PH Government signs agreement to secure 30M doses of Covovax

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippine government, represented by Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., Serum Institute of India (SII) and Faberco Life Sciences, Inc., have signed a Term Sheet on January 9, 2021 to secure the supply of 30 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine Covovax, which will be available starting third quarter of this year.

“This is a significant milestone in relations between India and the Philippines. It shows that we don’t have to look far beyond Philippine shores to find friends who are willing to help each other out,” Kishore Hemlani, Founder of Faberco Life Sciences Inc., SII’s Philippine partner, said after the signing with Sec. Galvez.

SII, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, partnered with Novavax, a US-based biotechnology company for the development and commercialization of the Covovax vaccine. The vaccine has the recombinant coronavirus spike protein nanoparticle and a Novavax-patented Matrix-M adjuvant to enhance the immune response and stimulate high levels of neutralizing antibodies. Covovax is in third-stage trials and expected to be approved for use by international regulators.

“The vaccine will be used to vaccinate 15 million vulnerable and poor Filipinos. The vaccine is stable at 2°C to 8°C, the standard temperature that is within the existing cold chain system in the Philippines, thus allowing its distribution to the remotest barangays,” said Faberco Life Sciences Medical Director Dr. Luningning Villa.

The candidate vaccine is thoroughly evaluated in different geographies, various age groups, groups that are most affected by COVID-19, including people living with HIV, and racial and ethnic minorities. The clinical trials involve a sizeable population of around 50,000 subjects to ensure extreme robust clinical data prior to approval by relevant regulatory bodies including the World Health Organization.

The vaccine underwent the initial phase of the clinical trials in Australia, South Africa and India. Phase-three trial is currently carried out in the UK with 15,000 subjects and also ongoing in the United States and Mexico with 30,000 subjects.

The price of the vaccine is expected to be finalized soon between the government and SII, which is noted for providing effective, safe and affordable vaccines across the globe through the decades. SII is a dependable supplier of various vaccines to the Philippines, especially those used in the government’s Expanded Program for Immunization.

Faberco Life Sciences, Inc., is also SII’s partner for key programs in the country such as the Inactivated Polio vaccine, Rotavirus vaccine, Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine, aside from the COVID-19 vaccine.

#BawalJudgemental: Heal the hearts of the abused

Wazzup Pilipinas!

You're in a relationship to be happy, to smile, to laugh, and to make good memories. Not to be constantly upset, to feel hurt and to cry.

Today's episode of #BawalJudgmental about domestic abuse hits so close to home. Akala ko okay na ko, pero triggered pa rin ako every time nakakarinig ako ng ganitong stories. 

How could people -- a supposed life partner at that -- physically, emotionally, mentally abuse their other half? Bottomline, no one should resort to violence just because you're drunk, sad, angry or whatever.

To everyone reading this, please know your worth and don't forget to love yourself.

Ang bigat ng #BawalJudgmental episode today. Naiiyak at nadudurog puso ko habang pinakikinggan yung napagdaanan nila. Let this be a lesson to all girls out there, that you shouldn't lose respect to yourselves  and never let any man hurt you just because you love them.

We all deserve to be loved so sa lahat diyan na nakakaranas ng abuse, please don't be afraid to leave that kind of set up. We all deserve better. We all deserve someone to treat and love us more than the way we want to be treated and be loved. 

"Mahal na mahal ko eh." I never knew these words would hurt so so so much. To the girl reading this, you deserve someone who would love you so so much and would never ever hurt you. So if it's hard already, if you are hurting and can't take it anymore, leave the unfair relationship. 

The stories today on #BawalJudgmental highlight the toxicity of Philippine society's OVERemphasis on the family.

Ayaw magkaroon ng broken family pero at the expense of personal safety and sanity. Luh.

NEVER. EVER. SETTLE. FOR. LESS. WE. ALL. DESERVE. MUCH. MUCH. BETTER! 

Today's #BawalJudgmental should also emphasize the importance of mental health.

Issuance of marriage licenses should require psychiatric exams/evaluation.

It's not easy being a woman who's with an abusive man. Ladies, please love yourself. Never be afraid to let go if he is not treating you right anymore. Again, love yourself.  

It is better to break your own heart by leaving an abusive relationship, rather than having that person breaking your heart every day. 

Laban lang para sa ating matatapang! Magiging okay din ang lahat. 

Family is supposed to be our safe haven. Very often, its the place where we find the deepest heartache.  

It's the people you love the most ang kaya talagang makapanakit sa iyo ng todo.

Wiping people away from our lives is the hardest thing to, do but we have to in order to grow, to be happy and in order to find what we truly deserve. Remember we should never settle for less than what we deserve. KNOW YOUR WORTH and KNOW WHEN IT'S TIME TO LEAVE. 

Also, please do not be afraid to file a case against your abusive partner. PAO provides indigent litigants free legal assistance, kaya huwag niyo isipin na 'walang pera' to file a case. 

That is, only if you've tried everything to make the relationship work. Know your limits. Know when enough is enough.

What’s sad is that some do not even realize they’re in abusive relationships. 

Sticking to your partners despite abuse because of the reason,”what about the kids” is wrong. When your partner does not treat you right, even just verbally, leave. Specially when you have kids. They might not tell you but they suffer a lot, mentally and emotionally.

To all the women: 

YOU ARE WORTH IT. 

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. 

Men, if you can’t be a responsible partner or father, do not enter a relationship. 

Heal all the hearts of these people who experienced abuse.

Alden's question "Ano sa tingin mo ang pagkukulang mo kaya siya naging ganun?" reeks of low-key victim blaming.

But panoorin ninyo muna ang buong video ng question niya ..Yung doctor na din nagsabi na minsan ay may pagkukulang din yung babae kaya na-curious si Alden at naitanong niya sa contestant..Huwag agad judgemental? Lol

#BawalJudgmental 

DOTr Free Ride Service for Health Workers program reaches 2 million ridership

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) today said that it has registered a total of more than 2 million in ridership for its “Libreng Sakay” or Free Ride Service for Health Workers program amid the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

According to DOTr Road Transport and Infrastructure Assistant Secretary Mark Steven Pastor, as of 7 January 2021, the program's total ridership nationwide was recorded at 2,001,461.

"Natutuwa po kami na umabot na sa mahigit 2 milyon ang ridership ng programa dahil sa patuloy na pagtitiwala at pagtangkilik ng ating mga health workers. Mahigpit pong bilin ng ating mahal na Kalihim, si Secretary Tugade, na huwag na huwag pong pababayaan ang ating mga health workers na patuloy na naglilingkod at lumalaban upang mapigilan ang pagkalat, at nang tuluyang masugpo ang COVID-19," Asec Pastor emphasized.

Of the registered total ridership, the National Capital Region (NCR)-Greater Manila Area recorded 554,625 ridership since it started operations on 18 March 2020, a few days after the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon was enforced.

Starting with just three routes, the program continues to service health workers covering 20 routes in the NCR-Greater Manila Area despite the lifting of the ECQ.

Meanwhile, in other regions outside the NCR-Greater Manila Area, the free ride services being offered by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) were able to ferry a total of 1,446,836 health workers since the start of regional operations.

The DOTr implemented the free ride service for health workers to help ease the burden of these frontliners in getting to their respective medical communities, as public transportation was suspended with the enforcement of the ECQ as a measure to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Buses participating in the free ride service for health workers in the NCR-Greater Manila Area are serving routes that link medical facilities or hospitals with various COVID-19 isolation or treatment areas.

The ongoing implementation of the free bus service for health workers is made possible in coordination with the Office of the President, Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (I-ACT).

Moreover, other agencies which have previously cooperated were Office of the Solicitor General, House of Representatives, Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Commission on Audit (COA).

Bus companies which are currently participating in the program include HM Transport, Jasper Jean, Ceres Transport/Goldstar, Philtranco, RRCG Transport, Jac Liner/ Dagupan Bus.

Meanwhile, other bus companies, such as the San Agustin, MetroExpress, Precious Grace Transport, St. Rose Transit, Hafti Transport, G-Liner, Manrose, Pilipinas Autogroup, Beep, Mitsubishi Motors, Elmer Francisco Industries, Isuzu Philippines, Foton Motors, Suzuki, MERALCO e-Sakay, Lucena Lines, Pangasinan Five Star Bus Co., Inc., City Bus, Star Bus, Earthstar Express, Inc., Gell Transport, at Jam Liner, Diamond V8, Pascual Liner, Pamana Transport, UBE Express, DLTB, Genesis, Hi-Star, Thelman Transit, Star8, at Megaworld Corp. (Citylink), Hino, Hyundai, uHop, and Toyota Motor Philippines, likewise participated in the program.

Also assisting in the implementation of the program is Petron Corporation which has been providing the participating bus companies with fuel subsidy. Other oil companies which provided assistance were Phoenix Petroleum, CleanFuel, Total Philippines, and SeaOil Philippines.

The DOTr also reminds that vehicles ferrying health workers are still exempted from paying toll fees in all expressways in Luzon. The free toll arrangement is in cooperation between the DOTr, through the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), and the toll road operators.

Meanwhile, the DOTr assures that the free ride service program for health workers strictly enforces health and sanitation protocols, particularly the 7 Commandments for public transportation as recommended by health experts, to contain the spread of COVID-19. These include the following: 1) Always wear mask and face shield; 2) No talking and making phone calls; 3) No eating; 4) Keep public utility vehicles well-ventilated; 5) Conduct of frequent disinfection; 6) No passengers with COVID-19 symptoms are to be allowed inside the public transportation; 7) Always observe appropriate physical distancing (“one-seat-apart”) rule.