Heavy downpour causes landslides, sinkhole in DavOro

RALPH LAWRENCE G. LLEMIT

March 01, 2022

THE heavy downpour experienced in some parts of Davao de Oro over the weekend resulted in some roads becoming impassable due to landslides, while some families were affected by a sinkhole.

On Sunday, February 27, six lanes of the national highway in Barangay Tapia, Montevista, Davao de Oro were not passable due to landslides.

In a report from the Philippine Information Agency, the Provincial Government, along with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), immediately conducted a clearing operation in the area, which resulted in some vehicles using other alternate routes.

On Monday dawn, February 28, the area was already passable to motorists.

Meanwhile, four families were affected by a sinkhole in Mawab as rains persisted on Sunday evening, February 27.

According to Mawab Municipal Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO), the houses of the four families were damaged by the sudden movement of the soil.

As of Sunday evening, February 27, Mawab MDRRMO reported that only one family evacuated.

The Provincial Government has yet to provide additional information on the incident.

The Municipal Government of Nabunturan, in a Facebook post, suspended the mining activities in the municipality due to the heavy downpours.

The Municipal Government said that it was a preemptive measure especially to barangay mining sites that are landslide-prone.

According to the 3:30 p.m. advisory of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), some parts of Davao de Oro, namely, Maragusan, Pantukan, Mawab, Maco, and New Bataan, were placed under yellow warning level due to heavy rains brought by the easterlies weather system.

Pagasa said flooding was expected, especially in low-lying areas and landslides in mountainous areas.

Heavy rains were also experienced in some parts of Davao Oriental.

Moderate to heavy rains were experienced in some parts of Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao City, Davao Occidental, and other provinces in Mindanao.

Duterte-Carpio: City eyes lifting more Covid-19 restrictions

By RALPH LAWRENCE G. LLEMIT, SunStar Davao City

March 01, 2022

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is pushing for the lifting of some Covid-19 restrictions and fast-tracking the further reopening of the city's economy.

Duterte-Carpio said in an interview stream lived on her official Facebook page Monday, February 28, that the City Government will issue an executive order to suspend some Covid-19 restriction policies.

This came after Davao City has been placed under a less-strict Alert Level 1 effective March 1 until 15 due to the continuing downtrend of Covid-19 cases.

The mayor did not specify when the executive order will be released.

Despite the lifting of some restrictions, she said the minimum health protocols, such as wearing of face masks and observing physical distancing, will remain.

“[Walaon na] Kanang pag-lockdown, pagsarado sa mga offices and businesses depende sa (We will lift the lockdowns, closure of offices and establishments depending on the) alert levels, so we want everyone to open, and we want everybody to be on full operations, except we will not lift the mandatory wearing of mask, and importante gihapon ang distancing (distancing is still important),” the mayor said.

The mayor cited the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) guidelines on Alert Level 1, allowing local governments to suspend implementations of Covid-19 restrictions.

"Naa didto sa IATF resolution na pwedeng i-suspend sa local government ang implementation sa mga Covid-19 restrictions, which is mao pud atong direction sa pagkakaron (The IATF resolution provides local governments the authority to suspend implementations of Covid-19 restrictions, which is the direction we are pushing), in lieu of this war dinha sa (there in) Ukraine ug (and) Russia because any war sa tibuok kalibutan will affect kitang tana (in some parts of the world will affect everyone),” she said.

“We need to move fast in reopening our city and economy tungod kaning giyera dinha sa Russia ug Ukraine duna na siya epekto diria sa ato (because the war in Russia and Ukraine would have a huge impact to everyone), especially in terms of prices sa (of) basic commodities, prices sa gasolina (and gasoline prices),” she added.

The move, she said, would uplift the business sector and provide more jobs to Dabawenyos.

Duterte-Carpio, meanwhile, said the business sectors will be given discretion in imposing restrictions against unvaccinated individuals.

She said, though, that restricting those unvaccinated would be difficult to impose.

“As I said kaniadto, lisod kaayo i-restrict ang mga unvaccinated (As I said before, it is hard to restrict those unvaccinated) when, in fact, dili man mandatory ang atoang vaccination. Mura gani’g gina-punish nato sila sa choice na ilang gipili na gitagaan man sila sa choice (since vaccination is not mandatory. It’s like we are punishing them for their choice),” Duterte-Carpio said, adding that restricting them would be possible if law would mandate the public to get vaccinated.

Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson of the Covid-19 Task Force, said the recent surge, suspected to have been caused by the Omicron variant of the Sars-CoV-2 virus, is over as the positivity rate drops to five percent as of February 20.

Schlosser said the city is considered "low risk" for the virus, and that it can now slowly shift to the “new normal.”

Miss World finalist Tracy Perez shocked with rice supply from Pinoys in Puerto Rico

By: Earl D.C. Bracamonte - Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — The Filipino migration to countries across the globe not only serves as an important source for the national coffers, but also serves another very important factor in international pageants - their very presence!

The last time I checked, Filipinos live in, at least, 66 countries and territories worldwide: from as far north in Nuuk, Denmark (in Greenland) to the southernmost confines of the Antarctica, where research teams are granted access.

Pageant fans would readily agree that whenever a Filipina entrant makes it to the final round, especially in the "Big Five" competitions - Universe, World, International, Earth, and Supranational - the show's host would usually remark that half of the Philippines is "in the house."

A case in point would be the recent Miss Universe edition in Eilat, Israel. Host Steve Harvey had to call the attention of Filipinos in the crowd, at least three times, for them to bring their cheers to a minimum when Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Beatrice Luigi Gomez was called as one of the 16 semifinalists. Pandemonium ensued when she was called in the top 5!

But there were other similar instances when Pinoy cheering would break the house down - notably in 2015 when Pia Alonzo Wurtzback was, after four-and-a-half minutes, proclaimed the rightful winner. And so were the moments when Megan Young won Miss World 2013 in Indonesia, or Catriona Gray's victory in Bangkok as Miss Universe 2018, or even Venus Raj's Top 5 placement in 2010 in Las Vegas.

Yet, when you come to think of it, while Pinoys may seem to come in droves, they're not actually that many. But what makes them noticeable is because they stick together and really pour their hearts out. In Albania, for example, Miss Globe 2021 Maureen Montagne related that there were only about 139 Filipinos in the entire state, but they all rallied behind her.

There is a big difference between a small number actually present in the pageant venue and a populous horde who are some place else. And when the Pinoys cheer, they don't do it quietly!

So when Miss World Philippines 2021 Tracy Maureen Perez flew to San Juan, Puerto Rico the first time, she was surprised to know that a sizeable Filipino community lived and worked in the Spanish-speaking Caribbean nation. And so when their meals did not include rice, she got hungry and homesick most of the time. That's when Pinoys would send home-cooked meals for her. And her hunger pangs and homesickness were assuaged. With San Juan having an identical climate with the Philippines, she felt at home again.

So you see, Pinoys will always look out for their own - especially in a foreign land. They instantly warm up to new arrivals, most especially our beauty queens. The next time you watch an international pageant, make sure you notice the Filipinos in the crowd - and you'll never take them for granted again.

MAKING ANY DIFFERENCE?

Our globe and its population bear innumerable strange facts. Following many people's opinion, this world shows mostly worried characteristics and symptoms nowadays. No wonder. Just try to consume and digest today's headlines and news from all around the globe.

It is a world with quickly bridged distances -  our Mother earth is becoming smaller and smaller. Any tourist, even with little time and with only a small budget, can again travel to other faraway cultures after Covid-19 restrictions. But joining them as well as different races and religious communities requires first of all, great care, tact, instinctive feelings, empathy, and logical ideas. But putting Covid-19 somehow beside, war in Europe is with us now.

The stranger whom we meet for the first time during a business meeting, for example, maybe an uncommon, odd and extraordinary guy. He may be someone from a foreign country, who speaks another language and whose skin is of another color. He may be a migrant, a restless hiker or the expatriate in our neighbourhood.

The foreigner beside you and me can become a provocation or a challenge. Strangeness can become exoticism. Maybe that's why my family and I decided to move to the Philippines already in 1999. On the other hand - going abroad can open other and even better horizons. We must not feel as "a stranger in paradise". By the way, I never did since I have been touring around the globe many times. The Philippines has a very unique culture due to the influences of colonization and the surrounding countries. Filipino people are very hardworking and strive to make life better for the next generation of their family.

However, a migrant bears a juxtaposition of optimism (even calculated optimism!), confused feelings, nostalgia, and homesickness. Yes guys, during the first two years of my expat's life in the Philippines, the round trip ticket was always in my mind, because no one among us can escape his native roots.

But, I am really a lucky guy. I experienced an amazing tolerance in the Philippines. A real practicing tolerance. Already, during my first business meetings, I met supportive people. Having close family ties is also one of their unique traits. It is one of the outstanding cultural values that Filipinos have. The family takes care of each other and are taught to be loyal to family and elders by simply obeying their authorities. This is one of the unique characteristics of Filipinos. Caring and  broad minded people. A wonderful mix of different cultures without giving up their own identity... .

Every new challenge in a strange country means a change. Changes in life are necessary and important. Let's alter or make a difference; let's put one thing for another; let's shift; let's quit one state for another; let's take fresh clothing. Let's burn the "lock fat" away. And remember: nothing comes from anything.

What are the family traditions in Philippines?

Leah Angela Cioco

student; reads constantly

I can’t speak for all Filipino families, but I’ll give you a peek at mine:

1. Rice makes the meal real.

Food is a huge part of the Filipino tradition. We have really good viands like Adobo, Kare-kare, Sinigang, and many others, but these recipes don’t matter if there is no rice.

When I choose not to eat rice, I’d always get that look from my elders that ranges from a caring, “Are you sick or unwell?” look to a confused, angry, “Why are you still watching Mr. Bean?” look.

Almost always, it’s the latter.

In my defense, Mr. Bean is a series for all ages. I love Mr. Bean, his teddy, and….. well… Mr. Bean. Also, it’s not that I’m on a diet or anything; I just enjoy testing the limit of our ancient eating tradition. I guess, for some reason, I also fancy seeing my parents look at me like I was an alien.

2. Celebrating barangay/village fiestas is a big deal.

My mother being outgoing, and my father being extremely outgoing, my family has never spent a year not attending at least five barangay/village fiestas.

Fiestas are these huge celebrations that are like birthdays and weddings, but they’re centered on either the founding date or the patron saint of the village. Anyone could just walk in without knowing a soul in a house and still be welcomed to the feast. Let’s just say that people in my place are beyond accommodating.

There would be dancing, eating - lots of it, and meeting people I’ve been told I’m related with but have never known until then. The last time I attended one, I was introduced to seven aunties, three uncles, and about ten distant cousins.

In short, fiestas are events that allow so much socializing in strangers’ homes that may or may not result to questionable outcomes. Sometimes, after so much eating and talking, some tired guests even end up taking afternoon naps in the homeowners’ bedroom.

And no - I don’t do that. At least, not anymore.

3. We are taught to be grateful for being a Filipino. Always. No questions asked.

Regardless of my grumbling like "Why am I attending/eating/doing this?! I want to live life my own way, not my parents!", "Food, events, films, what's next? Are they going to demand that I buy local branded swimwear for swimming?" (which is quite arguable because I don’t know of any), my siblings and I have always been taught to consider being a Filipino a huge blessing.

I may love pasta more than rice, and Mr. Bean over (I don’t even know a local animated series!), but I love being a Filipina. I love how I could live with my parents until I’m 20, 30, or even 40. I am fascinated by how my parents think of me as a kid even when I’m of legal age, while my relatives in the US treat their ten-year old kids like mature and responsible adults,

All kidding aside, we really are taught to be patriotic even when our country is a third-world, or even when President Duterte seems to be making rather questionable decisions. I may seldom show it, but I breathe Pinoy, bleed Pinoy, and will forever be Pinoy.

So, no matter where life takes me, I’ll always remember who I am. I’m a rice-eating, fiesta-loving, patriotic Filipina - the best of the best, a cut above the rest- so sit tight little Leah, the ride's not over yet.

Das Auswärtiges Amt gibt bekannt:

www.auswaertiges-amt.de

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Philippinen: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (Teilreisewarnung)

25.02.2022

Letzte Änderung:
Aktuelles – COVID-19 (Entlistung als Hochrisikogebiet mit Wirkung vom 27. Februar 2022),
redaktionelle Änderungen


Lagen können sich schnell verändern und entwickeln. Insbesondere die COVID-19-Bestimmungen unterliegen laufenden Änderungen.

Wir empfehlen Ihnen:

- Verfolgen Sie Nachrichten und Wetterberichte.
- Achten Sie auf einen ausreichenden Reisekrankenversicherungsschutz. https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/ReiseUndSicherheit/reise-gesundheit/-/350944
- Abonnieren Sie unseren Newsletter https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/newsroom/newsletter/bestellen-node oder nutzen Sie unsere App „Sicher Reisen". https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/ReiseUndSicherheit/app-sicher-reisen/350382
- Folgen Sie uns auf Twitter: AA_SicherReisen https://twitter.com/AA_SicherReisen
- Registrieren Sie sich in unserer Krisenvorsorgeliste. https://krisenvorsorgeliste.diplo.de
- Erkundigen Sie sich vorab bei den Behörden/Botschaften Ihres Reiselandes https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/ReiseUndSicherheit/vertretungen-anderer-staaten zu den aktuell geltenden, verbindlichen Einreisebestimmungen sowie bei Flug- und Bahngesellschaften nach den geltenden Beförderungsbestimmungen.
- Beachten Sie unseren Haftungsausschluss https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/ReiseUndSicherheit/haftungsausschluss/2500954 und den Hinweis zu Inhalten anderweitiger Anbieter. https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/ReiseUndSicherheit/inhalte-anderweitiger-anbieter/2500956

Aktuelles
COVID-19

Die Ausbreitung von COVID-19 https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/ReiseUndSicherheit/reise-gesundheit/gesundheit-fachinformationen/reisemedizinische-hinweise/Coronavirus/-/2309820 kann weiterhin zu Einschränkungen im internationalen Luft- und Reiseverkehr und Beeinträchtigungen des öffentlichen Lebens führen.

Vor nicht notwendigen, touristischen Reisen in die Philippinen wird gewarnt. Dies gilt mit Wirkung vom 27. Februar 2022 nicht mehr.

Epidemiologische Lage

Die Philippinen sind weiterhin von COVID-19 betroffen und sind noch bis einschließlich 26. Februar 2022 als Hochrisikogebiet https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Risikogebiete_neu.html/ eingestuft.

Aktuelle und detaillierte Zahlen bieten das philippinische Gesundheitsministerium https://doh.gov.ph und die Weltgesundheitsorganisation WHO https://covid19.who.int/region/wpro/country/ph.

Einreise

Bestimmungen zur Einreise ändern sich mit der Pandemielage häufig. Bitte informieren Sie sich zusätzlich auf der Webseite der Regierung der Philippinen https://www.doh.gov.ph/.

Die Einreise für vollständig geimpfte Ausländer ist für touristische Aufenthalte und Geschäftsreisen bis zu längstens 30 Tagen möglich, wenn sie unter Executive Order No. 408 (s. 1960) https://dfa.gov.ph/list-of-countries-for-21-day-visa fallen und durch diese von der Visumspflicht befreit, sowie bei Einreise im Besitz eines noch sechs Monate gültigen Reisepasses sind und einen Flugschein über einen Rück- oder Weiterflug (hiervon ausgenommen sind ausländische Ehepartner und Kinder philippinischer Staatsangehöriger sowie ehemalige philippinische Staatsangehörige mit „Balikbayan Privileg“ und deren mitreisende ausländische Ehepartner und Kinder) sowie eine in den Philippinen anerkannte Reisekrankenversicherung mit Mindestdeckungsschutz in Höhe von 35.000 USD für den vorgesehenen Aufenthaltszeitraum vorlegen können. Die Staatenliste kann auf der Webseite der philippinischen Botschaft in Berlin http://philippine-embassy.de/visas/ abgerufen werden. Deutschland gehört derzeit zu diesen Ländern. Ausländische Kinder unter 12 Jahre müssen nicht voll geimpft sein und auch keinen Nachweis über ihren Impfstatus vorlegen, wenn sie ihre vollständig geimpften Eltern begleiten.

Für länger als 30 Tage geplante nicht-touristische oder nicht-geschäftliche Aufenthalte der Visumskategorie 9 (a) ist ein „Entry Exemption Document (EED)“ erforderlich.

Die Einreise für vollständig geimpfte Inhaber von Langzeitvisa anderer Kategorien ist unter den unten genannten Bedingungen ebenfalls möglich.

Nicht vollständig geimpften ausländischen Reisenden wird die Einreise verweigert.

Als vollständig geimpft gilt, wer einen Impfnachweis über eine in den Philippinen erfolgte vollständige Impfung oder einen von den Philippinen anerkannten ausländischen Impfnachweis vorlegt. Deutsche Impfnachweise in Form des gelben WHO-Impfbuches oder das Digitale COVID-Zertifikat der EU werden anerkannt. Kreuzimpfungen werden akzeptiert, eine einfache Impfung nach einem durchgemachten Infekt ist hingegen nicht ausreichend.

Die Quarantänevorgaben richten sich nach dem Nachweis des Impfstatus der Reisenden:
• Vollständig geimpft mit anerkanntem Impfnachweis, negativer PCR-Test nicht älter als 48 Stunden vor Abflug → keine Quarantäne, Selbstbeobachtung auf Symptome für sieben Tage. Verpflichtende Kontaktaufnahme mit den lokalen Gesundheitsbehörden bei Auftreten von Symptomen.
• Vollständig geimpft, aber kein anerkannter Impfnachweis, negativer PCR-Test nicht älter als 48 Stunden vor Abflug → Quarantäne in Quarantäne-Einrichtung, Buchung muss bei Abflug vorliegen, PCR-Test am fünften Tag, nach negativem Ergebnis Entlassung und Heimquarantäne bis zum 14. Tag.
• Die Quarantänevorgaben für Kinder unter 12 Jahre, die nicht geimpft werden können, richten sich nach den Vorgaben für begleitende Sorgeberechtigte/Eltern.
Nähere Informationen können bei der philippinischen Botschaft http://philippine-embassy.de/ erfragt werden.

Alle Reisenden (ausgenommen Diplomaten) müssen sich vor Einreise über das Portal „One Health Pass https://www.onehealthpass.com.ph/e-HDC/“ registrieren. Der Nachweis in Form eines QR Codes ist den Fluggesellschaften beim Einchecken vorzulegen.

Durch- und Weiterreise
Reisen zwischen den Provinzen sind eingeschränkt möglich. Es müssen Gesundheitszeugnisse, gegebenenfalls ein negativer PCR-Test oder philippinische/anerkannte ausländische Impfnachweise vorgelegt und in der Zielprovinz im Einzelfall Quarantäne abgeleistet werden. Die Nutzung öffentlicher Verkehrsmittel ist zunehmend nur noch für geimpfte Personen erlaubt. Dies betrifft auch Inlandsflug- und Fährverbindungen.

Die Ausreise ist Ausländern, die sich im Land aufhalten, jederzeit erlaubt. Viele Fluggesellschaften verlangen für den Reiseantritt in den Philippinen einen negativen PCR-Test oder einen Impfnachweis.

Reiseverbindungen
Für die Einreise über die Flughäfen in Manila, Clark und Cebu bestehen Kontingente. Fluggesellschaften erhalten ihre Kontingente mit geringem zeitlichen Vorlauf, was zu kurzfristigen Umbuchungen oder Flugstornierungen führen kann.

Beschränkungen im Land
Die Quarantänemaßnahmen sind regional unterschiedlich. Derzeit gilt im Großraum Manila eine Quarantänestufe mit Einschränkungen in der Versorgung und der Bewegungsfreiheit. Stadtbezirke können diese Einschränkungen eigenständig verschärfen.
Die zwischenzeitlich unterbrochenen regulären Verkehrsverbindungen zwischen den Inseln des Landes wurden wieder aufgenommen, können jedoch jederzeit kurzfristig wiedereingestellt werden.
Die touristische Infrastruktur ist eingeschränkt, zahlreiche Hotels und Resorts sind geschlossen.

Hygieneregeln
Im öffentlichen Raum (in Gebäuden, aber auch im Freien) gilt die Pflicht, einen Mund-Nasen-Schutz zu tragen, in medizinischen Einrichtungen zusätzlich einen Gesichtsschutz (face-shield). Es gibt das Gebot, sozialen Abstand zu wahren. Massenansammlungen sind verboten. Verstöße sind mit Geld- bis hin zu Gefängnisstrafen bewehrt. Im Fall einer Infektion erfolgt die Isolierung grundsätzlich in staatlicher Unterbringung.

Empfehlungen

• Seien Sie bei allen Reisen weiterhin besonders vorsichtig und beachten Sie unsere fortlaufend aktualisierte Infobox zu COVID-19/Coronavirus.
• Achten Sie bei Einreise nach Deutschland auf die geltenden Einreisevoraussetzungen zu Anmelde-, Quarantäne- und Nachweisregelungen (vollständige Impfung oder Genesenennachweis oder aktueller negativer COVID-19-Test).
• Achten Sie auf die Einhaltung der AHA-Vorschriften und befolgen Sie zusätzlich die Hinweise lokaler Behörden. Bei Verstößen gegen die Hygienevorschriften können hohe Geldstrafen oder Gefängnisstrafen verhängt werden.
• Informieren Sie sich über detaillierte Maßnahmen und ergänzende Informationen der philippinischen Regierung.
• Erkundigen Sie sich bei den philippinischen Behörden, in Deutschland z.B. bei der Philippinischen Botschaft, über die aktuellen Einreisevorschriften.
• Erkundigen Sie sich bei Ihrer Fluggesellschaft über die genauen Vorgaben.
• Bei COVID-19 Symptomen oder Kontakt mit Infizierten kontaktieren Sie das lokale Gesundheitsamt.
Sicherheit - Teilreisewarnung
Vor Reisen in folgende Regionen oder Gebiete wird gewarnt:
- Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX)
- Northern Mindanao (Region X)
- Davao-Region (Region XI) mit Ausnahme des Stadtgebietes von Davao City
- Soccsksargen (Region XII)
- Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)
- Inseln des Sulu-Archipels
- Süd-Palawan mit Ausnahme von Puerto Princesa
Von nicht erforderlichen Reisen in andere Regionen von Mindanao und in der Mindanao-See wird abgeraten.

Health official: Davao City exits surge as positivity rate drops to 5%

Photo by Macky Lim/SunStar file

By IONA FINLAY C. MENDOZA, SunStar Davao

AN OFFICIAL of the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force said the recent surge, suspected to have been caused by the Omicron variant of the Sars-CoV-2 virus, is over as the positivity rate drops to five percent as of February 20.

“Unta mag padayon siya but maging consistent lang ni siya kung consistent ang mga tao sa ilang pagka-disiplinado (It will only be consistent if the public is disciplined),” Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson of the Covid-19 Task Force, said during a radio interview on Wednesday, February 23.

In the latest Covid-19 Regional Daily Case Bulletin of the Department of Health (DOH)-Davao, as of February 22, Davao City had 588 total active cases, a significant development compared to approximately two weeks ago when a total of 3,930 active cases were tallied on February 6.

The City Government of Davao also announced that Davao City was classified as low risk for Covid-19 transmission after achieving a "low" -84.72 two-week growth rate (2WGR) and a "medium" 3.79 average daily attack rate (Adar).

With these developments, Schlosser said the City Government will continue to implement the Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Reintegrate (PDITR) + Vaccination strategy to keep the Covid-19 management in place.

This includes proper contact tracing, swabbing, testing, quarantine and isolation.

“(Hopefully) Consistent pud ang tao na magpadayon sa kooperasyon sa mga lakang sa gobyerno labi na gyod sa atong vaccination rollout,” Schlosser said.

(Hopefully, the public will consistently cooperate with the government’s protocols, especially with the vaccination rollout.)

The spokesperson previously said a positivity rate of five percent or lower would be a clear indication that the surge is over since it is the only "acceptable" positivity rate, and that any number over five percent is still considered high.

Meanwhile, the whole of Davao Region recorded a total of 2,975 active cases as of February 22, based on the data of DOH-Davao.

Of this number, Davao del Sur had the highest number of active cases with 1,080, followed by the 588 cases from Davao City.

Davao del Norte recorded 484 active cases, 394 cases from Davao Occidental, 222 cases from Davao de Oro, and 207 cases from Davao Oriental.

Expert: Philippines now exiting Covid-19 pandemic

By THIRD ANNE PERALTA-MALONZO, SunStar Manila

AN INFECTIOUS disease expert said on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, that the Philippines is already exiting from the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

In a Laging Handa public briefing, infectious disease specialist and government pandemic response consultant Dr. Rontgene Solante said this is indicated in the continuous decrease in Covid-19 cases and the country’s ability to deal with severe and critical infections.

“Yes, I think we are on that process now, our mindset, hopefully, we can be exiting this pandemic, we can exit with this pandemic. Napaka-importante ng pagbaba ng kaso (The decline in cases is very important) because this is an important indicator na once we had na lower na ‘yung cases natin, we can deal with the virus, we know how to deal with it,” he said.

“And I think isa sa mga punto natin we also have available anti-viral agents that are appropriate against this infection we have oral and IV antivirals, our health care facilities are already equipped on how to deal with severe Covid, so for me, we are better of prepared now compared to two or one year ago,” he added.

Solante also maintained the importance of vaccination against Covid-19, especially the booster, in order for the country to be free from the pandemic and shift to endemic or learning to live normally along with the virus.

The country has shifted to low risk classification following a surge brought about by the Omicron variant in January.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, in his report during President Rodrigo Duterte’s Talk to the People Address on Monday, February 21, noted the continuous decline in Covid-19 cases nationwide, as well as hospital admissions brought about by Covid-19 infection.

Duque said from the seven days average of 16,000 cases on January 25 to 31, it went down to 1,972 from February 15 to 21.

The Department of Health (DOH) reported a total 1,019 fresh Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, pushing the total active cases to 56,668.

The country has a total Covid-19 caseload of 3,654,284, with 55,776 deaths and 3,541,840 recoveries.

Of the active cases, 704 were asymptomatic, 51,395 were mild, 2,840 moderate, 1,425 severe and 304 critical.

Of the 90 million targets of the National Government, 62,505,204 have been fully vaccinated while over 61.9 individuals have received the first dose. (SunStar Philippines)

Local pump prices are up

Coverage by Angelica Yang

Local pump prices are up for the eighth straight week. The energy department cites a tight global market supply and supply disruptions owing to the Ukraine-Russia tensions.

What's next: The Senate is mulling the suspension of excise taxes on petroleum products. At least two senators, both running for president, are in favor of discussions for a moratorium.

DFA calls European Parliament reso on rights issues an attempt to influence elections

Photo shows the Department of Foreign Affairs main building along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City.

Gaea Katreena Cabico - Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs condemned the European Parliament for adopting another resolution on human rights abuses in the Philippines, calling it an attempt to interfere in the country’s electoral process.

In a statement Sunday, DFA said the allegations raised in the text are "unfair, largely baseless" as it dismissed the resolution as another intrusion in the country’s internal affairs.  

"We condemn the misguided attempt of the European Parliament to interfere in the Philippine electoral process through its resolution raising already discredited allegations of human rights violations in the thin hope of heavily influencing the outcome in favor of its choice," it said.

Last week, the European Parliament issued a resolution calling on the Philippines to immediately end violence against suspected drug offenders and to stop labeling activists and journalists as supporters of communist rebels. It also warned of the temporary withdrawal of trade benefits if calls remain unheeded.

The parliament adopted the text with 627 votes in favor, 26 against and 31 abstentions.

DFA claimed without basis the calls of European lawmakers were prompted by "supporters of libelous journalists and bitter critics of the current administration because they miserably lost the previous election."

"The resolution is based on a deliberately falsified impression of the actual human rights situation in the country. The resolution is presumptuous given the historical record of its main proponents," it said, adding the United Nations Joint Program for Human Rights have already addressed such allegations, including extrajudicial killings of activists and trade unionists and deaths from the government’s bloody "war on drugs."

Signed last July, the joint program is meant as capacity-building assistance to and technical cooperation with Philippine authorities in several areas, including strengthening domestic investigation and accountability mechanisms, data gathering on alleged violations by the police and implementing a human rights-based approaches to drug control.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said then that the program "manifests the sincere efforts of the Philippine Government to infuse its law enforcement and investigative operations with a human rights dimension in a non-political setting." A Department of Justice review of "drug war" cases has led to charges against some police officers.

The department also called out European Parliament Vice President Heidi Hautala who said the winner in the May polls "will have a major task to reverse a dire human rights situation which has seen an appalling deterioration under President Duterte."

"For the Parliament to pass a resolution of this manner is a clear attempt to influence the outcome of our coming elections in May instead of accepting the sovereign will of the Filipino people as manifested in the previous elections," DFA said.

The European Parliament issued similar texts in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020.

Nevertheless, the department said it is looking forward to the European Union’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences monitoring mission from Feb. 28 to March 4, noting the views of European lawmakers do not reflect those of the EU as a whole or of its individual member states.