DepEd expresses support over pediatric vaccination of ages 5-11

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The Department of Education (DepEd), along with other government agencies and private organizations, expressed their proactive support to the pediatric vaccination during the RESBAKUNA KIDS: Vaccination Rollout for 5-11 years old on Tuesday at SM Megamall.

Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones emphasized that the vaccination drive for children is vital to the gradual reintroduction of face-to-face classes and the general welfare of Filipino learners.

"We are passionately committed to this program of vaccination, especially for the children, since we believe that the future our learners is related to well-being, mental health, and physical health. We cannot achieve and move to new forms and ways of teaching unless our children are healthy," Secretary Briones said.

Together with the other heads of agencies, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III administered the first dose of the vaccine during the said ceremonial rollout.

"This [Resbakuna Kids event] is another great leap towards our victory against COVID-19. With our children being vaccinated against the Coronavirus, we will have peace of mind that they will be safer and healthier under the new normal," President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said in his written message read by Sec. Duque.

The children who participated in the event received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The Food and Drug Administration has issued before the emergency use approval for the lower dosage of the said brand.

In addition, the Department already issued the DepEd Task Force COVID-19 Memorandum No. 606, stating the agency's support to the Pediatric Vaccination of ages 5 to 11.

The said issuance noted that the said vaccination drive would be an essential component of the ongoing efforts to accelerate the safe nationwide expansion of face-to-face classes.

"Now, how is this all related to this morning's event? It is related because we want to include already the expanded face-to-face component of education in the country," Sec. Briones noted.

The DTFC Memo No. 606 also indicated that learners who will be vaccinated during school days should be excused from attending classes. They will need to present their vaccination cards to their teachers.

Furthermore, all DepEd personnel, especially concerned school health personnel and information officers, are encouraged to support the vaccination drive and disseminate information to increase the confidence in immunization among children.

PNR San Pablo-Lucena rout to enhance mobility, and improve access to goods, in Southern Luzon

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The Philippine National Railways (PNR) San Pablo-Lucena route will not only link the rail line to the Bicol network but will also unlock economic potentials and enhance mobility in Southern Luzon, Transportation Secretary Art Tugade said on Monday, 14 February 2022.

“Itong bubuksan nating ruta na San Pablo-Candelaria-Lucena, ito ay idudugtong upang sa ganun ating mapatotoo at mapagtunay ang “Bicol Express”, kaya malaki ang bahagi at ang kahalagahan ng linyang ito para sa Laguna at Lucena sa Quezon in the immediate term,” Secretary Tugade said during his inspection of the PNR Lucena-San Pablo route.

Aside from its use as a passenger commuter service, the PNR Lucena-San Pablo route can also be converted into a commercial or cargo freight service, Secretary Tugade explained.

“Mahalaga rin po na sabihin na itong rutang ito ay convertible hindi lamang papuntang Bicol, kundi maging convertible na maging commercial route dito sa Lucena,” he said.

Stalled for almost a decade, the PNR San Pablo-Lucena route is a 44-kilometer inter-provincial commuter railway which was part of the commuter train service to Bicol with stations and flag stops for daily commuters or short travels.

The PNR Lucena-San Pablo commuter line ceased operation in October 2013 after the collapse of an abutment.

When operations resume, the line will have two (2) terminal stations and four (4) flag stops in between, with travel time of 1 hour and 32 minutes from Lucena to San Pablo.

Parts of the long-distance rail network’s right-of-way will also be utilized for the PNR South Long Haul Project or the "Bicol Express”.

Meanwhile, PNR General Manager Junn Magno expressed his gratitude to the provincial governments of Laguna and Quezon for helping the Department of Transportatiom (DOTr) and PNR in “reaching the country’s aspirations in opening the mass transport.”

GM Magno stressed that the PNR San Pablo-Lucena line will also open the economic corridors of Laguna, Quezon, and Bicol to ensure economic equity and progress in Southern Luzon.

“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa mga kasama natin sa Laguna at Quezon. Salamat po sa inyo dahil tinutulungan niyo kami na maabot ang ating aspirations ng ating bansa na buksan muli ang ating mass transport at buksan ang economic corridors ng Laguna, Quezon hanggang Bicol,” GM Magno said.

For his part, San Pablo City, Laguna Urban Development and Housing Officer Emilio Tirones said the PNR Lucena-San Pablo line will aid in various aspects of socio-economic development, including the city’s economic stability, mobility and connectivity and relocation for San Pablo City’s informal settlers.

In 2012, the rail line operated once every two days, Tirones lamented.

“Kung may train, may connectivity at mobility ang bawat bayan gaya ng sinabi ni Secretary Tugade. At the same time, yung economic aspects ng San Pablo—‘yung mga products namin madadala sa inter-province, sa Manila,” he said, adding that the Lucena-San Pablo loop will be 10 trips per day.

“Pati yung informal settlers namin maaayos namin kasi magkakaron sila ng relocation,” he pointed out.

SSS extends contribution payment deadline for selected months in 2021 in ‘Odette’-hit areas

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The Social Security System (SSS) announced that the contribution payment deadline for selected months in 2021 is extended to February 28, 2022, in areas declared under a state of calamity due to Typhoon Odette through Presidential Proclamation No. 1267.

Based on SSS Circular No. 2022-004 dated February 9, 2022, contribution payments that may be made until the extended deadline are for the applicable months of November and December 2021 of business and household employers; and October to December 2021 of coverage and collection partners (CCPs), self-employed, voluntary, non-working spouse (SE/V/NWS) members, and land-based Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) members in the following regions: Region IV-B (MIMAROPA); Region VI (Western Visayas); Region VII (Central Visayas); Region VIII (Eastern Visayas); Region X (Northern Mindanao); and Region XIII (CARAGA). “We have seen the adverse effects brought by Typhoon Odette to our fellow citizens last December. Through this extension, we aim to alleviate the worries of our members, employers, and CCPs in the affected areas by helping them to not miss their contribution payments or avoid the penalties of late payments,” SSS President and CEO Aurora C. Ignacio said.   For employers with approved installment proposals, their post-dated checks that fall due in December 2021 and January 2022shall be deposited on or before February 28, 2022.   Meanwhile, no contributions paid retroactively by an SE/V/NWS and land-based OFW member will be used in determining his/her eligibility to any benefit arising from a contingency wherein the date of payment is within or after the semester of contingency. For example, if an SE/V/NWS or land-based OFW member gets sick in April 2022, his/her semester of contingency will be from January to June 2022. This would mean that contributions paid during this time of extension will not be used to determine the eligibility of the said member for the benefit since the date of payment falls within the semester of contingency.   Under normal circumstances, the SSS’ contribution payment deadline of business employers is every last day of the month following the applicable month, while for household employers and SE/V/NWS members, the deadline is every last day of the month following the applicable month or calendar quarter, as the case may be.   Moreover, the contribution payment deadline for land-based OFW members for the applicable months of January to September of a given year is every December 31 of the same year, while for the applicable months of October to December of a given year, it is every January 31 of the succeeding year.   If the deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, payments may still be made on the next working day.   Information about online and alternative payment channels for SS contributions can be accessed at the uSSSap Tayo Portal at https://crms.sss.gov.ph.   The SSS also opened a calamity assistance package for its members and pensioners affected by Typhoon Odette. Programs under the package are the Calamity Loan Assistance Program for members and three-month advance pension for SS and EC pensioners, which will run until April 13, 2022; and the Direct House Repair and Improvement Loan Program, which will be open for applications until December 23, 2022. The complete guidelines of the said programs can be found at https://bit.ly/SSSCI2021-020.   For more information, follow “Philippine Social Security System – SSS” on Facebook, “mysssph” on Instagram or YouTube, “PHLSSS” on Twitter, or join the SSS’ Viber Community at “MYSSSPH Updates.”