BulletLine Issue #24
No need to wear masks when driving alone
Drivers who are alone in their vehicles need not wear masks while driving. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, CoChair of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), stressed that the DOH advisory states that “those driving alone may remove their masks while inside their vehicle.” “I think that is only logical; if there is no one in the vehicle with you, you cannot infect anyone else.”
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go expressed that his proposed measure creating the Department of Overseas Filipinos will be acted upon by the Senate soon to provide better services, and further protect the rights and promote the welfare of Filipinos abroad. The Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources 1 PIA Bulletin Online
Andanar: set aside politics, focus on vaccine roll-out prep
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar on Thursday called on political leaders and the public to refrain from painting malicious political influences on the government’s COVID-19 response. He instead enjoined them to
help in uplifting the lives of Filipinos, while the country continues to take action on curbing the spread of the virus and awaiting the roll out of the vaccine. He cited that encouraging 70% of the Filipino population to get vaccinated should be the priority to
attain herd immunity, and for the country to be able to get back to having a strong economy. “An economy can only be strong if you have a healthy population, a healthy workforce. [Only] then can we go back to our vision of having a comfortable life for every Filipino,” he said.
Bong Go: Creation of DOFil will help protect Filipinos abroad team approach of government offices Development has and personnel scheduled a hearing posted abroad in on the proposed protecting the rights measure on and advancing the February 15. welfare of Filipino The bill aims migrant workers to implement there, with guidance a one countryfrom the DFA and the
Philippine Foreign Service Posts. As principal author of the bill, Go emphasized that the establishment of the DOFil is also aligned with the objectives of rightsizing the bureaucracy by
streamlining and rationalizing the organization and functions of all government agencies related to overseas employment and migration into one department.
No apprehension for car seat law violators yet – DOTr
By Marites B. Paneda - PIA/IDPD
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) assured the public that the agencies will not yet apprehend violators of Republic Act 11229 or the “Child Safety in Motor Vehicle Act” mandating the use of Car Restraint System (CRS) or car seats for children aged 12
Editorial Director Benjamin Felipe Editor-In-Chief Marie Angelie Villapando Associate Editor Melinda T. Quiñones Staff Writers IDPD Art Department CPSD headed by Bradley de Leon Layout Artist Gabriel Villanueva Production/ Aggregation DDCU with Team Leader Kate Shiene Agna
years and below. They said that because of pandemic, considerations should be given so as not to
add up to the financial burden of Filipinos at this time. Meantime the DOTr and LTO said they are embarking
on an information campaign to drive home point that [RA 11229 is all about safety and that it must be practiced and
part of our road discipline and safety culture because lives matter especially the lives of our children, the future of our nation.
Price ceiling on pork, chicken for NCR
By Adora Rodriguez - PIA/IDPD
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed Executive Order No 124 imposing a mandated price ceiling on selected pork and chicken products in the National Capital Region. EO 124 set the highest price for the following commodities: Php270 per kilo of ‘kasim’ or ‘pigue’; Php300 for liempo or pork belly; and Php160 for a kilo of dressed chicken. The implementation of the price ceiling in Metro Manila will be enforced on February 8, Agriculture food prices which is “causing undue burden Secretary William Dar said. Dar recommended the imposition of price ceiling to Filipinos, especially the underprivileged for selected pork and chicken to address the rising and marginalized.” PIA Bulletin Online 2
PRC SM Supermalls for drive-thru saliva collecting sites To make Saliva RT-PCR testing more accessible, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) partners with SM Supermalls (SCMC) as they open drive-thru saliva RT-PCR collection sites in SM megamall and SM Mall of Asia starting February 2, 2021. PRC will have its first two collection sites located in SM Megamall, Mega A bus bay at EDSA Mandaluyong, and at the 5 Ecom Open Parking in Mall of Asia, Pasay City. The said locations will only serve as specimen collection sites
for the saliva RTPCR test and these samples will be forwarded to the Red Cross laboratories for testing. “Kahit dumating na ang bakuna, importante parin ang pag-tetest para labanan ang COVID-19. kaya gumagawa ang PRC ng paraan upang mapadali at mapabilis ang pagtetest sa ating mga kababayan. We are heading towards nationwide Saliva RT-PCR testing to help industries and schools open in this new normal,” PRC Chairman Senator Richard Gordon said.
DOLE: Safety training free By Josephine L. Babaran - PIA/IDPD
The mandatory occupational health and safety training for workers of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) is now free. “We are waiving the training fees being charged to micro and small businesses. The workers in those enterprises have to be assured of their safety and health while at the workplace. This is a big factor to their productivity,” 3 PIA Bulletin Online
Bello said. For additional information and other inquiries regarding DOLE-OSHC free health and safety training program, visit https://www.dole.gov.ph/, https://oshc.dole.gov.ph/ or call (02) 8924-2414.
BOC January Priority population collection surplus groups for vaccination presented By Marites B. Paneda - PIA/IDPD
The Interim National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (iNITAG) adopted the following priority population groups for vaccination:
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) collected a total of Php47.143 billion revenue as against its Php44.092 billion January 2021 collection target, posting a surplus of Php3.051 billion or 6.92%. Based on the preliminary report from the BOCFinancial Service, 11 out of the 17 collection districts surpassed its January 2021 collection target, namely:
Ports of Manila, NAIA, Batangas, Legazpi, Iloilo, Tacloban, Cagayan De Oro, Zamboanga, Davao, Subic, and Clark. In 2020, the
Bureau exceeded its annual revenue collection target by 6.6% or Php33.5 billion, collecting Php539.7 billion against its Php506.2 billion targets.
Franchise consolidation until March 31, 2021 By Melinda T. QuiĂąones - PIA/IDPD
The iNITAG also underscored that any specific inclusion and exclusion criteria of each vaccine, as reflected in the respective Emergency Use Authorization of the Food and Drug Administration, or recommendations from the Health Technology Assessment Council shall be considered.
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) extended the deadline for consolidation of franchises for public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program to March 31, 2021. Existing operators who choose not to
A fleet of modern buses in Tacloban City. (Photo from PNA)
consolidate their existing units on or before March 31 will still be allowed to serve, provided that they will apply for a Provisional Authority, which allows then to legally operate for
one year, LTFRB chair Martin Delgra said. As of January 31, 2021, LTFRB reported that 224,520 PUVs have resumed operations across the country. PIA Bulletin Online 4
‘No disconnection February policy’ for lifeline is National consumers Arts Month
By Marites B. Paneda - PIA/IDPD
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and his Cabinet approved the no electricity disconnection policy for lifeliners until the end of February this year. Other measures include the extension of grace period of additional two months for them to pay their electricity bills and giving lifeliners option for installment payment. “Itong inaprubahan na ito [Lifeliner measures] ay dagdag na
proteksyon para sa mahihirap at nag susulong ng energy efficiency sa panahon ng pandemya, (These approved [Lifeliner] measures are added protection for the poor and promote energy efficiency in this time of pandemic)”, Presidential Spokesperson
Secretary Harry Roque Jr said Lifeliners are the low-income captive market end users who cannot afford to pay at full cost, and are determined based on electricity consumption below a threshold level set by the Energy Regulatory Commission.
Churches as vaccination hubs country. “We can offer our church facilities to The Catholic Bishops’ Conference help in this massive and complicated of the Philippines (CBCP) has offered and very challenging program of to transform vaccination,” church facilities CBCP President as COVID-19 and Davao City vaccination hubs, Archbishop Romulo especially as Valles said, adding alternative sites that, if necessary, in hard-to-reach municipalities in the they are also willing
By Josephine L. Babaran - PIA/IDPD
5 PIA Bulletin Online
to be vaccinated in public if such an act will help build confidence in the government’s vaccine campaign. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III lauded the move of the CBC saying that this “will surely expedite delivery of most-needed healthcare services.
By Melva C. Gayta - PIA/IDPD
“Alab-sining, Alay-sigla,” is this year’s theme for the National Arts Month (NAM) celebration in February. Led by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Subcommission on the Arts (SCA) spearhead this year’s NAM aims to conserve, promote and popularize Filipino artistic creations; integrate the arts in the community life; and harness the arts as catalysts for values education. For more details, please contact Mr. Rene Napeñas, head of the Public Affairs and Information Office, through 0928-5081057, 527-2192 loc 625 or through email address pais@ncca.gov. ph. Log on to www.ncca.gov.ph.
This also adds up to bishops expressed the public’s uptake their willingness to on vaccines as the get vaccinated.”
DOE prepares for COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-Out
By Melinda T. Quiñones - PIA/IDPD
The Department of Energy (DOE) ensures that the Philippine energy family is prepared to support and respond to energy-related concerns once the government started the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. According to DOE Spokesperson Undersecretary
Felix William B. Fuentebella there would be three power backups to ensure the sufficient power supply to meet increased demand due to the forthcoming summer season and the anticipated arrival of COVID-19 vaccines. “The first line would be coming from the National Grid Corporation
of the Philippines (NGCP), the second from the Distribution
Utilities, while the third and final back up would be the generators
provided by the facility itself or the local government unit,” he said.
FDCP supports JAO# 2021-001 on Safe Filming Protocols
By Josephine L. Babaran - PIA/IDPD
• Mass gatherings are prohibited, pursuant to DOH Administrative Order No. 2020-0015. • There must be at least one OSH officer provided for each production venue. • Engineering controls must be employed: routine cleaning, hand washing stations, hand sanitizers, and footbath mats • Interzonal movement for conducting audiovisual productions shall remain prohibited • Emergency Management: Producers must ensure that workers with flu-like symptoms To ensure the protection of of not just film workers such as fever, coughing, or chest congestion must immediately subject themselves to selfbut also the rest of the workers in the audiovisual quarantine, and inform their Local Health Office. industry amid the pandemic, the Department of • The producer shall furnish the DOLE Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Labor and Regional Office/s having jurisdiction over the Employment (DOLE), and Department of Health shooting location the reports required by the (DOH) issued Joint Administrative Order No. host local government unit (LGU) 2021-001 (JAO) on Health and Safety Protocols • Pursuant to DOLE Department Order 198, for the Conduct of Film and Audiovisual Production Shoots and Audiovisual Activities during COVID-19 s. 2018, workers or their representatives may report accidents to DOLE Hotline 1349 or to pandemic. the DOLE Office with jurisdiction over the work Among the salient points of the DTI-DOLE-DOH area. JAO# 2021-001 are as follows: PIA Bulletin Online 6