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July 17, 2023 7:40 PM

He had secured 324 nods last week, 51 short of the number needed to secure the premiership.

THE village chief of Parian in Cebu City assured the public that the barangay officials have implemented strategies to mitigate the challenges posed by persistent flooding that affected some residents, particularly those living along Bonifacio St.

Parian Barangay Captain Lucita Lazarte said dredging of river and clogged drainage in the area has been ongoing.

“Gitrabaho naman (The work has been ongoing),” Lazarte said, but she admitted that Bonifacio Street is flood-prone because it is located in an area that acts like a “catch basin” of water and wastes from higher ground.

She said they have been finding a long-term solution to the problem.

She added that three weeks ago, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama gathered officials of Barangay Parian, T. Padilla, Tejero and Tinago to find a solution to the week-long flooding. Also present during the meeting were personnel from the Department of Public Services (DPS) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), among others.

“Naa tay documentation nga gisuyopan, pagpakabkab, nagkabkab ang contractor sa backhoe sab,” she said.

(We have documentation to prove that dredging was done on Bonifacio Street)

“Last namong pasuyop kay July 15. Tan-awon na pud namo og mu diritso naba ang flow,” Lazarte said.

(We dredged last July 15. We will again check if the water flows well.)

She said the dredging operation covered canals, drainage areas and the rivers in the city.

Lazarte admitted, though, that their flood mitigation actions are not an assurance to stopping the flooding in the area.

“Kay kana among biofence bitaw diha nuh kay limpyohan karong adlawa, pagka sunod adlaw kay puno na pud (The biofence that we installed in the river gets full every day),” she said.

Plastics, logs, clothes and other trash are trapped by the biofence, she said, adding that they also conduct a weekly clean-up.

She also stressed that people should be educated on proper waste disposal to also address the problem.

“I hope the people will be taught not to throw garbage in canals and rivers,” she said in Cebuano, as she stressed that proper education matters.

She added that aside from Bonifacio Street, also flooded especially during heavy rains are Sikatuna and Ibarra Streets.

She said one contributor to the flooding problem in the village is the accumulation of mud, noting that Barangay Parian is a “caldera,” or the endpoint of water and water from mountain barangays in the city.

“Every week na lang after sa naay uwan, makakubkob gihapon mig lapok,” she said. (Claudine Flores and Erica Abella, CNU interns)

July 17, 2023 7:35 PM

Rural areas saw the strongest fall in poverty, according to the study, which used the United Nations’ Multidimensional Poverty Index.

Fresh off the launch of the new governance branding “Bagong Pilipinas,” House Speaker Martin Romualdez is considering the revival of a project that will be housed under the soon-to-rise Philippine Cancer Center.

ARQ-2001 blew away the SENTRAL Bar & Lounge-2002, 80-41, at the start of the hardcourt action in Division A of the 26th season of the Sacred Heart Ateneo Alumni Basketball Athletic Association (SHAABAA) basketball tournament on Sunday, July 16, 2023 at the Magis Eagles Arena inside the Ateneo de Cebu campus in Mandaue City.

After months of intense preparation, the hard work of 2001 has seemingly paid off, as they led from the get-go, 22-10, and never looked back, en route to the lopsided victory.

Mark Hing had 15 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists, while Sandeep Naidu also had a double-double with 14 markers and 11 boards. Team captain Jason Arquisola also tallied nine points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

In other Division A matches, Kima Glass Supply Co.-1998 bested Yangtze Cooling Ice Systems-1992, 46-41. Conrad Ang had 14 points and 10 rebounds for 1998.

Meanwhile, in Division B, the Flashket Grocery-2009 won over the Puresteel-2011, 61-51. Niel Benedicto flexed his strength and skills inside, as he had 18 points and nine rebounds, while Kylle Valmoria also had 18 markers. Joseph Roma chipped in 12 points and eight assists.

And finally, Gateway Motors-2007 triumphed over 04 The Win-2004, 50-45. Man-mountain Leigh Dixon struggled to find his mark but still had a massive double-double of 11 points and 23 rebounds to lead 2007. Francis Chen tallied 13 markers to help 2007 pick up the big win over the loaded 2004 squad.

The SHAABAA’s new president Lloyd Atillo expressed his excitement for the tournament’s new season, saying it is an opportunity for schoolmates to foster better relationships through the game of basketball.

“Definitely very excited! This is a once in a year league where the alumni community gather as one to play basketball, a sport that brought everyone together and up to this day, lives on! We have reached 26 seasons because of basketball,” said Atillo. (JNP)

THE body of an unidentified woman was found stuffed in a cardboard box by the side of the road in South Veranda Subdivision in Sitio Mohon, Barangay Tisa, Cebu City past 1 p.m. Monday, July 17, 2023.

Major Angelito Valleser, chief of the Labangon Police Station, called on members of the public with missing relatives to see if they could identify her.

Valleser described the manner in which the woman was killed as gruesome.

He said the body was wrapped in packaging tape and covered in a white blanket. The face could hardly be recognized. The hands and feet were bound by wire.

He said some parts of the body were bruised which indicated that the victim was tortured before she was placed inside the cardboard box and dumped.

Valleser said the woman looked to be in her 30s, and wore black shorts and a white hoodie jacket.

He said she had some kind of a tattoo on her left hand but they couldn’t figure out what it was.

The police chief said their first order of business is to identify the body. Only then can they proceed with the investigation, he said.

One of the security guards at the subdivision told police he saw the cardboard box past 7 a.m. when he reported for duty, but he just ignored it.

A man by the name of Celso Palomares was in the area past 1 p.m. when he caught sight of the cardboard box.

He told police it was emitting a foul smell and flies were swarming around it.

He flagged several barangay tanods who were on patrol, and they went to check only to find a hand protruding from inside. (BBT / PJB)

THE F2 Logistics will try to handle their business when they take on Foton at the end of the elimination round of the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.

Gametime is at 12 noon with the Cargo Movers, tied with the Choco Mucho Flying Titans and the Cignal HD Spikers for the lead in Pool B at 3-1, eager to nab the first semis berth in their side.Choco and Cignal clash for the other berth at 4 p.m. while PLDT and Chery Tiggo battle at 6:30 p.m. for the second semis seat in Pool A which was topped by the reigning champions, Creamline.

Choco Mucho pulled off a crucial five-set win over Petro Gazz on Saturday to force a three-way tie while virtually eliminating the Angels from the race. Had the Angels won, they would’ve advanced outright and would’ve left the Cargo Movers and the HD Spikers to dispute the second berth.

Although F2 Logistics also suffered a heart-breaking five-set loss to Petro Gazz the last time out, the Cargo Movers are brimming with confidence heading to their crucial duel with the Tornadoes, especially with a roster that features a potent mix of grizzled veterans and up-and-coming players.

They include veterans Kim Dy, Aby Maraño, Myla Pablo, Majoy Baron, Ara Galang, Shola Alvarez and setter Kim Fajardo, along with sophomore Ivy Lacsina and top rookies Jolina dela Cruz, Jovelyn Fernandez and playmaker Mars Alba. (JNP)

THE body of a an unidentified dead woman was found stuffed in a cardboard box by the side of the road in South Veranda Subdivision in Sitio Mohon, Barangay Tisa, Cebu City past 1 p.m. Monday, July 17, 2023.

Major Angelito Valleser, chief of the Labangon Police Station, called on members of the public with missing relatives to see if they could identify her.

Valleser described the manner in which the woman was killed as gruesome.

He said the body was wrapped in packaging tape and covered in a white blanket. The face could hardly be recognized. The hands and feet were bound by wire.

He said some parts of the body were bruised which indicated that the victim was tortured before she was placed inside the cardboard box and dumped.

Valleser said the woman looked to be in her 30s, and wore a black shorts and a white hoodie jacket.

He said she had some kind of a tattoo on her left hand but they couldn’t figure out what it was.

The police chief said their first order of business is to identify the body. Only then can they proceed with the investigation, he said.

One of the security guards at the subdivision told police he saw the cardboard box past 7 a.m. when he reported for duty, but he just ignored it.

A man by the name of Celso Palomares was in the area past 1 p.m. when he caught sight of the cardboard box. He told police it was emitting a foul smell and flies were swarming around it.

He flagged several barangay tanods who were on patrol, and they went to check only to find a hand protruding from inside.(BBT, PJB)

JOHN Paul Gabunilas faces the stiffest test of his young boxing career as he trades leathers with world-rated Miel Fajardo for the vacant Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) light flyweight strap in the main event of ARQ Sports’ “Engkwentro 11” on Aug. 15, 2023 at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City.

After suffering his only career defeat in 2019 in the hands of one-time world title challenger Regie Suganob, the 22-year-old Gabunilas has been on a tear. He won eight straight fights and won two regional belts. He won the OPBF Youth light flyweight belt with a fourth round knockout of Jonathan Almacen in 2021 and wrested the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia-Pacific Youth light flyweight title last March 24 with a sixth round stoppage of Indonesia Wandi Priman Hulu.

Gabunilas looks to improve his resume by adding Fajardo as one of his victims. He has already beaten the likes of Jesse Espinas, Ruben Davidas and Clyde Azarcon. Gabunilas is currently ranked No. 27 by the World Boxing Council (WBC).

Fajardo built a reputation of being a road warrior and a fearsome knockout puncher. He has travelled to China, Dubai and Thailand.

Fajardo’s name surged up the division after a huge second round technical knockout upset of previously undefeated Argentinean prospect Agustin Mauro Gauto in Dubai last year. He followed up that win with back-to-back first round knockouts of veteran Richard Claveras and Thai hard-hitter Sarawut Jiamthong.

The 23-year-old Fajardo’s only career loss is against Ar Ar Andales by unanimous decision early in his career in 2017.

Fajardo currently is ranked No. 7 by the International Boxing Federation and No. 12 by the WBO as a flyweight, while he’s rated No. 15 by the WBC as a light flyweight.

Gabunilas is 10-1 with seven knockouts, while Fajardo is 10-1 with nine knockouts.

In the co-main event, April Jay Abne (12-1, 6 KOs) defends his OPBF flyweight belt against former world title challenger Robert Paradero (18-5-1, 12 KOs). (Eka)

July 17, 2023 7:10 PM

She has also rejected US calls for unconditional talks.

AS THE Cebu music scene continues to flourish, Noise Gate, presented by Talkback Music, returns this year with a promise to surpass the energy and excitement of its previous edition.

Set to take place at Draft Punk Craft Cafe on Mango Avenue, Cebu City on Saturday, July 22, 2023, Noise Gate Volume 2 aims to bring an even more exhilarating experience to music enthusiasts, featuring a dynamic lineup of both established industry veterans and emerging indie rock acts.



Playing at Noise Gate Volume 2 are the bands Bethany, Mampor & Me, Alice Who and Monopolice.

Talkback Music is a collaborative effort between Capital Dreams Recording Studio and Earmark Sonic Solutions.

Breaking boundaries



So, what can we expect from this year's Noise Gate?

Tim Williams, a multi-faceted individual who is one-half of Talkback Music and drummer for several bands in Cebu, including Mampor & Me and Kubra Commander, expressed his excitement for the event.

"Us at Capital Dreams x Earmark expect our audience to experience the breaking of the boundary between the audience and the performers, and to be able to relate and interact with these talented performers on a level only an intimate setup like Noise Gate can allow," Williams said.



Talkbalk Music believes that an intimate setup like Noise Gate allows for a unique level of connection and interaction between the artists and their fans. By immersing themselves in the pulsating atmosphere, the audience will have the opportunity to experience the raw talent and passion of musicians up close and personal.

"All Capital Dreams x Earmark events aim to ensure sustainability of the local music scene by providing opportunities for artists to showcase their talent, while providing them with a reasonable rewards system that benefits all, notably the performers themselves and the local businesses who provide us with avenues for our advocacy," Williams said.

A love for music



So, why should one mark their calendars for an electrifying event like Noise Gate Volume 2?

"If you love music and want to contribute any way you can, stop by at Noise Gate Volume 2 on Saturday, July 22nd for a rare live experience, meet your favorite artists and enjoy the incredible food and drinks at Draft Punk Craft Cafe. See you there!" Williams said.



Tickets for Noise Gate Volume 2 are at P300 each and are inclusive of one free beer. Follow Capital Dreams and Earmark on Facebook and Instagram for more details on the event.

Be part of a transformative experience that celebrates the talent, passion and unity that define the Cebu music industry. (JGS)

THE sitio in Barangay Basak Pardo where residents complained of persistent flooding is actually flood-prone and barangay officials could not act fast to solve the problem as the drainage system is under a private property, an official said Monday, July 17, 2023.

Barangay Basak Pardo Chairman Catalina Cabardo said they have been trying to address the flooding reported by some residents of Sitio Fatima, but stressed that they cannot do so much as it is under a private property.

"Dili mi makapataka kay private siya. Pwede man malihok pero taud-taod pa jud na tungod sa kadaghan sa papeles," she said.

(We cannot just act on it because it’s a private property. It can be done but it will take a while because of the amount of paperwork.)

Some residents of Sitio Fatima complained last week of a “never ending” problem on flooding, especially during heavy rainfall. They said they have been enduring the flooding for several years and the barangay officials have not acted on it.

But Cabardo said Monday that the drainages in Sitio Fatima are clogged due to garbage.

She said the barangay can only act on drainage that are located in the interior portion of the village, but those in the exterior or main roads, works have to be passed on to the Department of Public Services.

Cabardo also said that there are other factors that prevented them from acting on the problem, adding that the area where the residents live is prone to flooding because it is where the water from the creek drains.

She said personnel of Tapat were also just tasked to clean the city highways, not those located in the borders.

“Ang kanang Tapat sa City Hall na, unya kana sila igo ra na mag limpyo sa highway pero sa katong lugar nga ngilit kay dili na nila apilon,” Cabardo said.

Tapat is an organization that is being paid by the City Government to maintain cleanliness in the city.

Cabardo also clarified Monday, July 17, that she had sent personnel from the village to help prevent cases of dengue.

Maria Theresa Barredo, a barangay health worker from Sitio Fatima, and Merlyn Albaño, City Health midwife, both said that there is currently no dengue outbreak in the sitio.

“If naay dengue or namatay tungod sa dengue, ma inform man mi ana. Unya inig kahibaw namo ana, alerto dayon ang taga barangay aron ma actionan dayon,” Albaño said.

(If there’s a dengue case or someone died from dengue, we will be informed immediately, and the barangay team will go directly to the area to make a rapid action.)

“Taga dinha man kong dapita. Dugay naman na nga issue nga naay namatay tungod sa dengue dinhang dapita. Pero sa karon wala ra man. Ug ang baha jud diha dugay na pod na nga issue,” Barredo added.

(I’m also residing in Sitio Fatima. That issue about someone died due to dengue happened years ago. But currently, no one has died due to dengue.)

The barangay officials also said that the village collects the garbage every day at 9 p.m.

They also installed signage to tell the residents where to put the trash, so that the garbage collectors can easily retrieve it.

“Ang kanang mga basura, wa mi kahibaw og asa na gikan. Siguro kanang mga ga pataka ra sila og labay. Unya mao na among gibuhat, gipang butangan namo og ing-ana aron makahibaw sila og asa dapit og kanus-a ang ting kuha,” Cabardo said.

(We don’t know where the pile of uncollected garbage is coming from. The residents might have thrown them anywhere. We have in fact installed signage to tell them where to put their garbage and when is the schedule for garbage collection.) (Angele Leduna and Hazel Faith Saymo, CNU interns)

July 17, 2023 6:20 PM

The record heat is expected to persist for at least another five days.

A DOMESTIC helper was killed by her live-in partner because she allegedly ignored him while he visited her at work.

The 37-year-old victim, Perlita Cabanes, was stabbed several times inside the home of her employer in Barangay Casili in the northern town of Consolacion, Cebu around 8:20 p.m. Sunday, July 16, 2023.

Cabanes was declared dead on arrival at the Eversley Childs Sanitarium and General Hospital in Mandaue City.

Suspect Bernabe Biasca, who lived with the victim in the neighboring town of Carmen with their four children, is still at large.

Senior Master Sergeant Ramon Chinel, investigator at the Consolacion Police Station, said Biasca, a native of Leyte, may have attacked her in a fit of jealousy.

Chinel said they discovered that the couple’s relationship had been on the rocks because of the man’s irrational jealousy.

“Wala naman ni siya tagda gud ang (suspek), gibungolan. Nagselos, nagtuo nga duna nay lain ang biktima,” dugang ni Chinel.

(The victim had stopped talking to the suspect. He was jealous because he thought she was seeing someone else.)

The police investigator said Biasca always visited his live-in partner at her workplace. But when Cabanes ignored him during his visit last Sunday, he got angry.

Chinel said Biasca grabbed a knife from the kitchen and stabbed Cabanes several times.

He said the attack was witnessed by 72-year-old Asuncion Locoson, the victim’s employer.

Locoson said Biasca fled in a hurry when he saw her.

When police arrived, they found Cabanes lying in a pool of blood. (GPL / PJB)

A DOMESTIC helper was killed by her live-in partner because she allegedly ignored him while he visited her at work.

The 37-year-old victim, Perlita Cabanes, was stabbed several times inside the home of her employer in Barangay Casili in the northern town of Consolacion, Cebu around 8:20 p.m. Sunday, July 16, 2023.

Cabanes was declared dead on arrival at the Eversley Childs Sanitarium and General Hospital in Mandaue City.

Suspect Bernabe Biasca, who lived with the victim in the neighboring town of Carmen with their four children, is still at large.

Senior Master Sergeant Ramon Chinel, investigator at the Consolacion Police Station, said Biasca, a native of Leyte, may have attacked her in a fit of jealousy.

Chinel said they discovered that the couple’s relationship had been on the rocks because of the man’s irrational jealousy.

"Wala naman ni siya tagda gud ang (suspek), gibungolan. Nagselos, nagtuo nga duna nay lain ang biktima," dugang ni Chinel.

(The victim had stopped talking to the suspect. He was jealous because he thought she was seeing someone else.)

The police investigator said Biasca always visited his live-in partner at her workplace. But when Cabanes ignored him during his visit last Sunday, he got angry.

Chinel said Biasca grabbed a knife from the kitchen and stabbed Cabanes several times. He said the attack was witnessed by 72-year-old Asuncion Locoson, the victim’s employer.

Locoson said Biasca fled in a hurry when he saw her. When police arrived, they found Cabanes lying in a pool of blood.(GPL, PJB)

TWO men were arrested after they mauled an Indian national who works as a collector for a lending firm.

Major Jonathan Bethoven Taneo, chief of the Mambaling Police Station, identified the suspects as Fedelito Luchavez, 54, and Gerald Matsumoto, 33, both residents of Sitio Huyong-Huyong in Barangay Mambaling.

The incident happened Saturday afternoon, July 15, 2023, in the sitio.

Taneo said that based on their initial investigation, Luchavez and Matsumoto ganged up on Banjit Singh, who resides in Barangay Kimba, Talisay City, after the latter allegedly slapped one of their relatives who owed the lending firm money.

Singh was trying to collect payment.

Taneo said a bruised Singh reported the matter to the police, who found the two men and placed them in the station’s holding cell.

Singh also accused the suspects of taking the P20,000 in cash in his possession and his ring that went missing after they mauled him.

Luchavez and Matsumoto will be charged with physical injury, but Taneo said the two men might face an additional rap because of Singh’s allegation that they took his money and ring. (BBT)

Pakistan’s powerful General Asim Munir and Iran’s General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri have agreed to work together, vowing to ‘eradicate [the] menace of terrorism’ following a surge in attacks.

I joined for the first time a get-together of former Cebu City National Science High School classmates at Parkmall recently. The activity reminded me of my failed jab at secondary education after graduating from the City Central School in my elementary education years. I did not graduate from Sci Hi in high school. I dropped out after my first year in the Labangon campus. This was why I never felt I belonged there.

Grade 6 in City Central School for me was both the “best of times” and the “worst of times.” It was then that I learned to cut classes and to spend my time in cheap second-run movie houses. But despite this, I readily passed the scholarship examinations I took for high school, like the one offered by the then Cebu School of Arts and Trade. I even ranked high in the Abellana National School entrance exams, selected for section 1. But I chose the prestigious Sci Hi, where I placed fourth in the entrance exams given then to selected students from the city’s public schools. The decision was a mistake.

We lived in B. Rodriguez St. Extension, which was an awkward place to be in when you go daily to the Labangon campus. If you commute, you will have to take two jeepney rides, one for Colon St. and from there to Labangon. And if you walk, you have to cross a river to Barangay Calamba and from there cross the cemetery until you reach the Labangon campus. I thus took a leisurely route by cutting classes and spending time elsewhere, like in cheap movie houses. When my absences piled up, our first year adviser took time to find our house and pay a visit there — and I was exposed. In his anger, my father told me to quit school altogether.

I did make amends years after, and graduated as a valedictorian in Southwestern University. I even erased the memories of the times I spent at the Labangon campus, although I was happy every time I heard the achievements in math and science of some of my batch mates when they reached their senior grade years. Indeed, my Sci Hi years must have played a part in my decision to take a Chemical Engineering course in college.

I have always been proud of what the Labangon campus has become. When I was there, the gardens took up a bigger land area compared to the spaces occupied by buildings. When I went there a few years ago to accompany my son who took the entrance exams, multi-storied buildings were already in place and study spaces with trees dotted the campus. And the Department of Education has put up science high schools in many towns and cities, including in Minglanilla where I live anow.

Of course, we are older and all of us have our own families. While my son liked the bigger Labangon campus a lot, he instead chose to enroll in the science high school in our town. I did not dissuade him considering that we are in the suburbs and schooling in a campus in the heart of the city would be problematic in terms of traffic. Thus my memory of the Labangon campus will remain just that: a memory.

A rider question in the most recent Pulse Asia survey shows that Filipinos are overwhelmingly in support of partnering with the United States in order to resolve territorial disputes with China over the West Philippine Sea.

Respondents came out 75 percent in favor and 14 percent not in favor, to the question: “Are you in favor or not in favor of strengthening the military ties between the United States and the Philippines amid security tensions in the West Philippine Sea?”

The rest of the respondents marked themselves as not having enough knowledge to form an opinion (two percent) or “can’t say” (eight percent).

Amid criticisms regarding the participation of the US military in the West Philippine Sea, which has translated to trainings and regular flights within Philippine territory, this data proves that majority of Filipinos are in fact welcome to receiving support from the US military.

Napakalaki ng disparity. Ibig pong sabihin, nagagalit na po ang ating mga kababayan... sawang-sawa na po sila sa pagpasok ng Tsina dito sa ating bansa, lalo na sa mga incursions sa Reed Bank na napalakapit na po sa El Nido, sa Coron.

(The disparity is huge. This means that our countrymen are getting angry... they are fed up with China’s entry into our country, especially the incursions in Reed Bank, which is very close to El Nido in Coron.)

This survey comes out just as the Philippines celebrates the seventh year of the landmark 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, or The Hague, which invalidated China’s claims to historic rights within the “nine-dash line,” and effectively recognized the rights of the Philippines to the West Philippine Sea as falling within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Despite this ruling, China has continued to forcefully enter the Philippines’ EEZ.

The Senate is expected to soon approve a resolution urging the administration to bring the issue of the West Philippine Sea back to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, amid continued aggression from China.

Ako po ay sumang-ayon sa plano ni Sen. Risa Hontiveros na magpasa ng isang resolution asking the government to file a protest at the Hague, sa arbitration ruling of the West Philippine Sea.

(I agree with Sen. Risa Hontiveros’ plan to pass a resolution asking the government to file a protest at The Hague, on the arbitration ruling of the West Philippine Sea.)

We should not stop at just the arbitral ruling, but we should also follow up with The Hague on what is actually going on, on the ground, with China. Halos araw-araw ang mga illegal incursions ng China dito sa ating teritoryo (China’s illegal incursions in our territory happen almost every day).

We should present to the UN the repeated incursions and violations of China against the Hague arbitral ruling on the West Philippine Sea. We should show the video and photographic evidence of their creeping invasion towards our country and our neighbors, with their continuous reclamation of territory within our EEZ and areas that are considered international waters, hampering the freedom of navigation.

I expect Hontiveros’ resolution to be calendared for plenary upon the first week of the Senate’s resumption of session.

By Tuesday, pag-debatihan po natin ‘yan (we will be debating that). I’m sure we can get the majority to vote in favor of this resolution.

Only healthcare workers and senior citizens who received second booster shots four to six months ago are currently eligible for the initial rollout of bivalent jabs.