Filippine

Companies that will reject applicants who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 cannot be accused of discrimination, National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Wednesday.

The Philippines filed a protest against “unlawful” and “provocative acts” by Chinese state vessels in the West Philippine Sea, including the issuance of 200 radio challenges.

Consumers are facing another round of big time price hike for cooking gas or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) of P3.65 per kilogram in November due to the higher LPG contract price in the oil market.

Areas under the NCR Plus Eight bubble are now “on a downward trend” with reproduction number less than 0.55, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the independent OCTA Research Group said Wednesday.

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) still to pay at least P834 million worth of dues to private hospitals across the country, the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PHAPI) said Tuesday.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said he was offered P50 million for state-run PNOC Exploration Corp. to match the offer of Udenna Group to acquire the 45-percent stake of Chevron Philippines in the Malampaya gas project.

The Office of the Ombudsman on Wednesday maintained its stance to restrict the release of the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of government officials. 

PALO, Leyte- Government officials paid tribute to the veterans and their families in this year’s 77th Leyte Gulf Landings commemoration at the MacArthur Landing Memorial Park in Palo, Leyte on Wednesday.

The country’s largest associations of private schools called for the swift enactment of a clarificatory bill on income taxation of proprietary educational institutions, as some regional offices of the Bureau of Internal Revenue continued to impose a 30-percent income tax rate despite the suspension of the order by the Department of Finance (DOF).

Independent researchers tracking the coronavirus pandemic said the number of COVID-19 cases in the country is likely to drop to 5,000 to 6,000 a day by the end of October---two months ahead of their previous estimates---but doctors warned against complacency and easing restrictions too soon.

Malls, parks, churches, cemeteries, and other public places saw a surge of customers and visitors on Sunday, as Filipinos itching to get out of their houses due to pandemic restrictions enjoyed the first weekend under Alert Level 3 in Metro Manila.

Quarantine restrictions have been eased in the provinces of Bulacan, Apayao and Capiz, which have been placed under a general community quarantine (GCQ) from Oct. 18 to 31, the Palace said Sunday.

Consumers will have to brace for a nearly P2 per liter increase effective Tuesday to reflect the movement of prices in the world oil market.

The Supreme Court has exhorted the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to resolve all election cases and other poll-related incidents “with deliberate haste” since these cases are imbued with public interest.

Twenty-three people died from the onslaught of severe tropical storm Maring in the country, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council said Sunday.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Sunday said he expects the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation to give their positions on a draft memo that would serve as their guidelines in probing questionable operations against illegal drugs where there are allegations the suspect who died fought back or “nanlaban.”

A magnitude 4.2 earthquake jolted Camarines Sur province Sunday night, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

Presidential candidate and former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. on Sunday urged the government to undertake more information campaigns on their vaccination program to assure parents that the vaccines are safe.

The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday asked supporters for patience on the announcement as to who would be her 12th senatorial bet for the 2022 elections.