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US gives additional P298M assistance to PH amid COVID-19 crisis

Marel Baluyos
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US gives additional P298M assistance to PH amid COVID-19 crisis

The United States Embassy in the Philippines has announced that the US government has given an additional P298 million or $5.9 million aid in the fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The total amount of US pandemic assistance is now more than P768 million or $15.2 million which includes P44 million or $875,000 from the US Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration for the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The funds came a month after President Rodrigo Duterte spoke with US President Donald Trump. The conversation that lasted 18 minutes tackled bilateral efforts to fight the global pandemic.

US Agency for International Development (USAID) is also planning to partner with LGU’s in some of the Philippines’ hardest-hit areas to:

  • Promote effective crisis management and implement response plans
  • Rapidly disburse emergency funding and supplies
  • Strengthen the capacity of local crisis response centers to disseminate accurate and timely crisis response information
  • Manage quarantine measures
  • Set up public handwashing facilities
  • Ensure food supply
  • Support local business recovery
  • Provide supply chain analytics 
  • Promote a regulatory environment that facilitates logistics and transportation for food, medical products, and other essential goods
  • Facilitate access to credit and provide grants and skills training to heavily affected sectors and communities for small and micro-enterprises

“This latest assistance builds on our long-standing relationships with local government units across the Philippines, and represents our continued commitment to our Filipino friends, partners, and allies in this time of crisis,” 

– Sung Kim,US Ambassador to the Philippines

Crime rate in Cebu drops by 70% under ECQ

Marel Baluyos
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Crime rate in Cebu drops by 70% under ECQ

The province of Cebu is more peaceful now than ever before, due to the quarantine and the vigilance in the barangay level, down to sub-villages called ‘sitios’ and ‘puroks’.

An enormous drop of 70% in the crime rate is a feat indeed.

“We owe this to the efforts and various initiatives on security in the barangay level”, according to a report by Police Regional Office 7 Director Brig. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro. 

“Mahimo man gyud diay. For the first time. Dugay na ni natong gipangandoy. Gani nag-set up na ta ani nga structure. Duna na tay barangay tanod, duna tay purok leaders, nga ang structure makatabang sa peace and order. Karon ato na nang nakita,” 

– Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia

The governor also congratulated the 1,063 barangays of Cebu Province’s 44 towns and seven component cities — Talisay, Toledo, Carcar, Naga, Danao, Bogo, and Mandaue.

Some of the initiatives for security are barriers placed at the sitio level, with logbooks on people who enter their areas and barangays having extensive monitoring on new arrivals within their territories.

Climate change: ‘Unlivable heat’ could affect up to 3.5 billion people in 2070

Marel Baluyos
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Climate change: ‘Unlivable heat’ could affect up to 3.5 billion people in 2070

We have all been experiencing the excessive heat even in our own homes. 

Well, according to a new study, it will become worse 50 years from now if we don’t change our ways.

About 2 to 3.5 billion people around the world, mostly those who can’t afford air-conditioning, will be living in a climate that is too hot a human body can handle.

With every 1.8-degree Celsius increase in the global average temperature yearly, about a billion or so will end up with unlivable heat according to ecologist Marten Scheffer of Wageningen University in the Netherlands, co-author of the study.

We humans have a sweet spot of temperature as a group of international scientists have studied — average annual temperatures between 11 to 15 degrees Celsius. 

We can live in warmer and colder places than that, but the farther we are from the sweet spot, the harder it gets either warmer or colder.

The scientists are looking places like parts of Africa, Asia, South America, and Australia that will likely to experience the effects of climate change first.

Our future highly depends on the climate altering choices we make and our population growth.

SKY subscribers can now manage subscription and ask for help online

Sugbo.ph
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SKY subscribers can now manage subscription and ask for help online

SKY subscribers can now maximize digital platforms in managing their subscriptions as a new normal begins to limit the movement and reshape the Filipino’s way of life amid the enhanced community quarantine and beyond. As they utilize these digital facilities, SKY is able to give them their much-needed peace of mind since all transactions do not require any physical contact and can be done at the safety of their home.

If they would like to check their billing status online, they can simply enroll their account through mysky.com.ph/myaccounts or to SKY e-bill to receive their statement of account via email or simply open the mySKY app.

For their safety and convenience, subscribers can pay their bills through digital facilities such as via credit card at mysky.com.ph/myaccounts or the mySKY App, e-Wallets Gcash and Paymaya, and online banking via BPI, BDO, Landbank, and more.

Subscribers can easily refer to a detailed step-by-step guide featured in mysky.com.ph/digitalpayment for more details on how to use these digital payment facilities.

Subscribers are encouraged to download the mySKY app (mysky.com.ph/app) as it will help them manage their account with much ease as the app offers program schedules, minor troubleshooting guides, billing information, and even allows them to add more channels and streaming apps to their subscription.

If they are experiencing common issues with their service, they can quickly access Do-It-Yourself and troubleshooting guides on SKY’s official website. They can also fill up SKYServes’ webform (mysky.com.ph/contact-us) to be able to immediately inform SKY of their concerns. 

To know more about SKY’s safety tools and services, visit www.mysky.com.ph.

Cebu Pacific says Piso Fare will be back, shares ‘new normal’ in domestic travel

Sarah Ladeza
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Cebu Pacific says Piso Fare will be back, shares ‘new normal’ in domestic travel

Excited for your first getaway after the quarantine? Hold your horses. This will make you more ecstatic.

I know you’re already planning for your next adventure. You could have even prepared your itinerary. However, are you fretting whether or not airfare would hike? If yes, then fret not, because Cebu Pacific is going to make you wave ‘Hello’ to Piso fares once everything goes back to normal. Or should I say, our new normal?

According to research, passenger planes may have to keep some of their seats empty should they need to follow the social distancing during flights.

Nonetheless, Cebu Pacific spokesperson Charo Logarta-Lagamon has assured that the Gokongwei-led budget airline will continue to provide low airfares.

“Mayroon namang ibang ways para ma-manage natin the cost of a flight. So hindi naman necessary na tataas ito [at] wala nang Piso Fare,”

– Charo Logarta-Lagamon, Cebu Pacific spokesperson

“Mandate na po ng Cebu Pacific mula noong magsimula ang airline 24 years ago, mandato na po na magbigay sa publiko ng abot-kaya at accessible na pamasahe. She stressed that the Piso Fare is a company mandate, and that “there will always be room for budget fare.”

In the same interview, the spokesperson delineated how Cebu Pacific will implement the new normal in airline travel. This includes, but not limited to:

  • Disinfection and cleaning of aircrafts between flights and upon parking in boneyards.
  • Passengers will be required to wear face masks
  • Aircraft personnel will be required to wear personal protective equipment
  • Online check-in will also be encouraged to minimize contact with the ground personnel

But when asked to comment about the possible fare hike, “Kapag konti kasi ang nabebentang upuan, pag kunwari hindi na binebenta iyong middle seat, mas konting pasahero ang maghahati sa cost of mounting this flight, so pangamba nila ay tataas ang pamasahe. I think medyo speculative pa po iyan sa ngayon,” she said.

Once this is all over, may we all never forget to #SupportLocal and #LoveLocal. Let us help our nation rise above all. Let’s not leave anyone astray. Let us all pray.

Remdesivir receives emergency approval as a COVID-19 treatment from US FDA

Sarah Ladeza
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Remdesivir receives emergency approval as a COVID-19 treatment from US FDA

A possible antiviral drug has just been approved.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted an emergency use to REMDESIVIR, an anti-viral drug, to possibly treat COVID-19.

Though recent studies have shown mixed results with its effectiveness in treating the virus, FDA approved an emergency use to treat the virus.

Such authorization would allow this drug to be distributed to the doctors. These doctors are those who are administering patients with severe cases of COVID-19.

Remdesivir was initially developed by Gilead Sciences to treat Ebola. However, it has then been used in experiments to treat SARS and MERS hence, giving Remdesivir an edge amongst other drugs.

Apart from having shown some success in animal models, it has also shown early results from a clinical trial at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that patients who took this have recovered 31% faster than those who didn’t. Furthermore, an internal study showed that the drug was just as effective over 5 days of use as it is over 10.

Remdesivir covid-19 vaccine

Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, told reporters at the White House on April 29 that he thought the findings were significant.

“This is really quite important,” he said. “This will be the standard of care.”

Nonetheless, regardless of how effective it could be then and now, it remains unclear as to how effective this will be in fighting the virus. Therefore, more research is needed. However, since it has been approved, let’s all hope and pray for the best.

Netflix to release ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ on June 1

Ram Mancelita
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Netflix to release ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ on June 1

The world’s leading streaming service Netflix is set to release one of the most controversial and talked about TV series in the US this June 1, 2020.

Netflix officially announced today the first two seasons of Keeping Up With the Kardashians will be available in the Philippines on June 1.

“Unexpected news for fans of bootcut jeans: S1 and 2 of Keeping Up with the Kardashians will be on Netflix from 1 June.”

– Netflix Official
As seen on the Netflix app

If you’re not familiar with the show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians (often abbreviated KUWTK) is an American reality TV series that originally airs on the E! cable network. It currently has 18 seasons, with an average of 8-12 episodes per season.

The series focuses on sisters Kourtney, Kim, and Khloé Kardashian.

It additionally places emphasis on their brother Rob Kardashian, their mother Kris Jenner, their step-parent Caitlyn Jenner, their half-sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner, and Kourtney’s now ex-boyfriend, Scott Disick. Khloé’s ex-husband Lamar Odom developed a major position as part of the supporting cast from the fourth season onwards, though he rarely appeared in season eight while attempting to fix his marriage with Khloé. 

Along in season seven, Kanye West became a recurring cast member after entering into a relationship with Kim. West later developed a more prominent role from season 16 onwards. In seasons eight and nine, Caitlyn’s children Brody and Brandon, and Brandon’s exwife, Leah became recurring cast members. Blac Chyna appeared as a recurring cast member throughout season 12 whilst engaged to Rob.

Its premise originated with Ryan Seacrest, who also serves as an executive producer. The series debuted on October 14, 2007, and has subsequently become one of the longest-running reality television series in the country.

The eighteenth season premiered on March 26, 2020. Also, on February 27, Kris Jenner confirmed on the Ellen show that filming for season 19 has begun.

Keeping Up with the Kardashians Season 1
Keeping Up with the Kardashians Season 2

The first season has 8 episodes, while the second one has 11. In the first two seasons, Kendall and Kylie were mere children when the first series came out in 2007 and now look at them, Kylie has a kid herself and Kendall is ruling the modelling world. 

Set your reminders on June 1 to keep up with the Kardashians.

LTO extends Driver’s License expiry, suspends late reg penalties

Ram Mancelita
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LTO extends Driver’s License expiry, suspends late reg penalties

The Land Transportation Office-Philippines (LTO) has extended the validity of driver’s licenses that expired during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) to 60 days or 2 months, which will commence upon the lifting of the restrictions.

In addition, LTO also announced no penalties will be collected for the late registration of motor vehicles and renewal of driver’s licenses that expire within the duration of the ECQ.

LTO will also limit its transactions once the ECQ is lifted, to observe health protocols, such as social distancing, in light of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Furthermore, the agency will reduce personnel in counters, but to accommodate more applicants, the office is considering operating during Saturdays, and frontliners will be the priority in the opening of the offices.

Applicants should process their registration before the end of the grace period, to avoid overcrowding at the offices on the day of the deadline.

New disinfectant can protect surfaces from coronavirus for 90 days

Marel Baluyos
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New disinfectant can protect surfaces from coronavirus for 90 days

An anti-microbial coating, which can “inactivate” viruses from surfaces for 90 days like COVID-19, was recently developed by researchers at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

The disinfectant spray known as “MAP-1” has been designed for use on various surfaces including glass, metals, plastic, leather and fabrics, according to the university.

It has heat-sensitive polymers that responds to touch or droplets. It releases a larger amount of disinfectant when it senses an increase in temperature like when we touch a surface or with moisture from droplets. 

The anti-viral coating took ten years to develop and has been used in shopping malls, schools, churches, and sport training facilities in Hong Kong. 

It is said to be available in the Hong Kong stores in May, following its clinical tests in the city back in February.

‘Super Flower Moon’, last supermoon of 2020, to be visible in Cebu tonight

Ram Mancelita
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‘Super Flower Moon’, last supermoon of 2020, to be visible in Cebu tonight

Since February this year, we have been seeing beautiful extra-large full moons known as “supermoons”. Good news, we will witness another one tonight, May 7 at 6:45PM peak (Philippine time). Bad news, it’s going to be the last supermoon this year.

The term “supermoon” can refer to either a new or a full moon that is at the closest point to Earth in its orbit. The supermoon tonight will only be slightly bigger than the usual full moon. The ‘super pink moon‘ in April was the biggest 2020, but May’s supermoon should be just as gorgeous.

The ‘flower moon’ seems to have earned its “flower” nickname as an ode to spring in the Northern Hemisphere. NASA said the moniker traces back to the Maine Farmers Almanac in the 1930s. 

One of the perfect time to witness the supermoon is around sunset. Go outdoors and head to the opposite direction of the sun to see the moon rising. 

The Flower Supermoon will be visible in the Philippines on May 7, 2020 at 6:45PM (peak time). It may also be visible in the next nights until May 9, 2020.

Editor’s note: If you have an amazing supermoon photo you’d like to share for a special feature on our Facebook Page, you can send the hi-res photos to [email protected].

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