Coverings nc

SINGAPORE - All seven Integrated Shield Plan(IP) insurers are extending coverage to Covid-19 vaccination complications that result in hospitalisation. This will apply to all IP policyholders who receive Covid-19 vaccines approved by the Health Sciences Authority and are vaccinated in Singapore, the Life Insurance Association, Singapore (LIA Singapore) said on Monday (Jan 25). The special coverage will last till Dec 31, 2021. "Extensions to the duration of coverage will be considered in the later part of the year after monitoring the evolving situation," said the association. It added that the extended coverage is "in support of the nation's measures to protect the community and enable Singapore's return to normalcy". Mr Khor Hock Seng, president of LIA Singapore, said: "The life insurance industry is in full support of the Government's efforts to encourage as many Singaporeans as possible to take the Covid-19 vaccine. "This proactive commitment from our members ... » Learn More about Integrated Shield Plan now covers Covid-19 vaccine complications that lead to hospitalisation

JERUSALEM: Israelis stepped into the streets without masks on Sunday (Apr 18) for the first time in a year, a key milestone as the country vaccinates its way out of a coronavirus nightmare. "It's very strange but it's very nice," said Eliana Gamulka, 26, after getting off a bus near the busy Jerusalem shopping boulevard of Jaffa Street and removing her face covering. "You can't pretend that you don't know anyone any more," she smiled. With over half the population fully vaccinated in one of the world's fastest anti-COVID 19 inoculation campaigns, the health ministry announced on Thursday that masks would no longer be required in public outdoor spaces. For Gamulka, a project manager, the good news came at the perfect time - just two weeks before her wedding. It will be "very nice to celebrate with everyone, now without masks", she said. "The pictures will be great! I'm very relieved. We can start living again." The vaccination of close to five million people has sent ... » Learn More about Masks come off as Israel vaunts COVID-19 victory

Converge ICT Solutions Inc., the country’s only pure fiber broadband provider, has harvested several awards from various local and international institutions for its rampant growth in recent years amid its brisk expansion to reach unserved and underserved markets. This further accelerated last year to serve more customers, who are in need of high-speed internet connection for their work from home, online classrooms or entertainment needs amid community quarantines aimed at stopping the spread of Covid-19. At the end of 2020, Converge has more than doubled its domestic fiber network compared to the previous year and strengthened its customer service teams, tripling customer service personnel and more than doubling its installation teams while adding over 400 service vehicles. For its continuous commitment to improve Filipinos’ connectivity, Converge earned recognition as the “Fastest Growing Fiber Internet Service Provider” in the 2020 International Finance Awards for the second ... » Learn More about Converge racks up local, international accolades for rapid growth

SUDDENLY, IT’S AMOVEMENT The community pantry set up by entrepreneur Ana Patricia Non on Maginhawa Street, Quezon City, has inspired countless similar projects elsewhere in the country such as this one in Intramuros, Manila. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ From the first community pantry on Maginhawa Street, Quezon City, dozens more have opened not only in Metro Manila, but also in some Luzon provinces, the Bicol region and in Mindanao, prompting Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David to call it “the most tangible sign of hope.’’ In Iligan City, Lucia Silva launched on Sunday her version of young entrepreneur Ana Patricia Non’s Maginhawa community pantry at Purok 5 in Sitio Canaway, Barangay Saray, where many had lost their jobs. “Most of the residents in this community are construction workers, sikad and jeepney drivers, laborers, sidewalk vendors and fishermen who were affected by the pandemic,” the 23-year-old Silva said. Halal, too Since many people in the city were Muslims, she urged ... » Learn More about Community pantries sprouting all over

MANILA, Philippines — Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. took a swipe at countries “hoarding” the COVID-19 vaccines and blamed them for the vaccine shortfall in middle- and low-income nations. At a United Nations forum, Galvez, who is the chief implementer of the Philippines’ National Policy against COVID-19, said “rich nations” had managed to secure 80 percent of the total global vaccine supply, leaving the Philippines and other countries “scrambling” for the scarce resources. “Hoarding the limited vaccines does not serve anyone’s interests and only hurts everyone and the global response. Similar transgressions run contrary to solidarities reached multilaterally that emphasized the importance of collective action,” Galvez said in a speech delivered online at the UN Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc). ‘We are failing’ Galvez was the country’s delegate to the special ministerial meeting held on Friday in New York City. Global leaders and representatives gathered to discuss the ... » Learn More about Galvez hits countries ‘hoarding’ vaccines at UN forum

Regine Velasquez (left) and Ogie Alcasid (Image: Instagram/@ogiealcasid) Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid performed their own version of American musician Josh Groban’s 2007 track “Thankful” to mark their 10th wedding anniversary today. Alcasid shared their cover on his Instagram page yesterday, Dec. 21, while highlighting the importance of hope amid these trying times. “This year has been a very difficult year for all of us and we are quite sure that even the giving and receiving of gifts this season does not diminish the sense of despair and loneliness that all of the tragic events have brought to our lives,” he said. “But, as we all always do, we must hold on to HOPE.” Through their short performance, the couple wishes to remind their fans that “there is still so much to be thankful for” amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ogie Alcasid (@ogiealcasid) Along with ... » Learn More about LISTEN: Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid sing Josh Groban’s ‘Thankful’ for 10th wedding anniversary

BUSINESS operators are bracing for a tough time dealing with the no dine-in policy during the second movement control order (MCO) period. Beef noodle stall manager Joanne Ang said there were hardly any customers with delivery and takeaway services being the order of the day. “We just hope things will be better as we have partnered with a host of delivery service providers. “Most people would order food delivery, just like during the previous MCO last year, ” she said at her stall at a shopping mall food court in Bayan Lepas, Penang, recently. Ang said she had reduced the number of workers from five to two to keep the business afloat. “This could help cut cost but definitely not enough to cover our operating expenses. “We are now thinking of coming up with offers, promotions and set meals to attract customers. “We need more time to think as the MCO started all of a sudden, ” she added. From now until Jan 26, eateries in states under MCO are allowed to operate but can ... » Learn More about Eateries looking at different ways to stay afloat

THE Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) announces the temporary suspension of LRT-1 operations for two weekends in April 2021 to continue the maintenance work needed for a better and improved LRT-1 experience. The shutdown on April 17 to 18 and April 24 to 25, 2021 (Saturday and Sunday) will allow LRMC to complete the remaining maintenance and rehabilitation work started during the Holy Week. The works to be carried out during this period would cover the maintenance of trains, stations and various systems including the scheduled replacement of overhead catenary wires. The additional days will also accelerate the preparations needed for the commercial use of the new Generation-4 train sets in Q4 2021. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has confirmed the deployment of public utility buses, running on Route 17 (Monumento to EDSA via Rizal Avenue/Taft Avenue), to support affected commuters during the temporary weekend shutdown. There will be no changes in the service schedule of ... » Learn More about No LRT-1 operations from April 17 to 18, 24 to 25

The Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) will distribute aid in communities affected by lockdowns because of a surge in Covid-19 cases. The humanitarian drive under the group’s Lingap sa Mamamayan started on April 18. The INC allocated P10 million for the initiative that will cover the cities of Quezon, Manila, Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, Pateros, San Juan, Taguig, Valenzuela and the provinces of Rizal, Laguna, Cavite and Bulacan. The aid distribution will continue until April 30,2021. “Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo and the entire INC continue to act on the spirit of bayanihan that our government is spearheading. We as a Church will do our share in providing assistance to our countrymen in need — those who have lost jobs, those who need food and basic supplies, those who need upliftment during this ongoing health emergency,” said INC finance officer Glicerio Santos 4th. Santos said the INC will coordinate ... » Learn More about INC to distribute Covid-19 assistance

A STUDY conducted by state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) revealed that women are more likely to embrace online work due to the flexibility it provides. PIDS senior research fellow Connie Bayudan-Dacuycuy and research analyst Lora Kryz Baje in their published report said platform work has the “potential to help women reconcile the age-old conflict between unpaid work and market work” and can help achieve the sustainable development goal targets on women empowerment and gender equality. “Skills development and training systems that enable workers to develop the requisite skills in any work arrangement is crucial. The government can leverage digital platforms to efficiently bring together markets for skills and training,” the authors said. The study cited existing government programs that seek to enhance the digital skills of Filipinos, which include the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s digitaljobsPH program, Philippine ... » Learn More about Women more inclined to work online – study