June 26, 2009 Major News Stories

H1N1 cases rise to 727, 74% recover – DoH

The country's total confirmed cases of Influenza A(H1N1) breached the 700-mark, but the Department of Health (DoH) said the "rapid" spread of the disease was matched with a "rapid" recovery rate of 74 percent.  On Tuesday, the DoH confirmed 123 new cases, bringing the total to 727, the second highest in Southeast Asia next to Thailand, which has 980 cases according to the World Health Organization.

"We have to take note the rapid increase of cases is due to our effective surveillance and tracing of initial contacts of confirmed cases," Duque said in a statement.

"And based on our data, people have rapid recovery and to date, 85 more patients have fully recovered from the pandemic flu and were sent home today. This makes the total number of recovered cases to 536 or 74 percent of the total confirmed cases reported since May," he said.

Duque said most A(H1N1) patients could fight the disease with bed rest and taking plenty of fluids and vitamins.

3 more found with H1N1 in CV

The Department of Health Central Visayas yesterday announced three new confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1) in the region.

RP, no. 12 sa mga bansa na may AH1N1

Pang-labindalawa (12) na ang Pilipinas sa 109 bansa sa buong mun  do na nakapagtala ng kaso ng AH1N1 virus base sa June 14 update na ipinala bas ng World Health Organization.

Solons seek probe on H1N1 in House

The House of Representatives wants Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to explain why it was kept in the dark about the presence of an employee stricken with the Influenza A(H1N1) virus.

Speaker not keen on postponing SONA

Speaker Prospero Nograles said he was not keen on postponing the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo even after three employees of the House of Representatives were confirmed to have Influenza A(H1N1).

Butuan girl is 2nd H1N1case in Mindanao

A nine-year-old girl from this city became Mindanao's second case of Influenza A (H1N1), health authorities said Thursday.

Baby in NegOcc tests positive for A (H1N1)

A one-year-old boy in Negros Occidental tested positive for Influenza A (H1N1) Wednesday but has already recovered and left the country before his test results came in.

No more total school shutdown – DoH

Instead of shutting down entire schools, the Department of Health (DoH) said school officials should suspend only the specific classes and offices attended by students or personnel who have Influenza A(H1N1).

Suspend classes nationwide v H1N1

The health and education departments should suspend classes nationwide for a specific period to halt the spread of the Influenza A(H1N1) virus, instead of selective suspension, a lawmaker said.  Muntinlupa Representative Rufino Biazon said the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Health (DoH) should "once and for all suspend classes for a specific period of time to contain the spread of the virus."

Don't 'advertise' H1N1, senator tells gov't

Senator Joker Arroyo offered this piece of advice to the government and the media on the reporting of Influenza A(H1N1) cases: "Keep it, control it, but don't advertise it."

DOH to bring down rising Tamiflu prices

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday said his department will coordinate with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to bring down prices of Tamiflu medicines to make them more affordable to people at "high risk" for Influenza A(H1N1).

Dengue claims 3rd victim in Cebu province

While the dreaded influenza A(H1N1) has already taken its first victim in the country, and in the South East region, the deadlier dengue has already taken its third victim in just six months in the province of Cebu.  The latest dengue death was a five-year-old girl from Barangay Palanas in Alcantara town who died last June 12. This was the tenth dengue case of the municipality.

The recent death was already the third dengue fatality since January 2009. The first death was from the municipality of Sibonga and the second came from Oslob.

Another 'Feria' fatality found

A person who was reported missing Tuesday at the height of heavy rains spawned by storm Feria (international codename: Nangka) , was found dead Thursday morning in Bulalacao town, south of Oriental Mindoro.

"Feria" death toll climbs to 9

The death toll from tropical storm "Feria" (Nangka) went up to nine as of Thursday evening, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said.

SEAOIL launches 'extreme' gasoline

SEAOIL Philippines Inc. officials announced on Thursday that they will be offering a new blend of gasoline that can make cars run faster, is environmentally-friendly, but is priced cheaper than other premium brands.  "Extreme 97", which will be available in all SEAOIL gas stations in Metro Manila, reportedly gives cars an extra 3-horsepower kick, reduces carbon dioxide emissions because it uses ethanol, and cleans out the engine by burning away deposits like carbon, dirt, gums, and varnishes.

Petron supports task force on oil prices

Oil giant Petron Corp.said it supports Malacanang's intention to create a task force that will oversee the pricing of oil products since this would help end speculations that oil firms have been overpricing their products. 

Joker sees collusion between NTC, telcos

The former chair of the Senate committee on public services on Thursday said he suspects collusion between the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and telecommunications companies to the detriment of millions of mobile phone subscribers. 

Subway finished by yearend

THE subway section of the Cebu South Coastal Road Project that will connect the South Road Properties (SRP) and Sergio Osmeña St. will be completed by December this year, said Project Director Nilo Pamaylaon of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

North road project 'ahead of sked'

WORK on the Cebu North Coastal Road Project (CNCRP) is ahead of schedule and the facility may already be passable by December.

Contractors finish projects this year

The P2.3-billion road project that cuts through Mandaue City and the towns of Consolacion and Liloan will be completed before the end of this year.

Rains cause barangay roads to cave in

RAINS unleashed by Typhoon Feria this week caused foundations of newly-finished barangay roads in the Transcentral Highway to cave in.

Allow Tomas to sell SRP lot to Napocor

City Administrator Francisco Fernandez is asking the City Council to authorize Mayor Tomas Osmeña to sign the deed for the sale of 3,005 square meters of lot at the South Road Properties to the National Power Corporation.

Jingjing: Tomas running for congressman

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña will run for congressman in the south district in the 2010 elections.

Coop to court: Stop Capitol 

A multi-purpose cooperative servicing the water needs of the residents of Sitio Langub in Barangay Kalunasan is asking the court to stop the provincial government from demolishing its property.

Ombuds to Jonas: 10 days to comment 

The Office of the Ombudsman Visayas has ordered Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes to comment on the complaint filed by the faculty members of the controversial Mandaue City College-Jagobiao Campus because of the city's alleged refusal to release their salaries since 2006.

Burgos protests 3 colonels' promotion

"Dear Lord, when will all this injustice end?" Edita Burgos lamented on learning of the promotion of three military officers linked to the abduction of her son, Jonas, who has been missing for the past two years.

Arroyo visits Brazil, inks agri deal

On her state visit to Brazil, President Arroyo and Brazilian president Luiz Incacio Lula da Silva signed agreements to boost agricultural trade between the two countries.

Mancao bucks transfer to Manila City Jail

Former police Senior Superintendent Cezar Mancao II, a suspect in the nine-year-old Dacer-Corbito case, had refused to be transferred to the Manila City Jail.

Reunite Pinoy vets in US with children

A bill that seeks to reunite Filipino World War II veterans who are citizens and residents of the United States with their children still in the long waiting visa list in the Philippines has been reintroduced to the US congress by a US senator.

9 OFWs repatriated from Libya - Migrante

Nine out of the 14 overseas Filipino workers who were victims of labor malpractice and contract substitution in Libya were repatriated to Manila, an alliance of migrant organizations said Thursday.

Iran police use tear gas to crush protest

A flood of security forces using tear gas and clubs quickly overwhelmed a small group of rock-throwing protesters near Iran's parliament Wednesday, and the country's supreme leader said the outcome of the disputed presidential election will stand - the latest signs of the government's growing confidence in quelling unrest on the streets.

69 killed as bomb strikes Shiite market 

A bomb ripped through a crowded market in Baghdad's main Shiite district on Wednesday, killing at least 69 people and wounding more than 100 less than a week before a deadline for US combat troops to leave Iraq's urban areas.

100+ reported dead in Indian heatwave

An acute heatwave roasting much of India has claimed at least 100 lives, with more deaths feared because the annual monsoon rains have yet to come.

Pacquiao gets nod from Holyfield, Lewis

Former world heavyweight champions Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield have shared their sentiments over a possible showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

Taekwondo jins get medal rewards

The Philippine Sports Commission yesterday handed out rewards to the RP taekwondo team members who amassed 37 medals – including 14 golds – in the recent Southeast Asian championships held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Shaq to Cleveland in blockbuster trade

The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired four-time NBA championship winner Shaquille O'Neal in a blockbuster trade with the Phoenix Suns, ESPN reported on Wednesday.  The trade would not only pair O'Neal with superstar LeBron James but would also give struggling Phoenix two solid additions in Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic.

Dancesport patron thanks supporters 

On the eve of their attempt to set the biggest dance class in the Guinness World Book of Records, Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) dancesport director Edward Hayco thanked in advance all those who have, in any way, supported them in their worthwhile undertaking.

Farrah Fawcett dead at 62: reports

Actress Farrah Fawcett, best known for her role in television series "Charlie's Angels," has died, US media reports said Thursday. She was 62.  Fawcett died in hospital in Los Angeles surrounded by friends and family shortly before 9:30 a.m. (1630 GMT) following a three-year battle with anal cancer.

Orgy gone awry seen in teener's death

Police are not discounting the possibility that drugs and a sex orgy gone awry might have led to the death of the 18-year-old model in a condominium building in Quezon City on Wednesday.

Belo, co-accused maintain innocence

Cosmetic doctor Mari Victoria Belo Henares, popularly known as Vicki Belo, and her co-accused in the sex video scandal asked the Department of Justice to drop the charges against them.

Hayden's former friends face prosecutors

Humarap sa DOJ ang mga dating kaibigan ni Hayden Kho para sagutin ang reklamo ni Katrina Halili sa pagpapakalat ng mga sex video. Hindi naman sinipot ng ina ni Hayden ang preliminary investigation ng kasong libelo na inihain ni Halili sa prosecutors' office ng Quezon City.

Maricar shows there's life after scandal

Despite her sex video scandal with Dr. Hayden Kho, there's no stopping actress-model Maricar Reyes' acting career as she appears in ABS-CBN's top rating show "May Bukas Pa."

Oscars hiking best picture nominees to 10

The race for the best picture Oscar at next year's Academy Awards will feature a bumper crop of 10 films after organizers announced they were doubling the number of nominees here Wednesday.