MMDA deploys team to quake-hit Abra to help in disaster response

 MANILA, Philippines — An additional 2,727 new infections of COVID-19, were recorded by the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday, slightly raising the country's total active tally to 27,754. Based on the data released through the DOH’s COVID-19 tracker in its website, the country's total caseload is now at 3,760,488 nationwide, with 3,672,040 recoveries and 60,694 deaths https://doh.gov.ph/covid19tracker These new cases were higher than the number of infections recorded on Tuesday at 2,360, but is still slightly lower than the average daily cases recorded from July 18 to 24 at 2,791. The National Capital Region continued to have the highest number of infections per region in the last two weeks with 12,832 cases, followed by Calabarzon at 8,217, then by Central Luzon with another huge gap at 3,745. Cavite, on the other hand, now tops the list of areas with the most reported cases in the last two weeks at 2,823, surpassing Quezon City which recorded 2,700. The third area with the most cases, meanwhile, remains to be Laguna with 2,091. The tracker showed that 24,195 individuals were recorded to have been tested for COVID-19 on Tuesday. This will reflect the recorded infections on Thursday.   The DOH earlier launched its campaign to boost the administration of booster vaccines against COVID-19 to the eligible population to reduce the further spread of the virus. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1635121/doh-launches-booster-program-targeting-23-million-filipinos With this, the government aims to inoculate at least 50 percent of the eligible population, or 23 million individuals with the COVID-19 booster dose. RELATED STORIES: Daily COVID-19 cases may reach over 17,000 by end of July https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1626823/daily-covid-19-cases-may-reach-over-17k-by-end-of-july Low vaccination, booster turnout may lead to over 19,000 daily COVID cases by August https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1634771/fwd-doh-projects-19k-daily-covid-19-cases-by-end-of-august-if-booster-rates-do-not-improve

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MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Wednesday it deployed a contingent team to help in the clearing operations in earthquake-hit Abra.

MMDA officer-in-charge Baltazar Melgar said the 39-man crew includes personnel from the MMDA Road Emergency Group, Metro Parkways Clearing Group, and Public Safety Division.

Melgar said the deployment of the MMDA team is in response to the request of Abra Gov. Dominic Valera.

A powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake rocked Abra on Wednesday morning. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the earthquake had a depth of 17 kilometers.

“We will exert our efforts by mobilizing our personnel and other resources to provide immediate assistance to the quake’s victims,” Melgar said in a press release.

The MMDA official also said they would dispatch necessary equipment and materials such as one ambulance, two rapid response vehicles, two generator sets, two portable jack hammers, 10 portable water purifiers, and 15 modular tents to Abra.

The MMDA contingent group will stay in Abra for as long as it is needed, Melgar added. As of this writing, 11 of the 39 team members have been sent to Abra while the remaining members will go there on Thursday morning. — Andy Hoo, INQUIRER.net trainee

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