Philippines

The scheduled repatriation on Sunday of nearly 500 Filipinos aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan will be postponed, Health Department (DOH) reported on Saturday. In a statement, the DOH said the Emerging Infectious Disease Task Force of the Inter-Agency (IATF-EID) would change the schedule as a cautionary measure to ensure the health and safety of the Filipinos on …

The Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) estimated that in 2019, rice farmers lost a total of P68.18 billion, twice as much as consumers saved because of lower grain prices in the first year of Rice Tariff Law implementation. According to the FFF report, from 2018 the average retail price of regular milled rice (RMR) decreased by P2,61 per kilo, while …

South Korea reported 52 more novel coronavirus cases, bringing its overall figure to 156, making it the worst-infected country outside China. The Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that 39 of the new cases were related to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the southern city of Daegu. More than 80 Shincheonji members have now been infected, starting …

Malacañang sees nothing wrong with his former boss, President Rodrigo Duterte, showing allegiance to Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo, speaking to reporters on Friday, suggested that Dela Rosa supports the President as they hold the same values on certain issues. Recently Dela Rosa drew criticism for saying that his vote on media giant ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal …

According to the Department of Health (DOH), there are 41 new reported cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the Philippines as of Friday morning. This takes the cumulative total of all persons under investigation (PUIs) in the country to 597 on the basis of data released at 10 a.m. by the DOH Given the additions to the register, hospitals …

Senators on Friday welcomed the hearing that the Senate Public Services Committee, headed by Senator Grace Poe, would hold on Monday’s renewal of the ABS-CBN Corporation franchise. Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the Senate is not in violation of the Constitution by holding the hearing contrary to the statements of House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano. In addition, the hearing …

Power consumers in the Luzon grid should prepare for potential “red alert” from the last week of April until the third week of May as high demand and thin supply conditions are seen during the summer season, Energy Department (DOE) said Friday. Advertising The red alert is projected to rise over the Luzon grid from the 18th week to the …

Two former Diamond Princess coronavirus-wracked passengers have died, local media reported on Thursday as concerns grow over those who left the ship despite having tested negative for the virus. Advertising A man and a woman who had been infected died in their 80s, said public broadcaster NHK and others, the first fatal cases among the more than 600 on board …

The Immigration Bureau (BI) is “immediately relieving” 19 workers reportedly connected to a supposed scheme in which Chinese nationals are escorted in exchange for a fee through the immigration process. The office did so in compliance with President Rodrigo Duterte’s order, BI spokeswoman Dana Sandoval said Thursday. The Immigration Bureau (BI) is reportedly “immediately relieving” 19 workers linked to a …

The step by Solicitor General Jose Calida to ask the Supreme Court to issue a gag order on ABS-CBN while awaiting a decision on his petition for quo warranto violates the Constitution and is detached from reality, said Vice President Leni Robredo Wednesday. The change was also “disconnected from reality” and could set a dangerous precedent, she said. Calida’s quo …