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Local governments urged to extend Jan. tax, permit deadlines

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

LOCAL GOVERNMENT units (LGUs) need to consider extensions for paying real property tax and obtaining business permits due to a fresh coronavirus surge, Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay-Angeles said.

“Given the current spike in COVID-19 cases, the extension of deadlines will help decrease the movement of the people,” Ms. Binay-Angeles said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that the LGUs should be accommodating by not imposing penalties.

The Health department reported 33,169 new coronavirus infections on Monday, with a 46% positivity rate after testing 73,234 on Saturday.

Ms. Binay said LGUs in the capital region and other areas with high positivity rates should consider replicating the city of Manila’s decision to extend the business permit deadline to March 31 instead of the usual Jan. 20.

The Senator also recommended the use of digital payment options that enable more convenient modes of payment. “LGUs should definitely look at integrating electronic modes of payment in the collection of payment of taxes and fees,” she said.

As for those required to be physically present to file and sign documents, she proposed that LGUs temporarily accept digital or electronic copies pending verification or submission of original documents.

“This will be more convenient for their constituents and will help to avoid long lines or gatherings,” Ms. Binay said.

She also called for utilities to suspend disconnections to give customers more time to settle unpaid bills. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

Gov’t to cap purchases of paracetamol, other OTC drugs 

FREEPIK

THE GOVERNMENT said it is rationing purchases of paracetamol and other over-the-counter medicines as a result of increased demand during the latest surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. 

Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 22-01 series of 2022 was issued by Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III and Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez on Jan. 10 which covers Paracetamol, Phenylephrine hydrochloride, Carbocisteine, and Chlorphenamine Maleate Paracetamol. 

The JMC cited “unusual demand” and the need to deter possible hoarding, which has left many drug retailers to run out of such items.

“The objective of this JMC is to prevent artificial shortages and price escalation of over-the-counter (OTC) flu medicines, and strictly ensure the availability of the same until such time that their supplies become stable,” the JMC said.  

“This JMC shall be effective immediately upon singing hereof and shall continue to be effective until (the Department of Health) declares the supply (to be stable), the declaration of which shall automatically revoke this JMC,” it added.  

Under the JMC, the limit on Paracetamol 500 milligram (mg) tablet purchases is 20 units per individual and 60 per household. Paracetamol 120 mg/5 milliliter (ml), 60 ml suspension was capped at five units per individual and 10 per household; and Paracetamol 250 mg/5 ml, 60 ml five per individual and 10 per household.

The cap for Carbocisteine 500 mg capsule was 20 per individual and 60 per household, Carbocisteine 500 mg/5 ml, 60 ml suspension five pieces per individual and 10 per household, and Carbocisteine 200 mg/5 ml, 60 ml five pieces per individual and 10 per household.  

The purchase limit for Phenylephrine hydrochloride and Chlorphenamine Maleate Paracetamol 2.5 mg/500 microgram/125 mg per 5ml, 60 ml suspension was set at five per individual and 10 per household. For the 10 mg/2mg/ 500 mg tablet, the limit is 20 per individual and 60 per household.

“Retailers are hereby directed to post notices in conspicuous places within their outlets, advising consumers of the quantity of medicines they are allowed to purchase,” the JMC said.

“Unless otherwise allowed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under existing rules and regulations, all establishments and the public are reminded that online selling of medicines is not permitted,” it added. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

MRT-3 rail car overhaul passes halfway milestone

THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) said on Tuesday that more than half of the light rail vehicles of the Manila Metro Rail Transit System Line 3 (MRT-3) have been overhauled and deployed.

The number of the overhauled light rail vehicles, or LRVs, rose to 39 this month, the department said in a statement. A newly-overhauled LRV was deployed on Jan. 6.

“Sa kasalukuyan, 33 na lamang sa 72 na bagon ng MRT-3 ang naka-schedule ma-overhaul ng maintenance provider ng linya” (Currently, the maintenance provider has only 33 of 72 LRVs left to overhaul), the DoTr said.

“Ang general overhauling ng mga bagon ng MRT-3 ay bahagi ng malawakan at komprehensibong rehabilitasyon ng linya” (the general overhaul of LRVs is part of MRT-3’s comprehensive rehabilitation), it added.

The government imposed a 30% cap on rail passenger capacity during the strictest phases of the community quarantine. It was raised to 70% starting Nov. 4, 2021.

MRT-3 service providers Sumitomo Corp., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering, Ltd., and TES Philippines, Inc. (Sumitomo-MHI-TESP) have been contracted to overhaul all 72 LRVs.

They were also tasked to replace mainline tracks, rehabilitate power and overhead catenary systems, upgrade signaling, communications and CCTV systems, and repair all escalators and elevators.

The DoTr has said replacement of rails was completed in December 2020.

The MRT-3 rehabilitation project has reduced travel time from the North Avenue Station to the Taft Avenue Station to 45 minutes from the previous one hour and 15 minutes, the department said. — Arjay L. Balinbin

World Bank flags difficulty in accessing trade info

INFORMATION on cross-border trade rules and penalties is largely inaccessible to trade companies and customs brokers in the Philippines, with possible detrimental effects on key stakeholders like women, the World Bank Group said in a report.

The report, Trade Facilitation Challenges for Women Traders and Customs Brokers released on Monday, said almost a quarter of traders and more than a third of customs brokers find it hard to find information on border process rules.

They also need to go to multiple sources to find this information.

“Personal networks and customs brokers are a primary source of information on official regulations for traders,” the World Bank said.

A third of traders and customs brokers said that guidance on penalties is unclear, while most say they are not regularly consulted on changes to official procedures.

As they try to expand their businesses internationally, trade companies face burdensome border processes, expensive logistics services, and lack of information on international markets.

“The majority of traders and customs brokers businesses’ were impacted by the pandemic, reportedly largely because of delays for goods to be cleared and less demand for their products and services,” the report said.

The World Bank said the gap between men and women respondents is small.

“In fact, the findings demonstrate only minor differences between genders in some areas of trade facilitation, which is a testament to the government of the Philippines’ efforts to deliver trade facilitation initiatives that benefit men and women traders and customs brokers quite similarly,” the report said.

But more women customs brokers face challenges when it comes to getting information on border rules, with 44% of women saying official government websites and enquiry points are not responsive compared to 31% of men.

More women than men reported unclear information on pandemic-related border rules changes.

At the same time, more women find that their feedback is not taken into consideration when consulted about trade processes.

Fewer women traders — or 56% — are members of trade and industry associations, compared to 63% of men.

The report said that access to official border rules should be improved by promoting the use of the Philippine national trade repository and making sure that official legislation is easy to understand.

“Making sure the official regulations and processes are written in clear and simple language is important, particularly among women traders who, according to the survey, face a greater disadvantage in accessing information.”

A total of 2,101 trade companies in the Philippines were interviewed by phone from June to September 2021, 56% of which were women-led. Another 323 customs brokers were interviewed, with 43% led by women. — Jenina P. Ibañez

Digital payments legislation expected to expand unbanked access

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A BILL seeking to promote the use of digital payments was intended to help expand the economic participation of the unbanked, one of its principal authors said.

Representative Ferdinand L. Hernandez, a deputy Speaker, was discussing via e-mail House Bill 8992, which if passed will be known as the Promotion of Digital Payments Act.

“Widening the access to digital payment systems will help us reach members of the population that have otherwise been excluded or unreached by the formal financial system,” Mr. Hernandez told BusinessWorld.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas estimated that in 2019, the percentage of adults with access to a formal account was 28.6%, a total which may have expanded since the expansion in digital services that accompanied the pandemic.

“During the pandemic, more and more consumers were also looking for ways to transact with businesses that minimize contact. Any small business that has a digital payment option will likely (attract more patronage),” he added.

He said the bill will help the public transact more conveniently with government agencies, which will be required to set up digital payment channels.

The bill was approved by the House on Dec. 3. Its Senate counterpart is currently pending at committee level.

“We hope that the bill can be enacted before the end of the 18th Congress,” Mr. Hernandez said. — Jaspearl Emerald G. Tan

Omicron dominant, says Philippine health chief

EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG

THE HIGHLY mutated Omicron variant has now dominated Philippine coronavirus infections, its health chief said, as the country breached 3 million cases on Tuesday.

The Philippines was now at critical risk for COVID-19 transmission spurred by the highly mutated Omicron variant, which has replaced Delta as the dominant strain, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said at a taped Cabinet meeting with President Rodrigo R. Duterte aired on Monday night.

“Based on the latest run of our whole genome sequencing, 60% were positive for the Omicron variant,” he said in Filipino. “That is the dominant variant now, whereas before it was Delta.”

The Southeast Asian nation posted 28,007 coronavirus infections on Tuesday, the third-highest daily tally since the pandemic started, according to data from the Department of Health (DoH). This brought the total to more than three million.

The death toll hit 52,511 after 219 more patients died, while recoveries increased by 4,471 to 2.79 million, it said in a bulletin.

More than 44% of 58,409 samples tested on Jan. 9 tested positive for the virus, the agency said. This is way above the 5% threshold set by the World Health Organization.

DoH raised the risk classification after the country’s average daily tally for the past week increased almost eight times, Mr. Duque said. He added that 60% of the sample sequences they have conducted were positive for Omicron.

But Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire told an online news briefing on Tuesday the Delta variant was still circulating.

“The epidemic curve is indicative of Omicron,” she said. “But our genome sequencing still shows the Delta variant is circulating.”

Epidemiologist John Wong, who is a member of DoH’s technical advisory group, told the same briefing there was not enough sequencing in the country to confirm if the current surge was driven by Omicron.

“We are not calling Omicron mild. It’s milder than Delta,” said Edsel Maurice T. Salvana, an infectious disease physician and also a member of the group.

He said the Delta variant is three times “more likely to land you in the hospital compared with Omicron.” “But Omicron can still land you in the hospital.”

Mr. Duque said coronavirus infections for the past two weeks had grown almost 38 times, while the average daily attack rate had increased to 10.47. He added that Metro Manila, Calabarzon and Central Luzon were also at critical risk from the virus.

The country is struggling to contain a fresh surge in infections spurred by the highly contagious Omicron variant, which experts said could exhaust the country’s health system.

DoH said there were 181,016 active cases, 5,521 of which did not show symptoms, 170,873 were mild, 2,863 were moderate, 1,464 were severe and 295 were critical.

The agency said 99% of the cases occurred from Dec. 29 to Jan. 11. The top regions with new cases in the past two weeks were Metro Manila with 15,256, Calabarzon with 5,861 and Central Luzon with 3,064 infections.

It said 8% of the deaths occurred this month, 1% in December, 2% in November and 12% in October.

DoH said 64 duplicates had been removed from the tally, 52 of which were recoveries and one was a death, while 184 recoveries were relisted as deaths. Twelve laboratories failed to submit data on Jan. 9.

The Health department has shortened to five days the quarantine period for COVID-19-stricken health workers who are fully vaccinated and don’t show symptoms.

Health advocates have criticized the new quarantine rule, saying it might only put more staff and patients at risk.

A total of 6,595 or 7.2% of about 92,000 healthcare workers in Metro Manila were under quarantine, Health Undersecretary Leopoldo J. Vega told a separate news briefing at the presidential palace.

“We are seeing that some hospitals are closing down services like elective surgeries and diagnostics to cover health workers who are in isolation and under quarantine,” he said in Filipino. Some hospitals had been forced to stop other services to focus on COVID-19 needs, he added.

The country seeks to vaccinate more people amid the new infection wave.

Vaccine czar Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. said the government aims to vaccinate as many as 90 million people by the end of the second quarter. The government missed its goal last year of fully vaccinating at least 54 million people.

“Our objective is to vaccinate 90 million Filipinos,” he said at the taped Cabinet meeting. “Out of this number, we still have to give 28 to 30 million people their first vaccine dose.”

Mr. Duque noted that despite the infection spike, severe and critical cases were lower than what was observed during the surge triggered by the Delta variant in September.

At the meeting, Mr. Duterte said the state has a duty to restrain unvaccinated citizens from going out.

“We have every right to restrain them,” he said. “We cannot wait for a law,” he added, noting the Congress was on recess and passing a bill would take time. Mr. Duterte urged the public anew to get vaccinated. — Norman P. Aquino and KATA

FDA OK’s generic version of Pfizer’s pill vs coronavirus

THE LOCAL Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the generic version of Pfizer, Inc.’s anti-coronavirus pill, its chief said on Monday night.

FDA Director-General Oscar G. Gutierrez, Jr. said the agency had approved the compassionate special permit application for Paxlovid, which will be sold under the brand name Bexovid.

The drug, a combination of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir, is prescribed to patients aged 12 and older who have mild to moderate infection, he said.

He added that Bexovid, which was first authorized for use in the United States, could reduce the risk of hospitalization or death by 89% when the treatment is taken within three days after symptoms occur, and 88% within five days.

Mr. Gutierrez said the drug would be available to government hospitals once the local supplier, Biocare Lifescience, Inc. starts delivery.

He said it’s up to the Health department to determine how the generic drug will be made available to patients. He said the country was still in talks with Pfizer for the emergency use authorization for the Paxlovid.

The FDA said these medicines are not a substitute for vaccines even if they can help in the fight against COVID-19.

Paxlovid could be prescribed more broadly as an at-home treatment to help reduce illness severity, hospitalizations and deaths, as well as cut the probability of infection after exposure among adults, according to Pfizer’s website.

“It has demonstrated potent antiviral in-vitro activity against circulating variants of concern, as well as other known coronaviruses, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic for multiple types of coronavirus infections,” it said.

The antiviral drug has the potential to save patients’ lives, reduce the severity of COVID-19 infections and eliminate up to nine out of 10 hospitalizations, Pfizer said in November.

“Given the continued global impact of COVID-19, we have remained laser-focused on the science and fulfilling our responsibility to help healthcare systems and institutions around the world while ensuring equitable and broad access to people everywhere.”

The US has authorized the emergency use of Pfizer’s Paxlovid and Merck’s molnupiravir and allocated for shipment to states, but the supply is tight and the rollout varies from state to state, according to the National Public Radio (NPR) website.

Right now, the drugs are just for patients at the highest risk of developing severe COVID-19 illness. People with weakened immune systems including transplant patients and older adults are especially vulnerable. Many of the hundreds of thousands of people testing positive for the coronavirus would not be candidates for the treatments, it said.

The US Department of Health and Human Services had allocated about 65,000 treatment courses of Paxlovid and 300,000 courses of molnupiravir to states and programs around the country last week, but many had not made it to their destinations, NPR said on Dec. 31.

That hasn’t stopped patients from asking for them, however. The US FDA authorized the pills for emergency use just before Christmas.

Meanwhile, the Philippine FDA was evaluating two product applications for self-administered COVID-19 test kits, Mr. Gutierrez said. The Department of Health will soon issue guidelines on their use.

Several government officials have backed the use of personal test kits as the government struggles to contain a fresh surge in infections. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Solon calls on automated elections oversight committee to probe alleged Comelec hack

AN OVERSIGHT committee composed of members of Congress and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) should convene to investigate the alleged hacking incident of the poll body’s system, a solon said Tuesday. 

Samar Rep. Edgar Mary S. Sarmiento said that under Republic Act No. 8436 or the Automated Election Law, Congress has authority to look into the alleged data breach to determine if the automated system is free from manipulation and wholesale cheating.

“We need to know the basis of the story. If there was a hacking incident, we need to know if this is serious enough that the poll results can be manipulated electronically,” he said in a statement. 

Section 27 of the law provides an oversight committee composed of members from Comelec, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. 

“The oversight committee may hire competent consultants for project monitoring and information technology concerns related to the implementation and improvement of the modern election system,” the law states.

As of May 2021, records show the committee’s Senate panel is chaired by Senator Maria Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos, sister of presidential candidate Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.

Its members are: Senators Ronald M. dela Rosa, Francis N. Tolentino, Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay, Franklin M. Drilon, Risa N. Hontiveros, and Francis N. Pangilinan.

The House panel is composed of: Representatives Elpidio F. Barzaga, Jr., Juliet Marie D. Ferrer, Ronnie L. Ong, Edgar R. Erice, Joseph Stephen S. Paduano, and Argel Joseph T. Cabatbat.

Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, who is running for president in the May elections, said he had his own “in-house Comelec-accredited cyber-security team” conduct an investigation to gather initial information while waiting for confirmation from the poll body and the Department of Information and Communications Technology. 

“Finding out who was or were responsible is already material information just to establish the motive and who will benefit from the alleged hacking,” he said in a statement. 

The technology news team of Manila Bulletin reported on Monday that a hacker’s group managed to breach the Comelec’s system last Saturday, downloading files that included usernames and PINS of vote-counting machines. 

Comelec Spokesman James B. Jimenez, who was reportedly informed of this incident immediately, said that they are currently validating if Comelec systems have been compromised.

“The fact, however, is that such information still does not exist in Comelec systems simply because the configuration files — which includes usernames and PINs — have not yet been completed. This calls into question the veracity of the hacking claim,” he said in a statement late Monday.

“Considering that ‘news’ like this could potentially damage the credibility of the elections, the Comelec stands ready to pursue all available remedies against those who, either deliberately or otherwise, undermine the integrity of the electoral process,” he said.

Senator Emmanuel “Manny” D. Pacquiao, Sr., who is also running for the top seat, called on the Senate electoral reforms committee to immediately conduct a probe on the incident. 

OPPOSITION
Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo, the opposition presidential candidate, and her running mate Senator Francis “Kiko” N. Pangilinan expressed alarm over the reported hacking. 

“We are alarmed by the news of an alleged hacking of Comelec servers. We ask the Comelec to immediately confirm if it happened and the extent of the compromise involved,” the tandem said in a statement.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s office has also expressed concerns about the report. 

“We will await any update to be pronounced by the Comelec regarding this. Of course, we are concerned,” Mr. Duterte’s acting spokesman, Karlo Alexei B. Nograles, said in a regular news conference.

“Obviously, we’re also worried about this if this is true,” he said when asked by reporters to comment on the issue.

The May 9 elections cover national and local positions — including the president and vice president, Congressional seats, provincial governor, and city/municipal mayors. — Jaspearl Emerald G. Tan, Alyssa Nicole O. Tan, and Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza  

Ex-DICT chief denies free WiFi program was ‘botched’

DICT.GOV.PH

THE P1.3-billion national free WiFi project succeeded before he left office, the former acting chief of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said on Monday, after the House of Representatives approved the blue ribbon committee’s report suggesting that there should be charges filed against him over the “botched” project. 

Eliseo M. Rio, Jr. — who was appointed DICT undersecretary in 2016 and served as acting secretary from Oct. 2017 to June 2019 — said he has not received a copy of the panel’s report.

“…When I left DICT on May 22, 2020, the program was doing well. It was a Program in partnership with UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), a UN body that has helped Philippine development programs since 1946 and was never tainted by corruption issues,” Mr. Rio told BusinessWorld via Viber. 

“It was ‘botched’ AFTER I left DICT,” he added. 

Representative Michael Edgar Y. Aglipay, committee on accountability chair, recommended that Mr. Rio be charged for violating the Code of Conduct for Public Officials and the Anti-Graft and Corruption Act. 

The panel also recommended the filing of charges relating to the alleged undervaluation of imported IT equipment. 

“I will face whatever charges that would be leveled against me, but since I partnered with UNDP, they should also press charges against UNDP. See how ridiculous that would be,” he said. — Jaspearl Emerald G. Tan 

Panglao town picks up vaccination drive after typhoon Odette

MUNCIPALITY OF PANGLAO FACEBOOK PAGE

VACCINATION against the coronavirus has started to regain momentum in Panglao, the main tourism island of Bohol which was among the provinces hit hardest by typhoon Odette, internationally known as Rai, in mid-December. 

The Panglao municipal government is holding daily inoculation activities this week starting Tuesday and called on those who are still unvaccinated as well as those who missed their scheduled second dose. 

The vaccination is being held at the Panglao Cultural Center except Thursday when the venue would be at the Rural Health Unit.

These buildings were among the government facilities that were reconnected to power service on Jan. 6 since typhoon Odette, which made its 5th of nine landfalls in Bohol on Dec. 16, left the entire province without electricity. 

The vaccination drive resumed on Jan. 6 at the cultural center for booster shots.

Bohol was among the first tourism destinations to lift the negative coronavirus test result requirement for fully-vaccinated visitors in late October. It was also among the first provinces to vaccinate practically 100% of its tourism sector workers. — MSJ

Bicol hospital closes out-patient section to prepare for COVID surge, offers teleconsultation

BRTTH FACEBOOK PAGE

ONE of the main government-owned hospitals in Bicol is temporarily closing its out-patient department starting Jan. 12 and moving consultation services to its telemedicine facility in preparation for another surge of coronavirus cases.

The Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH) issued an advisory late Monday saying that it will not accept “all walk-in and referred patients” beginning Wednesday as it anticipates “another possible surge of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) cases due to highly infectious Omicron variant.”

“All patients seeking OPD (Out-Patient Department) consult are advised to contact the BRTTH Telehealth Project for appropriate guidance and counselling on their specific health-related concerns.”

The telehealth service maybe accessed through mobile phone or its Facebook page.

BRTTH, located in Legazpi City in Albay province, is a tertiary-level hospital with an official bed capacity of 250, but can operate with up to 450 beds. 

Bicol Region had 1,553 active coronavirus cases as of Jan. 10 out of the total 53,204, based on data from the Department of Health’s COVID-19 tracker site. 

Of the active cases, 365 were in Albay, including 43 new patients recorded on Jan. 10.

The province has so far recorded 11,184 confirmed cases, with 299 deaths and 10,520 recoveries. — MSJ 

Pharmally exec released from Senate custody after contracting COVID-19

OFFICE OF SENATE SGT OF ARMS

THE PRESIDENT of a company under probe for alleged anomalies in multi-billion pandemic supply contracts was released from Senate custody Tuesday after testing positive for coronavirus with mild symptoms. 

“Yes, (she) was released at 12:15 a.m. this morning to be with her mother, with the understanding that she will be available when needed by the Senate,” Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Rene C. Samonte said in a text message. 

“I was told they will proceed to the residence in BGC, to complete her isolation and quarantine,” he said. 

Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Corp. President Twinkle Dargani was ordered detained at the Senate in October, together with her brother, Pharmally Corporate Secretary and Treasurer Mohit Dargani, and Pharmally Director Linconn Ong, after they were cited in contempt for refusing to provide documents subpoenaed by the Senate blue ribbon committee. 

The Dargani siblings started detention on Nov. 14 after they were caught at the Davao International Airport on board a chartered plane that was bound for Malaysia.

Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III and Senator Richard J. Gordon, Sr., who chairs the committee, agreed to her release for humanitarian reasons, citing the concern of Ms. Dargani’s mother over her mental health. 

Mr. Samonte noted that Ms. Dargani will no longer be put under close watch. 

The Senate is under lockdown until Sunday after at least 46 employees and two senators tested positive for the virus. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan 

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