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NCR Plus eases restrictions Certified-safe gyms, spas may reopen at 20% capacity—Palace
20% SOLUTION. A gymnasium worker prepares his equipment after Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque has announced that the Inter-Agency Task Force against COVID-19 has allowed the reopening at 20% capacity of gyms and no-contact sports within NCR Plus this month, part of moves to boost the economy, provided these businesses have obtained safety seal certification to be able to operate. At right, San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora shows a sample of a safety seal, proof that safety and health protocols are observed. Norman Cruz, Manny Palmero
By Vito Barcelo, Othel V. Campos and Willie Casas
T
HE government has allowed the reopening of gyms, fitness centers, and spas to operate at 20 percent limited capacity starting on June 16 in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal which are currently placed under a general community quarantine (GCQ) bubble, Malacañang said Friday.
COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE
(AS OF 4 PM JUNE 11)
1,300,349 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES
6,686 61,345
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said aside from gyms and spas, Next page
VOL. XXXV • NO. 117 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
NEW
ACTIVE
22,507
196
1,216,497
3,190
DEATHS
Health centers in Vis-Min told to rethink virus surge plan
RECOVERIES
NEW
NEW
G7 VOWS 1B DOSES FOR ‘THE WORLD’ WORLD / B2
By Willie Casas VISAYAS and Mindanao have been showing faster increases in the number of new COVID-19 cases, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday. As of June 8, Mindanao logged 13,425 active COVID-19 cases, Next page
Polio outbreak tamed, says WHO but DOH still wary
LITER OF LIGHT/BED OF ROSES.
The SM Mall of Asia celebrates the 123rd Philippine Independence Day with the most number of bottle lights - The Liter of Light has ever produced in the country, while the iconic MOA Globe pays tribute to the Philippine National Flag. Lower photo shows visitors appreciating a giant Philippine flag-inspired plant installation - a colorful bed of roses -- in Eastwood Central Plaza in Libis, Quezon City.
By Miguel Angelo Magbag THE polio outbreak in the Philippines that began in September 2019 has been stamped out, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) said Friday. Polio was declared eradicated on June 3 because it has not been detect-
WHEN overseas Filipino worker Jill Balasan learned that the Kuwaiti government will begin inoculating minors against COVID-19, she immediately registered THE Integrated Bar of the Philippines her 17-year-old daughter for the vaccina(IBP) on Friday called for accountabil- tion program. The benefits of getting the jab, Balasan ity following the deaths of football player Keith Absalon and his cousin Nolven at the said, outweighed fears for any possible adverse effect on her daughter, who rehands of communist rebels. At the same time, the Commission ceived her first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech on Human Rights told the Communist vaccine on May 4. “We registered our daughter for the Next page
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Pagasa, Kalayaan isles get power
Lawyers, rights Jab for kids: Pros, cons assessed Nijel Aquino, agency weigh in ByColeen Magahis and on Absalon case Raxenn Lachica By Rio N. Araja and Maricel V. Cruz
ed in a child or in the environment in the past six months, the two agencies said. Despite the challenges of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines was able to manage and stop polio with information drives, prevention and training, they said. “This is a major win for public
vaccine as soon as the Kuwait government gave advisory allowing children aged 15 to 17 to be vaccinated,” Balasan told Manila Standard in an online interview. Here in the Philippines, the Food and Drug Administration on June 8 approved an expanded emergency use authorization (EUA) Pfizer's COVID jab for children ages 12 to 15. But not all parents are as willing to let their kids get inoculated as Balasan. “I am not in favor because those vaccines are not yet proven to be 100 percent safe and effective. From the very term they use—those are approved only for Next page
TODAY, state-owned National Power Corporation (Napocor) will switch on its 300kW power plant in Pag-asa Island, Kalayaan Island Group at the West Philippine Sea as the country celebrates its 123rd Independence Day. Napocor said it allotted P33 million for the project that covered the supply, delivery and installation of the diesel
generating sets, its 13.8 kV distribution line and the fuel oil storage tanks that would ensure continuous fuel supply. “Following the successful series of test and commissioning of the facility this week, we have seen that it is only fitting to formally switch on the power plant as the Armed Forces of the Philippines Next page
Rizal’s descendant tells youth: Get involved IF NATIONAL hero Dr. Jose Rizal were alive today, according to his descendant Jeremiah Villaroman, he would probably tell the Filipino youth to get involved in their own little way to protect the country's freedom paid for by the blood of martyrs hundreds of years ago. “I feel like he would tell the youth, Next page