Manila, July 28 -- A total of 82 police officers from the Quezon City Police District found positive for the coronavirus are now undergoing quarantine in the city's facilities. The police officers were tested last July 23 during the routine testing of the city's front-liners often exposed and at a higher risk of contracting the disease. Dr. Rolando Cruz, city's epidemiology unit chief, said the 82 who tested positive are assigned to three police stations -- Police Station 3 in Talipapa, Novaliches, Police Community Precinct 1 in Unang Sigaw and Police Community Precinct 2 in Bahay Toro. "The first 48 positive cases were already admitted to several of our HOPE facilities last night, July 27. The other 34 will be admitted today," Cruz said. All police officers who tested positive are asymptomatic and have been fully vaccinated, he added. In a statement Wednesday, Mayor Joy Belmonte appealed to the public not to panic, especially in areas of the precincts where the police personnel are assigned. "The city government is prepared to contain the spread of the virus. Our CESU has the capability to deal with this situation. We are appealing to anyone who is experiencing symptoms to please call 122 and inform CESU immediately," Belmonte said. The city is carrying out an investigation near and around the precincts where these police officers are assigned to identify the source of the infection. This would also determine if it is necessary to place these areas under granular lockdowns. Despite the situation, Police Station 3 commander Lt. Col. Cristine Tabdi assured that the station would remain operational. The station would set up an area to receive reports or complaints outdoors. Visits to the station are also prohibited in the meantime. Meantime, the Philippine National Police (PNP) will strictly enforce quarantine protocols in Metro Manila amid the threat of the highly infectious Delta variant. "I am directing police commanders to be more vigilant in preventing the occurrence of social gatherings, which may be considered super spreader events that could lead to a high transmission rate of Covid-19," PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said. Independent research group OCTA warned the public against taking part in social gatherings amid the spike in cases in Metro Manila and the country overall which it said may be driven by the Delta variant. So far, the Philippines has recorded a total of 119 cases of the Delta variant. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at contentservices@htlive.comCopyright 2012. Philippines News Agency

Manila, July 28 -- Business registrations and renewals reached 1.9 million as of Tuesday, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said. He said the number has increased from 900,000 business registrations and renewals in 2015. "While there are business(es) that closed down, the number of new businesses that registered and those that renewed their businesses actually increased," Lopez said in a television interview Tuesday evening. The trade chief said as long as there will be no extreme lockdowns that will happen, many sectors will remain open. He added this would help the country to further reduce the unemployment rate close to the pre-pandemic level of 5 percent. Unemployment rate in May 2021 settled at 7.7 percent, lower than the 8.7 percent in its previous month, and lower than the 17.7 percent joblessness rate at the height of the pandemic last year. "As long as we are able to reopen, we see (a) faster reaction to employment. In other words, more people are going back to work, more sectors, more businesses are opening up again," Lopez said. He said the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to pass economic reform bills such as amendments to the Foreign Investments Act, Retail Trade Liberalization Act, and the Public Service Act is "very timely" as the government is "trying to look for ways and means to achieve economic recovery". Lopez said these key legislations will help to attract foreign investments in the country that would create more jobs for Filipinos. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at contentservices@htlive.comCopyright 2012. Philippines News Agency

Manila, July 28 -- Coronavirus cases in Tokyo have shot up to a record high just four days after the start of the Olympics, local media reported on Tuesday. Japan's capital reported 2,848 new cases - its highest daily figure to date - as a wave of infections driven by the contagious Delta variant shows no signs of abating despite the imposition of a state of emergency, according to a report by Kyodo News. The nationwide daily count was also above 7,000 for the first time since May 12, inching closer to Japan's all-time high of about 8,000 seen in January. Infections have also been mounting in the provinces neighboring Tokyo, such as Kanagawa and Chiba, the report added. "We're concerned about the rise in people in serious condition," said Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, adding that efforts were being made to "secure more hospital beds for Covid-19 patients." Experts are warning that the Delta strain, which was first detected in India, may cause an alarming surge in cases that could peak around Aug. 3, five days before the Olympics end, the report said. The number of Covid-19 cases at the Games has risen to 155 after seven more people, including two foreign athletes, tested positive for the virus. Japan's overall tally now stands at 875,506, including 15,137 deaths, according to official figures. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at contentservices@htlive.comCopyright 2012. Philippines News Agency

AMPATUAN, July 28 -- Eleven members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) have voluntarily surrendered on separate occasions to the operating units of the Army's First Mechanized Infantry Brigade in this province. Lt. Col. Cresencio Sanchez, 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion commander, presented the first four BIFF fighters in a ceremony to Col. Pedro Balisi, commander of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade, at their headquarters in Barangay Kamasi here around 2 p.m. on Tuesday. Mayor Marop Ampatuan of Shariff Aguak, this province, witnessed the event. "These former violent extremists are under the Bungos Faction of the BIFF operating in the boundaries of the commonly known as SPMS Box in Maguindanao," Sanchez said. SPMS box is a military term for the adjoining towns of Shariff Aguak, Pagatin (Datu Saudi Ampatuan town), Mamasapano and Shariff Saydona Mustapha, this province. "They signified their intention to return to the fold of law because they were already exhausted of eluding government forces," Sanchez said. The four BIFF surrenderers yielded a crew-served weapon and assorted high-powered firearms consisting of one US-made .50 caliber machinegun, one Carbine rifle, one M-16 Armalite rifle attached with an M-203 grenade launcher, a US-made .30 caliber M1 Garand rifle, and one home-made 7.62-millimeter (MM) sniper rifle. "This is another milestone in winning the peace in the province of Maguindanao, as we witnessed the return of our BIFF brothers to the government and live normal lives in the community," Sanchez said. Balisi lauded the efforts of the 1st Mechanized Infantry "Lakan" Battalion and municipal government of Shariff Aguak for convincing the former violent extremists to surrender to the government. Specifically, Balisi lauded Mayor Ampatuan for his unwavering support to the military's campaign against violent extremists. Balisi encouraged the other members of the BIFF to return to the fold of law so they could live a better life with their families. "You did the right thing since starting today, the Army will no longer run after you because you are no longer wanted persons," Balisi told the surrenderers. "You can now live peacefully and productively together with your loved ones". Ampatuan extended initial cash and rice assistance as he welcomed the former BIFF combatants. He stressed that the Shariff Aguak municipal government is ready to help those who want to surrender and start a new life together with their families. Meanwhile, Balisi welcomed seven BIFF members who separately surrendered around 4 p.m. Tuesday to the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion in Datu Anggal Midtimbang, this province. The seven surrenderers, who operated in the mountains of the said town, were convinced by local officials to surrender and to avail of the government's program for former rebels. Balisi said the former BIFF members turned over two M-14 rifles, one M-16 Armalite rifle, one homemade .50 caliber Barret sniper rifle, a .30 caliber M1 Garand rifle, an M-79 Grenade Launcher, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and ammunition. "I commend you for choosing the right path. Go to your loved ones and live normal lives," Balisi told the former rebels. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at contentservices@htlive.comCopyright 2012. Philippines News Agency

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Add these films to your binge-watch list Mark your calendars as Filipino movies are coming to Netflix on Aug. 15, 2021. The streaming platform adds Jerrold Tarog’s “Bliss” and Baby Ruth Villarama’s “Sunday Beauty Queen” to its wide media library. Released in 2017, “Bliss” was first premiered in Japan’s 12th Osaka Asian Film Festival where its lead star Iza Calzado took home the Yakushi Pearl Award for Best Performer. The psychological thriller film centers on Jane Ciego, an actress who got into an accident while filming her self-produced film. Insanity comes to her as she experiences horrors while she is recovering in her own home. Initially, the film was banned from being released locally. The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) gave it an X-rating due to its excessive nudity, violence, and masturbation. After a second review, the board gave it an R-18 review and was released on May 10, 2017. “Sunday Beauty Queen” is a 2016 documentary that follows a group of domestic workers in Hong Kong as they prepare for an annual beauty pageant. After winning Best Picture at the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival, the film continued to gain accolades in 2017, such as the Best Documentary award at the Gawad Urian and Best International Documentary at London Labour Film Festival. Another thing to add on your list is “A Far Away Land,” which stars Paolo Contis and Yen Santos. Shot in Denmark in 2020, the romantic movie is set to premiere on the platform on Aug. 19, 2021.

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Tokyo Olympics 2021 - LIVE! Team GB have enjoyed their best start to an Olympics in modern history. The gold rush in Tokyo continued on Tuesday as Tom Dean claimed a sensational gold and Duncan Scott silver to ensure a British one-two in the men’s 200m freestyle. In total, Team GB won six medals on day four and they are enjoying more success on day five, with men’s quadruple sculls silver secured after a sequence of disappointing results in the rowing, including no medal for Britain in the men’s coxless four - an event they have dominated since 2000. Dean and Scott - along with James Guy and Matthew Richards - then made it three swimming golds at one Games for Britain for the first time since 1908 as they powered to victory in the 4x200m freestyle relay final. After moving alongside Katherine Grainger as Britain's most decorated female Olympian by claiming team dressage bronze on Tuesday, Charlotte Dujardin will bid to become the only British woman to claim gold at three Olympics in Wednesday's individual final. Geraint Thomas is a medal hope in the men's time trial as road cycling returns, but much will depend on how he recovers from the crash that he and Tao Geoghegan Hart went down in during Saturday's road race. There should also be plenty of entertainment when the 3x3 basketball concludes on what will be another busy day in Tokyo. Follow all the action from Day Five in Tokyo with Standard Sport’s dedicated live blog below... Read More End of an era for GB Rowing as men’s coxless four lose control Team GB swimmers rewrite record books at Tokyo Olympics What you missed at Olympics: More Team GB swimming glory, rowing drama