Travel ban for Covid variant extended, expanded
The government has extended until January 31 the ban on travelers from more than 30 countries with cases of new variants of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). The extension was approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said in a statement on Friday. […].....»»
DA sets P400M to aid local hog industry
The Department of Agriculture (DA) will roll out P400 million for the repopulation of hogs as a response to the impact of the African swine fever (ASF). In a virtual briefing on Thursday, Reildrin Morales, executive director of the DA’s National Meat Inspection Service, said under the program dubbed as the Integrated National Swine Production […].....»»
Galvez: No favorites in choosing vaccines
The man in charge of the country’s Covid-19 vaccination program on Friday said only the vaccines approved by a panel of experts will be procured by the government. Appearing at the Senate hearing that is assessing the government’s immunization strategy, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., the chief implementer of the program, dispelled insinuations that the government […].....»»
JPMorgan sees 42% jump in profits
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina: JPMorgan Chase & Co., the nation’s largest bank by assets, said its fourth quarter profits jumped by 42 percent from a year earlier, as the firm’s investment banking division had a stellar quarter and its balance sheet improved despite the pandemic. The New York-based bank said it earned a profit of $12.14 […].....»»
Subsidies not key to econ rebound
Reopening the economy further as safely as possible, not providing subsidies, is needed to help the Philippines recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). In a forum organized by the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines on Thursday, Acting NEDA Director General Karl Kendrick Chua told attendees that […].....»»
Stock index seen to hit 7,800-8,100 in 2021
The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) is projected to reach the 7,800-to-8,100 territory by the end of 2021, according to First Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC). In a virtual briefing on Thursday, FMIC First Vice President and Research Department Head Cristina Ulang said her company made the “very bullish and constructive” forecast on the back of […].....»»
BSP ready to lend govt P280B for Covid response
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is ready to lend more money to the government that can be used for its coronavirus pandemic response. In a virtual briefing on Thursday, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno announced that the government can borrow as much as P280 billion more from the central bank. The amount is 10 percent […].....»»
PSEi slips on poor economic data
Bleak economic data dampened investors sentiment, which sent the local bourse back in the negative territory on Friday. The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) slipped 0.48 percent or 34.69 points to its intraday low of 7,238.46, while the broader All Shares dipped 0.19 percent or 8.46 points to close at 4,342.48. Philstocks Financial Inc. […].....»»
Private sector groups push for Create enactment
Fifty-one private sector groups are calling for the swift passage of the proposed Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (Create) Act this year. In a statement on Friday, members of some of the largest and most widely-represented private sector groups in the country, reiterated “their strongest and unequivocal support” for the immediate enactment of […].....»»
Forex reserves rise to nearly P110B in 2020
The country’s gross international reserves (GIR) reached a record $109.79 billion at the end of 2020 on inflows from the central bank’s operations and state borrowings. Preliminary Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data showed on Friday that the amount was a 4.75-percent and 24.99-percent increase from figures a month and a year earlier, respectively. It […].....»»
Grillo shoots 64 to build 3-shot lead at Mayakoba Classic
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico: Emiliano Grillo made birdie on half of the holes on Friday (Saturday in Manila) on his way to an 8-under 63 that gave him a three-shot lead going into the weekend at the Mayakoba Golf Classic. The second round was delayed by one hour by heavy rain in the morning, and […].....»»
CBCP adjusts ‘Simbang Gabi’ schedules
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has released guidelines for Churches to observe during the celebration of Simbang Gabi or pre-dawn Masses in accordance with existing health protocols required by the national and local government units (LGUs). “The celebration of Christmas may be different this year. We will not have the same frenzy […].....»»
Protect the (2022) vote
Men of a certain age vividly remember this saying: When America sneezes, the Philippines catches cold. The cultural component of that influence simply meant that what was vogue in America readily spread with the speed of a virus to the Philippines. The same was true with political trends. And Filipinos giddily adapted to that vogue thing […].....»»
Domestic tourism seen to boost jobs
MALACAÑANG is confident that domestic tourism could help lower the country’s unemployment rate amid the prevailing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. made the statement after the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that about 3.8 million Filipinos aged 15 years old and above are unemployed. In a virtual press briefing on […].....»»
Cablitas comments on Philta’s suspension
Lawyer Antonio Cablitas, president of the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta), said four officials of the United Tennis Philippines (UTP) were the ones to blame for the suspension of Philta by the inter-national governing body on tennis. Last November, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) slapped Philta with a two-year suspension, citing “long-standing governance failings” and “representation […].....»»
Pros gear up for punishing grind at Silang’s Langer course
While emphasis is on shotmaking and putting, most pros believe it will also be a question of staying power as they brace for a grueling duel for top honors in the last of two bubble tournaments in the Philippine Golf Tour restart beginning on Tuesday, December 8, at the Riviera Golf and Country Club in […].....»»
Revived TNT aims to even series vs Ginebra
AS FAR as TNT coach Bong Ravena is concerned, their Game Three victory would mean nothing if they can’t bring the same tenacity into Game Four and even the series in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals to-night, December 6, at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center in Angeles, Pampanga. “We won this game, […].....»»
Balanced act
This executive manages to seamlessly blend a performing career and involvement in the bakery enterprise founded by her parents in 1976. She is grateful for their support in Shiela Valderrama Martinez nurturing her passion for the arts and business. “Marby is proudly Filipino-made and -owned. After 44 years in the industry, we would like […].....»»
World can dream of end to pandemic
UNITED NATIONS: The UN health chief declared on Friday that positive results from coronavirus vaccine trials mean the world “can begin to dream about the end of the pandemic,” but said rich and powerful nations must not trample the poor and marginalized “in the stampede for vaccines.” In an address to the UN General Assembly’s […].....»»
NPA not free from blame in Jevilyn Cullamat’s death
Before anything else, we extend our condolences to Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Eufemia Campos Cullamat, whose daughter, Jevilyn, was killed in a skirmish last week between the military and the New People’s Army (NPA). As many have said, no parent should have to endure the death of his or her child. Jevilyn was just 22 […].....»»