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GMA Network
4 days ago
- Health
- GMA Network
DOH: More mpox cases in April 2025 than in May; total cases 911 since 2024
More cases of monkeypox (mpox) were detected in April 2025 as compared to May, and the total cases have so far reached 911 since 2024, the Department of Health (DOH) said Saturday. "Simula 2024, nasa 911 na ang kaso... Pero hindi 'yun ang binabantayan ng DOH. Ang tinitignan natin ay per month basis. Ang na-detect natin ay less than 50 cases nu'ng May. Nu'ng April, lagpas 50," DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB. (Starting 2024, the cases reached 911... But that is not what DOH is focusing on. We are looking at the per month basis. We detected less than 50 cases in May. In April, it was more than 50.) "Tinitignan namin ang epidemic curve. Hindi kami tumitingin sa total. Kapag tumingin kasi sa total, ang impression parang dami-dami nang kaso," he added. (We are looking at the epidemic curve. We are not focusing on the total. When you look at the total [number of cases], the impression is that there are too many cases.) "Tila nagkakaroon ng pananaw na may surge ng mpox kasi sunod-sunod na lumalabas... Pero nu'ng tinignan namin sa epidemic curve, mas marami pa nu'ng Abril kumpara ngayong Mayo," Domingo said. (There seems to have been the notion that there was a surge in mpox because reports came out one after the other... But when we looked at the epidemic curve, there were more cases in April compared to May.) Domingo said in September 2024, there were around 200 mpox cases but this number includes the suspected and probable ones. "Out of mahigit 200, less than 10 or 20 lang ang nag-positive na confirmed (Out of the more than 200, less than 10 or 20 only turned out positive and confirmed.) The DOH official said cases first reported as mpox were later verified to be not mpox but chickenpox. "Minsan kasi kahit suspected pa lang, nire-report na [na kaso ng mpox]," Domingo said. (Sometimes even if the case is still just suspected, it is reported [as mpox].) Domingo also reiterated that only the mild variant of mpox, Clade II, is the one detected in the country. The more transmissible Clade 1b has not yet been detected in the Philippines. "Hindi natin kailangang mabahala dahil 'yung clade o variant [ng mpox] dito sa Pilipinas, wala pa tayong nakikitang Clade 1B. Ang mayroon tayo ay 'Yung Clade II," he said. (We do not need to be alarmed because the clade or variant in the Philippines is Clade II. We don't have Clade 1B yet.) DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa on Friday allayed the fears of the public as the mpox cases being monitored in the country are of Clade II variant, the mild variant of the said disease. The DOH chief added that some of the fatalities it recorded did not die of mpox, but due to complications brought about by advanced human immunodeficiency virus or HIV. "Mas nababahala si Sec. Herbosa sa maraming kaso ng HIV. Every day, umaabot tayo ng 56 to 57 news cases ng HIV per day," Domingo said. (Sec. Herbosa is more concerned about the many HIV cases. Every day there are 56 to 57 new cases of HIV.) "Ang mpox ay self-resolving disease. Virus siya at kusang gumagaling sa loob ng 2 to 3 weeks... 'Yung mga vulnerable, 'yung mga pumanaw, usually hindi mpox ang dahilan kundi advanced HIV. Nagkataon na mayroon din silang mpox," he added. (Mpox is a self-resolvind disease. It is caused by a virus and one gets well in 2 to 3 weeks... Those who are vulnerable, who died, usually mpox did not cause the death but advanced HIV did. It just so happened that they also had mpox.) Domingo also said that since mpox is not an airborne disease, wearing a face mask cannot prevent the transmission of the virus. "May ilang LGUs na nagpa-mandatory facemask. Wala namang mali sa pagsusuot ng facemask... Pero ang mpox ay hindi airborne kundi close contact. Balat sa balat... Depende sa mode of transmission ang dapat na ginagawa na precaution," he said. (Some LGUs made face mask-wearing mandatory. There is nothing wrong with wearing a face mask. But mpox is not airborne but spread through close contact. Skin to skin. Precautions should be implemented based on mode of transmission.) Domingo said local government units may coordinate with the DOH to check what precautions are needed to prevent transmission of diseases. —KG, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
25-05-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Eastern Samar gov appeals for transport subsidies amid San Juanico Bridge repair
Citing price increases, Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone on Sunday appealed to the national government to subsidize the cost of transporting consumer goods to his province amid the current load limit on the San Juanico Bridge. During an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Evardone made the appeal to avoid an increase in the cost of goods coming to Eastern Samar. 'Ang panukala ko, pumasok na ang national government. I-subsidize 'yung mga cost ng transportation ng goods para hindi tumaas,' Evardone said. ''Yung ikakargang mga produkto at supply sa mga RoRo, sagutin dapat ng national government [ang transportation cost] para hindi tumaas ang presyo [ng mga produkto],' he added. (The national government should intervene and subsidize the cost of transportation of goods to avoid an increase in prices. The national government should shoulder the transportation cost of products and supplies delivered via roll-on/roll-off cargo ships.) The three-ton load limit on the San Juanico Bridge was implemented after a recent assessment raised concerns on the structural integrity of the 52-year old 2.164-kilometer long structure that connects the islands of Samar and Leyte. Evardone said the Department of Trade and Industry assessed that prices in the area are still normal. However, the governor said that it might not be the case come the next inventory. He added the supply of petroleum products is also affected by the situation. 'May mga bumibiyahe [nagdadala ng mga supply at produkto] mula Tacloban papuntang Catbalogan at Calbayog ports. Ang problema sa Eastern Samar, ang layo sa amin ng Calbayog, mga seven to eight hours, at Catbalogan, mga four to five hours, so additional cost din talaga 'yan,' Evardone said. (There are products being transported from Tacloban to the ports of Catbalogan and Calbayabog. However, it is far away from Eastern Samar. Calbayog takes about seven to eight hours, while Catbalogan takes about four to five hours, so there are additional costs.) 'Ang pinangangambahan namin, dahil paubos na ang old stock ng consumer products, 'yung mga darating na bago, siguradong magtataas ang presyo niyan kung hindi maaagapan nang intervention ng national government,' he added. (We're worried about the price increase of the incoming supplies since the old stocks of consumer products have almost been consumed. It will become costly if the national government does not intervene.) Evardone also suggested that RoRos should go straight to Eastern Samar since it also has ports in the municipalities of Borongan and Guiuan. Earlier this week, the Province of Samar was placed under a state of emergency. Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense Eastern Visayas and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council are on blue alert following the enforcement of the vehicle weight limit. —RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
25-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
PNP to tap newly elected local officials in campaign vs street-level drug pushers
The PNP says government agencies should work together to address the drug problem. File photo The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Sunday that it would coordinate with the newly elected officials in local government units to augment efforts in the anti-drug operations against small-scale drug dealers. This, as President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. said he wants law enforcers to also go after small drug offenders without resorting to killings. 'Kakatapos lang ng national and local elections. May mga bagong halal tayo na mga mayor, mga councilor. Ika-capacitate natin sila para maintindihan nila na itong laban natin sa droga ay hindi lamang dapat tinitignan sa law enforcement perspective. Kailangan pagtulungan ito ng lahat ng mga ahensiya ng gobyerno, lalong lalo na ng ating komunidad,' PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview. (We just finished our national and local elections, so we have newly elected mayors, councilors, etc. We will capacitate them so that they wil understand that our fight against drugs should not only be viewed from a law enforcement perspective. We need the cooperation of all government agencies, especially our communities.) Fajardo said that PNP personnel will participate in the meetings of the peace and order councils in provinces, municipalities, and cities to make the government officials better understand the state of drug problem in their respective communities. The police would also orient them on how to properly approach drug users and pushers, as well as on how to detect drug facilities and laboratories in their areas. 'Isa pa sa gusto rin nating isulong ang pagpapasa ng mga barangay ordinances. Siguro sa iba, maliit na bagay ito. Gusto natin, pati sa barangay level pa lang ay nakakapagpasa sila ng mga anti-illegal drugs initiatives and programs, pati na 'yung simple lang, 'yung mga curfew hours,' she added. (Another thing we want to promote is the passing of barangay ordinances. Maybe for others, this is nothing. But we want them to be able to pass anti-illegal drugs initiatives and programs even at the barangay level, including even simple ones, like implementing curfew hours.) Fajardo explained that barangay officials know their residents better, so they should be alert when it comes to what's happening in their communities. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Sunday also committed to adhere to Marcos' call against small-scale drug dealers while still upholding the due process of law. According to Fajardo, the PNP has confiscated P43.3 billion worth of illegal drugs in the first three years of the Marcos administration. This was three times higher than the P14.3 billion worth of drugs seized during the first half of the Duterte administration, where the controversial war on drugs was launched. —KG, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
24-05-2025
- GMA Network
Brass markers on Alabang monument stolen; suspects arrested
The brass markers on the monument in Alabang, Muntinlupa honoring World War II guerillas were stolen and sold to a junk shop. Photos from Ruffy Biazon FB page The brass markers of a monument honoring World War II guerillas in Barangay Alabang, Muntinlupa City were found stolen. The suspects were arrested through the efforts of the police and barangay officials, and will face charges, according to a report by Mao dela Cruz on Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday. Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon said he went to the Philippine National Police (PNP) station at Alabang Junction where the suspects were brought for investigation. The suspects revealed that they sold the brass markers to a certain junk shop. The junk shop owner will also face charges for violation of the Anti-Fencing Law. Biazon however said the brass markers may have already been melted. Mga suspek sa pagnanakaw ng brass marker sa monumento ng mga beteranong guerilla na lumaban noong ikalawang digmaang pandaigdig, sa Brgy. Alabang, Muntinlupa City, naaresto na. | via Mao dela Cruz — DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) May 24, 2025 Earlier, the local government unit offered a P100,000 reward to anyone who can give information that would lead to the arrest of the suspects in the theft of the brass markers. The monument is located at the plaza of Barangay Alabang. Every February 4, the city recognizes the sacrifice and heroism of the guerillas during World War II. "Sa plakeng ninakaw na nakakabit dito nakalista ang pangalan ng mga beteranong gerilya na lumaban para sa kalayaan ng mga Muntinlupeño," Biazon said in a post on Facebook. (The names of the veteran guerillas who fought for the freedom of Muntinlupeños are written on the plaque.) —KG, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
24-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec: DQ, candidacy cancellation for senators, solons resolved before June 30
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is aiming to resolve all disqualification and cancellation of candidacy cases involving bets for national positions and legislative districts before the end of next month. "'Yung tungkol sa disqualification cases, cancellation of candidacy involving national positions tulad ng senador, party-list, at legislative district, ang timeline natin, bago mag-June 30, dapat ma-resolve namin," Comelec Chairman George Garcia said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB. (Our timeline is to resolve before June 30 disqualification and cancellation of candidacy cases involving national positions like senators, party-list representatives, as well as legislative district congressmen.) The poll body chief said the Comelec is processing thousands of pending cases. "Medyo napakadami po ang mga tinatanggap nating disqualification case, mga pending na kaso na nire-resolve natin," Garcia said. (We have received numerous disqualification cases. We are resolving numerous pending cases.) "Asahan na sa mga susunod na araw, may mga ilalabas pa tayong desisyon. Tulad nung mga nakaraang araw, may mga inilabas tayong desisyon kaugnay sa disqualification case ng mga kandidato," he said. (We will be releasing decisions on these cases in the coming days. Like what we did in the past, we came out with decisions related to disqualification cases of several candidates.) Garcia said that even if a candidate has been proclaimed already or lost in the polls, the Comelec will still issue a decision. "Ang isang kasong disqualification ay may dalawang mukha. Puwedeng disqualification case na pagtatanggal na kandidato o election offense o kasong kriminal. Maaaring makaligtas sila sa disqualification pero hindi sila makakaligtas sa election offense," Garcia said. (A disqualification case has two faces: removal from public office, or an election offense or criminal case. They may escape disqualification but they may not get off the hook from an election offense.) As for election protests, the Comelec chairman said the poll body's jurisdiction only covers local positions such as "governor, vice governor, sangguniang panlalawigan, city mayor, city vice mayor, at sangguniang panlungsod." "Yung election protests, hanggang kahapon, dumagsa 'yung pagpa-file ng kaso sa amin. 'Yung 10-day period to file protest, mandatory period 'yun. Walang extension 'yun," Garcia said. (Until yesterday, we received a high volume of election protests. Our 10-day period to file a protest is mandatory and has no extension.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.
