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Hiring of contact tracers further extended
By Fernan Angeles THE enormity of the figures representing new cases of the highly-infectious COVID-19 could have prompted the government to consider the idea of allowing government agencies to hire contractual workers until end of 2022. The Department of Budget and Management issued the confirmation through Surigao del Norte Rep. Bingo Matugas. He said a…
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SBMA approves cashless public buses for Subic Freeport
By Mar T. Supnad SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – To further promote public health safety in face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has approved a cashless public transportation system in this premier Freeport. SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the agency has recently given its go-signal for Autokid Truck…
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Bello clarifies, no deferment of workers’ 13th month pay
By Fernan Angeles AFTER a public outrage by the working class, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III suddenly took a step back and denied hand on the proposal that would see a bleaker Christmas among the Philippine labor force, adding that there won’t be any deferment of their 13th month pay. In a statement, Bello also…
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Workers outraged over plans to defer 13th month pay
By John Clifford Lintao SEVERAL labor groups are outraged over a government proposal to allow distressed small and medium enterprises to defer payment of 13th month pay to their workers in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reacting to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello’s statement proposing to exempt or defer payment of 13th month pay to workers,…
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100-bed capacity for COVID-19 patients
Philippine Ports Authority general manager Jay Daniel Santiago (left) and Bataan Governor Abet S. Garcia cut the ceremonial ribbon officially opening the state-of-the-art 100-bed capacity Port Capinpin Covid processing facility in Orion town this morning, October 9. The Covid facility was donated by the Lopez Group of Companies. Also in photo are Cong. Joet Garcia…
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Clinical trial for Lagundi starts
By John Clifford Lintao PHILIPPINES joins the list of countries embarking on clinical trial for potential cure to the deadly virus from Wuhan, China. However, the clinical trials would only be for supplement treatment for COVID-19, says the Department of Science and Technology, which hinted on Lagundi kick-off. “Yung sa Lagundi ito ay nagsisimula na.…
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Boracay hotels offer discounts to lure in tourists
By Fernan Angeles THE re-opening of the Boracay Island doesn’t seem enough to get the world-famous white sand beaches of Boracay jumpstart economic activities in Aklan. As such, the provincial government took radical steps if only to attract tourists to consider visiting the island, which for many years was considered among the best tourist destinations.…
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Robbery, theft cases down by 60% during 200-day community quarantine
Robbery and theft cases were reduced by 60 percent in the first 200 days of the community quarantine since March 17 compared to the same period before stricter measures were strictly implemented to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Overall, the Joint Task Force COVID Shield said the Philippines has recorded a 46 percent…
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55,000 applied as contact tracers, says DILG
By John Clifford Lintao OVER 55,000 individuals, mostly displaced workers, have applied as government contact tracers, according to the Department of Interior and Local Government. At the Senate budget hearing, DILG Undersecretary Bernardo Florece said that the number of applicants for contact tracer positions plummeted to 55,213, exceeding its target of 50,000. “We have already…
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No funds for vaccination centers
By Fernan Angeles WHOEVER drafted, deliberated and submitted the 2020 proposed national budget must have forgotten one of the most essential service aspects in the government’s COVID-19 action plan. One of the President’s priority plans embarking on establishing vaccination centers at the police stations nationwide, does not have any allocation under the proposed 2021 national…