Stocks decline further as investors pocket gains
THE MAIN INDEX closed lower on Wednesday, extending its decline to a second day, as investors booked profits from the local market’s heavyweights.
Peso slips as oil prices spike
THE PESO inched down versus the greenback on Wednesday as oil prices climbed to their highest levels in almost a year.
Filipino from UAE tests positive for UK coronavirus strain
The more contagious coronavirus strain first detected in the United Kingdom has reached the Philippines, according to the Department of Health (DoH).
In a statement,...
Gov’t to sign contracts for 30M vaccine doses
THE PHILIPPINE government is expected to sign separate deals for 30 million doses of coronavirus vaccines from two drug makers.
Vaccination fears may ease with Duterte’s own shot
GIVING President Rodrigo R. Duterte a coronavirus vaccine shot would probably persuade hesitant Filipinos to get vaccinated, according to the country’s vaccine czar.
One-line ‘Cha-cha’ easier to pass, top Senate leader says
THE SENATE might push for a one-line amendment of the 1987 Constitution that will relax foreign ownership limits to increase its chances of being passed, its top leader said on Wednesday.
Nationwide round-up (01/13/21)
A NUMBER of Filipino migrant workers have withdrawn from the government’s repatriation program as their host countries have started vaccinations against the coronavirus, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Wednesday.
Regional Updates (01/13/21)
THE BUREAU of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has warned consumers against eating shellfish harvested from Daram Island and Cambatutay Bay in Western Samar, Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar, and Carigara Bay in Leyte after testing positive for red tide contamination.
Sotto: No need for 3rd stimulus after extension of Bayanihan II
SENATE President Vicente C. Sotto said he does not see the “necessity” for another stimulus package with the extension of the validity of the second package, known as Bayanihan II, to the end of June.
National ID system biometrics collection kicks off in Laguna
THE Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said it began collecting biometric information for the national ID system on a small scale last week in Laguna, and will expand registration soon for the program, which is deemed a critical component of effective aid distribution.
Finance dep’t flags inflation risk from calamities, wants other provinces to also cultivate vegetables
THE Department of Finance (DoF) said the December uptick in inflation highlighted the vulnerability of the food supply to calamities, and called for the development of other vegetable-growing regions to guard against any disruptions to the transport links or storm damage to intensively-farmed areas.
DBM summons agencies to pre-budget virtual consultations
THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will stage budget consultation sessions with various agencies and state-owned firms for 2022, the last spending plan of the administration’s term.
Poultry imports from Netherlands, S. Korea, France banned on avian flu
THE PHILIPPINES has temporarily banned poultry imports from several countries after reported outbreaks of the H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu).
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The non-automatic application of PILAA
Bustling defines this time of the year. On cue, taxpayers prepare for the renewal of their business permits. With barely six days left, taxpayers buckle down to meet the Jan. 20 deadline, hoping for an extension from the local government units (LGUs) having jurisdiction over their respective businesses.
PBA rookie draft for March steadily taking form
THIS year’s Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) rookie draft slated for March took further form recently after the league announced the order of drafting.
Philippine baseball’s push resumes this year, officials say
PHILIPPINE baseball is looking to make up for lost time this year after it got sidelined by the coronavirus last year, officials said.
NBA tightens health protocols as COVID-19 affects season
NBA players should stay at their residences when they are at home and in their hotels when on the road for at least the next two weeks, the league said on Tuesday in a list of new health protocols designed to limit COVID-19’s impact on the season.
Los Angeles Lakers ground Houston Rockets again 117-100
LEBRON James scored 22 of his game-high 26 points in the first half and the Los Angeles Lakers posted their second runaway victory over the Houston Rockets in as many games, rolling to a 117-100 victory on Tuesday at Toyota Center in Houston.
Pogba sends United clear at the top with win at Burnley
BURNLEY, England — Manchester United moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League after a Paul Pogba goal gave them a hard-fought 1-0 win over Burnley at a freezing Turf Moor on Tuesday.
Worried about Earth’s future? The outlook is worse than what scientists can grasp
Anyone with even a passing interest in the global environment knows all is not well. But just how bad is the situation? Our new paper shows the outlook for life on Earth is more dire than is generally understood.
No to ‘Cha-cha’ before the fiesta
Congress should reconsider its plan to deliberate within the year any proposed changes to the 1987 Constitution, and then to later convene as a constituent assembly to amend the charter. The House leadership’s plan is to ratify any proposed charter changes in a plebiscite that can be held also during the May 2022 national and local elections.
Money in a liquid state
WATER and its liquid properties provide some paradigms for business and the economy. “Liquidity” for instance refers to the flow of money in the economy and on a personal level describes how much cash one has on hand, also called a cash flow. (Does this signify that cash just passes through and goes somewhere else?) A high level of liquid assets above operating expenses can describe an individual as swimming in cash.
Scientists raise doubts about AstraZeneca vaccine efficacy
SYDNEY — Australian scientists have raised questions over the efficacy of the AstraZeneca coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine in establishing herd immunity, calling for a pause on its widespread rollout as the country recorded one new coronavirus case on Wednesday.
Indonesia starts vaccination drive as COVID-19 deaths hit record
JAKARTA — Indonesia launched one of the world’s biggest COVID-19 vaccination campaigns on Wednesday with President Joko Widodo getting the first shot of a Chinese vaccine as his country fights one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in Asia.
With some Republicans on board, US House Democrats press forward on impeachment vote
WASHINGTON — With at least five Republicans joining their push to impeach President Donald Trump over the storming of the US Capitol, Democrats in the House of Representatives stood poised for a history-making vote to try to remove the president from office.
When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, losing weight and quitting smoking are among...
Losing weight and quitting smoking are among the most popular resolutions at the start of the new year.
He was one of Asia’s richest men, now he’s fending off debt collectors
In just five years, Hong Kong property tycoon Pan Sutong has gone from ranking among Asia’s wealthiest people to having his company’s flagship skyscraper seized by creditors chasing more than $1 billion of debt.
Half of women put off by macho language in job adverts
LONDON — Biased language in some job adverts in Britain deters as many as one in two women from applying, a study said on Wednesday, amid a push to attract more women to male-dominated sectors.
US to require negative COVID-19 tests for arriving international air passengers
WASHINGTON — Nearly all air travelers will need to present a negative coronavirus test to enter the United States under expanded test testing requirements announced on Tuesday.
Global investors call for end to seafarers marooned at sea due to coronavirus
LONDON — A group of leading investors on Wednesday called for an end to a crisis involving hundreds of thousands of seafarers stuck on ships for many months due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), warning that the situation was creating bigger risks every day.
MR.D.I.Y. Philippines making an impact on the environment
The largest home improvement retailer in Southeast Asia, MR. D.I.Y. planted its 100 seeds and turned over cash proceeds from The Good Bag, Reusable...
Pandemic cut traffic congestion in most countries last year — report
NEW YORK/LONDON — Coronavirus-induced lockdowns caused annual traffic congestion to fall in most countries for the first time in at least 10 years, disrupting long-held traffic patterns like the dreaded morning commute to work, a report released on Tuesday showed.
New Brazil data shows disappointing 50.4% efficacy for China’s CoronaVac vaccine
SAO PAULO — A coronavirus vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech was just 50.4% effective at preventing symptomatic infections in a Brazilian trial, researchers...
AI-powered contact tracing system in talks with LGUs, establishments
CAWIL.AI Solutions, an industry-agnostic artificial intelligence (AI) social enterprise, is in talks with the local government units (LGUs) of Calapan City and Quezon City...
SM City Manila presents Ray of Hope: Feast of the Black Nazarene 2021 photo...
Catch the exhibit from January 7-24, 2020 at the Event Center, UGL.
ABS-CBN Corporation announces schedule of stockholders’ meeting
NOTICE OF SPECIAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING
To: All Stockholders of ABS-CBN Corporation
Please take notice that a Special Meeting of the Stockholders of ABS-CBN Corporation will...
‘Remarkable’ rebound seen this year
THE WORST is over for the pandemic-hit Philippine economy, and a “remarkable rebound” is expected this year, the central bank chief said on Tuesday, adding that the current accommodative monetary stance is sufficient for a revival in growth.
Budget deficit soars to record high in 2020
THE National Government’s budget deficit ballooned to 7.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) last year from 3.4% in 2019, but slightly below the cap set by the economic team, as spending increased and revenues slumped amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
DoF supports further opening of economy
FINANCE Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said he is open to amending the restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, as House lawmakers are set to begin deliberations on Charter change today (Jan. 13).
Tourism revenues plunge as foreign visitors stay away
TOURISM REVENUES last year plunged 83% to P81.4 billion after pandemic-related travel restrictions kept foreign visitors away.
Airline revenues for first half to be ‘close to catastrophic’
REVENUES of airlines in the first half of the year are expected to be “close to catastrophic,” aviation think tank Center for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) said, as trunk routes will not be commercially viable.
Vires, AG&P step up plans for LNG vessel, says DoE
THE Energy department has identified Vires Energy Corp. and Atlantic Gulf and Pacific Co. (AG&P) as potential investors in a floating facility for imported gas, as the country prepares for the depletion of its sole supplier of the energy resource.
Cebu Landmasters reports 12.5% higher reservation sales
LISTED property developer Cebu Landmasters, Inc. (CLI) posted 12.5% increase in its reservation sales for 2020 to P14.25 billion despite the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Auto parts workers call for manufacturing incentives
A CAR parts labor group is urging the government to introduce new incentives for automotive companies manufacturing locally to complement import safeguards designed to protect the local industry.
NLEX Corp. reports ‘light traffic’ despite spike in figures
NLEX CORP. on Tuesday said the traffic flow at its toll plazas has improved after it carried out some measures to help control the congestion.