Covering the week’s most noteworthy news stories in the Philippines for the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
THE Philippines has now recorded over 1 million COVID-19 cases, becoming the second country in Southeast Asia to reach this grim milestone. The Philippine Department of Health (DOH) on Monday, April 26, logged 8,929 new infections, bringing the official tally to 1,006,428 — of which 74,623 are active cases. Of the active cases, 95.4% are…
THE Philippine Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is urging community pantry organizers to coordinate with local government units (LGUs) and police to ensure the proper observance of health and safety protocols. “You may have given food, but this may lead to a (COVID-19) surge, outbreak or transmission, and you defeat the purpose,”…
THE Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted emergency use authorization (EUA) to two more COVID-19 vaccines. FDA director general Eric Domingo on Tuesday, April 20, confirmed that Johnson & Johnson and India’s Bharat Biotech have secured a EUA for their vaccines. “Our experts have evaluated their applications and decided that the benefits outweigh…
THE Philippines is “falling short” of protecting its frontline healthcare workers against COVID-19, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said Monday, April 19. In a Laging Handa public briefing, WHO representative to the Philippines Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe noted that only 63% of the country’s health care workers have been immunized under the government’s COVID-19 vaccination…
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has made it “very clear” that the country’s friendship with China has limitations, according to Malacañang. “He made it very clear ‘Kaibigan tayo, makikipagkaibigan ako (We are friends, I will make friends with you), but there is a limit to our friendship,’” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Tuesday, April 20. “Pagdating…
FOREIGN travelers who were given entry exemption documents prior to the implementation of the travel ban in March may now enter the Philippines, according to the country’s Bureau of Immigration (BI). BI Commissioner Jaime Morente updated the advisory that non-Filipino citizens with entry exemption documents issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) before March…
THE Philippines has extended its entry ban on foreign nationals until the end of April. Malacañang on Friday, April 16, announced that the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases approved “the extension of the temporary suspension of foreign nationals until April 30, 2021.” Last month, the National Task Force Against…
MANY startups have attempted to unlock financial services in Southeast Asian emerging markets, where credit card penetration is under 10%. Consumers in the Philippines have lost trust in a system rife with illegitimate and predatory lenders. A new FinTech startup, Plentina, is leveraging machine learning and retail partnerships to help rebuild that trust. Plentina closed…
Malacañang expressed optimism that the Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea will leave “soon” due to the close friendship between the Philippines and China. “Inaasahan po natin na ‘yung malapit na pagkakaibigan natin, magiging dahilan kung bakit sila ay aalis ng maaga kaysa nang mas matagal (We expect that the close friendship will be…
A LOCAL beach in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte in the Philippines has been hailed as one of the world’s most beautiful by an internationally renowned travel magazine. New York-based Travel + Leisure on Monday, April 12, included Saud Beach in its “25 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World” list. It is the only Philippine beach to…
PHILIPPINE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and his U.S. counterpart Lloyd Austin III over the weekend discussed the situation in the West Philippine Sea. During a telephone conference on Sunday, April 11, the two officials discussed recent developments in regional security, adding that they were looking forward to this year’s joint military exercises after it was cancelled…
FORMER Philippine President Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada is reportedly free of COVID-19 after several days on a ventilator. In a Facebook post, former Senator Jinggoy Estrada announced that his father tested negative for the virus with his condition continuing to improve. “We are happy to announce that my dad continues to improve and we expect…
METRO Manila and its surrounding provinces are now under the less stringent modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until the end of April. Malacañang on Sunday, April 11, said that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to place Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal under MECQ from April…
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has dismissed rumors surrounding his health after almost two weeks away from the public eye. His absence comes as the country faces one of the worst coronavirus surges in Southeast Asia with hospitals overwhelmed and infection rates continuing to climb. Meanwhile, a little over 1 million residents have received at least…
FORMER Philippine President Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada has reportedly been removed from ventilator support. In a Facebook post, his son, former Senator Jinggoy Estrada, expressed happiness over the improvement of the family patriarch’s condition. “We are extremely happy to announce that my father has now been removed from ventilator support although he continues to require…
PHILIPPINE lawmakers are calling for an investigation into the death of an alleged quarantine violator who was forced to do 300 rounds of squats as punishment. Bayan Muna Reps. Eufemia Cullamat, Carlos Zarate, and Ferdinand Gaite on Wednesday, April 7, filed House Resolution No. 1697, urging members of Congress to defend the human rights of…
EXTENDING the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila and four nearby provinces beyond April 11 has been ruled out by Malacañang in favor of the more lenient modified ECQ (MECQ) to curb the spike in COVID-19 cases in the country. “I don’t think ECQ for a third week is actually a possibility,” Presidential Spokesperson…
PHILIPPINE Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has condemned the recent brutal attack against an elderly Filipina American in New York City, saying it will influence the country’s foreign policy with the United States. “This is gravely noted and will influence Philippine foreign policy. I might as well say it, so no one on the other…
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte admitted he is struggling to address the pandemic in the country, particularly in securing vaccines against COVID-19. “I’m having a hard time. I’m grappling with the issue of COVID,” he said in a pre-recorded public address on Monday, March 29. “It takes most of my time actually. More than any other…
Metro Manila, surrounding areas under quarantine until April 4 EXTENDING the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) over Metro Manila and its nearby provinces is an “absolute last resort,” according to Malacañang. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday, March 30, made the statement, noting that the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases…
FOREIGN parents of Filipino citizens who have valid visas and are traveling with them may now enter the Philippines. The country’s Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday, March 29, announced the new guideline pursuant to the latest resolution issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID). However, Immigration Commissioner…
THE Philippines and the United States have officially launched a bilateral campaign celebrating the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez and U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Ambassador Sung Kim led the program held on Friday, March 26, at the Philippine…
FORMER Philippine President Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada has tested positive for COVID-19. In a Facebook post, former Senator Jinggoy Estrada announced Monday, March 29, that his father was rushed to the hospital and was diagnosed with the virus. “Nais ko pong ipaalam sa inyo na ang aking ama, na si dating pangulong Joseph Estrada, ay…
THE United States maintained that it “stands” with the Philippines amid the presence of Chinese ships at Julian Felipe Reef (Whitsun Reef) in the West Philippine Sea. “The United States stands with our ally, the Philippines, in the face of the PRC’s maritime militia amassing at WhitsunReef,” said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in…
We have asked Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr, the chief implementor of the country’s Covid-19 vaccination program, to widen the vaccination priority list for frontline workers of the tourism industry to include tour guides, operators and other accredited workers and service providers. The frontline nature of the jobs of these workers requires face-to-face interaction with individuals…
RUSSIA is looking at the Philippines to become Asia’s vaccine production hub for its Sputnik V vaccine. In a recent interview with “The Chiefs” on Cignal TV’s OneNews and TV5, Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev said they are in the final stage of negotiation with producers to manufacture Sputnik V vaccines in the…
A FILIPINO scientist has made history as one of the first two human beings to reach Emden Deep, the third deepest spot on Earth. Dr. Deo Florence Onda, a microbial oceanographer from the Marine Science Institute (MSI) of the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, on Tuesday, March 23, waved the Philippine flag 34,100 feet…
MORE than half a million Filipinos have received the vaccine against COVID-19 since the Philippines kicked-off its national vaccination campaign in the beginning of March. Based on the data from the Philippine Department of Health and the National Task Force against COVID-19 released Wednesday, March 24, a total of 508,332 individuals have been vaccinated against…
Manila, March 24, 2021 — Estimating over 100,000 deaths due to tuberculosis (TB) in the next five years, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III sounded the alarm for a swift recovery in TB care and services amid COVID-19 quarantine restrictions. “The COVID-19 pandemic has caused enormous health and economic impacts, even affecting our…
THE Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted an emergency use authorization (EAU) for Gamaleya Research Institute’s Sputnik V. “After a rigorous and thorough review, the FDA is granting EUA to the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine,” FDA Director General Eric Domingo said Friday, March 19. “It is decided that all conditions for an EUA…
