Three police officers were confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) Delta variant, a ranking police official said on Thursday night. In a message, PNP deputy chief for administration and Administrative Support For Covid-19 Task Force (ASCOTF) commander, Lt. Gen. Joselito Vera Cruz said the three who tested positive for Covid-19 last July were immediately placed under a 14-day quarantine. “They were tested Covid-19 positive last July and had finished their 14-day isolation. However, the results of their genome sequencing were only released this August (so) they were directed to immediately undergo RT PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain

Fitch Solutions discounts any reduction in the key rates of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) until late 2022 to further support economic recovery, given that inflation remains elevated, but projects a cut in banks’ reserve requirement ratio (RRR) as an easing measure. In a report dated August 12, the country risk and industry research firm cited the decision of the BSP’s policy-making Monetary Board (MB) to keep key rates steady for the sixth consecutive rate-setting meeting on Thursday to help buoy the economy for as long as needed. “We at Fitch Solutions forecast the BSP to keep its policy

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) here on Friday reported an increase in the number of registered voters for next year’s elections. Based on the latest records as of July, this year, a total of 85,635 voters were registered, including those who were reactivated, an increase of over 3,000 compared to a total of 82,518 registered voters during the 2019 elections. City Election Officer Ian Macaraya said many of the new registrants are the youth aged 18-30, although he said there is no available data yet for this group as registration is ongoing. Macaraya asked those who are eligible to vote

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has released 400,000 milkfish (bangus) fingerlings to fishpond and fish cage operators in Iloilo and Capiz out of the one million stock that will be given free to target beneficiaries in Western Visayas (Region 6) this year. A total of 155 fishpond and fish cage operators in the region will benefit from the distribution funded under the National Fisheries Program, BFAR regional director Remia Aparri said in an interview on Friday. The volume of fingerlings to be given to a recipient will depend on the area of their fishponds or fish cage

To bring down coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases, the city government here has come up with the “barangay territorial management” system– method of aligning inter-village coordination to minimize the movement of residents. Acting Mayor Michael Rama, in a press briefing on Friday, told village chiefs to manage their own territories to prevent the spread of coronavirus and its Delta variant from among the barrio residents. In a statement, he urged barangay officials “to work with your neighbors and agree on specific points for an inter-barangay boundary management.” “Village leaders, clan patriarchs and matriarchs, take initiative to police your own ranks.

Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado’s current health condition has prompted him to step down from his post, Malacañang confirmed on Friday. In a message to reporters, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte has already accepted Avisado’s resignation. “PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) has accepted Sec. Wendel Avisado’s resignation due to medical reasons,” Roque said. Roque said Budget Undersecretary Tina Rose Marie Canda has been designated as the officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Canda has been acting as DBM OIC since Avisado went on medical leave on Aug. 2. Avisado earlier took a medical leave