The entry of Filipinos to Japan remains prohibited by the Japanese government, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Tokyo said on Friday. Labor Attache Marie Rose Escalada said travel restrictions are still in effect against over 150 nations, which include the Philippines. “For inbound (passengers), the Japanese government is implementing border restrictions. Unfortunately, there are 154 countries as of July 2021. Unfortunately, the Philippines is included,” she said in a virtual forum. However, she said there are no restrictions in place for outbound passengers. Escalada said those going back to the Philippines are reminded to follow the strict protocols
Military and police seized some PHP4.7 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in this city and in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, the region’s top cop said on Saturday. Brig. Gen. Ronaldo Genaro Ylagan, Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) director, said the bulk of the smuggled cigarettes was seized around 6:40 p.m. Friday in Sitio Malasugat, Barangay Sangali. Ylagan said troops of the 74th Infantry Battalion were manning a checkpoint when they flagged down a cargo truck driven by Jay Villarosa, 43, who was traveling with a companion, Abby Jadjail, 31. The truck, when inspected, was found to be loaded with
More than PHP155 million worth of infrastructures and crops in Bulacan province were destroyed after more than two weeks of “habagat” (southwest monsoon) rains enhanced by Typhoon Fabian. Based on the latest report of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), agriculture incurred about PHP90.14 million in losses while damage to infrastructures was initially reported at PHP65.25 million. Agricultural losses covered rice, corn, high-value crops, fish, and livestock. The fishery sector took the biggest hit with losses running into PHP53.41 million, followed by the rice sector at PHP20.64 million, high-value crops at PHP15.79 million, livestock at PHP294,800, and
Magat Dam in Luzon may resume spilling operations this August as a precaution against structural damage due to a possible rise in its water to the spilling or normal high level. Ailene Abelardo, a hydrologist of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said Saturday this is due to the expected high amount of rainfall by next month. “If the forecast maximum rainfall is reached, and given the water allocation there for August, Magat’s water will be at the normal high,” Abelardo said in an interview. To prevent this, she said Magat may opt to either resume its
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Saturday said it is looking to finish the Bonifacio Global City (BGC)-Ortigas Center Link Road Project in September. In a statement, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said work continues at the viaduct segment across Kalayaan Avenue, Makati City towards BGC’s 8th Avenue, since the bridge component of Sta Monica-Lawton Bridge, known as the Kalayaan Bridge, was opened on June 12 and now connects the cities of Makati, Pasig, and Mandaluyong. “The DPWH Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations have hastened work as we target to fully complete the BGC-Ortigas Center Link
Churches will observe a 10-percent seating capacity for churchgoers as Cebu reverts to the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ). In a statement Friday, Monsignor Renato Beltran Jr., Archdiocese of Cebu chancellor, said the new policy takes effect on Sunday. Malacañang announced Friday that this capital city and Cebu province would be placed under MECQ from August 1 to 15, amid the spike in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases. “This may be increased to a maximum of 30 percent but with permission from our respective LGUs (local government units),” Beltran said. He, however, left it to the Emergency Operations Center to
