Philippines

MANILA – Solicitor General Jose Calida is now the highest paid official among the government officials, according to the Commission on Audit (COA) 2019 Report on Salaries and Allowances (ROSA). The solicitor general earns a total of P16.9 million that is mostly coming from additional compensation and honorarium. Former United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) president Higinio Macadaeg Jr still took …

MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) has reached its target enrollment rate of 22.2 million students for the coming school year, a 20% decrease from the student population last year. According to DepEd, as of yesterday, there are 22,233,806 students have registered in public and private schools, compared to the 27 million enrollees last year. National Enrollment for SY …

METRO MANILA – The members of the oppositions on Monday slams President Rodrigo Duterte’s renewed calls to revive death penalty for drug-related crimes in the country. Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon opossed bringing back the death penalty just because of the ‘deficiencies in our judicial system’, urging the government instead of make reforms in the justice and law system. Duterte, …

METRO MANILA – Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez urged malls and commercial establishments to adjust and offer tenants who decided to reopen their stalls and outlets lower rates. During the Pre-SONA Forum of the Economic and Infrastructure Cabinet Cluster, Lopez appealed to owners to make necessary considerations a alot of Vendors in malls have closed their …

METRO MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to deliver the state of the nation address (SONA) today amid health crisis amid COVID-19 cases and econimic slowdown griping the the entire country. HAPPENING NOW: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his 5th State of the Nation Address at the Batasang Pambansa Complex. | https://t.co/1kzGrOh5YK#WeRiseAsOne#DuterteSONA2020 pic.twitter.com/zjChyb3gu4— Presidential Comm (@pcoogov) July 27, 2020 …

MANILA – More than 80,000 people in the country has now been positive with the COVID-19, the Department of Health announced on Sunday after 2,110 additional new cases were recorded by the agency. The DOH the positive cases has already reached 80,448. Over 60% or 1,345 of the new cases came from the National Capital Region,  Cebu, on the other …

MANILA – The Department of the Interior and Local Government has issued an advisory urging local governments not to issue rally permits during the President Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday. The advisory issued by DILG was in accordance with health protocols issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. …

MANILA  – President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered for an investigation on the alleged anomalies in the Philhealth regarding overpriced procurement of an information technology system. pic.twitter.com/3G4ZYhVlNM— Harry Roque (@attyharryroque) July 24, 2020 Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said in a statement that three PhilHealth officials resigned from their respective posts because of corruption allegations within the government agency. Roque confirmed …

METRO MANILA – The Philippines cannot afford to test every citizens for Covid-19, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque admitted on Tuesday. According to Roque, If the government can afford it then why not but the reality is that there are 110 million Filipinos and PH cannot simply afford to test all. However, the government are taking steps to increase the testing …

MANILA – The government of Taiwan has confirmed that it will be extending itsvisa-free entry for Filipinos from August 1, 2020 to July 31, 2021. According to the statement released by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), it said that visa-free privilege for Filipinos will be extended for another year and will also continue for citizens of Thailand, Brunei and …