The entire Philippines will remain under Alert Level 2 status from December 16 to 31, Malacañang announced on Wednesday. Acting Presidential Spokesperson, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) decided to retain the alert level status as the Department of Health (DOH) reported the first two cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in the Philippines. “We are being very cautious because eto nga yung banta ng Omicron na nakikita natin sa ibang mga lugar, mga bansa, territories, and jurisdictions na may positive na Omicron lalo na local transmission ng
The detection of two imported cases of the Omicron variant in the Philippines resulted in the negative close of the main equities index on Wednesday, but the peso managed to end sideways against the US dollar. All the counters in the local bourse finished in the negative territory, with the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) down by 1.51 percent, or 109.41 points, to 7,132.58 points. All Shares contracted by 1.54 percent, or 59.1 points, to 3,782.59 points. The Property index posted the highest decrease among the sectoral gauges after it dropped by 2.34 percent. It was followed by the Holding
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday reminded Filipinos who are going abroad for the first time to meet their partners who are foreign nationals, to secure the required document from the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) before leaving. In a statement, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said fiancées, spouses, or family members of foreign nationals are required to attend the CFO guidance and counseling session as a requirement before they are allowed to fly abroad. “This is not a new rule, but we deem it necessary to issue a reminder to all. Following policies set by different government agencies, Filipinos
Weather disturbance “Odette” (international name Rai) has intensified into a typhoon, as Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 is hoisted over Surigao provinces. Odette now packs 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 150 kms. per hour. It was last tracked 590 kms. east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. Nikos Peñaranda of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said TCWS No. 2 has been raised over the eastern portion of Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur. “Expect strong winds in these areas,” he said. TCWS No. 1 is raised over Sorsogon,
The House of Representatives on Wednesday ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed PHP5.024-trillion national budget for 2022. During the plenary session, the chamber ratified the final version of the spending measure after the bicameral committee reconciled the disagreeing provisions earlier in the day. Following its ratification, the 2022 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) will be transmitted to Malacañang for President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature. Among the amendments introduced in the final version of the proposed 2022 budget is the increase in the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC)’s budget to PHP17.1 billion after it was
The Ilocos Norte Provincial Board on Wednesday approved a resolution to shoulder the salaries of four special education (SPED) teachers to avoid disruption in the education of children with special needs. Provincial Board Member Saul Paulo Lazo, chair of the education committee, said there are at least four SPED teachers who are not receiving their salaries on time because they depend on the approval of the local school board fund. The teachers are from the Florentino Camaquin Integrated School (FCIS) in Vintar and the Bacarra National Comprehensive High School and each has a monthly salary of PHP22,316. “Inclusive education access
