First batch of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine doses arriving Feb 28, but rollout on hold pending experts’ recommendations

Although the donated vaccines will arrive in the next few days, the Department of Health and the National Task Force Against COVID-19 clarified that the rollout of Sinovac vaccines will not immediately start on March 1 pending the recommendation of the experts.

COVID vaccine imports to be exempted from taxes, says DoF

The Department of Finance (DoF) on Thursday said imports of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines will be exempted from taxes and duties, as the government is set to take delivery of the first batch of vaccines on Sunday. Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III in a statement said the importation of COVID-19 vaccines will be included in the department’s express lane or “Mabuhay Lane” where the tax and duty exemption applications will be processed within 24 hours which is faster than the current processing time of three days, he added

Agri losses due to 'Auring' reach ₱79-M

About 1,017 metric tons of resources were lost to the storm that brought heavy rains and strong winds to parts of Visayas and Mindanao last week, according to the DA's disaster risk reduction and management operations center. The hardest hit crop was rice, comprising 94% of the total damage to agriculture. Most of the lost rice yields were in Surigao Del Sur, the agency said. Meanwhile, corn, high-value crops, fisheries, livestock and poultry combined, covered only 6% of the losses.

DOTr: Order on reducing fees, making PMVICs optional already issued

The Department of Transportation has refuted Senator Grace Poe's claim that the agency has not issued an order yet to discontinue mandatory vehicle testing by private vehicle inspection centers (PMVICs).

BSP’s new unit, new deputy chief to push PH shift to digital money

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) recently established a new department tasked with managing the interplay of physical currency and digital money, as the regulator continues to push the country toward the goal of having a “cash-lite” economy in a little over two years’ time. Called the Payments and Currency Management Sector, the new unit will be headed by newly appointed Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan who recently joined the central bank with a background in digital and inclusive finance services.

First batch of Sinovac vaccines ready for shipping, still possible to arrive in PH within the week — exec

In an interview with CNN Philippines, Sinovac Biotech General Manager Helen Yang said the firm is in close coordination with the Chinese Embassy with regards to the shipment of the 600,000 vaccine doses that will be donated by China's government to the country. He added that they are doing their best to ship the doses to the country within the week.

Metro Manila LGUs release down payments for AstraZeneca vaccine doses

Some local governments in Metro Manila have started releasing the required advance payments to AstraZeneca so as not to forfeit the COVID-19 vaccine doses they pre-ordered from the British-Swedish pharmaceutical firm. The release of funds came after President Rodrigo Duterte permitted local governments to make down payments beyond 15% of the contract amount last week.

PH can expand age group recommendation for Sinovac vaccine once more data come in — FDA

The Philippine government can change and expand its age sector recommendation for the use of Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccine in the country once the Chinese firm submits additional data from its clinical trials, the Food and Drug Administration said. FDA Director General Eric Domingo explained that the agency’s advice to use the China-made vaccine for the 18-59 year-old bracket was based on the clinical trials and inoculation programs set in other countries.

Employers urge govt. to allow more public transport to help revive economy

The Employers Confederation of the Philippines or ECOP noted that limited transportation options right now cannot accommodate the country’s workforce. In a similar vein, the National Economic and Development Authority earlier proposed to expand the public transport capacity from 50% to 75%. NEDA also wanted to allow more provincial buses on the roads.

Duterte creates new task force for job creation

President Rodrigo Duterte's administration has formed another task force, this time to create jobs and spur investments to revive the ailing economy, an official said on Tuesday, as the Philippines continued to wrestle with the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Congress OKs bill to set indemnity fund, expedite vaccine rollout

The House of Representatives adopted the Senate version of the measure seeking to expedite the purchase of COVID-19 vaccine and rollout of the government's vaccination program just hours after senators approved it on third and final reading. The lower chamber already approved the bill on Monday.