Thread by @cnnphilippines

THREAD: Government officials hold Laging Handa briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic and other national issues. | bit.ly/3wy3mhM

Tweets by our digital producer @pplmanuel

@pplmanuel Bureau of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero says they implemented a no-contact policy starting 2019: Nasagawa ito ng pangkalahatan nung Feb 2020, binuksan natin ang portal system natin, customer care center

@pplmanuel BOC Commissioner Guerrero says customers may follow up their requested documents through the customer care center, effectively reducing face-to-face interactions

@pplmanuel BOC Commissioner Guerrero says through the one-stop shop, a pre-arrival clearance is granted for vaccines and critical medical supplies so they can be processed immediately. This allows their transport straight into storage facilities and intended destinations with less hassle

@pplmanuel BOC Commissioner Guerrero says cargo without certificates from the FDA immediately seized

@pplmanuel BOC Commissioner Guerrero says it has cleared 14.21M COVID-19 vaccine doses so far since they arrived in the Philippines

@pplmanuel BOC Commissioner assures not only is it proactively processing vaccines and other vital goods necessary to address the pandemic but also collecting important customs duties, among the state's main revenue sources

@pplmanuel Cooperative Development Authority chief Joseph Encabo says RA 11364 aims to strengthen cooperatives, while RA 11535 says CDA officers must be present in LGUs

@pplmanuel CDA chief: Sa bago nating mandato, tinitignan natin ang kapasidad ng mga kooperatiba natin lalo na ang small, micro, medium cooperatives. Magkakaroon sila ng pagkakataon para palakasin direct participation nila sa e-commerce, makilahok sa global value chain

@pplmanuel CDA chief says reviews on memorandum circulars previously issued by the agency to be conducted especially on ones not applicable anymore given the pandemic

@pplmanuel CDA chief says they will vie to strengthen linkages between cooperatives

@pplmanuel CDA chief says the hotline will listen to comments, suggestions from the public which the agency will implement soonest: Nagkaroon kami ng hotline. Simula nang matayo ang CDA, ngayon lang nagkaroon nito

@pplmanuel CDA chief says they have been receiving concerns from cooperatives on difficulties making collections amid the pandemic

@pplmanuel CDA chief: Handa kaming makipag-ugnayan sa kanila para sa kabutihan ng kooperatiba at ng lahat

@pplmanuel DOH-TAG member Dr. Edsel Salvana on Delta variant first discovered in India: Sa ngayon, 13 ang natatalang kaso nito sa Pilipinas. Lahat ito'y returning travelers

@pplmanuel Dr. Salvana on Delta variant: Mukhang naiwasan naman ang pag-spready sa community for now, pero closely ito minomonitor dahil nakakatakot ang pinapakita nito sa ibang bansa

@pplmanuel Dr. Salvana emphasizes importance of getting the 2nd vaccine dose to ensure full protection against COVID-19

@pplmanuel Dr. Salvana says travel bans help curb the spread of the Delta variant but minimum public health protocols and quarantine protocols forwarded by the IATF should all the more be enforced strictly given how fast it scatters

@pplmanuel Dr. Salvana on limited face-to-face classes by August/September: Kailangan natin tignan ang risk in terms of may mamamatay ba, kakalat ba, mao-overwhelm ba health system natin. Yung pilot, tignan muna natin sa areas na mababa [kaso], MGCQ areas at walang reports ng variants

@pplmanuel Dr. Salvana: Sa pag-aaral, ang Delta variant is 60% more transmissible than Alpha [variant first discovered in UK]...halos 4x maging increased transmissibility ito. (1/2)

@pplmanuel Dr. Salvana: Even outdoors, increased by 40% transmission neto. Para sa'kin, kahit sabihin nilang di na required face shield, gagamit pa rin ako (2/2)

@pplmanuel Dr. Salvana strongly recommends using face shields given the higher transmissibility rate of the Delta variant (first discovered in India)

@pplmanuel Dr. Salvana calls for stricter observance of health protocols: Maghintay lang tayo ng kaunti, aabot din tayo sa time na pwede na natin tanggalin mga 'to pag marami na ang nabakunahan at di na at risk ang ating most vulnerable members of society