Duterte signs law providing health care to all Filipinos
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, February 20, signed into law the Universal Health Care (UHC) Bill, which seeks to give all Filipinos health care coverage and benefits. In his speech…
Category: Dateline Philippines
Covering the week’s most noteworthy news stories in the Philippines for the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
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Duterte: I will not allow my country to be destroyed by drugs
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, February 20, vowed that he will not allow anyone to destroy the Philippines with illegal drugs. “I will not allow my country to be destroyed…
US-PH Society: PH has strong human infrastructure
The United States-Philippine Society (USPS) has urged American business ventures to invest in the infrastructure sector of the Philippines because of the “strong human infrastructure” that the country can offer. …
Duterte hits on Catholic church anew: ‘I told you so’
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, February 20, once again lashed out on the Catholic clergy amid the Vatican sex abuse summit which started last Thursday, February 21, to Sunday,…
Palace maintains no ransom policy amid Abu Sayyaf threats
Malacañang on Friday, February 22, stood firm on its “no ransom policy” despite the hostage-taking of three foreign nationals by the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Mindanao. Presidential Spokesperson…
Rappler: Cover ban violates freedom of the press
Social news network Rappler and its management on Wednesday, February 20, wrote to both Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar asking them to lift the cover…
Duterte signs 20 new laws, including lifetime cellphone number
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Tuesday, February 19, that he has signed a total of 20 laws including the Mobile Number Portability Act that would permit “qualified subscribers” to…
Lawmakers question PCOO Europe caravan intentions
Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Monday, February 18, said key officials from the Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO) are in Europe for the Press Freedom Caravan. He said those…
Supreme Court dismisses petitions against martial law extension
The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday, February 19, junked four petitions challenging the constitutionality of the martial law extension in Mindanao. The legality of the extension was upheld by the…
DOH: Measles outbreak could affect tourism, OFWs
THE Philippines’ Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday, February 19, said that the measles outbreak in the country could negatively affect the tourism and overseas labor sectors if not contained…
Senators eye first daughter Sara Duterte for presidential bid
AS the presidential daughter and Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) chairwoman Sara Duterte-Carpio increased her public presence for her political party, the public buzzed anew with talks of her possibly succeeding…
Dengvaxia permanently banned in PH
Dengvaxia’s certificates of product registration (CPRs) have been “permanently revoked,” the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Tuesday, February 19. This is due to the continued failure of the anti-dengue…
Palace: First daughter Sara Duterte could be the next president
Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said that first daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio might become the next leader of the country, following his father President Rodrigo Duterte’s footsteps. “I…
DOT relaunches PH tourism campaign
THE country’s “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” tourism campaign was relaunched on Monday, February 18, by the Department of Tourism (DOT). The repurposed campaign, which would now use crowd-sourcing…
Sandiganbayan commences plunder case trial for Enrile
THE Sandiganbayan Third Division began the trial of former Senate President on Tuesday, February 19, for the plunder and graft case against him due to his alleged involvement in the…
PH move to delist Desaparecidos: ‘An extension of grave injustice’
Local human rights group Karapatan on Monday, February 18, criticized the government’s move to delist over 600 cases of enforced and involuntary disappearances in the Philippines, calling it “an extension…
I will kill anyone who asks for a birth certificate —Locsin
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Tuesday, February 19, warned that he will “kill” anyone who asks applicants for a birth certificate as a requirement for…
Rappler chief Maria Ressa released on bail after arrest
Arrest of 2018 TIME Person of the Year sparks international outrage, questions about press freedom ONE day after her arrest for “cyber libel” charges, Filipina journalist Maria Ressa of Rappler…
Palace: Renaming PH to ‘Maharlika’ needs congressional action
In response to President Rodrigo Duterte floating the idea of renaming the Philippines to “Maharlika,” Malacañang said that the name change would require a new law and the public’s approval…
Duterte endorses 11 senatorial bets, drops Jinggoy Estrada
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has announced the 11 senatorial candidates he is endorsing for the upcoming midterm elections, notably excluding plunder-accused former Senator Jinggoy Estrada. “Kapag natalo ‘tong mga kandidato…
1 million Filipino kids to receive measles vaccine
Amid the contagious measles outbreak in the Philippines, one million children aged 5 months to 6 years old will receive vaccines starting this weekend. The mass measles immunization campaign will…
PNP identifies 701 election hotspots
Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Oscar Albayalde on Tuesday, February 12, said a total of 701 cities and municipalities nationwide have been identified as election hotspots for the May…
Health department: Isolate infants below six months amid measles outbreak
The Philippines’ Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III urged the parents on Tuesday, February 12, to isolate their infants below six months old if there is a measles…
Announcement on the conduct of the DOT Express Accreditation
The Department of Tourism (DOT) will conduct the DOT Express Accreditation for Primary Tourism Enterprises in the National Capital Region (NCR), in coordination with the Department of the Interior and…
Historian: ‘Maharlika’ does not mean ‘noble’
A Filipino historian on Wednesday, February 13, said that the understanding of “Maharlika” as nobility is a common misconception due to mistranslated historical texts. This was after President Rodrigo Duterte…
Rappler CEO Maria Ressa arrested for ‘cyber libel’
renowned Filipina photojournalist Maria Ressa of Rappler was arrested at the paper’s headquarters on suspicion of “cyber libel” by the Philippine Department of Justice on Wednesday, February 13. Ressa, a…
Palace: Duterte allowed to endorse election bets
AS the 90-day campaign period for senatorial and party-list candidates started on Tuesday, February 12, Malacañang informed the public that it is lawful for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to engage…
COMELEC suspends canvassing of BOL votes
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on Tuesday, February 12, suspended the canvassing of votes for the second round of the Bangsamoro Organic Law plebiscite in the four municipalities in North…
AFP chief welcomes US support
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday, February 12, welcomed the United States’ quarterly report that showed $61.9 million in support of the intelligence operations of the Philippine…
DOT Statement on DILG’s of reiteration of the Tourism Act Accreditation
The Department of Tourism (DOT) lauds the initiative of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in urging all Local Government Units (LGUs) to ensure the accreditation of…