HEADS UP: President Duterte Delivers His Final SONA (July 26)

Here’s a Heads Up from reportr on news that you need to know today, July 26:

SONA 2021

• President Rodrigo Duterte is set to deliver his final State of the Nation Address this afternoon. How did past presidents use their so-called swan song to define their legacy?
• More people can physically attend the SONA this year compared to the previous one, but they are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
• Due to this requirement, Vice President Leni Robredo will only be attending Duterte’s SONA virtually.
• The House of Representatives has launched a website to update the public about the legislative achievements of the Duterte administration ahead of his final SONA.

WEST PHILIPPINE SEA EXPLAINED

• The West Philippine Sea issue is closer than what you think, to the stomach even. Think galunggong, and even a possible cure for cancer.

WEATHER NEWS

• At least three individuals were killed while five others were hurt as the enhanced southwest monsoon or habagat continued to batter many parts of the country.
• The monsoon rains also flooded parts of Metro Manila and caused a rise in the Marikina River water level.

2022 ELECTIONS

• Former Vice President Jejomar Binay is joining the Lacson-Sotto senatorial ticket in the 2022 elections.
• Sen. Panfilo Lacson bared that there was an ouster attempt against Senate President Vicente Sotto III after he declared that he was running for vice president in the upcoming polls.

NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW

• The Philippines has confirmed a local transmission of the highly transmissible Delta coronavirus variant. 
• On Sunday, the Department of Health reported 55 new cases of the Delta variant, bringing its total to 119.
• The confirmation of a local transmission of the Delta variant prompted the placing of Metro Manila under GCQ with heightened restrictions until the end of July. 
• The stay-at-home policy for children aged five and above in NCR was also reimposed.
• Thailand and Malaysia are now included in the Philippines’ travel ban due to the threat of the Delta variant.
• A new study showed that China's Sinovac has a high efficacy of preventing symptomatic COVID-19 and hospitalization among adults aged 18 to 59.
• The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is ordering social media app Lyka to stop functioning as a payments system without proper registration.