Manigong Bagong Taon sa Inyong Lahat!
1 December 31, 2021-January 6, 2022
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA EDITION
www.pnewstoday.com
THE PREMIER FILIPINO-AMERICAN NEWSPAPER IN THE U.S. SINCE 1961
Vol. 61 No. 21 December 30, 2021-January 5, 2022
NEWS AND VIEWS YOU TRUST
W.H.O. WARNS OF NEW WAVE OF COVID CASES Filipinos at risk as hospitals threaten to cut ties with PhilHealth
PHL, US experts urge caution By ALFRED GABOT, Editor in Chief
MANILA/WASHINGTON – Health officials and the independent research group OCTA have reported a rising positivity rate of COVID-19 case in the Philippines even as the World Health Organization warned of a “tsunami” of omicron and delta COVID-19 cases as global health systems are being stretched to their limits with uptick of cases in Europe and other areas. Page 9
Biden names 3 Fil-Ams to advisory commission WASHINGTON - United States President Joseph Biden has appointed three Filipino-Americans as commissioners of his advisory commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. According to a statement released by the White House, the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders will advise the president on how the public, private, and non-profit sectors can work together to empower equity and opportunity for every Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and
the Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community in the US. Among those appointed was Dr. Amefil “Amy” Agbayani, an Emeritus Assistant Vice Chancellor for student diversity and equity at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. Born in the Philippines, the White House said Agbayani served as chairperson of the Hawai’i Civil Rights Commission and conducted research on AANHPI in higher education. She was also a member of the Patsy T.Mink PAC and The Legal Clinic for immigrant justice Hawai’i. Page 8
By Be�ng Laygo Dolor, Editor ODETTE AID. Assistance like rice, water, canned goods con�nue to be delivered to vic�ms of Typhoon Ode�e coming from the government, foreign countries and other organiza�ons. Vessels of the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard are used to transport the goods to the far-flung islands in Mindanao and Visayas.
Filipino hopeful, optimistic in welcoming New Year
Diseases threaten Odette areas as death toll rises, still no power
By Claire Morales True
By Jeanne Michael Penaranda
MANILA – Amid calamities and pandemic, more Filipinos are hopeful and optimistic for 2022. This in gist is what the Social Weather Station (SWS) latest survey showed on the Filipinos’ thoughts for the coming new year amid the pandemic. The poll was conducted on Dec. 12-16 and the result was 2% higher compared to the same period last year. However, the rate was slightly lower com- Page 8
CEBU CITY - The reported fatalities from Typhoon Odette has increased to 397 with 83 people still missing while those injured reached 1,147, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported as an diseases outbreak were noted in areas hit by the super typhoon. As the government rushed to bring food, water and clothing to devastated areas Page 9
MANILA – Countless Filipinos who depend on the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) when they need to be hospitalized may not receive the full benefits from the national insurer in the near future. This, after more hospitals threatened to cut their ties with PhilHealth after the Far East University—Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation Center last week announced that it was cutting ties with the insurer for overly delayed remittances of payments. FEU’s receivables had reached P114 million ($2.28 million) and was growing at the rate of P8 million ($160,000) per month as of this month. Seven other hospitals in Iloilo City followed the lead of the Manila-based FEU hospital by saying they also planned to sever their ties with Page 8
PHL debt hits P11.93 trillion in November
US ups Odette aid to PHL to over P1-B VIEWS & COMMENTS
SHOWBIZ
SPORTS
When may IRS Tax Debts be discharged in Bankruptcy?
Charo Santos, Daniel Padilla win in Metro filmfest
POC declares PATAFA’s Juico persona non grata
By A�y. Lozano
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$1.00= P50.26
P3
P2
PESO-DOLLAR RATE
as of December 30, 2021 1:30am
P14
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