Philippine News Summary

Philippine News

• 17 firecracker-related injuries recorded a week before New Year December 23, 2024
  Seventeen firecracker-related injuries have been recorded so far a week before the New Year revelries, the Department of Health said Monday.
• 6,000 foreign workers to exit PH ahead of POGO ban deadline December 23, 2024
  Around 6,000 foreign workers are expected to leave the Philippines before the year-end deadline for the ban on POGOs, the Bureau of Immigration announced on Monday.
• PNP: Task group created to probe attack vs Sulu election supervisor December 23, 2024
  A special investigation task group (SITG) has been formed to look into the slay try against an election supervisor in Sulu, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Monday.
• Seniors can now avail of medicine discount sans purchase booklet --DOH December 23, 2024
  The Department of Health (DOH) is no longer requiring senior citizens to present their purchase booklets to avail of the 20% discount on medicines and medical devices.  
• US Embassy in Manila closed on Dec. 24 after Biden's order December 23, 2024
  The US Embassy in Manila will be closed on Christmas Eve, December 24, following a recent executive order from the White House, postponing scheduled visa interviews on Tuesday.
• Bersamin says gov't scorecard shouldn't be confined to surveys December 23, 2024
  Malacañang on Monday underscored that the governance scorecard should not be confined to polls or surveys.
• PH military to acquire US Typhon missile system -- Army chief Galido December 23, 2024
  The commanding general of the Philippine Army said Monday the military plans to acquire the US Typhon missile system to protect its maritime interests, some of which overlap with regional power China.
• BI now allows frontline personnel to greet travelers for holidays December 23, 2024
  Immigration officers are now allowed to greet travelers in airports amid the holiday season, according to the Bureau of Immigration.
• Comelec: Sulu not yet an area of concern for Eleksyon 2025 December 23, 2024
  The Commission on Elections will not declare Sulu as an area of concern following the ambush of a local poll officer over the weekend, chairperson George Erwin Garcia said Monday.
• DOH cautions vs diseases prevalent this holiday season December 23, 2024
  The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said it has alerted hospitals in monitoring diseases related to the so-called Holiday Heart Syndrome amid the festivities this Christmas and New Year.
• Ombudsman upholds dismissal of ex-BFAR director Escoto December 23, 2024
  The Office of the Ombudsman has affirmed its February 2024 order to dismiss former Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) director Demosthenes Escoto for grave misconduct.
• Erwin, Ben Tulfo, Tito Sotto top OCTA's latest senatorial survey December 23, 2024
  Brothers Erwin and Ben Tulfo and former Senate president Vicente "Tito" Sotto III maintain their lead in the OCTA Research's senatorial preference survey for the last quarter of 2024.
• Palace says no talk of reenacted budget for 2025 December 23, 2024
  There has been no discussion about having a reenacted budget for fiscal year 2025, Malacañang said on Monday.
• LTFRB: 4 new motorcycle taxis allowed to operate in Central Luzon, Calabarzon December 23, 2024
  The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said Monday that only four new motorcycle taxi firms are accredited by the agency to operate in Central Luzon and Calabarzon. 
• Delays, fully booked trips, long lines at terminals, ports amid Christmas exodus December 23, 2024
  Passengers at some terminals and ports faced delayed trips due to lack of available buses and ships compounded by road repairs, according to reports on GMA Integrated News" Unang Balita.