HEADS UP: Here's Why Lyka is Growing in the Philippines (Feb. 4)

Here's a Heads Up from Reportr on news that you need to know today, Feb. 4:

TOP STORIES

• EXPLAINER: Why is Lyka growing in the Philippines? We're not the world's social media capital for nothing. 
• This jeepney in Pampanga went viral for reconfiguring its seats to implement physical distancing.

• Valentine Rosales, a person of interest in the Dacera case, said he was disowned by his father after the criminal investigation outed him as gay.
• There's no excuse not to register to vote in 2022 after Comelec opened registration on Saturdays. Come in your face mask and face shield.
• The incoming Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, wants the public to know that soldiers as friends as he prepared to assume office, with the organization under fire for red-tagging.
• It's unofficially election season. Supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo and Manny Pacquiao are urging them to run for President in 2022.

METRO-REGIONS

• Don't worry if you don't have a child car seat yet, implementation of the law takes a backseat to an information drive that was held back by the pandemic, the DOTr said. Simply put, no arrests for the meantime.
• Heads up for the weekend, some roads will be closed for traffic light works, the MMDA said.
• Ammonia leak from an ice plant in Navotas prompted evacuation orders.
• The cutter head of the giant machine that will dig the tunnels for the Mega Manila Subway will be unveiled this week. The DOTr said the project is moving.
• The Philippine Red Cross is offering saliva COVID testing for drive thru at SM Megamall and SM Mall of Asia.
• Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto doubled the salaries of barangay health workers in the city.

WORLD 

• An independent study by respected medical journal The Lancet has vouched for the efficacy of Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine.
• The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine significantly reduces virus transmission and is highly protective after a single dose, according to a British study.
• Jeff Bezos is stepping down as CEO of internet colossus Amazon.
• Wikipedia has unveiled 'Code of Conduct' to stem misinformation

Here's an update on COVID-19 cases as of 4 p.m. of Feb. 3: