PHL shares climb as investors pick up bargains

PHILIPPINE shares climbed on Monday, as investors went bargain hunting after six days of the market closing in the red. The 30-member Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) gained 58.7 points or 0.93% to close at 6,317.41 on Monday, while the broader all shares index improved by 29.28 points or 0.75% to end at 3,906.71. “Bargain […]

PHL expecting up to 40 million doses of Pfizer vaccine in Q3

THE PHILIPPINES is expected to take delivery of as many as 40 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine made by Pfizer, Inc. by the third quarter, as it tries to boost its vaccination drive, according to the presidential palace. The government expects to receive 20 to 40 million doses, vaccine czar Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. […]

Metro lockdown may be eased by mid-May — Palace spokesman

THE GOVERNMENT would probably ease the lockdown in Manila, the capital and nearby cities and provinces by mid-May as coronavius infections get under control, according to the presidential palace. The lower critical care use rate could also be a factor in easing the modified enhanced community quarantine, presidential spokesperson Herminio L. Roque, Jr. told a […]

May 13 a regular holiday  

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has issued an order declaring May 13 a regular holiday in observance of the feast of Ramadan.   Filipino Muslims may celebrate the occasion as long as they observe health protocols amid a coronavirus pandemic, according to Proclamation 1142.  Several areas in the Mindanao region, where many Muslims live, have experienced […]

Application closed for tourism sector cash aid   

THE DEPARTMENT of Labor and Employment (DoLE) on Monday said it has closed the application for cash assistance among tourism sector workers as the target number of beneficiaries has been reached. In a briefing on Monday, DoLE said Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III issued an advisory, in coordination with the Department of Tourism, terminating […]

DoJ drafts guidelines on arrest of face mask violators 

THE DEPARTMENT of Justice (DoJ) has finished drafting the guidelines on arresting those caught violating face mask rules and will be coordinating with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for implementation. “The DoJ is ready with its guidelines. We’ll just have to coordinate with the DILG in the next couple of days,” […]

Local stocks to correct ahead of Q1 GDP report

SHARES are expected to correct this trading week as investors await the release of the first quarter (Q1) gross domestic product (GDP) report. The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSEi) declined by 24.07 points or 0.38% to close at 6,258.71 on Friday, while the broader all shares index went down by 2.22 points or 0.05% to finish […]

Peso may climb further despite expected GDP contraction in Q1

THE PESO will likely continue to climb this week even as the economy is expected to have remained in contraction in the first quarter. The local unit closed at P47.855 per dollar on Friday, strengthening by 12.50 centavos from its P47.98 close on Thursday, based on data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines. It […]

Philippine COVID-19 infections top 1.1 million

RESIDENTS of Old Balara go to Old Balara Elementary school during the continuation of the vaccination program for the A1 to A3 categories on May 3. — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS THE DEPARTMENT of Health (DoH) reported 7,174 coronavirus infections on Sunday, bringing the total to 1.1 million. The death toll rose by 204 to […]

Analysts thumb down planned debate on China sea dispute

By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter POLITICAL analysts on Sunday frowned upon a planned debate between the palace spokesman and an opposition leader on the South China Sea dispute, saying nothing good would come out of it. “Such a high-profile debate at this point in President Rodrigo Duterte’s term means they are conceding that his […]

Military chief says no civilian casualties in Saturday’s encounter with terrorist group, calls for vigilance in Maguindanao hot zone

THERE were no civilian or military casualties in Saturday’s encounter between government forces and members of an extremist group in a commercial area of Datu Paglas town in Maguindanao, according to the country’s military chief. An estimated 20 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF)  attempted but failed to occupy the town’s public market […]

DoLE forms committee to speed up OFW Hospital construction

THE DEPARTMENT of Labor and Employment (DoLE) has formed a committee that will focus on speeding up the completion of the hospital for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW). In a statement on Sunday, the DoLE said Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III ordered the creation of the committee to “rev up” the P550-million project, which had […]

DLS-CSB to serve as quarantine facility for judiciary personnel

THE SUPREME Court, Philippine Red Cross, and the De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) have partnered to provide quarantine facilities for members of the judiciary who test positive for the coronavirus and are mild or asymptomatic cases. “The Court is aware that most hospitals in Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces are reaching full […]

Davao City to legalize, regulate motorcycle taxis

THE DAVAO City government will legalize the local operation of motorcycle taxis through an ordinance that is expected to be approved by the council this week. Councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang said the proposed ordinance was introduced by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in consideration of lack of public transport in the city’s remote areas. Motorcycle taxis, locally […]

Philippine COVID-infections hit 1.09M

The Department of Health (DoH) reported 7,733 coronavirus infections on Friday, bringing the total to 1.09 million. The death toll rose by 108 to 18,099, while recoveries increased by 4,227 to over one million, it said in a bulletin. There were 66,626 coronavirus infections,1.1% of which were critical, 94.4% were mild, 2% did not show […]