News Briefs: Oct. 25, 2018
Measles cases rise 900% over fear of inoculation
The Department of Health (DOH) has recorded since January a more than 900-percent increase in the number of measles cases throughout the country due in part to the public’s fear of inoculation caused by the Dengvaxia controversy.
Based on data from the DOH’s Epidemiology Bureau, there were 2,843 confirmed cases of measles nationwide from Jan. 1 to Oct. 6, or a 926-percent increase from a year ago, when there were only 277 cases.
The National Capital Region recorded the highest number of cases at 518. —Jovic Yee
PNP may hire 10,000 new recruits in 2019–DBM
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the plan of the Philippine National Police to hire 10,000 new policemen next year.
In a statement on Wednesday, the DBM said P3 billion was included in the PNP’s proposed 2019 budget to boost the police-to-population ratio to a 1:505, slightly short of the ideal 1:500 ratio.
“The government eyes more recruits in the police force to ramp up efforts at addressing criminality in the country,” Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said. —Ben O. De Vera
