Philippines

METRO MANILA – Around 440 private elementary and high schools nationwide are expected to be suspending operations this school year amid the low enrollment of students due to the Covid-19 pandemic, says the Department of Education (DepEd). Out of the 14,435 private schools, 440 has notified DepEd the decision not to push through with the operation for the 2020-2021 School …

METRO MANILA – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has granted the Philippines another $125-million loan for the country’s coronavirus pandemic response. The funds will specifically aims to purchase medical equipment critical on the government’s fight against the pandemic. According to ADB, the loan was approved under the HEAL COVID-19 or Health System Enhancement to Address and Limit Project by the …

MANILA – At least 15 people have been killed and several others were wounded after explosions rocked the southern Philippine town of Jolo. READ: Statement of PCOO @SecAndanar on the twin blasts in Jolo, Sulu pic.twitter.com/EH1iL2jVVa — Presidential Comm (@pcoogov) August 24, 2020 Commander of Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) Major Gen. Corleto Vinluan said that 5 soldiers and 4 civilians …

Abu Dhabi – Hundreds of Filipinos were included among the thousands who volunteered in the Phase III of COVID-19 vaccine trials in the United Arab Emirates. According the the statement released by the Department of Foreign Affairs, that Group 42 (G42), the bu Dhabi-based technology company, is currently on its human (phase III) trials for the vaccine. The vaccine in …

METRO MANILA  – Senator Panfilo Lacson agrees that that the so-called “mafia” at the Philippine Health Insurance Corp is actually the executive committee itself as alleged by its former anti-fraud officer. According to the Senator, based on the documents he read, as early as April, it is maneuvering everything including the movements of funds and overpricing, the executive committee is …

METRO MANILA – The government are now requiring everyone to wear face shields inside commercial establishment, market as additional safety measure against Covid-19. According to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr., The Covid-19 National Task Force led by Presidential peace adviser Carlito Galvez Jr agreed on requiring the use of faceshields to commercial establishments in addition to wearing facemask, social distancing …

METRO MANILA – The Senate has ratified last night the P140-billion Bayanihan to Recover as One measure that will support the sectors heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Chair of the Senate finance committee Sen. Sonny Angara said the funds will be used for the various government programs with an additional P25-billion standby appropriation and P10 billion for the procurement …

METRO MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte continues to trust Health Secretary Francisco Duque III espite the new corruption allegations against him in connection with Philhealth, says presidential spokesman Harry Roque on Wednesday. Roque said that the Health Secretary will continue to work as the head of the Department of Health and chairman of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious …

METRO MANILA – Metro Manila mayors have agreed to a uniformed curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m in Metro Manila as part of the stricter implementation of the general community quarantine (GCQ). According to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, the majority of the mayors voted for the curfew hours from 8pm to 5am. Inaprubahan ng IATF-EID ang naging rekomendasyon ng …

METRO MANILA – The government has finally eased up on the much controversial motorcycle barrier requirement for riders living in the same house. According to the Joint Task Force COVID Shield on Tuesday that the National task force for Covid-19 has approved new and more relaxed guidelines in motorcycle backriding. However, areas under GCQ will still required riders not living …