Monday, August 17, 2020

Inquirer Newsletter. August 18, 2020

SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE Marian Charie Liao, 18, shows her finished face masks made with native fabric at the building where their family lives in Quezon City. It is part of a second new batch of reusable masks made on a small portable sewing machine which she sells at P55 per piece through an online selling platform (Shopee). She hopes to earn at least P25,000 rather than just rely on donations to be able to buy a new laptop that she plans to use for online learning.

Regions

Activists in ‘berdugo’ posters seek CHR help

DAVAO CITY—Human rights activists alarmed by the appearance of their names in a “wanted” poster here have filed a supplemental complaint and an urgent request for investigation in the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Monday. –STORY BY GERMELINA LACORTE INQ

World

NZ delays polls as coronavirus flares up

WELLINGTON—New Zealand’s prime minister postponed the country’s general election on Monday by a month to Oct. 17 as the city of Auckland remains in lockdown due to a growing coronavirus outbreak. –STORY BY REUTERS

Lifestyle - Wellness

Key to better health, slowing down aging is your lifestyle

Your executive checkup results are normal, but you’ve been chronically lethargic. Most likely, other problems in the body have been left undetected. “We conduct a series of tests that are not routinely done in the hospital or laboratories,” says Dr. Benedict Valdecañas, medical director of Aegle Wellness Center. –STORY BY MARGE C. ENRIQUEZ

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Banner story

Quimbo: PhilHealth funds used ‘like a blank check’

The source of funding for the IRM, PhilHealth Senior Vice President Renato Limsiaco Jr. replied that it was taken from the corporate operating budget for 2020.

“So that fund can be used for other expenses? It can be used to purchase supplies and to pay the salaries of employees?” Quimbo asked.

Limsiaco replied in the affirmative.

No control

“For example, P100 million was released [under IRM], but the claim so far is only P10 million. The balance of P90 million can be used by the hospital for other purposes, including salaries?” an incredulous Quimbo wondered.

“That is correct,” Limsiaco answered.

Quimbo retorted: “So that’s why we’re having problems, Mr. Chair! Because there’s almost no control in the use of the IRM fund. I am shocked by the very liberal use of the IRM.”

The IRM was halted by PhilHealth last week on the prodding of lawmakers “to review its overall implementation and resolve issues arising from congressional inquiries.”

Several senators have asked that the program be stopped amid allegations of irregularities. —INQ

Editorial

Vicious campaign

No less than the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has expressed "grave concern’’ over the startling "Wanted’’ posters that appeared late last week in several places in Davao City which branded nine lumad rights advocates and leaders of militant organizations as "human rights violators’’ and "berdugo’’ or executioners.

Read full story: opinion.inquirer.net