HEADS UP: Business Backs 2-Week Lockdown vs Delta Variant (July 29)

Here's a Heads Up from reportr on news that you need to know today, July 29:

TOP STORY

• Businessmen are in favor of a two-week lockdown to halt the spread of the Delta coronavirus variant, said Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion.

NEWS EXPLAINED

• How bad is this Habagat season? It dumped one month's worth of rain over seven days, with more showers expected throughout the weekend, PAGASA said.
• Tumindig is the latest in the long line of hand gestures that define political movements and politicians in the Philippines.

HIDILYN DIAZ

• Filipinos continue to celebrate Hidilyn Diaz's inspiring gold medal triumph in Tokyo. 
• Her mother, Emelita Diaz, said the family erupted in cheers and tears of joy as they watched her win. 
• Diaz didn't let her inclusion in a "matrix" of supposed anti-government plotters released in Malacañang stop her. 
• She is also promoted to sergeant in the Philippine Air Force.
• Brands tried to outwit each other with congratulatory posts and memes and Orocan chose violence. 

TOKYO 2020

• The Philippines is assured of more than one medal in a single edition of the Olympics. Nesthy Petecio is assured of a podium finish in boxing and Abante Babae is trending. 
• Star U.S. gymnast Symone Biles quite the finals at the Tokyo Olympics, citing her mental health. Here's hoping it will move the sports community to treat the issue differently. 

2022 ELECTIONS 

• Sen. Richard Gordon said he's in talks with Vice President Leni Robredo, without divulging details. He would later reveal that he has COVID-19 and isolating at home. 
• Robredo also met with the tandem of Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Tito Sotto. 
• Work is Work at the Senate, and that includes passing the 2022 National Budget on time, said the Lacson-Sotto tandem.
• Lacson said he would be installed as chairman of the Partido Reporma while remaining as an independent presidential candidate.
• Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri cited results of a Pulse Asia survey he commissioned: Nearly half of 2,400 respondents said they would go home on election day if COVID cases in their barangay are high.

NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW 

• IKEA Philippines is looking for part-timers if you’re in the job market but can’t commit full time.
• As authorities clean up trash from Manila Bay’s Dolomite beach, the DENR tests surrounding waters for poop or fecal coliform.
• Marikina River is back at Alert Level 1 as incessant rains caused it to swell
• Jose Mari Chan is back, one month before the 'ber' months. He's in charge of the musical accompaniment to the Ayala Triangle Garden's annual light show. 
• U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, on a visit to Southeast Asia, rebuffed China's vast claims at sea.