PTV Rewind brings you the highlights of the latest and relevant issues in the country this third week of May 2022.
Winning senatorial bets proclaimed
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) proclaimed the 12 newly elected senators on May 18. They will have a fresh six-year term that will end in June 2028.
The candidates who made it to the top 12 are Robin Padilla, Loren Legarda, Raffy Tulfo, Sherwin Gatchalian, Francis Escudero, Mark Villar, Alan Peter Cayetano, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Joel Villanueva, JV Ejercito, Risa Hontiveros, and Jinggoy Estrada.
Local transmission of Omicron sub-variant BA.2.12.1 confirmed
The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed on May 17 the local transmission of the highly transmissible Omicron sub-variant BA.2.12.1.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire confirmed that there are 17 total BA.2.12.1 cases in the country, of which 16 are local cases and one returning overseas Filipino residing in Western Visayas.
Of the 16 local cases, two are from Metro Manila, 12 are from Puerto Princesa City, and two are from Western Visayas.
DOH OKs 2nd booster dose for senior citizens, health workers
The DOH has approved on May 18 the administration of a second booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine for the elderly and frontline health workers.
The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines such as Moderna and Pfizer may now be administered to senior citizens and frontline health care workers aged 18 years old and above in light of the local transmission of the BA.2.12.1 Omicron subvariant.
Duterte signs more laws to help Filipinos
President Rodrigo Duterte has signed on May 6 several legislative measures which will give the Filipino people better lives and to revamp measures in strengthening the country.
Among the newly signed laws are Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act, Foundling Recognition and Protection Act, act fixing the validity period firearm license and registration, and an act strengthening the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and youth participation.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has declared the onset of the rainy season in the country on May 18.
In a statement, the weather bureau said the “presence of a frontal system and the occurrence of severe thunderstorms have brought widespread rains during the last five days in areas under Type I climate and other parts of the country.”
“Southwesterly windflow was also observed during the past few days. This satisfies the criteria of the start of the rainy season over the western sections of Luzon and Visayas,” PAGASA said.
CSC logs 17.19% passing rate in March 2022 CSC exam
A total of 12,179 examinees or 17.19% of the 70,833 number of examinees nationwide passed the March 13 Career Service Examination-Pen and Paper Test, according to the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
The CSC said 9,651 or 16.94% out of 56,980 individuals passed the exam for the professional level, while 2,528 or 18.25% passed the subprofessional level exam out of 13,853 examinees.