MANILA, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon believes that there are two factions within the embattled Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth): one engaged in corrupt practices and one trying to expose such anomalies. “There are two groups fighting…Everybody is put on guard because the desk next to you can squeal on you so you… Keep Reading

More than half of Beirut’s healthcare facilities are “non-functional” following last week’s deadly portside explosion, the World Health Organization said Wednesday. Following an assessment of 55 clinics and health centers in the Lebanese capital, “we know now that just over 50 percent are non-functional,” said WHO’s regional emergency director Richard Brennan at a virtual press… Keep Reading

MANILA, Philippines — More than 100 new cases of coronavirus disease were recorded in the Philippine National Police, bringing the total count of cases in the police force to 2,732. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, PNP documented a total of 111 additional cases which is a record-high daily increase in the police organization. Of… Keep Reading

Indonesia on Tuesday launched human trials of a Chinese-made coronavirus vaccine with some 1,600 volunteers slated to take part in the six-month study. The vaccine candidate, produced by Sinovac Biotech, is among just a few in the world to enter Phase 3 clinical trials, or large-scale testing on humans — the last step before regulatory… Keep Reading

MANILA, Philippines — Several officials of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) agreed to sign bank secrecy waivers to allow the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to check their bank deposits and transactions. It was Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte who posed the challenge against the officials amid fresh allegations of corrupt activities within the agency.… Keep Reading

MANILA, Philippines — A government organization is calling for more educational drives and legislation against teenage pregnancies, as data points out that 10 percent of Filipinas aged 15 to 19 years old have already given birth at least once. According to the message of the Commission on Population and Development (PopCom) and the Philippine Legislators’… Keep Reading

  MANILA, Philippines — Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday lamented how jeepney drivers seemed to be the “last to get help” when they were the “first casualties” of the lockdowns enforced by the government to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Poe, chair of the Senate public services committee, urged the government to ramp up… Keep Reading

MANILA, Philippines—President Rodrigo Duterte will not pressure Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) chief Ricardo Morales, who is facing allegations of corruption in the agency, to resign, according to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. Roque said Duterte would leave it up to Morales to decide on his next mov. “The President is really a very kind person,”… Keep Reading

MANILA, Philippines — Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta is seeking proof that the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) who left in the middle the hearing being conducted by two House panels are not “malingering” illness. Marcoleta made the remark after three PhilHealth officials left the joint hybrid hearing of the House committee on government and public… Keep Reading

DAVAO CITY—It is not surprising that the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in President Rodrigo Duterte’s hometown got the largest share in the P30-billion Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM) of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp (PhilHealth), at least two top hospital officials said. Aside from being the largest government hospital in the country, which played a… Keep Reading

MANILA, Philippines — Instead of getting being irked, Daniel Padilla on Wednesday showed kindness to a tricycle driver who accidentally bumped the actor’s luxury car. Nakita mo nanaman si Daniel Padilla E-j Libay🥺 sana ol😂Si Daniel na nabunggo siya pa nagbigay kay manong🥺 Bait talaga❤️❤️#DanielPadillaAtFairview❤️ Posted by Jessica De Vera Tamayo on Wednesday, August 12, 2020… Keep Reading

MANILA, Philippines — The government’s COVID-19 task force has designated Cabinet members to Metro Manila cities and other areas with high virus transmission to “provide stronger support” in its pandemic response. The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases’ Resolution No. 62 released Wednesday stated that this is part of its efforts to “operationalize… Keep Reading

MANILA, Philippines — Residents in the provinces located in eastern Luzon and Visayas can expect cloudy skies and occasional rains due to the prevailing intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), state meteorologists said on Wednesday. According to the latest forecast from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Wednesday afternoon, areas in Aurora, Quezon,… Keep Reading

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Labor and Employment recently sent home 2,667 overseas Filipino workers to their respective provinces after having been cleared of COVID-19, the agency said Wednesday. The repatriated OFWs are required to undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine and should test negative for the virus before they are transported home. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello… Keep Reading

HANOI– Vietnam’s Prime Minister said on Wednesday that the next 10 days would be critical in the Southeast Asian country’s fight against a new coronavirus outbreak, which resurfaced late last month after three months of no domestic cases. Vietnam was lauded for suppressing an earlier contagion through aggressive testing, contact-tracing and quarantining, but it is… Keep Reading

  MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo has urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to clarify its directives in the distance learning mode, and attend to several concerns like internet connectivity, logistics, and health issues as school opening nears. In a letter to Education Secretary Leonor Briones, a copy of which was provided by… Keep Reading

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has confirmed that Randall “Ka Randy” Echanis, peace consultant of National Democratic Front of the Philippines, was stabbed to death inside an apartment in Novaliches on Monday, Aug. 10. QCPD chief Brig. Gen. Ronnie Montejo said police investigators received a dactyloscopy report which showed that the… Keep Reading

MANILA, Philippines — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved traditional Chinese capsule LianHua QingWen, which is used as a treatment for mild and moderate COVID-19 cases in China, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said. FDADirector-General EricDomingo confirmed this in a text message to INQUIRER.net. “It was approved last Friday as traditional medicine. It… Keep Reading

A former hostess at a restaurant in Louisiana, United States, was attacked by a group of women because she tried to enforce social distancing rules. Kelsy Wallace, 17, refused to let a group of 11 or more women dine on a single table following measures against COVID-19 at a Chili’s branch, as per CBS affiliate… Keep Reading

MOSCOW–Russia said on Wednesday the first batch of its COVID-19 vaccine would be ready for some medics within two weeks and rejected as “groundless” safety concerns aired by some experts over Moscow’s rapid approval of the drug. President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia had become the first country to grant regulatory approval to… Keep Reading

MANILA, Philippines — The release of the billions worth of funds through the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM) should be suspended until needed reforms are put in place, several senators said Wednesday. Speaking with reporters in an online interview, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said the implementation of the IRM… Keep Reading

BAGUIO CITY—Abra’s youngest COVID-19 patient celebrated her fourth birthday last Aug. 11 inside the province’s quarantine facility, one day before she was discharged after healing from the disease that has no known cure yet. Health care workers surprised the girl from Sallapadan town with birthday cakes and balloons on Tuesday (Aug. 11). On Wednesday (Aug.… Keep Reading

A 25-year-old woman, who was a certified climber, fell to her death after losing her grip while trying to set up protective gear on a rock face in New York, United States. Lauren Sobel died at the scene as a result of falling from 50 feet above the ground, as per the New York Post… Keep Reading

MANILA, Philippines — Deputy Speaker and Basilan Rep. Mujiv HatamanHataman on Wednesday said he has recovered from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and that he has been released from quarantine by his doctors. “Maraming salamat sa inyong mga dasal. Ako at ang aking maybahay na si Mayor Dadah ay magaling na, maganda na ang pakiramdam at… Keep Reading