Philippines

For the first time since the reopening of the destination, President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to visit Boracay Island in an attempt to convince the public that domestic tourism is secure in the face of the 2019 coronavirus threat (COVID-19). Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said Duterte would travel to the island of Boracay next Thursday, March 12. As part of …

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) announced that alleged unions brought an estimated $370 million to the Philippines last year with the aid of the Philippine Armed Forces (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and airport police escorts. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said that after Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero provided him with a report detailing the activities of the alleged …

Countries scrambled to secure their mask supply as panic buying, hoarding and robbery spread over fears of the deadly coronavirus outbreak on Wednesday, with global health officials warning that protective gear stocks were rapidly dwindling. The disease that first emerged in China occurs almost daily in new countries, with Iran, Italy and South Korea facing increasing numbers. Italy’s death toll …

The Philippine tourism industry’s stakeholders are now bleeding as a result of the 2019 global health scare coronavirus disease (COVID-19), with hotels opting to temporarily close down and air carriers incuring millions of losses. Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in February tourist arrivals declined by 41 per cent due to the outbreak. Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP) president Jose …

The Immigration Bureau (BI) said it is enforcing the partial lifting of travel ban to South Korea following days of restrictions due to the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. Filipino tourists can now fly to Korea — except for the province of North Gyeongsang, Daegu and Cheongdo — provided they conduct a declaration that they know and understand the …

Six schools in Leyte have been damaged because of the 5.5 magnitude earthquake that hit the province on Monday, a TV channel said Tuesday. Cabul-An Elementary School, Don Mariano Memorial School, San Joaquin Elementary School, Libertad National High School and Capoocan Pinamopoan National High School, Leyte sustained partial damage. The study said a window grill was removed at Pinamopoan National …

South Korean health authorities said a religious sect leader tested negative for coronavirus on Tuesday after being taken to a “drive-through” test site late Monday in the midst of criticism over how his church became the outbreak’s nucleus. Lee Man-hee, who created the Shincheonji Church of Jesus and headed it, apologised on Monday and called the outbreak a “great calamity,” …

The fired security guard’s security agency involved in Monday’s hour-long incident of hostage-taking in Greenhills, San Juan could lose his operating license. Interviewed by Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac on Unang Balita, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson, the Supervisory Office on Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA) told the agency. Paray took dozens of V-Mall workers hostage on Monday to vent …

On Monday, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno approved an ordinance to set up a cemetery for Muslims exclusively in the country’s capital. The 2,400-square-meter cemetery will be located inside the Manila South Cemetery, Moreno said in a Facebook video message. A cultural hall measuring 56 square meters will also be installed inside the Muslim cemetery. Moreno said it was appropriating a …

Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) stated that the closure of its manufacturing plant in the province of Laguna was part of its global operations reduction and was not related to local problems. HCPI spokesperson Atty posted. Louie Soriano, the Philippine manufacturing shutdown was not related to local concerns including proposed changes to the current tax regime. Basically, if you are …