing to waive a Covid-19 vaccination slot, saying it is better to prioritize those who need the vaccine to “live productively.” In a pre-recorded public address, Duterte said he

By Azer Parrocha

is fine with not receiving a Covid-19 vaccine since he described himself as “fatalistic.”

“Ako, magwi-waive ako. Kung sino ‘yong may gusto sa slot ko, ibigay ko (Me, I will waive receiving a vaccine. Whoever wants my slot can have it),” he said. He noted that he had always believed that he would die if it is already his time to die.

“I am that fatalistic actually. I have always been na kung panahon ko na (if it’s my time) either it’s Covid or a bala (a bullet) or whatever disgrasya (accident).

Wala akong masyadong ano diyan sa (I do not have many) illusions about life and death. If anyone wants to have it, they can have it,” he added.

Duterte emphasized that those who had a better chance of living productively should be prioritized as Covid-19 vaccine recipients.

“Ang unahin natin ‘yong mabubuhay pa (Let’s prioritize those who will live long). Well, come to think of it actually, ang unahin natin ‘yong medyo pagka nabigyan ng vaccine (let’s prioritize those that if you give them a vaccine), there’s a chance that he would live and live productively,” he said. He said most senior citizens are “no longer that productive” unless they are working in the government.

“(A) few of us only are there in government working. Most of the senior citizens are no longer that productive.

Puwera na lang ‘yong na-elect itong mga naging congressman, senador kasi may trabaho talaga ‘yan (Except those elected as congressmen, senators, because they really have jobs),” he said. Despite being a public official himself, Duterte said he had nothing else to look forward to in his old age.

Duterte turned 76-yearsold last March 28.

“Ako, after this, (I have) nothing to look forward to. Maybe spend a little bit time with the family, then time to go,” he said. Senior citizens are second in line in the government’s Covid-19

Contributed photo

vaccine priority list after frontline medical workers.

As of Monday, the government had administered Covid-19 vaccines to more than 1 million Filipinos.

In previous speeches, Duterte has been vocal about his preference to be inoculated with a vaccine developed by Chinese stateowned pharmaceutical company Sinopharm.

The Palace earlier denied rumors that Duterte has already been administered with a Covid-19 vaccine. (PNA)

RUSSIA, CHINA TO DELIVER BULK OF COVID-19 VAX IN Q2: GALVEZ

By Lade Jean Kabagani

Majority of the supplies of the coronavirus vaccines set to arrive in the second quarter will be coming from pharmaceutical firms in Russia and China, National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Monday. “We are thankful that China and Russia have given their commitment of support and we have seen that the only hope that we have right now for the meantime, for this second quarter is that the majority of the supply will be coming from Russia and China,” Galvez, also the country’s vaccine czar,

Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. (File photo)

said in a statement.

As of April 10, he said 1,137,534 Filipinos have been vaccinated. Of the number, 851,876 are healthcare workers, 44,187 are senior citizens while 110,457 are persons with existing comorbidities.

To date, some 131,023 healthcare workers have completed two shots of the Covid-19 vaccine. people and put an end to this pandemic,” Galvez said. Galvez said a total of 2.5 million doses of Sinovac’s CoronaVac vaccine were already delivered in the Philippines.

These, he said, include the 1 million doses donated by the Chinese government and 1.5 million doses purchased by the national government.

“With the arrival of the additional 500,000 Sinovac vaccines (on April 11), this will surely help in our effort to vaccinate more Filipino “The majority of the newly-arrived 500,000 doses will be sent to areas in the Visayas and Mindanao since a substantial portion of

the previous Sinovac’s doses have already been allocated in Metro Manila, and neighboring provinces,” he said. The first batch of the Sinovac jabs was deployed to the Department of Health (500,000 doses), Armed Forces of the Philippines (70,000 doses), and Department of National Defense (30,000 doses), as of April 11.

Some 500,000 doses of CoronaVac and 523,400 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine were distributed across 17 regions nationwide.

The DOH has also delivered 100 percent of the 525,600 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine since March 17.

Galvez, meanwhile, said the country is slated to receive a total of 1 million doses of the CoronaVac vaccine on April 22 and April 29. “Mayroon tayong (We will have our) minirollout for 20,000 doses of Sputnik V kasi ito talaga medyo sensitive ang logistics (since the logistics is quite sensitive) because it will be in ampoules and not vials,” he said.

Another 2 million doses of government-procured CoronaVac vaccine will be delivered in May. Galvez, likewise, said the government is set to hold a vaccine simulation rollout for Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine manufactured by the Gamaleya Research Institute. Some 20,000 doses of Sputnik V will be used in the vaccination dry-run. Galvez noted that Sputnik V will be administered in a separate manner per dose, as the first dose contains Adenovirus-26 particles while the second dose has Adenovirus-5.

Some 500,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine are expected to arrive this month. (PNA)

400 MORE COVID-19 RECOVERIES PUSH TALLY TO 703,963: DOH

By Ma. Teresa Montemayor

A total of 400 more patients recovered from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), pushing the total number of recoveries to 703,963.

In its Covid-19 bulletin on Tuesday, the Department of Health (DOH) said those who have beaten the illness account for 79.6 percent of the Philippines’ total case tally which has reached 884,783.

The DOH also tallied 8,571 new confirmed Covid-19 cases, bringing the total number of active cases to 165,534.

Of the active cases, about 96.9 percent are mild, 1.8 percent are asymptomatic, 0.4 percent are severe, 0.31 are moderate, and 0.4 percent are in critical condition.

The DOH also logged 137 more deaths, raising the death toll to 15,286. of 6,000 ward beds, and 47 percent of 2,000 ventilators dedicated to patients with Covid-19 are in use nationwide.

“About 13 duplicates were removed from the total case count as eight of these are recoveries. Moreover, 54 cases previously tagged as recovered were reclassified as deaths after final validation,” it said.

DOH data on April 12 showed that 18.3 percent of 27,900 who were tested turned out positive for Covid-19. Nine laboratories were not able to submit their data to the Covid-19 Document Repository System on April 12. To date, 66 percent of 1,900 intensive care unit beds, 51 percent of 13,500 isolation beds, 53 percent Meanwhile, 85 percent of 700 intensive care unit beds, 70 percent of 3,800 isolation beds, 58 percent of 2,200 ward beds, and 62 percent of 800 ventilators dedicated to patients with Covid-19 are used in the National Capital Region.

The public is reminded to stay at home and to observe minimum health standards when going out.

The DOH urged those experiencing Covid-19 symptoms to immediately isolate and contact the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams. (PNA)

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