The number of active COVID-19 cases in the Philippine National Police is down to 54.

The Marikina City government has granted a 100-percent tax relief to owners of sari-sari stores and carinderia or eatery businesses next year to give them respite from financial losses they incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before COVID-19, the world was already grappling with another pandemic: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. COVID has derailed the battle against AIDS, with inequalities widening in access to essential services meant to prevent and treat HIV.

COVID has derailed the country in many ways. We’ve lost three years in economic development, four years in curbing unemployment and four years towards attaining our education, health care and housing goals. Worse, the widening budget deficit and rising debt levels have made the economy fundamentally weaker.

The emergence of another COVID-19 variant may result in a loss of momentum in economic recovery in many countries, including the Philippines, as plans to reopen borders to tourism have been stalled indefinitely.