Palace ‘neutral,’ ABS-CBN’s franchise solely in hands of Congress – Roque
MANILA, Philippines — Malacaang maintained on Friday its neutrality on ABS-CBN’s franchise, saying that the decision lies solely in… Keep Reading
ABS-CBN’s fate ‘reminiscent of dark pages of PH press’ — Drilon
MANILA, Philippines — The junking of the new franchise bid of ABS-CBN by a panel of the House of Representatives on Friday is “reminiscent of the dark pages in the history of Philippine press in 1972.” This was how Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon saw the development at the House, shortly after the House committee… Keep Reading
DILG: No safety concerns over motorcycle barriers
Prototype of the motorcycle barrier submitted by Bohol Governor Arthur Yap. (Photo courtesy of DILG) MANILA – An official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Friday said he does not see any safety issues arising from putting a physical barrier between a motorcycle rider and the passenger. “We do not… Keep Reading
Arrest warrant served vs. cadets in Dormitorio case: AFP
AFP spokesperson, Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo. (File photo) MANILA – The arrest warrant issued against the three cadets of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) implicated in the death of Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio has been served, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Friday. “The warrant of arrest issued by Presiding… Keep Reading
Denial of ABS-CBN’s new franchise starts ‘death knell’ for press freedom – Hontiveros
MANILA, Philippines — Denying a new franchise for ABS-CBN means that “we have effectively begun to ring the death knell for freedom of the press in the country,” said Senator Risa Hontiveros. In a statement, Hontiveros denounced the decision of the House Legislative Franchise Committee to deny the franchise renewal of the network as it… Keep Reading
DENR stops cemetery dev’t in Cebu City with 300 mahogany trees illegally cut
CEBU CITY —- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has stopped the development of a lot where a new cemetery will be built amid the rising number of deaths caused by the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) here. Mardione De Los Reyes, forester at the Enforcement and Monitoring Section of the City Environment and… Keep Reading
Zobel: harness science, tech to create “better” normal
As the world continues to battle the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Philippines can harness science and technology to create a “better” and “more resilient” normal, according to business tycoon Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala. The chair and chief executive officer of Ayala Corp., the country’s oldest business house, emphasized the importance of data and… Keep Reading
Moratorium on Zambo gov't offices transfer to Pagadian lifted
President Rodrigo Duterte. (Presidential Photo) MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has signed Memorandum Circular (MC) 79, lifting the moratorium on the transfer of regional government offices from Zamboanga City to Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur. Duterte made the decision after the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board Regional Development Committee had noted that… Keep Reading
House panel junks ABS-CBN’s bid for a 25-year franchise
MANILA – The House committee on legislative franchises on Friday denied the application of media giant ABS-CBN Corp. for a new 25-year franchise. By a 70-11 vote, with one abstention, the panel, chaired by Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez, approved the resolution denying the franchise application of ABS-CBN Corp. to construct, install, establish, operate, and maintain… Keep Reading
Gov't execs pay last respects to Saudi OFWs' remains
FINAL RESPECTS. Cabinet officials attend the ceremony for the arrival of the remains of 49 OFWs from Saudi Arabia at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City on Friday (July 10, 2020). The Department of Labor and Employment assured that all 274 bodies of deceased OFWs in the kingdom would be repatriated to the country. (Photo… Keep Reading
Shh! No talking inside LRT-1 trains, says LRMC
MANILA, Philippines — For now, passengers are not allowed to talk while inside the LRT-1 train, the Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) said. PASSENGER REMINDER: TALKING IS NOT ALLOWED ON THE TRAINRespiratory droplets ang isa sa mga karaniwang sanhi ng pagkalat ng COVID-19. Huwag makipag-usap sa katabing pasahero sa loob ng #LRT1. Ugaliin ang pagsusuot… Keep Reading
Congress declared itself ‘enemy of democracy’ in denying ABS-CBN franchise — NUJP
MANILA, Philippines — The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) on Friday said the House of representatives has declared itself an “enemy of democracy” following the denial of a House panel of ABS-CBN’s bid for a fresh 25-year franchise. “Today, July 10, 2020, the House of Representatives of the 18th Congress of the… Keep Reading
P22M worth of loans released to 286 micro, small businesses
MANILA – The Small Business (SB) Corp. has released a total of PHP22 million to 286 micro and small enterprises (MSEs) under the Covid-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises (CARES) program as of July 8. In a statement Friday, of the total CARES loan beneficiaries, 71 are from Calabarzon Region, 52 from Metro Manila, 46 from… Keep Reading
Hong Kong leaders, tycoons bid farewell to gaming magnate Ho
HONG KONG —Hong Kong politicians, tycoons and celebrities joined grieving relatives Friday at the funeral of Stanley Ho, the flamboyant gaming magnate who made his fortune in neighbouring Macau. It was the third day of ceremonies for the Hong Kong-born Ho, who played an integral role in transforming the former Portuguese colony from a sleepy… Keep Reading
DOH: Over 5,000 health workers hired to augment COVID-19 response
MANILA, Philippines — Over 5,000 health workers have been accepted in the emergency hiring of the Department of Health (DOH) to augment the medical workforce responding to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire bared the figure on Friday as she assured that the DOH is strengthening its human resources for… Keep Reading
House panel denies ABS-CBN’s franchise bid, what’s next?
MANILA, Philippines — The members of the House committee on legislative franchises on Friday handed their decision on the fate of ABS-CBN: The network’s bid for a 25-year franchise was rejected. Seventy affirmative votes were more than enough to adopt the panel’s technical working group’s (TWG) report titled: “Resolution Denying the Franchise Application of ABS-CBN… Keep Reading
Neda chief Chua: ECQ impact on economy ‘more severe than expected’
The Philippines is bracing for an even worse-than-expected drop in the gross domestic product (GDP) in the second quarter as the country’s chief economist on Friday said the COVID-19 lockdown inflicted more pain into the economy than earlier projected. But as the economy gradually opened up under less-restrictive quarantine, Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick… Keep Reading
Duterte's Congress allies back order to shut Philippines ABS-CBN
Since his election in 2016, Duterte repeatedly threatened the company with closure [File: Rolex dela Pena/EPA] Allies of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in the House of Representatives voted on Friday to deny the renewal of ABS-CBN’s broadcast franchise, affirming a government order to shut down the country’s largest television network in a move critics say… Keep Reading
La Union town records 2nd Covid-19 case
ARINGAY, La Union – A 36-year-old male seafarer from Barangay Sta. Lucia is the second reported confirmed case for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) here. In a statement issued on Friday, Mayor Eric Sibuma said the seafarer was scheduled to return to work when tested positive for the virus. Sibuma said as part of protocol, seafarers undergo… Keep Reading
Hiring continues in IT-BPM industry amid pandemic
MANILA – It is not business as usual in the information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) industry, but the sector continues to open job opportunities amid the pandemic, an industry executive said. During the Laging Handa briefing Friday, Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) president Rey Untal said while demand… Keep Reading
Pangasinan cop arrested for lover’s killing
SAN CARLOS CITY, Pangasinan – A patrolman has been arrested for allegedly killing a 23-year-old woman who works at the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office. In an interview Thursday, San Carlos City chief of police Lt. Col. Franklin Ortiz identified the suspect as Tranquilino Sanchez Germono of Urbiztondo town, and assigned at Pangasinan 1st… Keep Reading
House panel denies ABS-CBN’s 25-year franchise renewal bid
MANILA, Philippines — The franchise renewal bid of media giant ABS-CBN was denied Friday by the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Franchises after a series of hearings. The vote came after the House legislative franchise and good government and public accountability committees held 13 hearings tackling various issues such as citizenship of the… Keep Reading
2020 is ‘Year of Filipino Health Workers’
(File photo) MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte, through Proclamation 976, has declared 2020 as the “Year of Filipino Health Workers” to recognize the heroism and self-compassion of medical workers in the country amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Duterte signed Proclamation 976 on July 6, as he noted that the Covid-19 crisis has posed… Keep Reading
House panel TWG recommends rejection of ABS-CBN’s franchise
MANILA, Philippines — Media giant ABS-CBN should not be granted a 25-year franchise, a technical working group recommended to the House Committee on Legislative Franchises on Friday. “The TWG determined that the likely consensus among Members of this Committee was to disapprove the application of ABS-CBN for another franchise,” Deputy Speaker Pablo John… Keep Reading
Duterte declares 2020 as year of Filipino health workers
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has declared 2020 as the “Year of Filipino Health Workers.” In Proclamation No. 976 signed July 6, Duterte highlighted the contributions made by medical workers to the country as it faces a pandemic which has so far infected over 51,000 persons nationwide. “Thousands of Filipino health workers, who comprise… Keep Reading
Militant leader charged with murder nabbed in CamSur
LEGAZPI CITY – A police tracking unit serving a court order arrested another militant leader in Camarines Sur on Thursday afternoon. Maj. Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson, identified the suspect as Dan San Andres alias “Pastor,” 64, spokesperson of Karapatan Bicol. San Andres was at home in Barangay South Centro in Sipocot town when… Keep Reading
New vehicles to boost PH Army's anti-terror, Covid-19 efforts
NEW VEHICLES. Army commander, Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay (center), takes a look at one of the new vehicles donated to the Philippine Army by the Armed Forces and Police Mutual Benefit Association Inc. in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Friday (July 10, 2020). The new vehicles are expected to boost the Army’s capability in curbing… Keep Reading
Clark airport’s new terminal 99-percent complete, says DOTr
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO —- The new passenger terminal of the Clark International Airport (CRK), located 20 kilometers north of this Pampanga capital, is 99.14-percent complete, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Friday. “Under the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program of the Duterte Administration, construction work for the airport expansion project is being rolled out… Keep Reading
ABS-CBN supporters hold another caravan; urge solons to grant franchise
MANILA, Philippines — ABS-CBN supporters and employees held another caravan on Friday as a last-ditch effort to urge members of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises to vote in favor of granting the network a franchise. The supporters held the caravan from ABS-CBN’s Esguerra gate towards the House complex in Batasan Hills, Quezon City ahead… Keep Reading
Alfred Vargas inhibits from voting on ABS-CBN franchise renewal
MANILA, Philippines — Actor and Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas on Friday inhibited from voting on ABS-CBN franchise renewal, citing “conflict of interest.” “My heart goes to ABS-CBN, its employees, and other workers whose livelihood depends on the network,” Vargas said in a statement, just as the House legislative franchises committee members are set to… Keep Reading
Resorts, hotels in Antique eyed as isolation centers
ISOLATION UNITS. Resorts and hotels in Antique can now apply as isolation facilities for locally stranded individuals and returning overseas Filipino workers. Junie Sabusap, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) Antique chief, discusses Covid-19 related benefit package during an interview on Friday (July 10, 2020). Sabusap said PHIC could provide benefit package for the community isolation… Keep Reading
