Bilibid Prison Septic Tank in the Spotlight. Bivalent Covid-19 Injection Roll Out Extends to Entire Population as Shelf-Life Expiry Looms - But Has Low Uptake.

Supreme Court Lifts Pandemic Measures - Allows Judges to Still require testing and masking in their courts.

One of the Philippines most notorious prisons is again in the spotlight. Body parts have been found in the prison’s septic tank, raising suspicions that this explains the fate of missing prisoners from this grossly overcrowded and underfunded prison.

Covid-19 Bivalent Injection Distribution

DOH has also approved distribution of their remaining in-stock donated from Lithuania 390,000 doses of bivalent Pfizer products for adults with comorbidities. They have stated that this may be given as first, 2nd, or 3rd booster providing that their last prior dose was taken 4 to 6 months earlier.

DOH has also approved the distribution of the bivalent injectable to the general population, with Herbosa referring to low demand for the on-hand stock.

Philippines has been extending shelf life of various Covid-19 injectables to attempt to get them into people before they finally irrevocably expire. Most Covid-19 injectables were extended from original shelf-lives of 6 months up to 18 months, though EUA ammendments.

Philippines Supreme Court Lifts Pandemic Measures - But Permits Continuing Requirements for Antigen Testing and Masking at the Discretion of Any Presiding Judge

Two weeks after President Ferdinand R. Marcos issued Proclamation No. 297, effectively lifting the country’s emergency status due to the coronavirus 2019 pandemic (21 July 2023), on 5th of August the Supreme Court announced that it had revoked all pandemic issuances and directives. However, despite this, videoconferencing hearings remain subject to earlier circulars, and judges retain authority to require covid-19 testing on medical grounds, and masking in their own courts! The Supreme Court clearly is not moving on from pandemic measures!

Digital ID Philippines

The Philippines Government has been working to implement national digital id system, and its delivery is well advanced.

Interesting article contrasting the bringing online of digital ID in the Philippines and in Morrocco.

Dr. Susan Mercado is being endorsed as candidate for WHO RD WPRO to be the first woman RD of our Region. If she is successful, it will be important to watch for implications for the Philippines.

Dr. Mercado’s expertise is summarized.