Dar Al Ber Society Donates AED20 Million For 100 Million Meals Campaign

Dar Al Ber Society, one of the first charities established in the UAE, donated AED20 million to the ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign aimed at providing food parcels for disadvantaged individuals and families across 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Dar Al Ber’s contribution will help provide 20 million meals to low-income communities in beneficiary countries including Egypt, Pakistan, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Angola, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Uganda.

Food parcels are distributed in an integrated network of collaboration between the campaign’s organizer Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), the United Nations World Food Programme, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment (MBRCH), Food Banking Regional Network, and local humanitarian organizations in beneficiary countries.

Mohammed Souhil Al Muhairi, Executive Director of the Dar Al Ber Society, said: “The 100 Million Meals campaign embodies the UAE’s commitment to its core values of giving, especially during Ramadan, the month of goodness, righteousness, and charity. The UAE plays a significant humanitarian role globally, and the vision and directives of our leadership has paved the way for an effective and sustainable implementation of philanthropy.”

Al Muhairi stressed Dar Al Ber’s commitment to actively participate in humanitarian initiatives, national relief campaigns, and joint charity projects, and to rapidly respond to the country’s humanitarian efforts.

Massive donations continue to pour in from individuals, businessmen and companies inside and outside the UAE since the campaign launched on April 11. Every AED1 donated helps provide one meal for beneficiaries in targeted countries across the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

The campaign is part of UAE’s contribution to global efforts to combat hunger and malnutrition, exacerbated by the outbreak of COVID-19. Today, more than 52 million people in the MENA region are undernourished, and most of them women and children.

The objectives of the ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign are intertwined with the pillars on which Dar Al Ber Society was founded, aiming to reach disadvantaged groups, carry out sustainable inclusive humanitarian work, and promote solidarity in the face of crises and challenges.

The 100 Million Meals campaign is open to donations from inside and outside the UAE. Donations to the 100 Million Meals campaign can be made in four simple ways. First, through the campaign’s website www.100millionmeals.ae; second, by making a transfer to the designated bank account through Dubai Islamic Bank (AE08 0240 0015 2097 7815 201); third, by sending “Meal” on SMS to the specified UAE numbers (Etisalat and Du) listed on the website.

COVID-19 patients in tents, isolation and swab tests - President Duterte Tells Philhealth To Cover

Malacañang said on Tuesday that President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or Philhealth to shoulder COVID-19 patients in tents, isolation, and even their swab tests.

“Nagbigay ng direktiba po ang ating Presidente sa Philippine Health Insurance Corp. na kasama sa health insurance coverage ang RT PCR tests, isolation sa accredited community isolation units at hospitalization para sa mild at critical cases ng COVID-19,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a briefing.

“Kaugnay nito, kung ang tents ay kasama sa in-patient care, kailangan covered ito sa kasalukuyang in-patient COVID-19 package,” he added.

In a hearing at the House of Representatives, a lawmaker exposed that some patients pay hospitals for Php1,000 per hour even though they were only admitted in tents.

PhilHealth said in a statement that it has noted the current situation where patients are temporarily placed in tents because hospitals can no longer admit them in regular hospital beds.

Some medical facilities are allegedly charging a P1,000 per hour rate for patients in tents. Philhealth said that they will investigate these claims.


“Be it COVID-19 or not, patients should be afforded with all the financial help as guaranteed by the Universal Health Care Law,” the statement read.

The statement was made after some COVID-19 patients and their relatives complained that they have to pay their hospital bills since being admitted in tents is not covered by Philhealth.

PhilHealth said it “has been reviewing existing policies to better respond to the extraordinary demands brought about by this pandemic.”

“Enhanced guidelines will be issued the soonest to ensure that adequate financial protection is duly provided to the patients without compromising the quality of care,” the agency added.

Spain wants to increase current AED26.8+ bn FDI in UAE: Spanish minister

Photo credit: WAM

The United Arab Emirates’ Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Spain has reached over €6 billion (AED26.8+), according to a senior Spanish official.

In an exclusive interview with Emirates News Agency (WAM), Xiana Méndez, Spanish Minister of State for Trade, also said Spanish FDI in the UAE is valued at around €3 billion (AED13.2+ bn).

The UAE’s investments in strategic sectors in Spain, such as renewable energy, mines and other industries are “impressive,” she added in an interview in Abu Dhabi during her first official visit to the UAE this week.

“I think that we can do more and better and also diversify the scope of the sectors receiving these investments [into Spain],” the Spanish minister emphasized.

“There is a lot that we can do in order to boost the Spanish investment here in Emirates. Even though these figures [€3 billion] are impressive and important, especially because they have increased in recent years; still we can do more. There’s a scope for improvement.”

Spanish investments in the UAE are mostly concentrated in some sectors related to agro-industry, she said.

The minister revealed that Spain has initiated talks on a bilateral investment protection agreement with the UAE and once it is concluded, it will further enhance the investment flow between both countries.

“I think there’s a lot of interest from both sides in having this institutional framework to boost foreign direct investment in both directions,” she explained.

A recent Reuters report quoting the Spanish Foreign Minister, Arancha González Laya, said Spain is in talks with sovereign wealth funds from several Gulf countries to co-invest in projects financed by European aid in order to leverage the initial investment. Spain is also seeking to increase Spanish companies’ investment in the Gulf countries, particularly in infrastructure development.

Asked about the report, Méndez said Spain’s plan of increased investments in the UAE’s infrastructure sector will have preference in sustainable mobility, renewable energy, water and waste treatment.

On the investments from the Gulf, she said even without the European aid, Spain is a very attractive destination for foreign direct investment. “Sovereign funds know that and that’s why they have been presenting huge projects to Spain during the last decade. But it is true that with the arrival of these European funds, we will have the chance to identify new projects that will transform our productive sector.”

In Abu Dhabi, she visited the International Defence Exhibition and the Naval Defence Exhibition (IDEX and NAVDEX) 2021. Many Spanish companies have been participating in IDEX for many years and “I was impressed by the quality of the products and services presented [at the event],” Méndez said.

In Dubai, the minister visited Gulfood 2021, a global event with the participation of 2,500 companies from 85 countries, including some of the most prominent brands in the food and beverage sector.

With the presence of 50 Spanish companies, the event is a great opportunity to enhance bilateral cooperation in the food sector, she said.

Russia’s Sputnik V not yet available in the UAE

Photo credit: Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr/ Russian Direct Investment Fund via AP

Health authorities are still awaiting the arrival of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine to be shipped to the UAE.

According to the report of The National, health officials from the Department of Health (DOH) said this is not yet available for the general public.

The vaccine produced by Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology has been approved for emergency use by UAE authorities last January 21.

This came after the Emirates hosted a small-scale Phase 3 trial of the vaccine, which involved almost 1,000 volunteers.

According to the clinical trial data, the vaccine has 91.4 percent efficacy on day 28 after the first dose; and more than 95 percent on 42 days after the first dose.

DOH said those who volunteered to get the vaccine are being followed up for their safety for a period of six months, starting from the date of their first vaccine dose.

Volunteers gets two doses of the Sputnik vaccine with a 20-day gap between the first and the second injection.

This is the second trial in the UAE, after more than 30,000 people took part in a study for the Sinopharm vaccine.

It is expected that the study will be completed by the end of July 2021 once all the 1,000 volunteers have done their safety follow-up visits. 

Filipino, Proud United Arab Emirates Residents

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The burgeoning population of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the UAE can be attributed to the safety of the country, according to a straw poll conducted by the Filipino Times—following the release of the results of the National Happiness and Wellbeing Survey. The year-long study of the Ministry of Community Development shows that 93 percent of residents said they are ‘proud to live in the UAE’ and 8 out of 10 residents said ‘they are living a meaningful life’ in the emirates. In terms of safety,  92 percent of the 10,000 respondents aged 15 and above said they feel safe walking alone at night.

Her Excellency Hessa Essa Buhumaid, Minister for Community Development and Chairwoman of the Wellbeing Council, said that the positive response of the residents in the latest National Happiness and Wellbeing Survey reflect the UAE’s vision in spearheading initiatives that contribute to the general welfare of everyone living in the country.

“These development ideas enhance the UAE’s pioneering aspirations to achieve the best wellbeing standards through qualitative projects and initiatives launched by the national task forces, bringing together various government authorities to make great efforts in promoting people’s wellbeing, especially in the exceptional circumstances surrounding the population this year,” said Buhumaid.

Philippine Consul General in Dubai Paul Raymund Cortes said that apart from securing the well-being and safety of all those who wish to come to the UAE, the host government has also been very strategic in terms of identifying networks and policies that would enable migrants of different professions to search for economic opportunities for them in this country.

“The reputation of the UAE as a safe haven for migrants who wish to fulfill their ambitions and reach for their goals is grounded on the host government’s warm welcome to the over 9 million expats in the country,” he said.

“The UAE has also been reputed to be a hotbed of innovation which allows business and entrepreneurial acumen to develop and further grow in this country, which will in turn allow more expats to come to the UAE to enjoy these innovations and developments and be an active contributor towards these goals as well,” he added.

Welcome to the safest country

Filipinos in the UAE salute Abu Dhabi after it was named the world’s safest city for the fifth consecutive year; it is joined by Sharjah and Dubai in the top 10 list compiled by the crowdsourced data website Numbeo. These rankings are beyond just numbers; to a great extent, they foretell not only a city’s or nation’s success, but also the residents’ future. This was shown by the National Happiness and Wellbeing Survey, wherein 84 percent of the UAE population is found to be generally optimistic in life.

The Philippine Consul General added that Filipinos, along with 200 other nationalities, become determined to play an equal role in this country’s development due to the security they provide.

“When people do not feel uncomfortable with the security provided—meaning that they have strong faith in the host government and their policy towards building a safe and stable society—people become more focused on building economic opportunities and strengthening techniques and expertise that would make the lives of everyone easier, more efficient, more effective, and more attuned to helping more people,” he said.

Fair treatment 

When Anabelle Fernandez first arrived in the UAE 15 years ago, she was filled with hope and optimism that this would be her key to helping her family as the new breadwinner.

The UAE did not disappoint her. Fernandez now treats the country as her second home as she fell in love with how the UAE society treats everyone fairly without looking at someone’s country of origin, line of work, etc.

“In UAE they treat all people equally – walang mahirap o mayaman. Ever since pa naman (way back 15 years ago), napakaganda na mamuhay dito sa UAE. All you just have to do is obey and follow the rules. And life is very convenient; you can reach out for help from authorities anywhere you are,” said Fernandez.

Haven for breadwinners

Perlita Malupeng, who has been working for over two decades as a household worker in the country, also told TFT her inspiring story and gratitude for the UAE.

“Malaki na ang naitulong sa akin ng UAE sa pamamalagi ko dito – unang una na doon ay napagtapos ko sa pag-aaral ang aking anak hanggang kolehiyo. Nagkaroon na din ako ng pampundar para makabili ng sariling bahay at lupa. Bukod dito, natulungan ko din makapunta at makapagtrabaho ang aking dalawang kapatid,” said Malupeng.

Meanwhile, Robbie Tirol, a hotel staff working for nearly 10 years in Abu Dhabi, said the UAE helped him transform his dreams into reality.

“Sa nine years ko po dito sa UAE, unti-unti pong natutupad ang aking mga pangarap. Nakabili po ako ng lupa at nakapag pundar din ako ng sarili kong bahay. Patuloy ko ding nasusuportahan ang aking pamilya financially sa pagpapadala sa kanila buwan-buwan. Syempre, marami na rin akong napuntahan at nakapag-tour na rin ako sa iba’t ibang bansa mula nung dumating ako dito sa UAE,” said Tirol.

Stamp of Safety

OFW Marissa Albano said that since she began working here in 1992, she has enjoyed the pleasures of feeling safe no matter where she goes at any time of the day – a testament to the UAE’s commitment to safety.

“I think we Filipinos find happiness in UAE from the high standard of security, and police patrolling anytime of the day. We can walk freely, we can do our shopping anytime without worries. Everything about this country is full of surprises and worth living for!” said Albano.

Blessed to be here

Overseas Filipinos living in the country express their gratefulness for the UAE’s leadership, whose vision is to ensure that everyone feels the convenience and safety that will make most expatriates treat it as their second home.

“Saludo po ako sa mga pinuno ng UAE at taos pusong nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng kanilang pagsasa-ayos ng mga batas at pagpapatupad na naaayon sa kapakanan ng lahat. Dito sa UAE, panatag ka na kakampi mo ang batas ‘pag nasa tama ka,” said Malupeng.

They also underscored the importance of free COVID-19 vaccination, which is being provided by the UAE government for everyone, on an optional basis.

“Maraming salamat sa mga pinuno ng UAE at during this pandemic binigay niyo without cost yung vaccine laban sa COVID-19 at mga treatments para mabigyan nang pangalawang buhay ang ibang taong nawalan na nang pag-asang mabuhay. Patuloy niyo pong pinaparamdam sa amin na mas mahalaga ang buhay nang tao at salamat sa pagmamahal niyo sa amin,” said Fernandez.

UAE Hospital Introduces New Treatment To Prevent Covid-19 Infection

A hospital in the UAE has introduced a new antibody treatment for coronavirus disease for mild patients and those with pre-existing conditions.

“If you’ve recently been diagnosed with mild COVID-19, you may have a new treatment option: bamlanivimab (bam-la-NIV-i-mab). This drug will prevent you from having severe COVID-19,” the RAK Hospital said in a statement on its website.

The hospital said the introduction of the medication was based on studies showing that the treatment may help limit the amount of virus in the body.

“This may help their symptoms improve sooner – and they may be less likely to get severe infection, which may need oxygenization or ventilation,” the hospital said.

The drug is also recommended to those who are 65 years old, diabetes, and those with high blood pressure and heart issues.

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention on Wednesday reported 3,102 new cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus, along with 3,814 recoveries and 19 deaths.
UAE health officials said that over 29.8 million tests have been conducted across the UAE.

Covid-19 United Arab Emirates Vaccination Drive Reaches 44.89% Of Total Population

The UAE has achieved injecting the COVID-19 vaccine to 44.89% of its citizens and residents, translating to 3,480,415 of the UAE’s entire population.

The National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) also furthered that the jab has already been administered to 57.66% of the total elderly population.

To date, over 5,668,264 doses have been injected with a rate of 57.31 per 100 people. In addition, the country has also conducted 29 million COVID-19 tests in its efforts to continuously monitor and track COVID-19 cases.

“When the majority of the population becomes immune to an infectious disease, this will lead to the indirect protection for people who are not immunized against this disease in the community, due to the limited spread of the disease,” said the NCEMA in an announcement. 

The UAE’s ongoing vaccination drive is in line with the Ministry of Health and Prevention’s plan to provide the vaccine to all members of society and acquire herd immunity, which will help reduce the number of cases and control the spread of the virus. 

“We would like to confirm the effectiveness of the vaccines that have been approved in the country and that they are safe, especially for the elderly and people with chronic diseases, so we advise and encourage everyone to take the vaccine, as it is our safe way to recover,” said NCEMA in an announcement.

Philippines Complete Requirements For AstraZeneca Vaccines

The Philipine government has submitted all the requirements needed for the AstraZeneca vaccines, which will be supplied by the COVAX facility of the World Health Organization.

The COVAX Facility is an initiative that aims to provide its member-countries an equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

“I also want to update you that the Philippines has met all the requirements necessary for accessing the AstraZeneca vaccines,” WHO Country Representative Rabindra Abeyasinghe said during a briefing with the Department of Health.

The WHO official confirmed around 5.5 million to 9.2 million doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine have been set aside for the country.

The government expects the delivery of AstraZeneca from WHO within the first quarter of the year.

“What we are now looking at is accelerating delivery of those AstraZeneca vaccines, at least a part of that shipment to the Philippines,” Abeyasinghe added.

“I understand that the Department of Health has supplied all the letters necessary to the COVAX initiative to access the early rollout of those AstraZeneca vaccines,” the WHO official said.

He also said that AstraZeneca did no longer demand for more documents before their vaccine delivery, unlike Pfizer.

“We are optimistic that before the end of this week, we will hear from the COVAX initiative on likely delivery dates for AstraZeneca vaccines to the Philippines,” he said.

AstraZeneca will use its facility in South Korea dedicated to exclusively manufacture the COVAX Facility’s vaccine requirements.

“And what is earmarked for the Philippines will be coming from South Korea. So, we still remain optimistic that we will receive the AstraZeneca vaccines within the timeframes that we were talking about,” he said. 

Student And Teacher In Abu Dhabi Required To Undergo Swab Test Every 14 Days

Swab tests are required every 14 days for all Abu Dhabi private school pupils aged 12 and over who have chosen face-to-face learning.

This is under the new regulations issued by the Department of Education and Knowledge.

Teachers and staff are likewise instructed to undergo swab tests every two weeks in order to be permitted on school premises, as instructed by the Abu Dhabi’s private education regulator.

The swab tests will be provided free of charge on specific dates for each school, at designated screening centers.

However, those pupils with special needs are exempt from this.

Upon arrival at the testing center, teachers and pupils should present a valid Emirates ID and a dedicated school code.
The frequency of the test was only announced this week. 

Philippines FDA Approves China’s Sinovac Vaccine For Emergency Use

The Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration or FDA has given the emergency use approval for the Chinese-made vaccine Sinovac.

Sinovac is now the third vaccine brand to receive the EUA from country regulators pending the government’s vaccination rollout.

“After a thorough and rigorous review by our regulatory and medical experts, the FDA issues EUA to Sinovac,” FDA chief Eric Domingo said during the Laging Handa briefing.

Domingo said that Sinovac’s efficacy ranged from 65.3% to 91.2%, but only reached 50.4% among health workers with COVID-19 exposure.

“As such, it is not recommended to use in this group,” Domingo added.

“Natapos na ang huling hadlang para magamit natin ang Sinovac, inaprubahan na po ng FDA ang EUA nito,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing.

Roque said that it will take 3-5 days before China ships the 600,000 doses of its COVID-19 vaccines.

“Asahan po natin na wala nang matagal na delay,” Roque said.

The issuance of EUA for Sinovac comes after the delays in the delivery of the Pfizer vaccines due to negotiations in the indemnity agreement.

Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez has apologized for the delay in the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Philippines Embassy in UAE opens first Philippine Defense Attache Office in GCC

(Left photo) H.E. Ambassador Hjayceelyn M. Quintana (left) cuts the ribbon at the inauguration of the Office of the Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attache (OPHILDAFA) at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi on 21 February 2021, with Defense Attaché Col. Cesar Fernandez (right). | (Right photo) Col. Fernandez (first from left) discusses with Amb. Quintana (first from right) the plans and priorities of Philippine Department of National Defense, while the Amb. advises him on strategies on how to implement these, as Embassy officers listen on how they can contribute.

The Philippine Embassy in the UAE has officially established GCC’s first Office of the Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attaché (OPHILDAFA), housed in the capital of the country in Abu Dhabi.

Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, H.E. Amb. Hjayceelyn M. Quintana led the inaugural rites for the opening of the new office, which coincides with the ongoing International Defence Exhibition (IDEX 2021) and the Naval Defence Exhibition (NAVDEX 2021) in Abu Dhabi in the year of the country’s golden jubilee.

Amb. Quintana states that this move is a testament to President Rodrigo Duterte’s independent foreign policy and proves that the Philippines sees the UAE as a key partner in promoting peace.

“The Philippines recognizes the UAE as an important partner in the region, playing a strategic role in maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East. The OPHILDAFA in the UAE provides a new channel of communication that further manifests President Duterte’s independent foreign policy and adds a new milestone to the 46-year old diplomatic relationship between the Philippines and UAE,” said Amb. Quintana.

The establishment of the OPHILDAFA in the UAE was approved by President Rodrigo Duterte on February 19, 2019 and accepted by UAE on August 2 of the same year. The following year, in August 2020, the Embassy met and established linkages with the EDGE Group, UAE’s defence conglomerate.

Defence Attache Col. Cesar Fernandez assumed his post on December 24, 2020. The OPHILDAFA in Abu Dhabi is the first in GCC and second in the Middle East, with the first office located in Israel.

Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana stated that the establishment of the OPHILDAFA marks an opportunity for the Philippines and the UAE to form stronger strategic ties in the field of defence.

“The establishment of the OPHILDAFA today provides a greater opportunity for the Philippines and the UAE to accomplish more in the areas of defence and military cooperation. The UAE is a regional hub for the global defence industry, therefore there is much opportunity for a closer partnership between the Philippines and the UAE,” said Sec. Lorenzana.