COVID-19 and Typhoon Ulysses Updates: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte Press Briefing | November 23, 2020

November 24, 2020

As of November 23, 2020, 11:00 PM, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte addressed the nation through a recorded speech to provide updates on COVID-19 and the impact of Typhoon Ulysses. Below are the highlights of the briefing:

• Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III reported that the total number of COVID cases in the country is at 420,614, including 1,799 new confirmed cases. Active cases as of November 23 are at 25,837, while total number of recoveries are at 386,604. The country’s death toll from the disease has risen to 8,173.
  • The DOH’s recent findings indicate a decrease in the number of cases in the country and they are currently working to look for ways to help the public keep the downward trend.
  • The DOH is also preparing a contingency plan as they are expecting a surge of cases post-holiday season.
  • Sec. Duque reminded the public that while confirmed cases are decreasing, the public should not complacent and must continue exercising minimum health standards.
• PRRD reiterated that the public should keep practicing minimum health standards including wearing masks, washing of hands, and maintaining physical distancing.
• Sec. Duque shared that with the upcoming holiday season, they will be implementing the DOH Department Circular 2020-0355 “Reiteration of the Minimum Public Health Standards for COVID-19 Mitigation during the Holidays” and called for the continued compliance of the public.
  • Included in the circular are holiday activities, their risk levels, and necessary minimum public health standards.
  • This is in cooperation with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Transportation (DOTr), different LGUs, and other government agencies.
• PRRD reminded the public that the entire island of Luzon remains under state of calamity following the impact of the recent typhoons and Davao City has been reverted back to general community quarantine due to an increase in confirmed cases.
• Presidential Adviser on Peace Process and National Task Force COVID-19 Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez, Jr. reported that they are currently analyzing 17 COVID-19 vaccines, and 9 of them are already in the Phase 3 trial while 5 will be used for trial in the Philippines. This includes Sinovac (China), Janssen and Pfizer (US), Gamaleya (Russia), and AstraZeneca (UK).
  • There are ongoing negotiations for AstraZeneca where the Philippines may be able to secure advanced commitment by November with 20 million doses.
  • The Department of Finance, Department of Budget Management, and the Asian Development Bank are facilitating the payment and procurement terms to secure the signing of an MOU.
  • Since AstraZeneca is non-profit, they are hoping to secure this for distribution to the marginalized sector.
  • Sinovac is still undergoing negotiations as well with the help of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese of Chambers na for a lower price.
  • Sec. Galvez said that if they are able to secure Pfizer, Sinovac, and AstraZeneca, that would amount to 60 million doses by 2021. The trials of these vaccines are undergoing review at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• For the distribution strategy, Sec. Galvez shared that they will be taking a geographical approach wherein the vaccine will be deployed first in the epicenters of the disease like Manila and will be first given to the marginalized sectors, uniformed personnel, and the essential workers. Other priority areas include the National Capital Region, Davao, Cebu and Bacolod.
• PRRD reiterated the priorities for the distribution of the vaccine and has tasked DILG Secretary Eduardo Año to ensure that proper manpower is available for deployment, especially in the LGUs.
• DOF Secretary Carlos Dominguez III reported that they have three sources of funding for the vaccine which includes: multilateral agencies like ADB and the World Bank; domestic sources like the Land Bank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines, and government-controlled corporations; and, bilateral sources which would be coming from the origin of the vaccines like the UK or the US.
  • He explained that the average cost per dose is around USD 25 or PHP 1,200. For 60 million doses, it amounts to PHP 73.2 billion.
  • Sec. Duque added that 60 million doses would be enough as herd immunity according to the World Health Organization would arrest the spread of COVID-19 if 60 percent to 70 percent of the population has been vaccinated.
• PRRD then proceeded to announce the names of employees from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) following their corruption investigations. This includes:
  • Rolando Cruz
  • Rachel Doton – dismissed for grave misconduct, dishonesty, and unremitted cash collection amounting to PHP 406,757.22
  • Meralina Salise – dismissed for dishonesty, misconduct, unremitted collection amounting to PHP 6,278,555
  • Oscar Tajonera – dismissed for unremitted collection amounting to PHP 242, 815
  • Rolando Mirasol – dismissed for grave misconduct, illegally obtaining money by deception
  • Marlene Caraos – dismissed for unremitted collection amounting to PHP 379,355.26
  • Pilarica Teng – dismissed for unremitted collection amounting to PHP 110, 000, grave misconduct, and gross neglect of duty
  • Rodulfo Suello – dismissed for grave misconduct, unremitted cash collections
  • Mildred Cabral – dismissed for unremitted cash collections amounting to PHP 1,144, 807.
  • Emma Mendoza – dismissed for serious dishonesty, grave misconduct, and unremitted cash collections amounting to more than PHP 800,000
  • Reynaldo Santos – dismissed for unremitted cash collections amounting to more than 1 million
  • Hilario Boacon – dismissed for unremitted cash collections amounting to more than 1 million plus, grave misconduct, and insubordination
  • Hadja Jawada T. Ismael – dismissed for unremitted cash collection
  • Fausto Balmaceda – dismissed for grave misconduct, misappropriated tax payments, demanding high fees and tax payments higher than authorized by law, and corruption
  • Oliver R. Pador – dismissed for unremitted cash collections
  • Nicolas Aquino – dismissed for misappropriated tax payments and grave misconduct
  • Rolando Mondares – dismissed for unremitted tax collection
  • Susie Corpuz – dismissed from the service for unremitted cash collection
  • Edmundo C. Uy – dismissed for harassment, extortion, and entrapment
  • Gary Atanacio – dismissed for extortion, harassment, conduct prejudicial to the service
  • Arturo Boniol, Jr. – dismissed for entrapment, extortion
  • Rebecca Viray – dismissed for falsification of certificate authorizing registration
  • Hermogenes Elveña – dismissed for extortion, harassment
  • Adoracion Gannaban – dismissed for unremitted collections
  • Marina Asetre – dismissed for unremitted tax collection
  • Gloria A. Naval – dismissed for unremitted tax collections
• PRRD explained that these named individuals are dismissed from the BIR but if the Office of the Ombudsman finds that they are guilty of the administrative cases against them, corresponding criminal charges will be filed.
• DBM Secretary Wendel Avisado reported on updates from the local governments following the impact of Typhoons Quinta, Rolly and Ulysses.
  • PHP 1.5 billion has been released and issued by the Bureau of Treasury to provide assistance to the affected LGUs by Typhoon Quinta and Super Typhoon Rolly including those in CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and Bicol.
  • Another PHP 1.5 billion was released for those affected by Typhoon Ulysses.
  • For each of the assistance released there was a corresponding buffer of PHP 500 million from the Office of Civil Defense and Department of Social Welfare and Development.
  • The current balance of the DBM from National Disaster Risk Reduction Management (NDRRM) Fund is PHP 10.274 billion.
• PRRD shared that the Presidential Anti-Corruption Council (PCAA) already has a list of government officials who are into the business of asking commissions from contractors. He shared his stance that he has no business investigating these officials as they belong to a separate branch of the government, which is co-equal to the Executive branch and the Supreme Court.
  • If PACC insists that PRRD investigate this, he’ll be delegating it to the Office of the Ombudsman as he has no jurisdiction over them. He also declined to read their names during his speech.
• Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra clarified that it is not the officials who will be directly investigated but the transactions made. If during the investigations some names from the legislature surface, that’s the only time when they will be investigated directly, which is within the power of the task force consisting of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Anti-Money Laundering Council, and the PACC.
• PRRD proceeded to update that the arrests made for the day in relation to illegal drugs was around 200 to 300 people. He identified Sinaloa and Bamboo Triad as the main suspects when it comes to manufacturing illegal drugs and they are worldwide businesses so their operations are scattered.
• DILG Secretary Eduardo Año shared an update on the recent Anti-Illegal Drug Operation of the ating Philippine National Police from November 1 to 21, 2020.
• 2,946 anti-illegal drug operations were conducted and resulted in the arrest of  3,646 suspects and 37 casualties. The operations seized 50.5 kg of shabu and 11.7 kg of marijuana with a street value of PHP 345 million.
• PRRD advised Sec. Año that he made a declaration previously based on a proclamation made by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo raising the issue of drugs to a national security matter. He believes that this highlights the importance of the military’s role.
  • He empowered the police force to simply follow his orders and not be afraid of killing criminals, especially if their own lives are in danger. He also asked them to brush off human rights critics.

DOH Advisory

As of November 23, 2020, 4:00 PM, the Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 420,614 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 1,799 of which are new cases, bringing the number of active cases to 25,827. There are 135 people who recovered from the disease, increasing the total number of recoveries to 386,604. However, 50 more died, increasing the local death toll to 8,173.

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