BulletLine Issue #44
Bills to improve health facilities and services in various provinces signed into law President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed into law 16 legislative bills during a ceremonial signing at the Rizal Hall in Malacañan Palace on June 24, 2021. Thirteen (13) of these bills aim to address the establishment of public hospitals and increasing the bed capacities of existing hospitals across the country. This is to continue to provide quality care and services especially amid an ongoing global health crisis.
Photo from KING RODRIGUEZ/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
10 days of national mourning for Aquino Malacanang has declared a 10-day Period of National Mourning over the passing of former President Benigno Simeon Aquino III from June 24- July 3, 2021. During this period, under Proclamation No. 1169, signed by 1 PIA Bulletin Online
President Rodrigo Duterte, the national flag shall be flown at half mast from sunrise to sundown on all government buildings and installations in the entire country and abroad in honor respected leader of the former who left a lasting President, ‘a
legacy to the Filipino people’. Duterte in a statement Thursday, June 24, called on the public to “unite in prayer and set aside our differences as we pay respect to a leader who has given his best to
serve the Filipino people”. Aquino, the fifteenth President of the Philippines died Thursday, June 24, in his sleep due to renal disease secondary to diabetes, his family said in a statement.
Nograles shares anti-hunger program successes Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles enumerated the successes of Task Force Hunger particularly in Central Luzon where malnutrition was being prioritized as part of a comprehensive “whole-ofgovernment approach” through the National Food Policy. “We launched the Enhanced
Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) program to solve hunger and malnutrition, to ensure food security, and to reduce poverty incidence in cities and in rural areas. Through EPAHP, we’ve been able to link farmers to institutional buyers from LGUS and government offices which use the products for their feeding programs,”
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
Cab Sec Nograles explained. Nograles also mentioned that just recently, the Task Force, DAR and the National Nutrition Council signed
Agrarian Reform Beneficiary (ARBs) an agreement to from Central collaborate for Luzon were given the nutritional needs of pregnant farm productivity women and young assistance, with many receiving children. supplemental food He added packs and nonthat last March food items. 31, 2021, 3,890
PRC saliva test now included in all official laboratory results The Department of Health (DOH) now includes the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) RT- PCR Saliva test in all official laboratory results done in the Philippines. The saliva RTPCR test which is a cheaper, faster, and non-invasive test for COVID-19 is PCR based which is considered the gold standard for COVID-19 testing according to the World Health Organization. PIA Bulletin Online 2
Face shield policy stays By Josephine L. Babaran - PIA/IDPD
Malacanang on Tuesday, June 22 said the mandatory wearing of face shields indoors and outdoors remain in force, to provide additional layer of protection amidst the threat of the more transmissible Delta variant of Covid-19. Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque said according to experts the delta variant spread rapidly around the world and is more transmissible. “Ninety-nine percent ang estimated effect of protection kapag naka face mask, face shield, at physical distancing,” said Roque, citing the results of international studies.
Photo from PNA
Dr. Fauci to deliver a speech at the 43rd Annual Scientific Meeting By Melinda T. Quiñones - PIA/IDPD
Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, Director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, will deliver the keynote address during the 43rd Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) of the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL) slated on 12-15 July 2021. The theme of this year’s scientific conference is “COVID-19 Pandemic: Learning from the Past, Coping with the Present, Moving on to the Next.” Dr. Fauci is a world-renowned infectious disease expert and top COVID adviser in the United States. Interested parties to this free online event may register for the #2021PilipiNASTASM at tinyurl. com/2021ASM until 8 July 2021. 3 PIA Bulletin Online
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10 more cities PHIVOLCS added to vaccine launches priority list VolcanoPH iNFO app
By Melinda T. Quiñones - PIA/IDPD
Photo from PNA
By Mary Rose de los Santos - PIA/IDPD
Ten more cities were added in vaccine prioritization, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced in his press briefing 5 PIA Bulletin Online
Thursday, June 24. The 10 cities or NCR+10 are NCR, Bacolod, Iloilo City, CDO, Baguio, Zamboanga, Dumaguete, Tuguegarao, General Santos, Naga, and Legaspi. Secretary Roque said the ten
cities’ inclusion in vaccine prioritization was due to surging COVID-19 cases, its highly urbanized and dense environments, and their contributions to the regional or national economy.
The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS) recently launched VolcanoPH iNFO, an easy-to-read volcano monitoring app. VolcanoPH iNFO app delivers 24/7 real-time instrumental monitoring and periodic scientific field surveys to help users understand the current volcano status and identify necessary preparedness and response actions for their safety. Accessible using Android devices, volcano information provided by the app is presented and summarized in infographics form and translated in Filipino for easy understanding.
Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge opens soon
Photo from PNA
By Marites B. Paneda - PIA/IDPD
The EstrellaPantaleon bridge is expected to be open for motorists by July, Department
of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar recently announced. Villar said with 93% completion and other miscellaneous
works, the new Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge will have four (4) lanes. It has a 506.46-meter pre-stressed concrete rigid frame bridge with corrugated steel
webs, replacing the temporary two-lane box truss bridge made of modular steel components dismantled in 2019. Once completed the bridge may accommodate
as much as 50,000 cars daily, improving the traffic situation in the area and decongesting the Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA).
ARTA to Barangays:
Integrate with eBOSS platform By Marites B. Paneda - PIA/IDPD
Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) DirectorGeneral Jeremiah Belgica warns barangay officials may face administrative charges for violation of RA 11032 if they fail to integrate with the electronic business one-stop shops (eBOSS) set up by their respective local government units (LGU). The eBOSS is a free online platform where an end-to-end transaction can be processed for the registration of new business, in compliance with Republic Act No. 11032 or Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Service Act of 2018.
Under RA 11032 “barangay clearances and permits related to doing business shall be applied, issued, and collected at the city/ municipality in accordance with the prescribed processing time of this Act,” thus the need for the barangays to integrate with the eBOSS of their respective LGUs. The ARTA, through the Office of the Deputy Director-General for Operations, has provided a template among barangay officials to guide them in complying with the eBOSS directive. PIA Bulletin Online 6