Longest lockdown, lost opportunities: PH COVID-19 cases go past 300,000
MANILA, Philippines — The country reached an undesirable milestone when its total COVID-19 cases topped 300,000 on Saturday, nearly eight months to the day since the country recorded its first infection in a visiting Chinese woman. With 2,747 new infections, the national total rose to 301,256, a reminder of how the government is still grappling […]
Lifestyle checks used for extortion – Ombudsman
MANILA, Philippines — Lifestyle checks and declarations of wealth have been used by politicians and members of the media for extortion, Ombudsman Samuel Martires said on Saturday. Martires said this in a radio interview following his order to stop conducting lifestyle checks against officials suspected of extravagant living, and restricting of access to the SALN […]
More than ever, teachers need to be a class act for DepEd TV
MANILA, Philippines — After nearly 30 years reporting from the field, this broadcast journalist and documentarist now finds himself in a reality-show-like program, with public school teachers standing in front of a camera and students serving as eager viewers. “It’s like ‘The Voice,’ it’s like ‘Pilipinas Got Talent.’ Except that we were selecting qualified teachers […]
DOH rejects business groups’ bid to ease face shield requirement at work sites
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) rejected on Saturday a call from some business groups to exempt factory and office workers from wearing face shields at work, saying personal protective equipment (PPE) remains crucial in fighting the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) despite improving public health indicators. “We will not compromise [on] this position […]
Students want online classes suspended
MANILA, Philippines — Fearing their online classes may be affected by uncertain internet connection, a students’ group urged the government to suspend classes until the maintenance work on a trans-Pacific internet cable network is completed. The Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (Spark) asked the government to cancel all online classes and order school administrators not to […]
Opposition to postponement of 2022 polls mounts
MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Saturday rejected the proposal to postpone the 2022 presidential elections due to the coronavirus pandemic “It should push through as scheduled. We have enough time to prepare,” Año told the Inquirer in a text message, reacting to the suggestion of Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo to delay the […]
Workers in Bangsamoro chief minister’s office recover from COVID-19
COTABATO CITY, Maguindanao Philippines — All 39 employees of the Office of the Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have defeated the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19). “We are happy to share with the public that all our employees (who contracted the virus) have fully recovered,” Mohd Asnin Pendatun, BARMM Cabinet […]
Zamboanga City ecozone office on lockdown for disinfection
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines — The office of the Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority and Freeport (Ecozone) has been on lockdown for almost a week now as its top official and several employees were on self-isolation there. Ecozone chair Raul Regondola said he and 10 employees went on quarantine in the facility […]
Go backs proposed 2021 DepEd budget, calls for better internet connectivity
Sen. Christopher Go (Photo from his office) MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go expressed his support for the 2021 budget proposal of the Department of Education during the hearing conducted on Friday by the Senate Committee on Finance, of which he is vice chairman. In his manifestation, Go also urged telecommunications firms to improve […]
Success in service
Massive job losses and the economic slump due to Covid-19 led this manpower executive to seek a new opportunity for displaced workers. He found it in a new, food-centered delivery app that promotes homemade products and natural talent for whipping up meals “just like mom made it.” Jay-ar D. Sta. AnaPresidentSparkleStar International Corp. Bright ideas […]