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COVID-19
Cases
Philippines records 4,806 more COVID-19 cases
The Philippines on Thursday reported 4,806 fresh COVID-19 cases, the third straight day that daily infections were below 5,000, data from the health department showed.
ABS-CBN
Department of Health
COVID-19 Delta subvariant not yet detected in PH – DOH
The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday, October 21, said that the subvariant of the highly contagious COVID-19 Delta variant has not reached Philippine shores yet.
Rappler
IATF/NTF COVID-19
US FDA clears Moderna, J&J COVID-19 boosters, backs use of different vaccine for boost
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday authorized booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna Inc and Johnson & Johnson, and said Americans can choose a different shot from their original inoculation as a booster.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
OCTA: PH’s COVID-19 cases seen to return to pre-Delta surge level
The number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country is expected to drop to the level before the recent surge in infections driven by the Delta variant by the end of October, the OCTA Research group said Thursday, Oct. 21.
Manila Bulletin
Regions
Luzon including NCR
Malls, parks in NCR are still off limits to minors even with eased restrictions
Minors in Metro Manila, which is currently under Alert Level 3, are not allowed to go to malls or parks, Malacañang and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) clarified on Thursday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Visayas
Bacolod pushes for incentives on fully vaxxed customers
Hotels, restaurants, and other business establishments here were encouraged to offer incentives to fully vaccinated customers such as discounts and freebies to attract more people to get COVID-19 jabs.
Manila Bulletin
2 million jobs for Iloilo’s pandemic recovery
At least two million jobs will be generated for the city and province of Iloilo under the National Employment Recovery Strategy (NERS), which is the national government’s response to the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Manila Bulletin
Mindanao
500,000 BARMM residents vaccinated
Nearly 500,000 residents of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Philippine Star
World
Diplomatic, Development and Private Sector
Incidents and Violations
Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
Duterte blasts rights groups for overlooking the ‘other side’ of drug war
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday lashed out at human rights groups anew for criticizing the drug war, saying they fail to see the “other side” of the campaign.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Duterte debunks claim that the war on drugs has never snagged a 'big fish'
For those who claim that the administration’s anti-illegal drug campaign has never snagged a “big fish”, President Duterte begs to differ.
Manila Bulletin
Duterte defends funds for anti-communist task force
The provision of services and public utilities in former rebel strongholds in the countryside is needed to address the root causes of communist insurgency, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday.
ABS-CBN
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
Robredo to kin of ‘drug war’ victims: Sorry I wasn’t able to stop killings
Vice President Leni Robredo has apologized to the families of “drug war” victims for not being able to stop the killings despite being the country’s second-highest official.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION
COA warns NHA over use of ‘borrowed’ funds from other agencies
The National Housing Authority (NHA) “borrowed” P4.901 billion from the trust funds of other government agencies and spent them on other housing projects not covered by the money’s intended purpose, according to state auditors.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION
Rice import duties hit P14 B—Customs
Revenue collection from imported rice increased this year despite decline in the price of the staple food in the world market, the Department of Finance (DOF) reported Thursday, Oct. 21.
Manila Bulletin
BUSINESS, ECONOMY AND INVESTMENT
BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
DISASTER AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
PH’s ‘bloodiest killing field’ not on DOJ list of drug campaign killings
Bulacan in 2017 saw what is now being described as the “single bloodiest day” in the Duterte administration’s campaign against drugs—32 drug suspects killed by police in just one day.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
DOJ drug war review: Killer cops had it easy
On Aug. 21, 2018, policemen killed 17-year-old Nave Perry Alcantara in a drug buy-bust operation in Tuguegarao City, and claimed “self-defense.”
Philippine Daily Inquirer
DEFENSE AND SECURITY
Armed Forces of the Philippines
Philippine National Police
EDUCATION
INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY
ELECTION RELATED
Isko Moreno vows 50% fuel, electricity tax cut if elected
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno yesterday urged the national government to lower the excise tax on electricity and petroleum products as this will translate into immediate and tangible economic relief for ordinary Filipinos, particularly farmers, fishermen and public utility vehicle drivers and operators.
Philippine Star
Bar topnotcher Gibo bids for Senate to revive Miriam legacy
The People’s Reform Party, the political party founded by the late senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, yesterday declared that former defense secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro is the candidate that can continue the legacy that she had left behind in the Senate.
Philippine Star
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
LABOR
IATF resolution basis for ‘no jab, no job’ – Bello
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello yesterday said certain establishments are allowed to require their workers to get vaccinated, based on a resolution issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), despite the absence of an enabling law.
Philippine Star
LEGISLATIVE
Senate of the Philippines
Lacson wants DOF to suspend TRAIN law’s excise taxes as oil prices rise
The Department of Finance (DOF) should start considering suspending excise tax on oil products mandated by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, Senator Panfilo Lacson said on Thursday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
De Lima debunks ‘fake news’ claiming she is not qualified to seek reelection
Senator Leila de Lima has debunked false information spreading online claiming she is not qualified to run for another Senate term, as she slammed “paid trolls” for perpetuating “fake news” against her reelection bid.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Gordon: Duterte part of the ‘grand conspiracy’ in anomalous pandemic supplies purchases
Senator Richard Gordon said it was very clear that President Duterte is at the center of the “grand conspiracy” to defraud the government of billions of pesos at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Manila Bulletin
House of Representatives
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)
DBP grants LGUs P38-B economic recovery assist
The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) approved P38.28-billion financing assistance to 110 Local Government Units (LGUs) for the first six months of 2021 to hasten the country’s economic recovery.
Manila Bulletin
OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
FOREIGN RELATIONS
West Philippine Sea
153 protests filed vs China actions in PH waters in 2021 — DFA
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has so far lodged 153 diplomatic notes against Chinese actions in the country’s waters this year.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
HOUSING and SETTLEMENT
POVERTY
SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT
‘Xie xie' DSWD chief thanks China for rice donation
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) received Thursday, Oct.21, 2,000 metric tons of rice donated by the Chinese government intended for those affected by disasters and the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID) pandemic.
Manila Bulletin
TRANSPORTATION
TOURISM
WATER and ENERGY
DoE also mulls VAT suspension for oil products
Aside from planning to temporarily stop the collection of excise taxes, the Department of Energy (DOE) is also studying the possibility of suspending the imposition of value added taxes (VAT) for petroleum products.
Manila Bulletin
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