Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday assured that government-procured personal protective equipment (PPE) set was compliant with the quality specification standards of the World Health Organization (WHO), contradicting the hounding issues on alleged overpricing. The complete PPE set procured by the Department of Health (DOH) at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic consists of nine components including overall suits, gloves, N95 masks, head cover, shoe cover, surgical masks, surgical gowns, apron, and face shields. “The fact remains, we are compliant with WHO standards, napakalaki po ng diperensiya (there is a big difference) for them to wiggle their way out of

A national federation of trade unions in the power industry called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to investigate the possible violation of election laws by some party-list groups which claim to represent electricity consumers. The national federation is composed of registered unions in the electric cooperatives (EC), the power generation sector, and the investor-owned distribution utilities. Edwin Biocos, acting president of the National Union of Workers in the Power Industry (POWER), said there seems to be “an electoral offense that needs to be rectified by the Comelec” after President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent dismissal of National Electrification Administration (NEA) Administrator

The low pressure area (LPA) east of Surigao del Norte has developed into Tropical Depression (TD) Jolina on Monday, as the weather bureau hoisted tropical cyclone warning signals in several areas. In its 5 a.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the TD packs maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph. It was last tracked 300 km. east southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, or 310 km. east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte. Tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) no. 1 has

A measure seeking to modernize tax administration and improve tax compliance has hurdled second reading at the House of Representatives. During Monday’s plenary session, the chamber approved through voice voting House Bill 8942, or the proposed Ease of Paying Taxes Act, which seeks to introduce administrative tax reforms by amending several sections in the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) of 1997. The bill aims to simplify tax compliance procedures by segmenting taxpayers and better tailoring processes, enhance the portability of tax transactions, and legislate the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. It proposes the creation of a Taxpayer’s Advocate Office in the

In an effort to equalize the 70 percent population protection throughout Cebu Island, three medical groups have volunteered to inoculate residents in localities outside Metro Cebu, a health official said on Monday. Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, Department of Health-Central Visayas (DOH-7) chief pathologist, said in her daily briefer that volunteers from the Philippine College of Physicians, Cebu Medical Society, and All-Terrain Medical Relief Organization (AMRO) are now travelling to different Cebu towns to vaccinate individuals. Loreche said the groups employed not only doctors but also dentists, paramedics, and lay people who have medical background in visiting towns and cities outside

The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading the bill seeking to reset the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) with a vote of 15-3-1. Senate Bill No. 2214, sponsored by Local Government Committee Chairman Francis Tolentino, proposes to move the date of the BARMM elections from May 2022 to May 2025, synchronized with the national elections. It amends Section 13, Article XVI of Republic Act 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). In his sponsorship speech, Tolentino said despite the hard work and the accomplishments of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA),