New Clark Airport terminal building to open before end-2020 — BCDA
MANILA, Aug 3 (Mabuhay) — The new passenger terminal building (PTB) at the Clark International Airport is on track to open by the end of the year and will be fully operational by January next year, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) announced Sunday. In an emailed statement, the BCDA said the building shell […]
Gov’t debt balloons to record P9.05T as of end-June as borrowing increased due to COVID-19
MANILA, July 29 (Mabuhay) — The national government’s outstanding debt swelled to a record P9.054 trillion, breaching P9-trillion mark, as of end-June as the state ramped up borrowing to support COVID-19 response and recovery efforts, data released by the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed Wednesday. The end-June outstanding government debt is 1.8% higher than […]
BIR maintains POGOs should pay 5% franchise tax
MANILA, July 28 (Mabuhay) — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has maintained that foreign-based Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) should pay the 5% franchise tax before they can resume their operations. In a statement, the taxman said the payment of 5% franchise tax on POGOs is clearly stated in a memorandum circular issued by […]
843K local workers, OFWs get cash aid — PRRD
MANILA, July 28 (Mabuhay) — More than 800,000 local and overseas workers affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic have benefited from the cash assistance provided by the government, President Rodrigo R. Duterte said on Monday. In his 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa, Duterte reported that some 843,000 […]
Philippines reimposes non-essential foreign travel restriction for citizens
MANILA, July 23 (Mabuhay)– The Philippines reimposed the restriction on non-essential outbound travel for Filipinos, Malacañang announced Thursday. In a televised briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the government’s COVID-19 task force made the decision since only one health and travel insurance company agreed to provide such service. However, those with confirmed bookings as of […]
Ex-DOH chief says gov’t should be open to criticism over pandemic
MANILA, July 22 (Mabuhay) — A former Philippine health secretary on Tuesday urged the government to take criticisms “constructively” as officials come under increasing pressure to arrest the rising number of coronavirus cases in the country, despite imposing one of the world’s longest lockdowns. A number of individuals have come under fire from authorities for […]
50k more OFWs expected to be repatriated by end-July — DFA
MANILA, July 18 (Mabuhay) — At least 50,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are expected to be repatriated by the end of July due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy, a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official said Friday. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sarah Arriola made the announcement before the House Committee […]
BI ready to impose IATF rule on entry of foreigners
MANILA, July 17 (Mabuhay) — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Friday said it is ready to implement the new resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) allowing the entry of foreigners with existing visas into the country. “We have yet to see the new IATF resolution but […]
Contact tracers must have ‘investigative mindset,’ Magalong says
MANILA, (Mabuhay) — Tracing czar and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Monday said contact tracers needed at this time of COVID-19 pandemic should have an “investigative mindset.” At a press briefing, Magalong said contact tracers, especially those conducting interviews among patients, are composed of medical personnel and police investigators. “Ang isa sa mga qualifications […]
Nothing to worry about, Palace says following bubonic plague case in China
MANILA, (Mabuhay) — Malacañang assured the public on Thursday that the country’s borders remain closed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic after a case of bubonic plague was recorded in China this week. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Philippines is taking the matter seriously. “Sineseryoso po natin ‘yan. Pero huwag po kayong mabahala kasi […]
DFA: Philippines begins coordination with international partners for COVID-19 vaccine availability
MANILA, July 10 (Mabuhay) — The Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday said the Philippine government has started coordinating with various international partners to ensure availability of potential vaccine against the deadly coronavirus for Filipinos. “Based on the gathered information by the department, collaboration with Philippine subsidiaries of vaccine developers, engagement with those overseas for […]
Pneumonia vaccine indirectly strengthens body vs COVID-19, says expert
MANILA, (Mabuhay) — Vaccination against pneumonia helps the body indirectly strengthen itself against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to a pediatric specialist. Dr. John Ong urged the Philippines to continue using the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) 13 as the country grapples with the coronavirus menace. “If you are inoculated for pneumonia, you are indirectly […]
Pope Francis appoints 3 Pinoy priests as ‘missionaries of mercy’
MANILA, July 8 (Mabuhay) — Pope Francis has appointed three Filipino priests as “missionaries of mercy,” according to a report posted on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website. The new appointees are all from the Diocese of Balanga in Bataan, namely: Fr. Jhoen Buenaventura, Fr. Joseph Quicho and Fr. Jesus Navoa. They […]
Almost 600 patients in PH participate in clinical trials for COVID-19 treatment
MANILA, July 6 (Mabuhay) — There are now almost 600 patients in the Philippines enrolled in tho World Health Organization’s clinical trials for possible COVID-19 treatments, according to the Department of Health. The DOH released the information as two of the Solidarity Trial tracks were discontinued because the drugs were deemed ineffective. Based on DOH […]
DOH halts use of HIV drug combination for hospitalized COVID-19 patients
MANILA, July 6 (Mabuhay) — The Department of Health said Sunday it would stop the use of combination HIV drug lopinavir and ritonavir in its treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 patients following the World Health Organization’s move. The agency had also previously discontinued using anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, according to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire. “Based on […]
31 countries open borders to Filipinos — DFA
MANILA, July 6 (Mabuhay) — The Department of Foreign Affairs reported Sunday that of the 177 countries/territories across the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, and Middle East/Africa included in the updated infographics on travel restrictions, 31 have already lifted the inbound border restrictions on Filipino travelers, subject to medical protocols on arriving passengers. In […]
Wirecard scandal used names of PH banks to ‘cover perpetrators tracks’ — BSP Diokno
MANILA, July 6 (Mabuhay) — The Wirecard scandal used the names of the country’s top lenders to cover fraudsters tracks, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said Monday. During a Malacanang video conference, Diokno reiterated that the missing $2.1 billion of the German payment provider did not enter the country’s financial system. “The international […]
66,000 stranded OFWs sent back to home provinces since May 15 — OWWA
MANILA, (Mabuhay) — Around 66,000 repatriated Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were stranded in Metro Manila due to restrictions implemented amid the COVID-19 pandemic are already in their home provinces. Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said in a forum on Monday that 34,000 of them were seafarers, while 32,000 were land-based […]