Omicron risk very high; US, UK, France see record cases

Stories on Pages 10 and 11

93% of Pinoys facing

2022 with hope – SWS
By JANVIC MATEO This is slightly above but
statistically insignificant
Nine in every 10 Filipinos than the 91 percent last
will enter the New Year with year. Both readings are
hope more than fear, below the 96 percent
according to a survey obtained in 2019 prior to
conducted by the Social the pandemic.
Weather Stations (SWS). Meanwhile, seven percent
The survey, conducted said that they would enter
from Dec.12 to 16 with the 2022 with fear, unchanged
results released yesterday, from last year.
showed that 93 percent of Compared to last year,
adult respondents are hope for the coming year
hopeful for the coming year. rose in all areas, except
Turn to Page 4

Residents take part in mock elections at the Tenement Elementary School in Western Bicutan, Taguig yesterday. The
Commission on Elections held the exercise to prepare for the May 9, 2022 general elections. Story to Page 5.
KARL JOHN ROSALES

Palace worried
over COVID
COVID-19
TALLY OF PHL CASES

AS OF DECEMBER 29
DOH expects
case increase
By HELEN FLORES
CONFIRMED
DEATHS
RECOVERIES
ACTIVE CASES 10,418

28
214
889
51,241
2,778,131
post-holiday
COVID spike
Malacanang yesterday reminded local
government executives to immediately enforce
granular or small-scale lockdowns once they
record clustering of COVID-19 cases in their
TOTAL
2,839,790
respective areas, as it expressed concern over
the slight increase in reported new infections in
the recent week.

COVID positively rate in MM Daily cases

spikes to 5%. Story on Page 8
jump to 889
“Granular lockdown was not removed from the
equation. And it is the responsibility of the local
government units (LGUs) to impose a granular By SHEILA CRISOSTOMO
lockdown when you see a clustering of cases,”
Cabinet. Turn to Page 4 The Department of Health (DOH) is
bracing for a post-holiday spike in
coronavirus cases after reporting 889
Hospitals abort new cases yesterday, double the
COVID-19 tally recorded the previous
‘PhilHealth holiday’ day.
Based on the DOH’s Case Bulletin for
COVID-19, the 889 new cases are double
the 421 documented on Dec. 28. This is
also the first time that the daily tally
Heeding the call of patients, the Private breached 800 since Nov.28, when there
Hospitals Association of the Philippines were 838 cases.
The new cases bring the overall tally
Inc. (PHAPi) yesterday withdrew its plan to
to 2,839,790. The DOH said only two
go on a “PhilHealth holiday” from Jan 1 to testing laboratories were not operational
5. on Dec.27 while one laboratory was
The “holiday” refers to the private unable to submit its data to the COVID-
hospitals’ decision not to accept claims for 19 Document Repository System.
deductions for health services from According to DOH Undersecretary
patient members of state insurer Maria Rosario Vergeire, COVID-19 cases
Philippine Health Insurance Corp. or are “expected to increase due to the
PhilHealth. holiday-related mobility and reduced
PHAPi president Jose Rene de Grano compliance to minimum public health
said the hospitals decided not to push standards (MPHS).”
through with the holiday in response to “We are continually monitoring the
the requests of situation, though we cannot still be
Turn to Page 4 certain that the increase in
A vendor arranges round fruits at the Balintawak Market in Quezon City yesterday. Many Filipinos believe having round fruits on the dinner table on New Turn to Page 4
Year’s Eve would bring good luck for the rest of the year. JESSE BUSTOS

Bohol sends SOS Makati court junks

to int’l community
By EMMANUEL TUPAS
Bohol Gov. Arthur Yap has
appealed for support from
international aid agencies as
the island province struggles
with recovery efforts a week
after being buffered by
Typhoon Odette.
“If we can reach out to
international aid agencies
and aid groups, if they come
up with their transitional
housing shelter support, this
is the right time to come in,”
Yap said yesterday at a
virtual news forum.
He stressed that there are
about 200,000 families in
Bohol who lost their homes
to the typhoon and need
immediate
The
drug charges vs Kerwin
Philippine
Postal
Espinosa
relief assistance at the soonest Corp. is
possible time. BY NEIL JAYSON SERVALLOS
issuing
Yap said international aid
organizations are welcome to new
A Makati court has junked
provide food and water to stamps the drug charges against self-
displaced residents with the today to confessed drug trader Rolan
help of the national government commem “Kerwin” Espinosa and co-
and non-government orate the accused Wu Tuan Yuan, alias
organizations, but it would be 125th Peter Co, on grounds of
better if temporary shelters are anniversa insufficiency of evidence.
built for the people. In a 13-page order signed on
ry of Dr.
“Many of our people are Dec. 17, Makati Regional Trial
Jose
exposed to the elements and Court (RTC) Branch 64 Judge
they are going to be celebrating Rizal’s
Gina Bibat-Palamos granted the
New Year exposed to the martyrdo appeal for demurrer to evidence
heavens,” m. Image filed by Espinosa, Co, and Lovely
Based on his assessment, courtesy Impal as well as the motion to
each family needs at least of dismiss the demurrer filed by
P50,000 to P100,000 to start PhlPost witness Marcelo Adorco.
over, or a budget of P10 billion A demurrer to evidence
Story on
Turn to Page 4 Turn to Page 4
Espinosa