Travelers can now enter the Philippines just by presenting an antigen test performed by healthcare professionals, Malacañang said Wednesday. This, after members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) agreed on Wednesday night to allow the use of rapid antigen test taken by healthcare professionals as an entry requirement for travelers. In a press statement, Acting Presidential Spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the antigen test must be “administered and certified by a healthcare professional in a healthcare facility, laboratory, clinic, pharmacy, or other similar establishments from the country of origin of the

Immigration officers assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and other major airports are not allowed to go on leave during and after the Holy Week to ensure adequate personnel to serve the traveling public during the Lenten season. In a memorandum Thursday, BI port operations division chief Carlos Capulong said no applications for vacation leave from April 7 until April 15 will be approved. Likewise, no applications for authority to travel abroad by any BI employee assigned at the airports will be entertained. Capulong said the directive, which was affirmed by Commissioner Jaime Morente, was issued in anticipation

The Philippine Post Office (PHLPost) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU), through the International Bureau, have invited youth aged 9 to 15 years-old to participate in its 51st International Letter Writing Competition for Young People, to strengthen literacy through the art of letter-writing. “The contest is designed to develop the young people’s skills in composition and the ability to express their thoughts clearly, to foster their enjoyment of letter-writing and to help strengthen the bonds of international friendship – one of the basic missions of the UPU,” the Post Office said in a statement on Wednesday. Supported by the Department

Independent candidates running for the City Council’s 16 seats have found a venue to widen their reach through the “Pag-Ila 2022” — a voter education platform organized by civil society groups and the academe. In an interview Thursday, “Pag-Ila 2022” lead convenor Nestor Banuag Jr. said the group’s town hall events feature conversation formats that are easily digestible and accessible to the broader public, especially for lesser-known ones who are not affiliated with major parties. Banuag said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) assisted them in conceptualizing the town hall event to ensure it is well-managed. The recent “Pag-Ila 2022” event

President Rodrigo Duterte is still bent on putting an end to “abusive” work arrangements in the country, Malacañang said on Thursday. This, after vice presidential aspirant Senate President Vicente Sotto III expressed dismay over Duterte’s supposed failure to fulfill his promise to stop the unfair contractualization practices after the Chief Executive vetoed the Security of Tenure bill in 2019. In a press statement, acting Presidential Spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Duterte vetoed the proposed measure due to certain unsuitable provisions. “While it is true that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte vetoed the Security of Tenure Bill in 2019, as

There is nothing irregular with the government spending, Malacañang said Thursday. Echoing President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent statement, acting Presidential Spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said public funds are being utilized properly. “What is important, the Chief Executive underscored, is there are no irregularities in government spending,” Andanar said in a press statement. Andanar made the remarks in response to presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson’s statement that it is “embarrassing” for a country’s leader to let his successor deal with the trillions of pesos in debt. On Wednesday, Lacson said it would be a shame to know that the next