Philippines

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 …

Senator Pia Cayetano urged colleagues on Wednesday to support a bill aiming to lower the country’s corporate income tax (CIT) rate and overhaul the tax incentive program. Advertising Cayetano described Senate Bill No. 1357 or the proposed Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Rationalization Act (CITIRA) as fair and the best deal for everyone in her sponsorship speech as chairman. Under …

Global credit watcher Fitch Ratings upgraded its outlook on two Philippine state-owned banks on Thursday as it noted a “positive macroeconomic policy.” Advertisement Fitch revised its outlook on both the Philippine Land Bank (LBP) and the Philippine Development Bank (DBP) to “Positive” from “Stable,” suggesting a rating-scale upward trend. The sovereign rating outlook review reflects ongoing adherence to a sound …

According to Yonhap news agency, a presidential flight carried six South Koreans home, and a Japanese spouse from a quarantined cruise ship docked off Japan on Wednesday. Advertisement Evacuees shall be transferred to Incheon International Airport Quarantine and isolated for at least two weeks in order to rule out any symptoms. Health authorities said there were 14 South Koreans on …

Senator Nancy Binay on the Philippine National Police on Wednesday to end all kinds of profiling targeting particular individuals or groups based on appearance, political beliefs, religion, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation. She said police profiling was very widespread in that even innocent law-abiding citizens were wrongly arrested or charged with crimes. Former Vice President Jejomar Binay’s daughter then …