26

Sep

Four dead as Typhoon Noru hits the Philippines

BULACAN, Philippines, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Philippine authorities rushed on Monday to distribute aid to thousands of evacuees after typhoon Noru made landfall in the capital and northern provinces, leaving at least five dead and many areas flooded. Sustained winds of 185 kilometres (115 miles) per hour hit the main island of Luzon at the weekend, prompting authorities to shut schools, government offices and the stock market through Monday. President Ferdinand Marcos ordered supplies be airlifted and clean-up equipment be provided to most-affected communities. "The point at which we can stand down is when the majority of evacuees are already…

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22

Aug

Philippine children back in school as pandemic restrictions ease

MACABEBE, Philippines, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Millions of Philippine students returned to classrooms for the first time in more than two years on Monday, after the country lifted most remaining COVID-19 curbs to try and reverse learning losses. Students, all wearing face masks, queued to enter their classrooms and attended flag raising ceremonies in their schoolyards across the Southeast Asian country as the government phases out remote learning. "For two years, we longed for face-to-face classes so even if there's a flood, we will continue our lessons," said school teacher Mylene Ambrocio, 37, as she stook in ankle-deep water in…

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15

Aug

Pandemic pushed millions more into poverty in the Philippines

MANILA, Aug 15 (Reuters) - About 2.3 million people in the Philippines were pushed into poverty between 2018 and 2021, largely due to the economic downturn caused by the pandemic, the statistics agency said on Monday. The number of people living in poverty in 2021 rose to a total of almost 20 million or 18.1% of the population from 16.7% in 2018, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said, overshooting the government's target of 15.5%-17.5%. Recently inaugurated President Ferdinand Marcos Jr aims to slash the poverty rate to 9% by the end of his single six-year term in 2028 - a…

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13

Aug

Magnitude 6.1 earthquake strikes Philippine islands region – EMSC

Aug 13 (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 6.1 struck the Moro Gulf, Mindanao region in the Philippines on Saturday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said. The quake was at a depth of 10 km ( 6.21 miles), EMSC said.

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06

Aug

Blinken commits U.S. to defending Philippines against armed attacks

MANILA, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured the Philippines on Saturday that the United States would come to its defence if attacked in the South China Sea, seeking to allay concerns about the extent of the U.S. commitment to a mutual defence treaty. In meetings in Manila dominated by discussion on simmering U.S.-China tensions over the Taiwan visit of U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Blinken said a 70-year-old defence pact with the Philippines was "ironclad". "An armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels and aircraft will invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments under that treaty," Blinken…

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31

Jul

Philippine ex-President Fidel Ramos, warrior and survivor, dies at 94

MANILA (Reuters) -Philippines former President Fidel Valdez Ramos, who died on Sunday, was a fighter during wars in Korea and Vietnam and a survivor in the political arena, emerging from a high-ranking security role during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr to win the vote for the nation's highest office. He was 94. Ramos became a hero to many for defecting from Marcos' government, where he led the national police force, spurring the dictator's downfall during the 1986 popular uprising against his rule. Others, though, would not forgive or forget his role in enforcing martial law under the Marcos regime. …

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28

Jul

Photo Story: Damage to the historic Saint Catherine church following the earthquake in the Philippines

A view of a damaged altar inside the historic Saint Catherine church following an earthquake in Tayum, Abra province, Philippines, 28 July 2022. At least five people were killed and more than 150 injured when a strong quake with a 7.0 magnitude intensity jolted the Cordillera region on 27 July, according to National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. More than 800 aftershocks were felt in the mountainous central Luzon island since the quake hit, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said. Via EPA-EFE/BERNIE SIPIN DELA CRUZ

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27

Jul

UPDATED: Death toll in Philippines quake rises to 4, with 60 injured

MANILA, July 27 (Reuters) - A strong earthquake in northern Philippines has killed four people and injured 60, the interior minister said on Wednesday. Two people died in Benguet province, one in Abra province, and one more in another province, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos told a televised news conference. "Despite the sad reports about the damages caused by the earthquake, we are assuring quick response to those in need and affected by this calamity," President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Facebook. The quake hit close to Marcos family's political stronghold. A hospital in Abra province was evacuated after the building…

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24

Jul

Three dead in graduation shooting at top Philippines university

MANILA, July 24 (Reuters) - Three people died in a shooting at a university graduation ceremony in the Philippines' capital region on Sunday, including a former mayor from the volatile south of the country, police said. Local Quezon City police chief Remus Medina said the shooting appeared to have been an assassination of the former mayor of the southern Lamitan city, Rose Furigay. The suspect, wounded in a shootout with a campus security officer and arrested after a car chase, was now in custody and being interrogated, Medina told reporters. "He looks like he was a determined assassin," Medina said,…

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30

Jun

Philippines begins new era of Marcos rule, decades after overthrow

Marcos praises father's controversial rule MANILA, June 30 (Reuters) - The son and namesake of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was sworn in as president of the Philippines on Thursday, completing a stunning comeback for one of Asia's most famous political dynasties, 36 years after it was ousted in a popular uprising. Marcos Jr scored a rare landslide victory in last month's election, helped by what his critics see as a decades-long effort to alter public perceptions of a family that lived lavishly at the helm of one of the world's most notorious kleptocracies.  In a speech that echoed his campaign slogans of…

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29

Jun

Nobel laureate Ressa vows to fight order to shut Philippine news site

MANILA, June 29 (Reuters) - Philippine Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa pledged on Wednesday to fight an order by the corporate regulator to shut down her online news site Rappler, known for its critical reporting of President Rodrigo Duterte's policies. The ruling against Rappler, handed down by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Tuesday, comes at a time when activists and journalists fear there will be no let up in challenges to press freedom under the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos who begins his term on Thursday. "We will continue to do our jobs. Our reporters will continue to…

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19

Jun

Duterte’s daughter sworn in as Philippines vice president

MANILA (Reuters) - Sara Duterte-Carpio, daughter of outgoing Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, was sworn in as the country's 15th vice president on Sunday, calling for national unity following a divisive election campaign. "The days ahead may be full of challenges that call for us to be more united as a nation," she said in an inauguration address in her hometown Davao, where she took the oath of office with her parents standing next to her. Duterte-Carpio, 44, was the running mate of Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who also won in the May 9 elections and will be sworn in as the…

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18

May

Philippines’ Marcos says China ties ‘set to shift to higher gear’ under his presidency

MANILA, May 18 (Reuters) - Incoming Philippines president Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Wednesday said his country's relations with China will be expanded and shift to a higher gear under his administration, and Beijing had given assurances it would support his independent foreign policy. Marcos in a statement said China President Xi Jinping had agreed to hold more comprehensive discussions of issues and also recognised his late father's role in opening diplomatic relations between the two countries. Reporting by Karen Lema and Neil Jerome Morales; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor Photo - Incoming Philippines president Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos…

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11

May

After Philippines election triumph, Marcos visits dictator father’s grave

MANILA, May 11 (Reuters) - Ferdinand Marcos Jr. went to the grave of his father, the disgraced Philippines dictator, the day after winning the presidential election, a visit that underscores the polarisation over the return to rule of the notorious political dynasty. Images shared by Marcos's team on Wednesday showed him in dark sunglasses, laying a bouquet of flowers atop his father's grave in the Manila "heroes" cemetery, where the body was moved in 2016 after the family won a lengthy battle for the right to bury him alongside other presidents. Past governments had refused to bury him at the…

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10

May

Marcos, son of strongman, triumphs in Philippines presidential election

Ferdinand Marcos Jr clinched a stunning runaway victory in the Philippines' presidential election on Monday in the first win by a majority since a 1986 revolution that toppled his late father's two-decade dictatorship. An unofficial tally showed Marcos, popularly known as "Bongbong", had surpassed the 27.5 million votes needed for a majority, setting the stage for a once unthinkable return to rule of the Marcos family, 36 years after its humiliating retreat into exile during a "people power" uprising. "I hope you won't get tired of trusting us," Marcos told supporters in remarks streamed on Facebook, a platform at the core…

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09

May

Strong voter turnout in Philippines as Marcos targets presidency

Philippine voters streamed to polling stations on Monday, with the prospect of a once-unthinkable return to rule of a member of the Marcos family, 36 years after strongman Ferdinand Marcos was ousted in a "people power" uprising. The presidential election pits Vice President Leni Robredo against former senator and congressman Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son and namesake of the dictator whose two decade rule ended in a public revolt and his family's humiliating retreat into exile. Around 18,000 posts, from the vice presidency, seats in the Senate and the House of Representatives to mayors, governors and councillors are also up…

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08

May

Explainer: A guide to the Philippines election

The Philippines holds an election on Monday to decide thousands of positions across the archipelago, including who will take over from Rodrigo Duterte and become its president for the next six years. Below is a rundown of what to expect. WHAT'S BEING DECIDED? The election will choose a president, vice president, 12 senators, 300 lower house legislators, and about 18,000 officials across 7,600 islands, including mayors, governors and their deputies. About 67.5 million of the Southeast Asian nation's 110 million population are eligible voters and most ballots will be cast on election day, with polls open from 6 a.m. to…

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08

May

Philippine police say country ‘relatively peaceful’ ahead of election

MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine police said on Sunday the country's overall situation ahead of the May 9 general election remained "relatively peaceful", despite some shooting incidents and other poll-related offences that they consider to be isolated. Filipinos will vote on Monday to choose President Rodrigo Duterte's successor, a vice president, 12 senators, hundreds of congressmen, and thousands of governors, mayors and provincial and city councillors. The presidential election is shaping up as a rematch between Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., the son and namesake of the country's late dictator, and incumbent Vice President Leni Robredo, the human rights lawyer who narrowly…

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07

May

FACTBOX-Marcos and Robredo lead field ahead of Philippine presidential vote

 (Reuters) - Philippine presidential candidates will wrap up campaigning this week ahead of the May 9 election, in a contest that has shaped into a two-way race between the clear favourite Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his main rival Leni Robredo. Below are details on the candidates for the presidency, starting with the current leader in opinion polls: FERDINAND "BONGBONG" MARCOS JR The namesake of the late dictator, Marcos, 64, is a former governor, congressman and senator who has emerged as frontrunner with 56% support in the most recent opinion poll. Since returning to the Philippines in 1991 from exile after his father's overthrow,…

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15

Apr

Photo Story: Catholics in the Philippines portray crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ during Holy Week of Lent season

A Filipino Catholic from a parish youth council portraying Jesus Christ performs in the 'Senakulo,' a depiction of events in the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ in observance of Good Friday of Lent at a residential village in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, 15 April 2022. Filipino Catholics join other faithful around the world in observing Holy Week in the Lent season which runs from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.  Via EPA-EFE/ROLEX DELA PENA

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13

Apr

Thousands displaced after typhoon Megi hits Philippines

MANILA, April 13 (Reuters) - Philippine authorities on Wednesday struggled to distribute aid to tens of thousands of displaced people sheltering in evacuation centres after typhoon Megi triggered landslides in coastal provinces that left 56 dead and dozens missing. More than 42,000 people were displaced and 200 injured when Megi made landfall at the weekend, the first tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines this year. The storm has now dissipated, the state weather bureau said. A handout photo made available by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shows a rescuer carries a pet dog on a flooded village in Panitan, Capiz…

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06

Apr

Philippine election front runner Marcos Jr sees lead trimmed in poll

MANILA, April 6 (Reuters) - Philippine presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr has retained a clear lead in a survey ahead of the May 9 election, though his lead has narrowed after Vice President Leni Robredo picked up support, an opinion poll showed on Wednesday. Backing for Marcos, the son and namesake of the country's late dictator, dropped slightly to 56%, compared with 60% in the previous Pulse Asia surveys in January and February, while Robredo's support grew to 24% from 15% the month before. The Pulse Asia survey of 2,400 people was conducted between March 17-21, when official campaigning was underway. At…

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26

Feb

Quake of magnitude 6 strikes Mindanao, Philippines – EMSC

Feb 26 (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 6 struck Mindanao, Philippines on Saturday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said. The quake was at a depth of 121 km (75.19 miles), EMSC said. (Reporting by Bhargav Acharya in Bengaluru; Editing by Sam Holmes)

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28

Jan

Philippines to reopen in February to vaccinated foreign tourists

MANILA, Jan 28 (Reuters) - The Philippines will grant entry to visitors vaccinated against COVID-19 from Feb. 10, its government said on Friday, in an effort to boost a tourism sector decimated by the pandemic. The archipelago nation of more than 7,000 islands had planned to reopen in December, but that was aborted over concerns about the Omicron variant. Citizens of 150 countries that have visa-free entry to the Philippines will be allowed to enter. "(This) will contribute significantly to job restoration, primarily in tourism-dependent communities, and in the reopening of businesses that have earlier shut down," Tourism Secretary Berna…

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22

Jan

Magnitude 6 earthquake strikes Sarangani, Philippines – USGS

Jan 21 (Reuters) - A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Sarangani province in Philippines, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said on Friday. The quake was at a depth of 24 km (15 miles), USGS said. (Reporting by Akriti Sharma in Bengaluru)

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17

Jan

Marcos Jr. wins ruling on eligibility to run in Philippine poll

MANILA, Jan 17 (Reuters) - The Philippines' election commission on Monday rejected a complaint seeking to block the presidential bid of the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, ruling prior tax violations while in public office should not derail his run. The petition had sought to cancel the certificate of candidacy of Ferdinand Marcos Jr, accusing him of misrepresenting his eligibility because of the three-decade-old tax conviction and arguing it should mean a lifetime election ban. But judges on the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) said the petition lacked merit. "There is no intention on the part of respondent to…

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15

Jan

Philippines confirms community transmission of Omicron, cases hit record

MANILA, Jan 15 (Reuters) - The Philippine health ministry confirmed the local spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant around Manila on Saturday, as infections hit a record high for a third straight day. "We are seeing community transmission of the Omicron variant in the capital region," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told a public briefing. The region is an urban sprawl of 16 cities home to more than 13 million people. The community transmission of the Omicron variant is characterised by a steep rise in cases, Vergeire said, adding that infections may peak from the end of this month to…

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14

Jan

Philippines bans unvaccinated from public transport as infections spike

MANILA, Jan 14 (Reuters) - The Philippines will push through with its plan next week to ban from public transportation people who are not vaccinated against COVID-19, officials said on Friday, as the country grapples to quell a surge in infections. The ban applies to the notoriously congested capital region of about 13 million people, where most new cases have emerged, but has faced stiff opposition from the country's human rights commission, which called it restrictive and discriminatory. But the transport ministry on Friday said there would be no stopping the plan, which was necessary to curb the spread and…

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09

Jan

Philippines prepares more hospitals beds with record COVID-19 cases

MANILA, Jan 9 (Reuters) - The Philippines ordered an increase in hospital beds and medical resources in and around the capital Manila, a senior government official said on Sunday, as the country set another record for new COVID-19 infections. Nearly 60% of the 28,707 cases came from the capital region, which has seen a steady increase in admissions in recent days, although hospital capacity in the area was still below critical levels, government data showed. Health authorities were also directed to increase inoculation rates outside the region, with many provinces lagging, acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said in a statement.…

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07

Jan

Philippines’ Duterte threatens unvaccinated people with arrest

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said people who have not taken COVID-19 shots will be arrested if they disobeyed stay-at-home orders as infections hit a three-month high. Duterte in an televised address to the nation said he was asking community leaders to look for unvaccinated people and make sure they were confined to their homes. "If he refuses, if he goes out his house and goes around the community, he can be restrained. If he refuses, the captain is empowered now to arrest recalcitrant persons," Duterte said. Daily coronavirus infections in the Philippines hit the highest since Sept. 26 at 17,220…

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05

Jan

Philippines reports highest daily rise in COVID-19 cases in nearly 3 months, ‘Black Nazarene’ parade  cancelled

MANILA, Jan 5 (Reuters) - The Philippines on Wednesday reported 10,775 new COVID-19 cases, the country's highest daily spike since Oct. 10. That brought the Southeast Asian country's total confirmed cases to date to 2.87 million, with its death toll climbing by 58 to 51,662, the Department of Health said in a bulletin. The Philippines has the second highest COVID-19 infections and casualties in Southeast Asia, next to Indonesia. Philippine authorities have cancelled an annual procession , which normally draws millions of Catholic devotees accompanying a black wooden statue of Jesus Christ through the streets of Manila, for a second…

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31

Dec

Philippines limits mobility, business in capital area over Omicron threat

MANILA, Dec 31 (Reuters) - The Philippines will impose tighter curbs in the capital region for the next two weeks, the acting presidential spokesperson said on Friday, to try to limit infections by the Omicron coronavirus variant that is spreading globally. The health ministry on Friday recorded 2,961 new coronavirus infections, a two-month high, and reported a positivity rate of 10.3%. "In the coming days, we might see an increase in active cases," acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said in a televised announcement. The region including the capital Manila is an urban sprawl of 16 cities that is home to…

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23

Dec

Late dictator’s son Marcos takes clear lead in Philippine election – poll

The son of late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos has emerged as the clear favourite for next year's presidential election, taking more than a 20-point lead over his closest rival in a poll. Ferdinand Marcos Jr topped the Pulse Asia Survey of 2,400 respondents with 53% of votes, while his running mate, Sara Duterte-Carpio, the daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, topped a separate poll for vice president with 45%. Respondents to the Dec. 1-6 poll were asked to pick their first choice for president and vice president if the vote were held during the survey period. In the Philippines, the president…

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19

Dec

Typhoon death toll in Philippines’ Bohol province hits 49 – provincial governor

MANILA, Dec 19 (Reuters) - At least 49 people died in the central Philippine province of Bohol, one of the worst-hit areas after a powerful typhoon slammed into the country last week, provincial governor Arthur Yap said on Sunday, as relief operations continued. The official death toll as reported by the national disaster agency still remains at 31 and does not account for the updated numbers from Bohol. The disaster agency, when asked if they were aware of the Bohol numbers, said its operations unit was yet to receive an official report from its provincial unit. (Reporting by Enrico Dela…

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18

Dec

Philippines’ feared death toll from Typhoon Rai rises to 31

MANILA, Dec 18 (Reuters) - The Philippines' disaster agency said on Saturday the feared death toll from Typhoon Rai has risen to 31, nearly triple the number of the previous day as rescue teams reach damaged areas and communication lines are restored. Four people were confirmed killed while 27 were believed to have died as a result of the typhoon, the disaster agency said in a statement. Rai was the 15th and among the deadliest of the tropical storms to strike the Philippine archipelago this year. A handout picture made available by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shows an aerial…

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16

Dec

Typhoon Rai intensifies as it slams the Philippines

MANILA, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Typhoon Rai rapidly intensified to a Category 5 storm before making landfall in the southern Philippines on Thursday, forcing mass evacuations and flight cancellations as floodwaters reached chest-high in low-lying communities. Rai, the 15th typhoon to enter Philippine territory this year, hit the holiday island of Siargao in the southern province of Surigao del Norte, packing maximum sustained winds of up to 195 km (121 miles) per hour, the Philippine weather bureau said. Close to 100,000 people have fled their homes as the second-most powerful typhoon to strike the nation this year dumped heavy rains…

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14

Dec

Philippines’ Duterte quits senate race in new election twist

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday withdrew his bid to become a senator, the same day his preferred successor quit the presidential race, adding to uncertainty about the mercurial leader's political future and the scope of his influence. The president filed withdrawal papers at the election commission a few hours after longtime aide, Senator Christopher "Bong Go" did the same, a decision Duterte's spokesman said was to enable him to better serve the country. The constitution bars Duterte, 76, from seeking reelection as president, but he was allowed to run for other positions in nationwide elections in May 2022. He had planned to pursue…

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08

Dec

Philippines bans travellers from France to prevent Omicron spread

The Philippines will ban travellers coming from France to prevent the spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, the presidential office said on Wednesday. The ban, which applies to everyone who has been in France in the past 14 days, runs from Dec. 10 to Dec. 15. This adds to an earlier ban on travellers from South Africa and 13 other countries to prevent Omicron, which has yet to be detected in the Philippines. Photo - A passenger is checked for temperature before entering the Manila International Airport terminal 1 in Paranaque, south Manila, Philippines. EPA-EFE/MARK R. CRISTINO

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20

Nov

Philippines to reopen ‘soon’ to vaccinated foreign tourists

MANILA, Nov 19 (Reuters) - The Philippines has approved a plan to allow entry soon to foreign tourists vaccinated against COVID-19, its tourism ministry said on Friday, following moves by other Southeast Asian countries to relax travel curbs. The coronavirus task force "approved in principle the entry of fully vaccinated tourists" from countries with low COVID-19 cases, the ministry said, adding that guidelines must be finalised. The Philippines, known for its diving and thousands of tropical islands, saw an 83% drop in foreign arrivals last year, receiving nearly 1.4 million visitors, compared to nearly 8.2 million in 2019. Japan, South…

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13

Nov

Daughter of Philippine President Duterte files candidacy for vice president

MANILA, Nov 13 (Reuters) - The daughter of Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte filed her candidacy for the vice presidency, her spokesperson said on Saturday, ending months of speculation about her 2022 election plans. Sara Duterte-Carpio, 43, entered the vice presidential race by way of substitution after her political party's original candidate withdrew, her spokesperson, Mayor Christina Garcia- Frasco said in a statement. Shortly after her candidacy papers were filed by a representative, the political party of Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son and namesake of the late Philippine dictator who has registered to run for president, adopted Duterte-Carpio as its vice…

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05

Nov

Photo Story: Early Christmas decorations at a commercial mall as lockdown slowly eases in Metro Manila

A giant Christmas tree adorns a central park at a commercial mall in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines.  As the Philippines continues to expand its COVID-19 vaccination nationwide and lockdown protocols are slowly being eased, commercial establishments are preparing for the upcoming Christmas season in December with early decorations to lure patrons who are gradually being allowed to visit public leisure venues. Via EPA-EFE/ROLEX DELA PENA

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01

Nov

Photo Story: Catholics prohibited entry to cemeteries on All Saints and All Souls Days in The Philippines

Villagers pedal past a cemetery in Paranaque City, Metro Manila, Philippines, 01 November 2021. The Philippine capital of Metro Manila prohibits entry to cemeteries and columbariums on All Saints and All Souls Days on 01 and 02 November, to prevent​ potential overcrowding of Catholic faithful who wish to remember their departed loved ones amid the pandemic. Via EPA-EFE/FRANCIS R. MALASIG

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31

Oct

Philippines logs record daily COVID-19 deaths

The Philippines on Saturday reported its highest single-day coronavirus deaths, mostly due to the reclassification of previous cases, the health ministry said. In a bulletin, the ministry recorded 423 COVID-19 deaths, eclipsing the 401 casualties reported on April. 9. However, 373 cases previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified and added to the death toll on Saturday, it added. With nearly 2.8 million cases and 43,044 deaths, the Philippines has Southeast Asia's second highest infections and casualties, next to Indonesia. But it is gradually loosening curbs to further reopen the economy as cases have eased to a daily average of roughly…

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06

Oct

Philippines rights groups denounce presidential bid by Marcos

Philippines human rights groups staged protests on Wednesday to denounce an attempt by the son and namesake of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos to return his family to power by vying for the presidency. Marcos, accompanied by wife and two sons, filed his candidacy for presidential elections in 2022, further shaking up an already polarised political landscape. "The Marcoses remain scot-free from jail, they haven't returned all the money that they got from the nation's coffers, and now they are making a comeback for the highest position in the land, that is just plain, shameless gall," said Cristina Palabay of rights…

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04

Oct

Duterte’s daughter rebuffs offer, but door open in Philippines presidential race

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's daughter has no intention of joining her father's party or being its flag-bearer, her spokesperson said on Monday, adding to the twists surrounding next year's presidential election in the Southeast Asian nation. Duterte said on Sunday he will not run for office and that he was leaving politics, adding that his daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio, who is the mayor of Davao city, could run to replace him. "Mayor Sara has no intention of becoming a member of PDP-Laban (Duterte's party) or of being its standard bearer now or in the near future," her spokesperson Christina Garcia Frasco…

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03

Oct

Philippines’ Duterte says daughter running for president in 2022 elections

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's daughter would run for president in next year's election and her father's long-time aide, who filed his vice presidential candidacy, would be her running mate, broadcasting firm ABS-CBN news reported late on Saturday. Sara Duterte-Carpio is currently mayor of Davao, the Philippines' third-largest city, and filed on Saturday to run for mayor again. She has previously said she would not run for national office next year. ABS-CBN news based its report on an interview that Duterte had with a broadcast journalist right after he announced that he was retiring from politics while accompanying his closest loyalist,…

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01

Oct

Philippines loosens coronavirus curbs in capital region

The Philippines further loosened coronavirus restrictions in the capital region on Friday, allowing restaurants to accept more guests and gyms to reopen after recording a decline in daily COVID 19 cases. The Philippines, which is battling one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in Asia, is gradually relaxing curbs to allow the recovery of the economy. An alert level system first and small-scale lockdown system imposed on the capital region on Sept. 16 to allow for greater mobility and more businesses to reopen will remain in place up to Oct. 15. Restaurants and personal care services were permitted to double their…

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01

Oct

Pacquiao makes Philippines presidential run official

Newly retired boxing icon Manny Pacquiao was the first to file his candidacy to be the next president of the Philippines at the start of registration for thousands of political posts in what is expected to be a hotly contested election in May next year. The week-long registrations, usually a festive event with big crowds, will be more sober this year with restrictions in place to fight one of Asia's deadliest COVID-19 epidemics. Pacquiao, who was joined by his wife and running mate, house deputy speaker Lito Atienza, submitted his certificate of candidacy to the poll body without fanfare, before…

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29

Sep

Support for Dutertes declines in Philippines election survey

The daughter of Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte remains the most popular prospect for next year's presidential election, an opinion poll showed on Wednesday, while her father slipped into second among contenders for the vice-presidency. Sara Duterte-Carpio, who this month said she would not seek higher office, has topped all surveys on prospective candidates ahead of registration, which opens on Friday. Her father cannot run for a second term and will seek the vice presidency. But other potential candidates cut into Duterte-Carpio's lead in the Pulse Asia survey of 2,400 people, held earlier this month, with her support dropping from 28%…

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26

Sep

Magnitude 5.7 quake hits south of Philippines capital

MANILA (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 5.7 struck south of the Philippines capital Manila early on Monday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said. The agency said the quake struck at a depth of 74 km (46 miles) and that aftershocks and damage could be expected. The epicentre of the earthquake was in Occidental Mindoro province, and it was felt in Manila. The country is on the geologically active Pacific Ring of Fire and experiences frequent quakes, particularly in the south. (Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Pravin Char)

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06

Sep

Philippines reports 22,415 coronavirus cases, a daily record

The Philippines' health ministry on Monday reported 22,415 coronavirus cases, a new record high in daily infections, ahead of the planned relaxation of quarantine curbs in the capital region and some provinces. In a bulletin, the ministry said total confirmed cases reached more than 2.1 million, while 103 more deaths were reported, taking total fatalities to 34,337. Photo: A soldier stands guard at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, a quarantine center in Manila, Philippines. EPA-EFE/MARK R. CRISTINO

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30

Aug

Philippines reports record 22,366 new COVID-19 cases

The Philippines reported 22,366 new coronavirus cases on Monday, its largest daily increase, bringing the Southeast Asian country's total confirmed infections to 1.976 million. In a bulletin, the Department of Health also reported an additional 222 fatalities, increasing the death toll to 33,330.  Photo: A woman wearing a mask walks along a mural of a Philippine flag in Mandaluyong, east of Manila, Philippines. EPA-EFE/MARK R. CRISTINO

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28

Aug

Philippines’ Duterte extends coronavirus curbs as cases hit new record high

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has lengthened coronavirus restrictions in the capital region and some provinces, his spokesperson said on Saturday, as the Southeast Asian nation logged a new record in daily COVID-19 infections. The Philippines, which has among the worst coronavirus outbreaks in Asia, is battling a renewed surge in COVID-19 cases driven by community transmission of the more infectious Delta variant. "We expect the number of cases will continue to increase in the coming days," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told a public briefing. The health ministry recorded 19,441 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, notching a record-high for the…

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19

Aug

Philippines reports second largest daily COVID-19 infections

The Philippine health ministry on Thursday recorded 14,895 new coronavirus cases, the second highest daily increase in infections since the start of the pandemic. In a bulletin, it said total confirmed cases were 1.79 million, while deaths have reached 30,881, after 258 fatalities were recorded on Thursday. Active cases rose to a near four-month high at 111,720. Photo: A nun gets inoculated with COVID-19 vaccine at a Catholic church in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. EPA-EFE/ROLEX DELA PENA

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13

Aug

Philippines extends travel ban for 10 countries over Delta concerns

The Philippines will extend a ban on travellers from India and nine other countries to the end of August because of concerns posed by the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus, the presidential spokesperson said on Friday. Authorities in the Philippines are scrambling to contain a jump in coronavirus cases to a four-month high, with infections staying above the 12,000 mark for a second straight day on Thursday, and hospitals in some areas nearing capacity. The travel ban, which was first imposed on April 27, has been rolled over several times and expanded to include Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka,…

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11

Aug

Strong Magnitude 7.2 earthquake strikes Mindanao, Philippines – USGS

Aug 12 (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 7.2 struck about 66 kms southeast of Bobon, Philippines, the U.S. Geological Survey said, with the U.S. Tsunami Warning System issuing a tsunami threat warning after the quake. The quake was at a depth of 50 kms, USGS said. (Reporting by Maria Ponnezhath in Bengaluru; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama) Reuters

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09

Aug

Hundreds of Philippine hospitals near full capacity as virus cases surge

Nearly a fifth of hospitals in the Philippines are close to full capacity as a surge in COVID-19 infections, driven by the highly contagious Delta variant of the virus, spreads across the Southeast Asian country, the health ministry said on Monday. Coronavirus cases in the Philippines, a country of 110 million, have been growing at a rate of around 8,000 to 10,000 infections a day over recent weeks, above the daily average of 5,700 cases reported last month, according to official data. "It is highly possible the cases will continue to rise even after ECQ," health ministry spokesperson Maria Rosario…

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09

Aug

Philippines reports biggest jump in COVID-19 death toll in four months

The Philippines' health ministry recorded on Sunday 9,671 new coronavirus cases and 287 additional deaths, the biggest single-day spike in the country's death toll since April 9. In a bulletin, the ministry said total confirmed infections in the Southeast Asian country had risen to 1.66 million, while the death toll had climbed to 29,122. Photo: A woman wearing a mask walks along a mural of a Philippine flag in Mandaluyong, east of Manila, Philippines. EPA-EFE/MARK R. CRISTINO

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