PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte backed off his threat to end a 21-year-old military pact with the US on the deployment of troops for war games due to “heightened super power tensions” and as the world grappled with a coronavirus pandemic, his chief diplomat said on Wednesday.

THE Department of Health (DoH) reported 751 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday, but said 71% of these cases were from old samples whose test results came out late.

THE government may hire jobless jeepney drivers as coronavirus contact tracers, the presidential palace said on Wednesday.

PHILIPPINE Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) said it is requesting that casinos be allowed to reopen, citing the funds that will not go to various government social programs should the company remain unable to generate gaming revenue.

THE health care sector’s ability to deal with the pandemic has grown based on metrics like testing capacity, but hospitals are under pressure due to rising costs as well as a sharp decline in non-coronavirus patients, health officials and industry representatives said.

THE tourism industry may include firms that have no option but to exit the industry, and the government’s recovery plan should support such companies, a think tank official said.

WHEN George Floyd died under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer, the scourge of police violence, festering for generations, became a rallying point for Americans yearning for the fulfillment of this country’s founding aspiration to promote life, liberty and happiness.

Just recently my wife and I each received P5,000 from the Makati City government, as financial assistance made available to city residents during the quarantine period.

The adverse impact of prolonged community quarantine (CQ) in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon since mid-March is shown by the huge decline in electricity consumption. From the Independent Electricity Market Operator Philippines (IEMOP) data for Luzon-Visayas grids, I compared the April-May 2020 data to the same months in 2019 and the result is really bad.

THE CORONAVIRUS disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has thrown a curveball to the Philippines’ Olympic Games push but the agency representing the country to the sporting meet reiterated its commitment to continue to backstop the Filipino athletes in their quest.

WHILE the return to action of the Philippine Basketball Association this season remains to be seen amid concerns over the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, teams under the umbrella of San Miguel Corp. have begun moves for their possible return to the floor by having their players tested for the highly contagious respiratory disease.

NEW YORK — Cincinnati Masters organizers are exploring options for hosting the tournament as the New York Times reported that it could be moved to Flushing Meadows this year as part of a double-header with the US Open.