SunStar May 14, 2021 Temporary entry restrictions for international arrivals at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport were implemented to prevent a crisis of sorts from happening.
Airport management learned that hotels that were converted into quarantine facilities for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) were nearing full capacity.
Apparently, the 2,500 rooms designated for this purpose are not enough to accommodate the daily influx of passengers from abroad.
Earlier in the week, Andrew Harrison, chief executive advisor of GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp., expressed concern that Cebu might suffer from a shortage of hotel rooms if the National Inter-Agency Task Force’s mandatory quarantine of 14 days and RT-PCR testing on the seventh day is implemented here.
Solon pleads for more vaccines as Cagayan de Oro COVID cases rise By ANNA FELICIA BAJO, GMA News
Published May 14, 2021 11:04am
Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (file photo) Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez on Friday appealed to the national government to immediately send more doses of vaccines against COVID-19 amid the rising number of infections in the city. Rodriguez wrote separate letters to Health Secretary Francisco Duque lll and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles regarding his request, after the OCTA Research Group reported that the city has logged a 75% rise in COVID cases. In view of this, may I request the IATF to allocate additional vaccines for Cagayan de Oro City on top of its normal allocation, Rodriguez said in a statement.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday, May 13, defended the status of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine deployment in the country - noting that concerned agencies are just following the proper processes and procedures.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (FILE PHOTO/MANILA BU
Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (PCOO/MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
“There has been no report of difficulties so far but it’s just been started and we need to monitor the way that this particular vaccine is used to inoculate people,” Duque said Thursday, May 13, during the symbolic vaccination in Makati City.
Duque said that DOH has yet to receive any reports coming from the Local Government Units (LGUs) on the possible challenges they have encountered using the Pfizer vaccine for their respective inoculation programs.
On May 12, the cities of San Juan and Makati have started administering the Pfizer – BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine doses to its priority groups.
Published May 13, 2021, 12:31 PM
The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) said it is now preparing to endorse government employees and officials under its investigation to the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) for lifestyle checks.
In a radio interview, ARTA Director General Jeremiah Belgica revealed the agency’s move following the continuing delays in the processing of permit applications for various products at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Executive Order (EO) No. 43 s.2017, as amended by EO No. 73 s.2017, states that the PACC “may, upon instructions of the President, or motu propio, conduct lifestyle checks and fact-finding inquiries on acts or omissions of all presidential appointees, including those outside the Executive Branch of government.”