Malacañang on Tuesday expressed happiness over the release of three teachers who were kidnapped by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan.
Based on a Philippine News Agency report, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo conveyed President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s gratitude to all those who participated and worked hard for the freedom of Freirez Quizon, Raphael Mayonado and Janet delos Reyes.
Last January 23, the teachers were on their way home from school in Barangay Landang Gua on Sacol Island when the abduction took place.
Travel advisories vs RP are baseless says DOH
Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III was surprised over the travel advisories issued by Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom which he said have no bases.
As far as A/H1N1 is concerned, Duque said the Philippines has lower number of cases than other countries.
“Why will they do that when they have more cases (of AH1N1) than us? It defies logic,” said Duque who promised to take up the matter with the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Although the Philippines has two confirmed cases of A/H1N1, the DOH reported that the patients have recovered.
“They are asymptomatic. They are not manifesting any fever, headache, body weakness, cough, nor runny nose—none of the influenza-like symptoms,” Duque assured.
He said all those who have been in contact with the two patients have been identified.
In the case of those who came in contact with the mother and daughter who both exhibited flu symptoms after returning to Taiwan, at least eight of them have been traced and advised by DOH to go on self quarantine.
The Taiwanese mother and daughter have attended a wedding Zambales last May 17.
Duque said three of those identified have been tested negative for A/H1N1.
As part of the country’s over-all preparation for A/H1N1, Duque said they have identified referral centers for suspected AH1N1 cases such as the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), the Lung Center of the Philippines, the Vicente Sotto Memorial Hospital in Cebu City, and the Davao Medical Center.
He said DOH is now reinforcing the abilities of state hospitals all over the country in dealing the new virus.
DepEd assures schools will open next Monday
The country’s A/H1N1 cases will not cause the Department of Education to postpone the opening of classes on June 1.
Apart from the absence of other compelling reasons, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said preventive measures have been in place in 43,000 schools nationwide for some time now.
“The Anti-Influenza campaign in schools has been issued since May 14. Principals, doctors and nurses were given specific guidelines on their roles in this campaign,” said Lapus who said DepEd will take the cue from the Department of Health as far as suspension of classes due to A/H1N1.
“Those who have gone abroad must impose on themselves self-quarantine,” said Lapus
What’s more important, Lapus said, is that school authorities will act immediately when suspected infections would occur.
Last Monday, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo instructed DepEd and the Department of Health to ensure that school administrators, teachers and students will get their hands on the guidelines on the prevention and control of A/H1N1 in schools.
Citing the guidelines, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said “closing schools would be an option to be considered particularly if students and faculty at a given time reaches levels of which schools could not function.”
“If big numbers of students are not coming to schools or big numbers of faculty members not coming to schools, (due to confirmed A/H1N1 infections) then there is no point. We might as well close it,” Duque explained.
Simultaneous or series absences, clustering of reported flu-like symptoms and manifestation of severe or unusual illness are among the indicators that schools should look for when dealing with cases of possible A/H1N1 infections.
On another vein, Duque said, closing schools (where there are A/H1N1 infections) has merits because it’s one way of containing the virus.
But as Lapus have said earlier, there are no reasons for delaying the opening of classes.
BSP sees inflation to ease to 3.3 percent in May
Manila, May 26 (PNA) –Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas sees inflation to slow down between 3.3 percent and 4.2 percent in May from 4.8 percent in April due to lower electricity rates and stronger peso.
The central bank said inflation outlook and expectations in the country remained positive and would continued improve due to decelerating rate of price increases nationwide.
The high inflation prompted the central bank to tighten its policy rates in line with its inflation-targeting framework.
BSP started cutting its policy rates since last December, reaching 150 basis points off to date.
The Monetary Board, the central bank's policy making body, is expected to implement another cut during its scheduled rate-setting meet on Thursday.
“We will be watchful of the impact of such on inflation going forward to ensure that our policy stance remains appropriate,” he also said. (PNA)
Recto says petroleum products still mahal; dares oil firms anew to show books
The chief of the National Economic and Development Authority once again dared oil firms to justify their prices by opening their books to scrutiny.
Since petroleum products are still overpriced as high as Php 8 per liter; Recto thinks that “oil companies are not transparent in their pricing,”
“Now all the formula that I have seen, based on what the papers have reported, based on our methodology in NEDA, based on the certain articles written, the difference is one peso from our Php 32 – 33 (per liter). I think we’re closer to the truth. If the average price in Manila is Php 40, then you can do the math,” Recto said, “what’s taken me by surprise is that in Cebu it is much, much higher. That’s why the governor was complaining. It is higher in Cebu than it is in Metro Manila. It is not even considered in our computations.”
Another way of determining oil prices, Recto said, is through examining the oil firms’ sales receipts.
NEDA and DOE are scheduling a meeting with major oil players this coming Friday.
Inputs of Cabinet members on Pandacan depot issue enlightening—Mayor Lim
The inputs of the members of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Cabinet on the fate of the Pandacan oil depot were enlightening to him, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim said today.
“I would like to thank President Arroyo, the Executive Secretary and Cabinet members for sharing with us their opinions,” Lim said in a press briefing after the Pandacan depot stakeholders’ meeting this morning held at the Petron office in Pandacan, Manila.
Lim said he will consider the inputs of Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque, among other Cabinet members, in making his decision on whether to approve or veto the controversial Manila City Council Resolution No. 7177 on the 36-hectare property.
“I have to study the matter in order to arrive at a proper solution until Thursday (May 28),” Lim said.
Lim said Reyes was worried over a possible disruption of oil supplies and a possible increase in oil prices by P2 to P3.
Roque expressed apprehension over the possible displacement of workers in case the oil companies---Shell, Petron and Caltex -- have to relocate.
According to Lim, Favila expressed fears over the international implications of relocating the oil depots, saying it will send a wrong signal to investors.
Lim also said that the oil companies have made firm assurances that they do not intend to stay in Pandacan forever even if relocating would be very expensive.
As to security concerns, Lim said the “Big 3” also assured him that there is no danger of a conflagration in the area as the depots have built-in mechanisms that will immediately contain any fire outbreak.
Lim said the oil companies also asserted that their products are non-pollutants.
In a related development, Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said the President will only give her opinion on the Pandacan depot issue once she gets the feedback on the on-going dialogues with stakeholders.
