Bello, Issa Xara C.

JOUR 65

BA Journalism 2-1 Ma’am Estrada

News Writing Exercises

Article #1

Baguio City suspends Night Market over crowd control lapses

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong has suspended the city’s Night Market operations
due to lapses in crowd control last Wednesday, a day after its official reopening.

The city’s Public Information Office said that Magalong instructed City Treasurer Alex
Cabarrubias and Market Superintendent Fernando Ragma Jr. to conduct a post-night market
assessment on the incident.

According to Magalong, the reopening of businesses should not disregard the health
protocols against the virus and sacrifice the health and safety of people.

“Identify our weak points and vulnerabilities and discuss solutions,” Magalong said in an
attempt to urge authorities for insights to determine possible solutions to the lapses in crowd
control.

On Tuesday night, the night market has resumed its operations along Harrison Road as part
of the city’s effort to reopen economy and restore the livelihood of vendors amid COVID-19
pandemic.

Members of Public Order and Safety Division and Baguio City Police Office monitored
the area and reminded shoppers to maintain physical distancing as well as proper usage of face
mask and face shield.

Considering the protocol, only 45% of the original vending slots or 481 stalls were allowed
to open.

Last October 22, Baguio started to welcome tourists from Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley,
Central Luzon after months of suspension on tourism activities due to COVID-19 threat.
Article #2

PRC may ‘close down laboratories’ over PHILHEALTH debt — Gordon

Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and Senator Richard Gordon reveals the possible
downsizing of COVID-19 testing laboratories if Philippine Health Insurance Corporation
(PhilHealth) does not settle its debt immediately.

Gordon stated that PhilHealth is not complying with the agreement that it would pay three
days after being billed, adding that they [PhilHealth] are now taking nine up to 12 days.

“Red Cross cannot just grin and bear with it. We don’t want to stop but if we’re not paid,
then we will have to scale down our operation or maybe close down some of our laboratories,”
Gordon said.

Earlier in October, PRC has stopped conducting COVID-19 tests chargeable to PhilHealth
due to its inability to settle balance at Php 930,993,000.00. It resumed when a portion of the
balance was settled, as 37% of COVID-19 testing in Metro Manila are done by PRC, consuming
Php 25 million per day.

As of December 1, PhilHealth owes Philippine Red Cross Php 623 million for COVID-19
testing.
Article #3

DILG: LGUs to decide on allowing minors to visit malls

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said
Monday that minors could already visit malls provided that they are accompanied by adults. He
clarified however that a local ordinance is needed before this will be enforced.

According to Año, the proposal went out last Sunday and urged for immediate resolution
ordinance since LGUs would be held responsible for the decision, pushing mayors to settle a single
stand.

“There is no final decision yet on allowing minors to visit malls amid GCQ in NCR,” Año
said.

NCR Police Officer acting chief Brigadier General Vicente Danao said minors are still
prohibited to go outside, especially in GCQ areas, which was agreed to by Año, saying that the
number of people going outside must be controlled.

Joint Task Force COVID Shield commander Police Lieutenant General Cesar Hawthorne
Binag earlier said that police are already preparing in case minors will be allowed to go to malls.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila mayors are still debating and are still in discussion with
Philippine Pediatric Society as well as other health experts.

Mayors argued that they’re not ready since it’s Christmas season [possibility of huge
crowds] while others argued that they can allow minors this time, given the rule of being
accompanied by guardians/parents.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), the country’s COVID-19 cases increased
to 432,925 on Tuesday, while 398,782 others have recovered, and 8,418 died.

The areas with the highest number of new infections recorded were Ilocos Norte – 84;
Manila City – 61; Quezon Province – 55; Laguna – 50; Negros Occidental – 47.