President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Friday signed a proclamation declaring fewer nonworking days this year supposedly to boost the economy amid a coronavirus pandemic. Under the order, November 2 (All Souls’ Day), December 24 (Christmas Eve) and December 31 (New Year’s Eve), which had been special holidays, will be special working days. “For the country […]
Category: Hot News
Philippines to use Sinovac vaccine on health workers
An inter-agency task force has approved a plan to inoculate FIlipino health workers against the coronavirus using vaccines from Chinese drugmaker Sinovac BIotech Ltd., according to health authorities. This was upon the recommendation of an advisory group from the Department of Health (DoH), Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire told an online news briefing on Friday. […]
Philippine military sets vaccination target
The Philippine military is targeting to vaccinate 100 soldiers against the coronavirus daily once the first batch of vaccines from China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd. arrive, a military official said on Friday. Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel must get vaccinated, but they can choose a different brand at their own expense, spokesman Major General Edgard […]
Duterte orders probe of police shootout
President Rodrigo R. Duterte has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate a shootout between police and agents of his anti-drug agency where four law enforcers were killed. The Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) would no longer conduct their own probes of the botched drug buy bust operation […]
Filipinos in US warned vs attacks
The Philippine Embassy in the US has warned Filipinos there to remain cautious after recent attacks against Asian Americans. “Filipinos are advised to exercise utmost caution in view of these incidents,” it said in an advisory. It said it appreciates the swift action taken by US authorities to apprehend the perpetrators. “However, we call on […]
Listen to people on VFA, Duterte told
President Rodrigo R. Duterte should listen to the people to help him decide whether to end a military deal with the United States on the deployment of troops for war games, according to a senator. “Nobody has the monopoly of wisdom regardless of power and authority,” Senator Panfilo M. Lacson said in a statement on […]
Fisheries bureau boosts surveillance
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has improved and expanded its surveillance of illegal fishing activities, according to the agency. In a statement, it could now track and communicate with flagged fishing vessels in real time, while integrating law enforcement. “Implementing the project gives us the opportunity to benefit from technological innovations for […]
Philippines eyes stricter border security
The Bureau of Immigration on Friday said it would launch an advanced security system that will boost Philippine border security. The new system would allow the agency to conduct security inspections of foreigners in advance before they arrive or leave the airport, it said in a statement. The bureau’s advanced passenger information system will allow […]
NGCP holds consultations on transmission plan
The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) on Friday said that it has been consulting agencies and stakeholders in the past two months about the country’s updated transmission development plan. In a statement, the agency said the latest version of the plan would cover 2021 to 2040 and would take into account the needs […]
Marikina River dredging to help prevent floods
The Department of Public Works and Highways on Friday said it had started dredging the Marikina River to expand its capacity in handling rainwater and prevent floods in nearby communities. The dredging of about 50,000 cubic meters of soil, sand and silt started on Feb. 17, and would continue toward the summer season within two […]
Stocks inch up over news of COVID-19 vaccine arrival
Local shares closed the week on a high note after the government announced that the country’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines are set to arrive on Sunday, Feb. 28. “The market may have closed higher today due to investor optimism on the country’s first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines, which is expected to come over the […]
Manila Water starts building 42nd sewage treatment plant
EAST ZONE water concessionaire Manila Water Co., Inc. has broken ground for its P4.16-billion Aglipay sewage treatment plant in Mandaluyong City that can treat 60 million liters per day. In a statement on Thursday, Manila Water said the plant is the company’s 42nd sewage treatment facility in its franchise area and will treat wastewater coming […]
Cat-and-mouse hijinks return in new Tom & Jerry movie
LOS ANGELES — Tom & Jerry, the rambunctious cat and mouse duo that has entertained audiences since 1940, will appear in a new feature film that finds the cartoon characters threatening to disrupt a celebrity wedding at a posh New York City hotel. The film, a hybrid of animation and live action, debuts Friday in […]
Quick lending upturn unlikely
THE FINANCIAL Institutions Strategic Transfer (FIST) Law will not be enough for a “turnaround” in credit growth even as it aims to help banks offload non-performing assets (NPAs), ANZ Research said in a note. “It (FIST Law) is unlikely to trigger a credit cycle until the risk profile of borrowers improves, a development that is […]
PLDT’s aviation arm PG1 readies for rise of air charter services market
PLDT, Inc. said its aviation arm, Pacific Global One Aviation (PG1), is now preparing itself to take advantage of the rising demand for air charter services. PG1 “embarks on a major rebrand as it expects the global air charter business to take off in the next three years as the impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus […]
Top Amazon India executive questioned by police over video series
LUCKNOW, India — Indian police in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh questioned a top Amazon executive for nearly four hours on Tuesday over allegations that one of its political dramas on Prime Video hurt religious sentiments and caused public anger. Shows on streaming platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime have often faced complaints […]
Banks urged to hold off on hiking ATM fees, use excess capital to expand services
BANKS SHOULD USE their excess capital to expand their services instead of increasing fees for cash machine services, a lawmakers said, after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas tweaked its rules on fees this month. Anakalusugan party-list Representative Michael T. Defensor said in a statement on Thursday that banks have surplus capital since automated teller machine […]
Philippines facing oversupply in IT graduates, STEM shortage
BW FILE PHOTO THE PHILIPPINES is facing an oversupply in information technology (IT) graduates in 2025, but needs more students to go into the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, a government think tank said. Jose Ramon G. Albert, a senior research fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), said at a […]
Diocesan radio station clears House second reading
THE House of Representatives approved on Wednesday the franchise renewal of Franciscan Broadcasting Corp. on second reading. On Wednesday’s plenary session, lawmakers approved on second reading House Bill 8741 or an act that will renew the franchise of the Negros-based diocesan radio station for another 25 years. The measure was authored by Negros Oriental Second […]
Actor Depardieu placed under sexual violence investigation
PARIS — French actor Gerard Depardieu was placed under formal investigation on charges of rape and sexual violence in December last year, a judicial source told Reuters on Tuesday. A lawyer representing the 73-year-old Depardieu, one of France’s most prolific and famous actors, did not immediately respond to a request for comment left by Reuters […]