Latest News and Updates in the Philippines

TOKYO – The Japanese government will end the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) state of emergency covering Tokyo and 18 prefectures and a quasi-state of emergency for eight regions when they expire on Sept. 30, as the number of infections declined steadily, local media reported on Monday.Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said his government…

MANILA – The chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on Tuesday asked Senator Richard Gordon to allow Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. director Linconn Ong to participate in the panel’s next hearing on the government’s procurement of Covid-19 supplies.In a letter addressed to Gordon, panel chair Michael Aglipay s…

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has raised concern over the new trilateral security pact among Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States (AUKUS), Malacañang said on Tuesday.In a virtual press conference, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte would meet with his Cabinet to discuss the AUKUS alliance and raise the issue, a…

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the vaccination of the general population, including minors, against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in October, Malacañang said on Tuesday.Duterte gave his nod to the recommendation of National Task Force Against Covid-19 and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. to start inoculating the general p…

MANILA – The Congress would need to pass a law requiring Filipinos to get fully vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), Malacañang said on Tuesday.  Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made this remark after President Rodrigo R. Duterte broached the idea of using the government’s police power to compel citizens to get their ja…

MANILA – Aspiring lawyers would have to wait some more after the Supreme Court (SC) moved the Bar examinations from November to January next year due to the health crisis.It will be the first Bar exams to be held in multiple sites after the SC approved the 24 testing venues in August.The four-Sunday exams were canceled last year due to the pandemi…

MANILA – The investment and partnership of Japan’s largest power generation company with AboitizPower Corp. is expected to support the development of the country’s power sector. In a press conference Tuesday, Aboitiz Group president and chief executive officer, Sabin Aboitiz, announced that JERA bought a 27-percent stake of Aboitiz Equity Ventures,…

BACOLOD CITY – Almost 10 days after their peace was disturbed by an armed encounter, residents of Barangay Tabu in Ilog, Negros Occidental declared the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and its political wing, the National Democratic Front (NDF), as persona non grata.In a peace rally held at the village grounds on Sept…

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte is “sensitive” to the public’s opinion and could still reconsider his plan to join the 2022 vice presidential race, Malacañang said on Tuesday.This, after results of the Social Weather Stations’ (SWS) June 23 to 26 poll found that 60 percent of 1,200 adult Filipinos believed that Duterte’s potential vice presiden…

COTABATO CITY – Health authorities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) turned over Tuesday three barangay health stations (BHS) amounting to PHP9.9 million in Marawi City to better respond to the people’s health needs.Dr. Bashary Latiph, BARMM health minister, said the putting up of health facilities in as many areas as …

COTABATO CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) 12 (Soccsksargen) reported 689 new recoveries from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) on Monday night, regarded as the highest single-day recovery recorded so far in the region.Arjohn Gangoso, DOH-12 health education and promotion officer, said of the new recoveries, South Cotabato topped the lis…

MANILA – The voter registration period, which ends Sept. 30, is likely to be extended following a clamor from various sectors, an official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Tuesday.Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the Commission en banc is set to announce the decision after its scheduled session on Wednesday.“The matter of exten…

MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday lauded the Senate approval of the measure seeking to raise the age for determining statutory rape from 12 years old to 16 years old.PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, in a statement, said the measure would be a "great help" in protecting young persons from all forms of sexual exploi…

MANILA – The House of Representatives on Monday overwhelmingly approved on final reading a measure providing a national energy policy and regulatory framework for the use and development of electric vehicles and their development as an industry.With 195 affirmative votes, the chamber passed on third reading House Bill 10213, or the proposed “Elect…

MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has posted 274 more recoveries on Tuesday, bringing the number of personnel who have recovered from the coronavirus to 37,265.A total of 143 new Covid-19 cases were recorded on September 28, which brings the total tally to 39,474 since the start of the pandemic last year.Total active cases were placed …

MANILA – The Philippine Army (PA) has a new public affairs office chief, Col. Xerxes Trinidad, replacing Col. Ramon Zagala who is now the spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).The traditional turnover of office was presided by PA chief-of-staff Brig. Gen. Robert Capulong.Before being appointed as Office of the Army Chief Public…

URDANETA CITY, Pangasinan – Amid the stringent travel restrictions in the country due to the prevailing pandemic, Erwin Zabala and Ruby Papio-Zabala have tied the knot in a civil wedding ceremony at the border checkpoint here.Ruby, 37, a native of Villasis town, Pangasinan, said in an online interview Monday night that Erwin, 43, a native of Tayug…

DATU MONTAWAL, Maguindanao – Four persons found unconscious inside a parked car in Datu Montawal, Maguindanao on Monday afternoon are now recovering in a hospital.Balumol Cadiding, Datu Montawal municipal disaster management officer, said Tuesday the four persons were identified as Vanessa Escaner, 39; her husband Jayson Escaner, 31; Mary Jane Bar…

MANILA – A fair weather with isolated rain showers will continue to prevail across the country Tuesday, a weather forecaster said.

"Most parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila, will have warm and humid weather. Isolated rains are still likely, and thunderstorms may be experienced in the afternoon or evening so one should bring an umbrella,&qu…

MANILA – President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday urged the public to get vaccinated as the delivery of Covid-19 vaccines is expected to reach 100 million doses by the end of October."I now encourage you--those who have yet to receive vaccines--to get inoculated," Duterte said in his taped Talk to the People.Duterte said the government may…

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte wondered why the expiration date of the face shields becomes an issue at the Senate inquiry into the medical supplies procured by the government from the Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Corp. at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic last year.In his prerecorded Talk to the People Monday night, Duterte said plastics, even …

MANILA – The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) will complete its investigation report on the Philippine Red Cross (PRC)-Subic chapter's "false positives" Covid-19 tests by October 8.In his report during President Rodrigo Duterte’s prerecorded Talk to the People aired Monday night, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Fr…

MANILA – A survey conducted by the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), and the Makati Business Club (MBC) showed that large firms have maintained or even increased their headcount amid the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. The survey, conducted from April 6 to May 16, foun…

TACLOBAN CITY – The local government unit of Naval in Biliran province launched on Monday its online consultation program providing free services to residents in the comfort of their homes as a way to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Launched in Higatangan Island where two villages are located, the e-Konsulta program i…

MANILA – The Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) will be used to identify and verify beneficiaries of assistance programs, such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation.The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced on Monday…

MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Health (DOH) on Monday signed a joint memorandum circular outlining the guidelines for the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes for basic education in areas identified as "low risk" for the coronavirus.During the virtual ceremonial signing, Education Secretary Leo…

MANILA – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Monday served a freeze order on the bank and credit accounts and assets of two suspected drug personalities.PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva said the order was issued against the bank and credit accounts, insuran…

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Police units in Sarangani province have stepped up their campaigns against criminals and other illegal activities, especially in the coastal areas.Col. Nicomedes Olaivar Jr., officer-in-charge of the Sarangani Police Provincial Office, said Monday such a move was based on the latest marching orders relayed to their office by …

MANILA – The Philippines' active official development assistance (ODA) portfolio reached USD30.7 billion last year, a 46.6 percent increase from the previous USD20.9 billion in 2019, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) reported Monday.   Based on NEDA’s recently released ODA Portfolio Review Report for CY 2020, the active ODA…

MANILA – Victims of domestic violence, including rape, must end the cycle of abuse by speaking out, reporting to authorities, and availing of government assistance.Data by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) showed a notable 66.67 percent increase in violence against women and children (VAWC) cases -- 145 cases this year as against 87 during th…