Philippines

President Rodrigo Duterte declared a state of calamity in Calabarzon because of the effects of the Taal Volcano eruption in January. Advertising The state of calamity shall cover the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon and shall last for one year, unless it has been lifted sooner, in accordance with Proclamation 906 signed by Duterte on 21 February. …

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said Thursday he was willing to be jailed on his stand that even after his franchise had expired, ABS-CBN could continue to operate under a provisional authority. Advertisement The House Committee on Legislative Franchises had previously written to the National Telecommunications Commission to order the NTC to issue an interim authority for ABS-CBN, while the House …

The Transportation Department (DOTr) clarified Thursday that it was the concessionaire who decided to open commercial spaces at MRT7 Quezon Memorial Circle station. The government had previously stated that the railway project concessionaire would open the station’s business spaces to prevent rises in fares or amortization costs to be paid by the Government. DOTr Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran explained …

Russia warned on Wednesday against traveling to Italy, South Korea and Iran to prevent the novel coronavirus from spreading. Advertising Noting the spike in cases in the three countries, consumer safety regulator Rospotrebnadzor urged Russians to avoid traveling there’ until the epidemiological situation has stabilized.’ More than 1,100 people were infected in South Korea— the hardest-hit area outside China— and …

One person was killed when an early Wednesday morning fire flattened a heritage house behind the historic Calle Crisologo in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. Ilocos Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Manager Michael Chan said the fire broke out at about 8:28 a.m. A YouScooper said the house sits along the Plaridel Street corner of General Luna. The …

According to a member of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, all 445 Filipinos who have been repatriated from coronavirus-hit cruise ship Diamond Princess in Japan are still asymptomatic. The process of repatriation ended at 5 a.m. Monday.  And at about 5:20 a.m. the repatriates were already in their isolation rooms, respectively. First flight for Japanese repatriates had …

On Wednesday, the Philippines imposed travel restrictions on parts of South Korea and barred Filipino tourists from entering the East Asian nation because of rising cases of deadly novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infections. Advertisement Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo told reporters that the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease approved the immediate entry ban for travelers coming from South Korea’s North …

Grab Philippines ‘ holiday surge customers experienced in 2019 may come as early as summer this year, given the expected increase in demand amid the steady churn out of rider partners. According to Grab Philippines Country Head Brian Cu, the company’s customers may expect difficulty with their bookings as soon as next month. Cu explained that Grab can currently supply …

China declared an immediate and “comprehensive” ban on wild animal trade and consumption, a practice believed to be responsible for the deadly coronavirus outbreak. The highest legislative committee in the country adopted a resolution “prohibiting the illegal trade in wildlife, abolishing the bad habit of overconsumption of wildlife and effectively protecting people’s lives and safety,” state television reported. Previous temporary …

The Vice President then said that EDSA People Power was never a call for a perfect leader, but a demand for a leader who looks out for people’s welfare rather than killing them— a statement that could be taken as a slap against President Rodrigo Duterte, whose war on drugs has been criticized for his high death toll. Robredo has …