The Philippine government has expanded its travel ban to include Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a bid to prevent the spread of a double-mutant version of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which was first discovered in India Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque said the imposition of the travel ban on Oman and the […]
Category: Hot News
6,784 new COVID cases push active cases up to 58,986
The Department of Health (DoH) on Friday reported 6,784 new cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and nearly 3,000 recoveries. The DoH also reported 137 additional deaths, bringing the total death toll from the disease to 18,958. In a statement on Friday, the DOH said there are 6,784 additional cases of the COVID-19, bringing […]
Comelec mulls adjusting 2022 election campaign rules due to COVID-19
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it is considering modifying its rules and processes for the 2022 national and local elections due to the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. These include the possibility of virtual debates among presidential candidates, safety protocols, and changes in absentee voting. In its first media briefing on the 2022 national and local elections on Friday, the poll body said that […]
DoJ Usec. says terrorist designation is not a new concept
Department of Justice (DoJ) Undersecretary Adrian F. Sugay said the concept of designating individuals as terrorists is not new as it has been used since 2012 under the Anti-Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act. “I supposed Congress deems it necessary to have something like this in place in order to prevent the terroristic activities or […]
Budget, logistical problems delay normalization process in Bangsamoro — gov’t peace panel
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) on Friday said budget and logistical problems have delayed the normalization process in the conflict-torn region of Bangsamoro in the southern Philippines. This as the Senate is deliberating over proposed legislation seeking to extend the term of the body tasked to implement the program […]
DOLE gears up to evacuate Filipinos in Israel, Gaza
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said it is preparing to extract Filipinos who are located in affected areas in Israel and Gaza if the ongoing violence in the area escalates further, adding it will need manpower and an additional budget to do so. In a briefing on Friday, Israel Labor Attache Labatt Rudy […]
Market to take its cue from BSP, economic data
INVESTORS are expected to take their cue from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) recent policy decision and local economic data as the market reopens today after a one-day break. The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index fell by 90.43 points or 1.42% to close at 6,236.40 on Wednesday. The broader all shares index also declined […]
Philippines to again protest Chinese ships at sea
By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza and Vann Marlo M. Villegas, Reporters THE PHILIPPINES’ top envoy on Thursday ordered his agency to file another diplomatic protest against China for the continued presence of almost 300 ships in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. “Fire a diplomatic protest,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. tweeted. […]
Palace says ICU bed use rate in metro below critical levels
ONLY two-thirds of the capital region’s intensive care unit (ICU) beds for coronavirus patients have been used, suggesting the continued decrease in infections, according to the presidential palace. The use rate of the beds in Metro Manila and nearby provinces are now below critical levels, presidential spokesperson Herminio “Harry” L. Roque, Jr. told a televised […]
Gov’t tags 29 people terrorists; council accused of abuse
THE GOVERNMENT has labeled 19 members of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing terrorists, according to an order published in newspapers on Thursday. The Anti-Terrorism Council also issued a separate order labeling 10 members of Mindanao-based militant groups terrorists. The Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) has released on Thursday two separate resolutions wherein […]
Duterte calls for peace, healing as the country observes Eid’l Ftr
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte called for peace and healing on Thursday as the country observed Eid’l Ftr, the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. “Let us welcome a new hope that this Eid brings — for peace, prosperity, healing and strength as we build a progressive and brighter future for our people,” Mr. […]
ARTA eyes lifestyle check on FDA execs, staff under probe
THE ANTI-RED Tape Authority (ARTA) could soon request for lifestyle checks on Food and Drug Administration (FDA) employees and officials under investigation. The request will be made to the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) with whom ARTA has a partnership to align work on corruption-related complaints sent to either agency. The red tape watchdog in a […]
Philreca denies receiving electric co-op contributions for 2019 campaign
THE PHILIPPINE Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (Philreca) Party-list has denied accusations from the anti-corruption commission head that it received contributions from electric cooperatives during the 2019 election campaign. Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) Chairman Greco B. Belgica, in a Palace online briefing on Wednesday, alleged that electric cooperatives released board resolutions allowing for contributions to help […]
Philippine gov’t prepares to evacuate Filipinos in Israel
THE PHILIPPINE government is now preparing for the possible repatriation of Filipinos in Israel amid the conflict between Palestinian armed groups and Israeli military, Malacañang Palace said on Thursday. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is now planning for the possible return of Filipinos and has reminded them to remain safe amid the tension between […]
Solon calls for house-to-house vaccination for PWDs
A LAWMAKER called on the national government to implement a policy of house-to-house coronavirus vaccination for persons with disabilities (PWDs). Quezon City Rep. Alfred D. Vargas, in a statement on Thursday, said he filed House Resolution 1727 after seeing Quezon City and some other local governments doing this for those who cannot go to coronavirus […]
Storm Crising expected to make landfall over Davao Oriental-Surigao del Sur area
TROPICAL storm Crising, the 3rd typhoon to enter the Philippines this year, is crossing Mindanao and is expected to make landfall Thursday night or early Friday over the Davao Oriental-Surigao del Sur area, according to state weather agency PAGASA. As of Thursday afternoon, tropical wind signals 1 and 2 in a 5-level warning system were […]
PHL stocks drop on negative data, virus concerns
STOCKS fell on Wednesday on worries over the economy’s recovery prospects after data showed a worse-than-expected contraction in the first quarter, and with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases continuing to rise. The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) lost 90.43 points or 1.42% to close at 6,236.40 on Wednesday, while the broader all shares index went […]
Peso moves sideways ahead of BSP decision
THE PESO ended flat on Wednesday as traders stayed on the sidelines ahead of the central bank’s policy meeting later in the day. The local currency closed at P47.815 versus the dollar on Wednesday, barely changed from Tuesday’s P47.81 finish, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines’ website showed. The peso opened at P47.80 […]
Chinese vessels still in Spratlys, says task force
PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD/NATIONAL TASK FORCE-WEST PHILIPPINE SEA/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS HUNDREDS of Chinese militia vessels were still scattered around the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, both within and outside Manila’s exclusive economic zone, according to a Philippine task force. In a statement, the task force said 287 Chinese ships were still in Philippine waters, […]
BSP chief highest paid official in 2020, state auditors say
PHILIPPINE central bank Governor Benjamin E. Diokno was the highest paid government official in 2020, followed by the country’s chief government lawyer and several state bankers, according to state auditors. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) chief earned P19.79 million last year, while Solicitor General Jose C. Calida earned P15.65 million, the Commission on Audit […]