Philippine Post Pages 1-16 September 4
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
INSIDE THE POST Volume 4 Number 28 LOS ANGELES SEPTEMBER 4, 2020 YOUR WINDOW TO THE FILIPINO-AMERICAN COMMUNITY YOUR WINDOW TO THE FILIPINO-AMERICAN COMMUNITY CA probes A Filipino crewman of the cargo vessel Gulf Livestock 1 is rescued by a Japan Coast Guard widespread boat during a search and rescue operation at the East China Sea, southwest of Japan. unemployment Thirty-eight Filipinos remain missing in the sea accident. Story on Page 6 Doctor denies claims fraud Trump had stroke SACRAMENTO — in November California lawmakers said Wednesday that there is growing US & WORLD, Page 3 evidence of possible widespread fraud in the state’s unemployment benefits system, and the agency in charge confirmed it is investigating whether people have filed dozens of bogus claims during the COVID-19 pandemic. The news comes as Californians across the state continue to report frustrating experiences with the state Employment Development Department that have left them California braces without crucial jobless benefits needed to pay rent and support Ex-NBI head their families. A bipartisan group Gierran is new of legislators on Wednesday proposed a state audit to look for historic heat PhilHealth chief into ongoing problems at the HOMELAND, Page 8 agency, including computer Newsom declares state of emergency glitches, unanswered phone lines and bureaucratic tangles, which SACRAMENTO (Los thousands of residents in the dark “For this weekend, have stalled payments to about 1 Angeles Times) - With scorching during the last massive heat wave. conservation is key,” said Jim million jobless Californians. temperatures set to sear California Newsom’s declaration, issued Hanggi, a spokesman for Southern Concerns about potential through Labor Day weekend, Thursday, comes as some major California Edison. fraud surfaced recently after Gov. Gavin Newsom issued utilities warn that the one-two- The California Independent numerous Californians who have an emergency proclamation punch of sweltering conditions System Operator, which runs the not filed unemployment claims aimed at shoring up the state’s and increased energy demand power grid for most of the state, reported receiving dozens of energy capacity and staving off could stress the power grid to has already issued a statewide letters from the EDD regarding the kind of power outages and its limit, potentially resulting in flex alert — calling for voluntary (See EMERGENCY, Page 6) (See FRAUD, Page 8) rolling blackouts that left tens of outages. $300/week for 3 blacklisted Pembeton release from unemployed firms g0t P727 jail on hold Californians million deals HOMELAND, Page 8 SACRAMENTO — Millions By Ben O. de Vera of Californians who are out of Inquirer.net work during the pandemic will MANILA —At least three soon receive a $300 weekly companies on the Department supplemental unemployment of Budget and Management benefit retroactive to Aug. 1, state (DBM) blacklist secured P727 officials said Thursday. Aerial photos show the completed construction of facilities on Fiery million in deals to supply personal The Federal Emergency Cross Reef, one of Beijing’s artificial islands in the Spratly Islands. protective equipment (PPE) as the Management Agency approved government eased rules in buying California’s application for $4.5 PH can set aside SCS issues goods at the height of COVID-19 billion to cover at least three lockdowns in a bid to speed up weeks of supplemental benefits for infra, trade, says Palace response to the health crisis. Fil-Am teen gets after a $600 weekly payment The Government Procurement expired last month. MANILA — The Philippines zone (EEZ), Malacañang said police bill for Policy Board (GPPB), an office California’s Employment can “set aside” unresolved issues Wednesday. organizing protest under the DBM, earlier extended Development Department will in the South China Sea — part of While the Philippines is a to Aug. 31 the deadline for all begin processing payments for which Manila claims and calls the party to the South China Sea COMMUNITY, Page 10 procuring agencies, including eligible people and sending out West Philippine Sea — and pursue row, President Rodrigo Duterte national government agencies payments during the week of Sept. investment projects with Chinese has refused to follow the United • Duterte’s RevGov and their regional offices and 7, agency officials said Thursday. firms since the arbitral ruling has States’ (US) lead in banning trade vs. Leni Robredo local government units, to post “These benefits are critical for already upheld Manila’s sovereign with Chinese companies that • Pandemic (See BENEFITS, Page 3) rights over its exclusive economic (See SCS, Page 6) (See CONTRACTS, Page 8) corruption 3 OPINION, Page 4 Hackers take P167 million from PH bank Page 14 Page 2 PHILIPPINE POST September 4, 2020 September 4, 2020 PHILIPPINE POST Page 3 States told to be ready to distribute Covid-19 vaccine by November 1 WASHINGTON — The facilities.” security officials, seniors and Trump administration has urged Redfield asked states to members of vulnerable racial and US states to get ready to distribute consider waiving requirements ethnic groups, according to The a potential Covid-19 vaccine by that would “prevent these facilities New York Times. November 1 — two days before from becoming fully operational Three Western drug makers the presidential election. by Nov. 1, 2020.” are progressing with their Phase Dallas-based wholesaler The CDC provided states with 3 clinical trials, involving tens of McKesson Corp. has a deal with documents giving details of a thousands of participants. the federal government and will vaccine rollout plan, adding that The three are AstraZeneca, BENEFITS: $300 per week be requesting permits to set they would either be approved which is partnering with Oxford (From Page 1) with the group Legal Aid At Work up distribution centers when a as licensed vaccines or under University in England; Moderna, the basic security of families and in San Francisco. vaccine becomes available. emergency use authorization. collaborating with the US communities and for our economy, “The Trump administration’s “The normal time required Recipients would probably National Institutes of Health; and which have been so devastated by `lost wages assistance, which is to obtain these permits presents require a second “booster” dose, a the Pfizer/BioNTech alliance. the virus and its financial impacts,” not the same as unemployment a significant barrier to the few weeks after the first, according By the nature of the trials, it is California Labor Secretary Julie insurance, is letting Californians success of this urgent public to the documents. difficult to predict when reliable A. Su said in a statement. “As and the American people down,” health program,” Robert Redfield, “Vaccine and ancillary supplies results will emerge. we modernize and strengthen the Warner said, calling $300 a week director of the Centers for Disease will be procured and distributed by Half of the participants in such state’s unemployment insurance “untenable for unemployed Control and Prevention, told states the federal government at no cost trials receive an experimental vaccine, while the other half are delivery system, we will continue families given the devastating in an August 27 letter. to enrolled Covid-19 vaccination World ( Instream Video ) providers,” say the documents, given a placebo. to leverage any additional impact of COVID on the job Under normal procedures, resources the federal government market.” Infinite || cms id 316 /1015401/ which also went to New York City, test administrators must wait makes available.” He said the requirement that PSTAR_Outstream_World Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia -- probably for months -- to see The $300 payment will be jobless people qualify for $100 or “CDC urgently requests and San Antonio. whether there is a statistically available for Californians who more in weekly benefits leaves out your assistance in expediting Priority will be given to significant difference in the are currently eligible to receive those most in need of help. applications for these distribution essential workers, national infection rate of the two groups. at least $100 in weekly state “These half measures hurt unemployment benefits and have working families, our state’s Doctor denies Trump had a stroke in November certified that they are unemployed economy and our communities. or partly unemployed due to The program doesn’t meet the WASHINGTON — US three communications from disruptions caused by COVID-19, gravity of this moment,” Warner President Donald Trump did administration whistleblowers according to the state Employment said. not have a stroke and remains that Trump had “a series of mini- Development Department. He added that because the healthy, his physician said on strokes.” While Congress has deadlocked program is guaranteed for only Tuesday in response to a new “I can confirm that President over a proposal to extend the three weeks, “it will take states book suggesting Vice President Trump has not experienced previous $600 benefit, President far too much time, money, and Mike Pence was put on standby nor been evaluated for a Trump signed an executive order resources to implement at a time to assume presidential powers cerebrovascular accident on Aug. 8 allocating $44 billion in they are already dealing with an during a sudden Trump medical (stroke), transient ischemic existing federal emergency funds unprecedented number of claims.” visit last year. attack (mini stroke),