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18K COVID cases daily seen
DOH raises scenario toward yearend if gov’t lifts mask use indoors By Willie Casas
T
HE number of COVID-19 cases could reach 18,000 a day toward the end of the year if the government makes wearing masks indoors voluntary, the Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday. DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said this projection was presented during a meeting of the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) last week, where it was decided that the wearing of face masks in indoor areas will be made voluntary. “According to our projections, our cases may increase from 2,500 at the lower limit to as high as 18,000 towards November and December of this year, if we remove our masks,” she said in Filipino
during a radio interview. Vergeire said COVID-19 infections are really expected to rise if masks go off because the coronavirus is still here and is mutating. What is important, however, is that the severe and critical cases would be kept at the minimum level, and that hospital utilization remains manageable, she said. While the DOH illustrated all potential scenarios to the IATF on Friday, the task force is a collegial body that takes into Next page
VOL. XXXVI • NO. 254• 4 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 FRIDAY, FRIDAY OCTOBER 28, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
DOJ looks at murder on Villamor’s death By Rey E. Requejo, Joel E. Zurbano and Macon Ramos-Araneta
ing the possibility that the alleged middleman in the killing of radio commentator Percival Mabasa was murdered in the New Bilibid Prison. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin ReTHE Department of Justice is investigat- mulla made the statement after President
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed doubts that the 42-year-old inmate, Jun Villamor, died of natural causes. Earlier, Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. also said he Next page
President hails Samal-Davao bridge project By Vito Barcelo THE construction of the Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) bridge will help develop the region’s economic potential and bolster access to Davaoeños of social services, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Thursday. During the groundbreaking ceremony, the President said the 3.98-km Samal Island-Davao City connector was a project under the Build, Build, Build infrastructure program of the Duterte administration,crediting them for the realization of the P23-billion bridge project that will connect Samal Island to Davao. “I am only fortunate to have been sitting as President when we broke ground for this very important project. This project was formally begun by then-Secretary Mark Villar under the Next page
FUTURE BRIDGE. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (center) listens to Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan explain the features of the future Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) bridge on Thursday. Looking on (from left) are Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian and Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio. Presidential Photo
Status quo at MIAA? Palace yet to issue Tugade's papers
Vergeire says no offer for top health post, backs Cascolan
By Joel E. Zurbano
By Willie Casas
CONFUSION swirled over the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) on Thursday as Cesar Chiong was still working as general manager of the agency despite the Palace announcing Wednesday the appointment of lawyer Jose Arturo Maddela Tugade to replace him. As of 1 p.m. Thursday, Chiong was in his
DEPARTMENT of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Thursday said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. did not offer her the agency's top post, which has remained vacant for almost four months now. "No, honestly. It was not offered. I was asked to be an OIC (officer-in-charge)," Vergeire told ANC's program "Headstart.”
CESAR CHIONG
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MARIA ROSARIO VERGEIRE
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Quake hurts 44 in Abra, dislodges 18,000 families THE strong earthquake that hit Abra province this week hurt at least 44 people and dislodged some 18,000 families, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said
Thursday. shook buildings hundreds of kilometers The 6.4-magnitude quake struck the away in Metro Manila. mountain town of Dolores in Abra late Meanwhile, the Department of Health Tuesday, barely three months after a (DOH) in the Ilocos Region reported a Next page magnitude 7 temblor hit the province and
Marcos praises Xi for reelection, eyes closer ties CEMETERY INSPECTION. Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna (second from right)
and Vice Mayor Yul Servo (in blue shirt) inspect the Manila North Cemetery on Thursday in preparation for All Saints Day on October 27 (See related stories and photos on A3 and A4). Norman Cruz
WEATHER By Rio N. Araja TROPICAL Storm “Paeng” is forecast to reach severe tropical storm category within 24 hours and may intensify
‘Paeng’ seen becoming a typhoon by Saturday into a typhoon by Saturday, the state weather bureau said Thursday. “The occurrence of rapid Next page
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday congratulated Chinese President Xi Jinping on his reappointment as the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC). He extended his congratulations to Xi through Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian in his opening remarks during his attendance at the groundbreaking of the Samal IslandDavao City Connector (SIDC) bridge project in Davao City. “We must extend our congratulations for the successful comeback of the Next page
BALIKBAYAN BOXES. Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz (second from right) inspects the numerous unpaid and abandoned balikbayan boxes from overseas Filipinos at the Port Net logistics warehouse in Sta. Ana Manila on Thursday. Ruiz ordered the immediate release of the shipments to the recipient families in time for the Christmas season. Norman Cruz