MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday (January 6) released additional information about the carrier of a new COVID-19 variant detected in Hong Kong.

According to a report provided by the Hong Kong International Health Regulations National Focal Point in collaboration with the country’s Center for Health Development, the case is a 30-year-old Filipino from Cagayan Valley.

The report said the Filipina left the region on December 17, 2020 and upon arrival in Metro Manila on December 18, underwent quarantine as per workplace protocol. The following day she was tested using RT-PCR which yielded negative result.

She left for Hong Kong on December 22 and underwent quarantine after arrival. After 10 days on January 2, she underwent RT-PCR testing again which tested positive and detected with the new COVID-19 variant from the UK.

Hong Kong authorities said she remains in isolation and in stable condition.

Contact tracing is underway here in the Philippines, the DOH said, as the flight manifest has been obtained while the agency is awaiting the result of contact tracing being done by their counterparts in Hong Kong.

“There is also ongoing contact tracing by the concerned epidemiology and surveillance units in Cagayan Valley Region and NCR,” the DOH concluded.

MANILA, Philippines — Almost 1,000 families have been evacuated in Caraga Region after several areas experienced flooding due to heavy rains brought by tropical depression Vicky.

According to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), the families are currently staying in evacuation centers. Most of the evacuees came from Bislig City and Agusan del Sur.

OCD Caraga Regional Director Liza Mazo said, the families are not yet allowed to return home until authorities are certain it is already safe to do so.

Mazo also reported one incident of landslide in the region, located at Barangay Tabon in Bislig City. No casualties were reported.

Meanwhile, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is conducting relief operations for families affected by TD Vicky. AAC (with reports from Raymond Octobre)

MANILA, Philippines – House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco on Monday said he wants the panel investigation on the severe flooding that submerged parts of Cagayan and Isabela areas to focus more on coming up with long-term solutions to prevent deaths and economic costs in future disasters.

Velasco issued the statement as the House Committee on Agriculture and Food sets to conduct its probe on Tuesday.

Velasco said the purpose of the probe is to establish facts that could lead to corrective actions, and not to find fault on concerned individuals and agencies.

“We hope to hear everyone’s side and get a clearer picture of the events that transpired when Typhoon Ulysses struck and caused widespread flooding in Luzon,” Velasco said.

“The aim here is to come up with solutions and legislation, if needed, to prevent the unnecessary loss of lives and properties during typhoons,” he added.

Velasco said the congressional hearing will also focus on how to better address proper protocols and preparedness even before a natural disaster strikes.

“There will be more typhoons that will come our way, and we have to become better at preparations and in handling situations that call for sound judgment to prevent deaths and loss of properties from happening,” he said.

The panel has invited officials of the National Irrigation Administration and the local governments of Cagayan and Isabela for the hearing on Tuesday.

The inquiry was called by Velasco, together with Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Minority Leader Joseph Stephen Paduano, through House Resolution No. 1348 into the cause of massive flooding that submerged the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela.

The country was hit by a series of typhoons – Quinta, Rolly, and Ulysses – from late October to early November this year.

Ulysses caused heavy damages to infrastructure and agriculture and claimed 73 lives. The typhoon also affected thousands of families in parts of Luzon, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

 The entire Luzon has been placed under a state of calamity following the onslaught of recent typhoons.