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Responding to the pandemic and beyond

As part of a science-driven industry, the biopharmaceutical industry is leading the way in developing treatments, vaccines, and diagnostics for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Our scientists are searching for potentially useful assets that can help with the development of new or repurposed treatments or vaccines to fight against the novel coronavirus. We are leveraging our manufacturing technologies to allow the rapid upscaling of production once a medicine or vaccine candidate is identified to meet the needs of the most affected populations. Phase 3 clinical trials are being conducted to establish safety and efficacy. We are collaborating with governments, global health and research organizations, and pharmaceutical laboratories to share knowledge, libraries, and technologies.

The Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) and its member companies are committed to partner with the government in ensuring that all Filipino patients have continued access to medicines, vaccines, and medical devices in this time of COVID-19 pandemic. We have stepped up our efforts to contribute in three ways.

First, we fast-tracked the development of safe and effective COVID-19 treatments, vaccines, and diagnostics. Second, we are implementing measures for an uninterrupted supply of medicines for COVID-19 and other conditions. Third, we launched a campaign to protect our health workers and generate funds for their medical needs. 

Despite the lockdowns, PHAP members continued operations to ensure unhampered and safe transport and distribution of medicines and vaccines. We ensured manufacturing capacity is at optimal levels, kept plants open to maintain a steady supply of medicines, and secured alternative sources of supplies. We managed inventories and redirected supplies to the Philippines, as well as implemented new logistical arrangements, including chartering flights.

PHAP and our corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm, the PHAPCares Foundation, launched the “We will not rest” campaign to help protect frontliners and communities impacted by COVID-19. PHAP members collectively donated P120 million to the country’s COVID-19 response, benefiting more than 1.5 million families and 155 health facilities nationwide. Beneficiaries included government and private hospitals, charitable institutions, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), among others.

Since its founding, PHAPCares has donated P1 billion in medicine and financial assistance to Filipinos disadvantaged by sickness, poverty, conflicts, and disasters. Under the leadership of its new officers and trustees, PHAPCares intends to form more partnerships to support the nation’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, and to establish pharmaceutical security resilience in preparation for future pandemics.

For this year, the PHAPCares Foundation will be led by Yee Kok Cheong (general manager, Boehringer Ingelheim Philippines), president; Lotis Ramin (country president, AstraZeneca Philippines), vice-president; and Jugo Tsumura (president and managing director, Novartis Healthcare Philippines), treasurer. Trustees include Dr. Beaver Tamesis (managing director, MSD Philippines); Jannette Jakosalem (chief executive officer, Metro Drug, Inc.), Raymund Azurin (senior vice-president, Zuellig Pharma); honorary trustee Dr. Corazon Maglaya; and myself.   

Its executive director, Dr. Rosarita Quijano-Siasoco, will oversee the implementation of programs and projects alongside Dennis Tuazon and Joy del Castillo.

Established in 2003, PHAPCares is dedicated to promoting public health and welfare in the country, particularly among underprivileged and marginalized Filipinos, as well as those impacted by natural and manmade calamities and conflicts. The Foundation has three core programs.

PHAPCares works with partners in building healthy and resilient communities in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA). Our goal is to develop these communities and provide the people with the highest possible quality healthcare in close coordination with the local government. Based on beneficiary screening and assessment protocol, the Foundation designs and implements technical assistance to aid in strengthening the healthcare system in selected communities. We provide assistance in the areas of service delivery, human resource, governance, financing, medicines, and information.

Through our emergency and disaster response operations, PHAPCares members donate essential medicines for the benefit of victims of natural calamities and for communities displaced by armed conflicts. PHAPCares also provides medicines to help avert or manage epidemics and other health-related consequences of disasters. PHAPCares in partnership with the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) holds an earthquake and landslide search and rescue orientation course (ELSAROC) for schools, NGOs, private companies, and government agencies, among others. ELSAROC is a comprehensive training program, which aims to establish an effective plan for preparedness and response to mitigate the impact of a strong earthquake in Metro Manila.

PHAPCares also implements corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives with member companies and other partners. Through our CSR initiatives, we aim to make a difference in the lives of the Filipinos through various medicines access programs, humanitarian missions, and health information and education campaigns, in geographic areas affected by conflicts, health outbreaks, and calamities.

With the pandemic yet to be contained, more collaborations will be needed to respond  to COVID-19 and beyond.

 

Teodoro B. Padilla is the executive director of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP). PHAP and its member companies represent the research-based pharmaceutical sector in the country.

Arts & Culture (03/10/21)

Rebullida teaches musical theater dance class

PJ Rebullida of Galaw.Co will hold a special musical theater dance class on Mar. 14, 4 p.m. Mr. Rebullida was part of Ballet Philippines and Ballet Lüneburg in Germany. He has also worked with 9 Works Theatrical, Repertory Philippines, Trumpets, and Dulaang UP. No prior dance experience necessary for the class. There will be a requested donation of P500 per participant. Register at www.bgcartscenter.org/yanaworkshop2.

Instituto Cervantes holds debate on Magellan vs Elcano

AS PART of the events celebrating the 500th anniversary of the first circumnavigation of the world, Instituto Cervantes de Manila, the cultural arm of the Embassy of Spain, will hold the online debate “Magellan vs. Elcano” on Mar. 10, 6 p.m. The debate will seek to weigh their achievements for this endeavor, and try to establish who should deserve more credit for the final success. Magellan led the expedition — from its beginning in Spain, around South America, and across the Pacific Ocean — until his death in the Philippines. Meanwhile, Elcano took over and led the remaining ship and crew back to Spain, circumnavigating the world in the process. At the debate, Filipino historian Danilo Gerona will advocate for Magellan while Tomás Mazon will campaign for Elcano. Admission is free and open to all on a first come, first served basis. The link to access the event is https://zoom.us/j/92146096578. For further information about the webinar, visit Instituto Cervantes’ website http://manila.cervantes.es or its Facebook page www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila.

Floy Quintos gives lecture on the Ifugao bulul 

THE AYALA Museum will hold its first Discovery Lecture of the year, “The Changing Face of the Ifugao Bulul” by Floy Quintos, online on Mar. 13 and 20, at 4 p.m. This re-examination of the bulul (a granary god) covers its being a symbol of an ancient animism that survived the colonization of Luzon to its changing face throughout Ifugao history. The first lecture on Mar. 13 talks about the Deity behind the statue, seeking to ground the object in Ifugao mythology and oral literature with the use of both archival photos and recent footage. In the second lecture on Mar. 20, Mr. Quintos will trace the changing face of the statues by linking them to specific periods of Ifugao history. To join the two-part lecture, register through ayalamuseum.org/events or e-mail virtualevents@ayalamuseum.org.

International Women’s Month events at Araneta City

ARANETA City kicked off its International Women’s Month celebration by opening a photo exhibit on Mar. 8 that pays tribute to female COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) warriors. The exhibit features artworks with fallen and surviving COVID-19 female frontliners as subjects. The exhibit is on view at the Gateway Mall activity area. Upcoming events are a Women’s Marketplace from Mar. 12 to 14 at the ground floor of the Gateway Mall; Girl Boss Hustle on Mar. 13, 4 p.m., over Araneta City Facebook Live with Nikki Usong of Minnikins, Kath Vicente Ocampo of Cookie N’ Amo, Tin Canafranca and Erika Nera of Forksilog, and Charriz Anne L. dela Rosa, Senior Staff Nurse of The Medical City Clinic at Araneta Center; and Outdoor Movie Screening on Mar. 27, 6 p.m., at the Times Square Food Park.

Podcast tackles the music of Heber Bartolome

THE FILIPINAS Heritage Library and the OPM (Original Pilipino Music) Archive present the latest episode of the Muni-Muni Stories: A Podcast on Filipino Music on Mar. 12, 6 p.m., on Spotify. Episode 11 of the podcast focuses on OPM icon Heber Bartolome who discusses the roots of Pinoy folk rock by rooting them in classical and banduria music as well as in the 1960s to ’70s rock scene. He also recalls the challenges of turning love of country into music. An example is this episode’s centerpiece “Tayo’y Mga Pinoy,” a song that wards off Philippine self-images in colonial mirrors. Mr. Bartolome also dwells on the songs “Alumusal,” “Nena,” and other tunes portraying the lives of ordinary folk or (as Filipinos say) of Juan de la Cruz.

Webinar tackles Philippine Brutalist architecture

THE MUSEUM Foundation of the Philippines presents the webinar “Cariño Brutal: A Beginner’s Guide to Brutalist Architecture in the Philippines” with Mel Patrick Kasingsing on Mar. 20, from 10-11 a.m., over Zoom. Polarizing from its inception, the Brutalist architecture movement has had its share of naysayers for every fan it gains, a side effect drawn from its raw, uncouth appearance, domineering volumes, and unfortunate association with authoritarian regimes. However, the movement has undergone a rediscovery of sorts lately and is being reappraised by the younger generation so it’s safe to even say it’s “cool” again. But what exactly is Brutalism? What ideals does it embody? Why is it attracting new fans again? And how is it faring? This talk delves on these questions and more, presenting viewers an easy-to-digest primer on the style and how it fits in the continuing architectural and cultural narrative of the Philippines. Mr. Kasingsing is the founder and moderator of @brutalistpilipinas, an Instagram and Facebook-based visual database of Philippine brutalist architecture. An avid architecture fan and heritage advocate, he was previously the creative director of the architectural magazine Blueprint, and now editor-in-chief of design and culture website kanto.com.ph. To register for the webinar, go to this link: http://bit.ly/MFPICarinoBrutal. The webinar will also be streamed via Facebook Live through the Museum Foundation of the Philippines Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MuseumFoundationPH. For inquiries, e-mail inquiry@museumfoundationph.org.

PPO stages Virtual Pocket Performances

THE NEXT performance of Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) online concert series The PPO Spotlight: Virtual Pocket Performances will be streamed on Mar. 19, 8 p.m., through the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ (CCP) website. The series, which runs until July, is a program of the PPO that can be viewed from the PPO FB page and the CCP YouTube as platforms.

Palacio de Memoria holds Primero 2021 auction

PALACIO de Memoria’s auction house, Casa de Memoria, will hold its Primero auction on Mar. 20, noon. For its first quarterly auction of the year, the Lhuillier-managed auction house has curated paintings, furniture pieces, sculptures, and religious antiques. These include a pair of Qing Dynasty famille rose ginger jars with pedestals (Lot 24), with the starting bid at P420,000. There is also a selection of paintings, from the classic to the contemporary. These include Vase of Flowers by Jose María Armengol Farré (Lot 066), Joueur de flute et chèvre by Pablo Picasso (Lot 099), Marilyn Monroe by Andy Warhol (Lot 141), and Toro y Toreros by Salvador Dali (Lot 148), with many of them starting at P60,000. Among the vintage furniture going under the gavel are a 19th century Italian paper desk in ebonized wood with ivory and bone inlay (Lot 010) which has a starting bid of P360,000, and a Spanish ivory-inlaid small table with foliage, bird, and fruit motifs (Lot 011). Primero also has an ecclesiastic collection, including an oil on copper painting of the Holy Trinity (Lot 124); a Santo Niño wooden relief (Lot 147); and a 16th century oil on wood painting of the Assumption of Mary. To explore the auction items, visit bit.ly/CasaDeMemoriaOnline. Auction viewings are also available until Mar. 19. Preview cocktails will be on Mar. 11. For more details, call (02) 8253-3994 or e-mail hello@casadememoria.com. For more information and to register, visit https://www.casadememoria.com.

Loans to Lopez firms were not condoned, say former DBP officials

FORMER officials of state-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) said on Tuesday loans extended to Lopez-led companies were not condoned before bad debts were sold to a special purpose vehicle (SPV).

They made the statement as lawmakers resumed their probe into the alleged write off of loans worth more than a billion pesos.

Vitaliano N. Nañagas II, former DBP chairman, said in the hearing on Tuesday that he also did not write off any fees owed by the Lopez companies, after lawmakers said he was the presiding officer who absolved the loans’ interest and other fees based on a DBP board resolution.

“It might have been the inclusion of those loans in the SPV, but if you look at the (financial) books of the DBP, I don’t remember having waived anything or foregone anything,” he said.

The hearing was called by the House Committee on Good Government and Accountability.

Mr. Nañagas was chairman when the DBP approved the creation of the SPV for the loans. He added that the SPV was approved in 2002, but the actual sale was made in 2006 when he was no longer chairman.

On Tuesday, the House Blue Ribbon panel resumed its probe on the alleged condonation by the DBP of non-performing assets worth P1.6 billion of the Lopez companies. In the panel’s past hearings, bank officials said no write-off was made but a sale under the SPV Act.

The non-performing loans were sold to the Asia-Pacific arm of defunct investment bank Lehman Brothers.

The loans were extended to four companies, which at that time were all led by the Lopezes. The companies are Bayan Telecommunications, Inc., Maynilad Water Service, Inc., Central CATV, Inc., and Benpres Holdings Corp.

Also invited in the hearing was Remedios Macalinag, former DBP president and vice-chairman, who said no loan write-off was made when she was in office from 1998 to 2002.

“There was no condonation or write off of these accounts during my term in DBP,” she said.

According to the panel’s chairman, DIWA Party-list Rep. Michael Edgar Y. Aglipay, Ms. Macalinag’s name was the one submitted by the current DBP legal team as the member of the board who approved the loans granted to the Lopez companies.

Ms. Macalinag was head of the lender when she approved the Maynilad loan, which was dollar-denominated and accounted for the largest extended by the DBP at P700 million at that time in the local currency.

Ms. Macalinag said there was no influence or preference in the approval of the loans nor was there any expedited process in their approval. — Gillian M. Cortez

Asian bonds provide refuge for global investors fleeing Treasuries turmoil

TOKYO — Global investors fleeing a shakeout in US and other developed market bonds are finding harbor in the higher yields and relative stability offered by Asian junk-rated debt.

The rise in long-term yields in major economies to multi-year highs is reminiscent of the 2013 taper tantrum, except that India, Indonesia and others in Asia aren’t seeing the selloff in bonds and currencies they did back then.

Now, with the backing of stronger economies, less profligate governments and healthier current accounts, the region is becoming a refuge for yield seekers.

Foreign investors have bought a net $41.5 billion of Chinese bonds since the start of the year, already about a third of what they did in all of 2020. Inflows into other emerging Asia bond markets this year are $2.8 billion, or 61% of last year’s total.

“Emerging markets Asia is attractive from a relative value perspective,” said JC Sambor, head of emerging markets fixed income at BNP Paribas Asset Management in London.

“We think there is more value in high yield. We think it is fundamentally mispriced,” he said, referring to the cheapness of bonds in markets such as China.

The spreads Asian junk bonds offer have been a big attraction for investors seeking returns that are better than inflation.

Bank of America’s high-yield Asian emerging markets index shows spreads are 671 basis points (bps) above Treasuries, versus a spread of 330 basis points for high-yield US credit, effectively an additional payout of more than 300 bps.

For investors who are more risk averse, government debt from China, Indonesia, and India offer spreads from 170 to 500 bps over Treasuries, so the carry pick up is “significant,” says Joevin Teo, head of Asian fixed income at Amundi Singapore.

VISITING OR STAYING?
Some asset managers expect these inflows to continue over the longer term as shell-shocked investors recover from their losses on Treasuries and euro-denominated debt and see the case for Asian bonds.

Global emerging market credit totals around $1.4 trillion, and Asia makes up the lion’s share of this market, but investors are missing out because they rely on benchmarks that understate Asia’s size, says Paul Lukaszewski, head of corporate debt for Asia-Pacific at Aberdeen Standard Investments in Singapore.

Sambor at BNP Paribas said he prefers Chinese hard currency corporate debt, which is denominated in dollars, for the added layer of protection. Other investors wary of currency risk also say they prefer dollar-denominated bonds.

“Given the levels of yields in places like Germany, it doesn’t make sense to hold them in any decent size if the aim is to protect against volatility. For this, we have a positive view on bonds from Korea and China,” said Justin Onuekwusi, portfolio manager at Legal & General Investment Management in London.

Yet, while China offers the biggest pool by far of high-yield credit in Asia, there are risks around corporate defaults as the government switches from its pandemic-era stimulus to more targeted lending.

Aberdeen’s Mr. Lukaszewski is also positive on Chinese dollar credit but is cautious about the power generation and industrial sectors, which he reckons could be adversely affected by plans to cut carbon emissions.

Mitul Kotecha, chief emerging market Asia and Europe strategist at TD Securities in Singapore, expects Asian bond markets will face periods of net outflows as some investors book profits on an increasingly crowded trade. But the long-term fundamentals look solid, he said. — Reuters

Philippine labor force situation (Jan. 2021)

AROUND four million Filipinos remain jobless in January, as more reentered the labor force with the further easing of quarantine restrictions around the country, government labor data released on Tuesday showed. Read the full story.

PHL labor force situation (Jan. 2021)

How PSEi member stocks performed — March 9, 2021

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Tuesday, March 9, 2021.

Peso climbs on factory output, labor data

THE PESO appreciated versus the greenback on Tuesday amid softer factory output data, which could translate to a slower recovery in imports. 

The local unit closed at P48.48 versus the dollar, gaining 8.1 centavos from its previous finish of P48.561, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines showed.

The peso opened Tuesday’s trading session at P48.655 per dollar. Its weakest showing was at P48.67 while its intraday best was at P48.47 against the greenback.

Dollars traded increased to $890.25 million yesterday from $685.98 million on Monday.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort attributed the peso’s gains to the softer manufacturing data released on Tuesday, which could mean a slower recovery in imports.

Preliminary results of the Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries (MISSI) reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed factory output gauged through volume of production index dropped 16.7% year on year in January, steeper than the 12% decline in December and a reversal of the 1.9% growth a year ago. It also marked the 11th straight month of a contraction in factory output.

Meanwhile, a trader said the peso was supported by the steady unemployment rate recorded in January.

The country’s jobless rate stood at 8.7% in January, unchanged from October last year but still higher than the 5.3% a year earlier, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported on Monday. However, unemployed Filipinos rose to 3.953 million from 3.813 million in October and was also higher than the 2.391 million in January 2020.

For today, Mr. Ricafort gave a forecast range of P48.42 to P48.55 per dollar while the trader expects the local unit to move within the P48.40 to P48.60 levels. — LWTN

PSEi inches up as rising cases keep mart cautious

THE MAIN INDEX rebounded on Tuesday despite rising concerns over the continued spike in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections in the country.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) inched up by 9.91 points or 0.14% to close at 6,766.83 on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the broader all shares index declined by 4.45 points or 0.1% to finish at 4,074.95.

“Market apparently worried about the economic growth fallout of the virus infection spike as herd immunity looks a lot slower to achieve. That, in turn, will slow the pace of economic reopening,” First Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC) Head of Research Cristina S. Ulang said in a Viber message.

Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan meanwhile pointed to a number of other events that kept investors on the sidelines, including the recent passage of a stimulus bill worth $1.9 trillion in the United States.

“[This underlines] a stock market rotation driven by the rising US yields,” Mr. Limlingan said in a separate Viber message.

“[Yesterday] morning, Phivolcs (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology) raised the alert level status of Taal Volcano from level 1, low level of unrest, to level 2, increasing unrest, which advises the public against going to the direction of the volcano,” he added.

The government increased its alert level on Taal as the tourist attraction 65 kilometers south of the capital recorded increased unrest, Bloomberg reported.

Taal’s alert status was raised to level 2 after 28 volcanic tremors and four low-frequency volcanic earthquakes in the past 24 hours, Phivolcs said in a Tuesday advisory. It also recorded changes in the main crater lake and ground deformation.

Taal erupted in early 2020, killing dozens and forcing hundreds of thousands to evacuate.

Majority of sectoral indices went up marginally on Tuesday except for property, which fell by 26.79 points or 0.79% to 3,363.08.

Financials improved by 8.9 points or 0.62% to close at 1,437.87; holding firms increased by 17.93 points or 0.25% to 6,986.12; mining and oil went up by 21.14 points or 0.24% to 8,604.33; industrials inched up by 15.42 points or 0.17% to 8,656.62; and services rose by 1.54 points or 0.1% to 1,458.94.

Value turnover soared to P19.02 billion on Tuesday with 5.90 billion shares switching hands from the P9.85 billion seen on Monday. Decliners bested advances, 131 versus 83, while 48 names closed the session unchanged.

Net foreign selling surged to P10.55 billion on Tuesday from the P497.84 million seen on Monday.

Regina Capital’s Mr. Limlingan said the PSEi may finish at the 6,700 level today, depending on the performance of the US market overnight.

FMIC’s Ms. Ulang meanwhile expects the benchmark index to finish between 6,600 and 6,800.

“There could be slow accumulation as this [market] dip is a buying opportunity, but the buying might not be big enough to lift the market substantially,” Ms. Ulang said. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte with Bloomberg

Manila to deploy more cops amid virus surge

By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza and Vann Marlo M. Villegas, Reporters

THE PHILIPPINE government will deploy more policemen on the streets to enforce health protocols amid a fresh surge in coronavirus infections in Manila, the capital, and nearby cities, according to the Interior and Local Government department.

About 180 more cops had been deployed in Pasay City to help local authorities enforce quarantine rules, Interior Undersecretary Jonathan E. Malaya told a televised news briefing on Tuesday.

More cops will be sent to the cities of Navotas and Malabon to ensure people follow health protocols especially in coronavirus hotspots, he added.

Mr. Malaya said Interior officer-in-charge and Undersecretary Bernardo C. Florence, Jr. gave the order after a meeting with Metro Manila chiefs and the Health department.

“The instruction from OIC Florence was to add more policemen in different parts of Metro Manila, he said.

Former Social Welfare Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo on Monday criticized the Duterte administration for militarizing a public health issue.

More than 120,000 violators of quarantine protocols were arrested in the Philippines during the lockdown, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said last year.

The list included aid distributors, jeepney drivers, rallyists and other sectors critical of the slow delivery of social services during the pandemic.

Several countries including the Philippines have used the pandemic to harass journalists, opposition activists, health workers and “anyone else who dares to criticize the official response to the coronavirus,” according to Human Rights Watch.

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said coronavirus cases in Metro Manila were a cause for alarm.

The cities of Pasay and Malabon were at a critical risk level, while Navotas, Makati and San Juan were high-risk areas, he said at a televised meeting with President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday night.

Coronavirus cases in the Philippine capital and nearby cities have been rising faster, hitting levels last seen in July, according to a group of researchers.

There had been 1,025 infections daily in the capital region in the past seven days, 42% higher than a week earlier and more than double the number two weeks ago, the OCTA Research Group from the University of the Philippines said on Sunday.

The number could still go up this month.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire on Monday said the rise could have been due to Filipinos ignoring health protocols.

More than 120,000 violators of quarantine protocols were arrested in the Philippines, which had one of the strictest and longest lockdowns in Southeast Asia.

The Interior and Local Government department earlier authorized local governments to crack down on quarantine violators.

TALLY
The Department of Health (DoH) reported 2,668 coronavirus infections on Tuesday, bringing the total to 600,428.

The death toll rose by seven to 12,528, while recoveries increased by 171 to 546,078, it said in a bulletin.

There were 41,822 active cases, 91.6% of which were mild, 3.9% did not show symptoms, 1.8% were critical, 1.9% were severe and 0.8% were moderate.

DoH said three duplicates had been removed from the tally, while two recovered cases were reclassified as deaths. Eight laboratories failed to submit data on Mar. 8.

About 8.5 million Filipinos have been tested for the COVID-19 virus as of Mar. 7, according to DoH’s tracker website.

The coronavirus has sickened around 117.8 million and killed more than 2.6 million people worldwide, according to the Worldometers website, citing various sources including data from the World Health Organization (WHO).

About 93.5 million people have recovered, it said.

Meanwhile, the WHO said the rising number of coronavirus infections in the country might not be entirely due to the spread of more contagious variants.

This is given the limited testing for these variants, WHO Country Representative Rabindra Abeyasinghe told an online news briefing.

“Part of the surge we are seeing within the National Capital Region (NCR) may be attributed to the presence of these new variants,” he said.

“But we believe that it’s not entirely being driven by the new variant because the number of cases detected and confirmed as opposed to the number of samples checked is limited,” he added.

Mr. Abeyasinghe said the WHO was still studying the new variants “to understand and describe the implications of increased transmissibility” and severity of cases.

Local health authorities on Friday reported 31 new cases, 28 of whom had addresses in Metro Manila and three others were still under verification, with the more contagious variant first detected in the United Kingdom, bringing the total to 118.

It also reported 52 more infections of the variant first reported in South Africa, 41 of which were from Metro Manila while the rest were still being verified, bringing the total to 58.

Mr. Abeyasinghe said the WHO has observed a community level transmission in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and the Calabarzon region since July last year.

While the country has been reporting more than 3,000 cases daily in the past few days, this is still “significantly lower” than the more than 6,000 cases reported at the height of the pandemic, he said.

The increase in cases should also not be considered as a “second wave.”

“If you’re talking of the second wave, we should have seen a complete flattening of the curve. And in the case of NCR, we didn’t see that kind of flattening,” he said.

Gov’t to sign supply deal for 30M vials of Novavax vaccines

THE PHILIPPINES will sign a supply deal with Novavax, Inc. this week for 30 million vials of its coronavirus vaccine, according to the Presidential Palace.

The two-shot vaccines are yet to be cleared for use in the United States. It’s efficacy was based on data from trials in the United Kingdom, where it was found to be 96% effective against the original coronavirus and 86% effective against the more contagious British variant.

The shot, however, was found to be only 50% effective against the South African variant, according to a website post of the MIT Technology Review.

Vaccine czar Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. visited India to negotiate the orders for the vaccines developed by Serum Institute of India with Novavax.

Presidential spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr. also told a televised news briefing the government had signed a purchase order for one million vials of CoronaVac made by China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd.

The Chinese government earlier donated about 600,000 doses of the CoronaVac.

Mr. Roque said the government had also signed a supply agreement with Moderna, Inc. for 13 million doses of its coronavirus vaccine. The details of the supply deal with Johnson & Johnson were still in progress, he added.

“We have an emergency situation. We will get whatever vaccine we can get. We will use it,” he said.

The Philippines on Mar. 4 took delivery of about 487,200 vials of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca Plc. More than 38,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine also arrived on Mar. 7.

Mr. Roque said about 35,669 health frontliners had been inoculated against the coronavirus as of Mar. 7.

He said 379,840 doses of Sinovac and 83,700 vials of AstraZeneca have been delivered to 17 regions.

The Philippines aims to inoculate about 70 million Filipinos by yearend to achieve herd immunity.

The vaccine doesn’t need to be given to all Filipinos based on herd immunity, when a large portion of the population becomes immune to the disease, making its spread unlikely. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Taal Volcano alert raised to level 2 on magmatic activity

REUTERS/ELOISA LOPEZ

STATE seismologists on Tuesday raised the alert status for Taal Volcano in Batangas province to level 2 in a five-step system, citing probable magmatic activity that may lead to an eruption.

“At Alert Level 2, evacuation is not yet recommended,” the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said in a bulletin posted on its website on Tuesday. “However, the public is reminded that Taal Volcano Island is a permanent danger zone.”

Entry into the Island especially around the main crater is prohibited, it said.

Seismologists said local governments should assess previously evacuated villages around Taal Lake for damage. This would let them strengthen preparedness, contingency and communication measures in case of renewed unrest.

“Residents of these barangays are advised to be always prepared, to keep calm and listen to information only from trusted or verified sources,” according to the bulletin.

Civil aviation authorities must advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano as airborne ash and ballistic fragments from sudden explosions pose hazards to aircraft.

The agency said it was closely monitoring Taal Volcano’s activity.

Seismologists recorded 28 volcanic tremor episodes, four low-frequency volcanic earthquakes, and one hybrid earthquake at depths of less than 1.5 kilometers beneath Taal Volcano Island in the past 24 hours.

“Volcanic tremors have increased seismic energy compared with previously recorded episodes and ranged between three to 17 minutes in duration,” according to the website.

Volcanic tremor events have risen to 866 since the onset of increased activity on Feb. 13.

Taal’s eruption starting in January 2020 forced thousands of people to flee and stay at evacuation centers for days.

Ashfall reached cities around the capital, forcing financial markets to suspend trading and the Manila airport to close. — Norman P. Aquino

Regional Updates (03/09/21)

Senate OK’s bill dividing Maguindanao into 2 provinces

THE Senate on Tuesday passed on third and final reading the bill that will divide Maguindanao province into two. With 22 affirmative votes and zero negative votes and abstention, the senators approved House Bill No. 6413, which creates the provinces of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur. Senator Francis N. Tolentino, chair of the committee on local government and the bill’s sponsor, said the split will improve the delivery of government services and the people of Maguindanao “will be empowered to reach their aspirations for the region.” Under the proposed measure, Maguindanao del Norte will be composed of the towns of Datu Odin Sinsuat, which will become the capital, Barira, Buldon, Datu Blah Sinsuat,, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Northern Kabuntalan, Parang, North Upi, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, and Talitay. Maguindanao del Sur, on the other hand, will be composed of Buluan as capital, Ampatuan, Datu Abdulla Sangki, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Datu Montawal, Datu Paglas, Datu Piang, Datu Salibo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Unsay, Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun, Guindulungan, Mamasapano, Mangudadatu, Pagalungan, Paglat, Pandag, Rajah Buayan, Sharif Aguak, Sharif Saydona Mustafa, Sultan sa Barongis, Talayan, and South Upi. The House of Representatives approved the measure on third reading on Jun. 1, 2020. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Island provinces in the north, south start vaccination for health workers

VACCINE doses have been delivered by the military in the more remote parts of the country and inoculation has started among health workers. The chief doctors of the provincial hospitals in the island provinces of Batanes and Basilan were the first to receive their areas’ initial Sinovac allocation to boost vaccine confidence among other frontliners and the public. Chief of Hospital Jeffrey Antony T. Canceran in Batanes, the northernmost island province, led the vaccination for medical workers on Tuesday in two hospitals and other frontliners managing the quarantine facilities. In Basilan, located southwest of mainland Mindanao in the south, Basilan General Hospital Director Sitti Nurussami Casali-Amilhasan received her first dose Monday along with other health workers. The Basilan government, in a statement, said in Filipino, “The high confidence of each of our health workers is one of the solutions in encouraging people to get vaccinated.”

Tagum City opens Cultural Center with 1,000-seater theater, heritage museum

THE Tagum City Historical and Cultural Center, with its 1,000-seat Tagumpay Theater that is a first in Davao Region, was officially inaugurated Mar. 7 in time for the city’s 23rd founding anniversary. The center also has a heritage museum, historical gallery, and library, which will all open to the public on Apr. 1 with health protocols in place. Mayor Allan L. Rellon, who delivered his 7th State of the City Address at the Tagumpay Theater, said the capital city of Davao del Norte continues to be “very strong” despite the challenges brought by the coronavirus pandemic.

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