HEADS UP: What's Next After Pacquiao is Removed as PDP-Laban President (July 19)

Here’s a Heads Up from reportr on news that you need to know today, July 19:

2022 ELECTIONS

• The PDP-Laban faction led by Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi elected a new set of officers, effectively removing Sen. Manny Pacquiao as its acting president.
• How can Pacquiao’s removal as PDP-Laban president affect his road to Malacañang in 2022?
• President Rodrigo Duterte said he might run for vice president in the 2022 elections as it would supposedly allow him to be immune from suit.
• Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said he is planning to run for vice president next year.
• Hundreds of Filipino media practitioners pledged to uphold the standards of journalism and protect the electoral process in their coverage of the 2022 elections.

VACCINE NEWS

• The Philippines received 3.2 million jabs of the single-dose Johnson&Johnson COVID-19 vaccine as it stood its guard against the Delta coronavirus variant.
• Apart from Johnson&Johnson, the country also got an additional 1.15 million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

NEWS YOU CAN USE

• PWDs can ride the MRT-3 for free until July 23 in observance of National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week.
• RCBC is expanding its cardless ATM withdrawals to mobile terminals that are in isolated areas to make its financial services accessible to more people.

NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW 

• The Philippines reported its first 16 cases of the highly contagious Delta coronavirus variant which drives the surge of cases in neighboring Southeast Asian countries.
• School Year 2021-2022 will open on Sept. 13, the Department of Education said, with classes in the basic education level still using blended modes of learning.
• Fabian, the sixth storm of 2021, has intensified into a tropical storm. It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Monday evening.
• The government has allowed the Philippine Basketball Association to begin its 46th season, with strict compliance to COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
• Just days before the Tokyo Olympics open, two athletes in the Olympic Village have already tested positive for COVID-19.