(File photo) MANILA - A leader of the House of Representatives on Monday said it is high time to raise the daily minimum wage to provide Filipinos a "lifeline" as they suffer the "dual shock" of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic and the unabated oil price hikes. Deputy Speaker Bernadette Herrera made the statement as she lauded the move of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to order a review of the minimum wages across the country amid soaring fuel prices. "We fully support Secretary Bello's directive to all regional wage boards to expedite the review of minimum wages to help workers and their families weather the current oil crisis," Herrera said in a statement. Herrera agreed with Bello that the current PHP537 daily minimum wage in the National Capital Region (NCR) may no longer cope with the price of basic commodities, such as food, electricity and water bills. "It is imperative to provide workers and their families with the means to
(PNA file photo) MANILA- All barangays have been ordered to submit an inventory of unvaccinated persons in their localities, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Wednesday. "To ensure that we have correct data on unvaccinated persons, Secretary (Eduardo)Ano issued a memorandum circular to conduct an inventory to all barangays throughout the country to identify those who have not yet vaccinated in their barangays in line with the pronouncement of the President (Rodrigo Duterte) to restrain or restrict the movement of our unvaccinated individuals. It all starts with an inventory and then when we have an inventory, the LGU (local government units) will implement through an ordinance the restrictions on the movement of unvaccinated persons," Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said in a television interview. Malaya also said barangay officials have to prepare the inventory "on a monthly basis" and submit this to the DILG field office in
(File photo) MANILA - Unvaccinated individuals are generally compliant with the government's directive to limit their movements to prevent further spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano said on Monday. "At present, we see that our countrymen are following the regulations," Ano said in Filipino in his virtual report to President Rodrigo R. Duterte during his Talk to the People briefing. The DILG chief, however, pointed out that arrests are only a last resort for stubborn and unruly unvaccinated individuals who refuse to go home. Under the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) resolution, unvaccinated individuals are mandated to remain in their residences at all times except for the procurement of essential goods and services, such as food, water, medical services, public utilities, and work. "The Department has issued a directive for mayors and barangay chiefs to further identify who are vaccinated in their areas a
(PNA photo by Joey Razon) MANILA - Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Ano on Monday clarified that individuals who are unvaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) will only be requested to go home and will not be arrested. Under the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) resolution, unvaccinated individuals are mandated to remain in their residences at all times except for the procurement of essential goods and services, such as food, water, medical services, public utilities, and work. Many business leaders, medical groups, and organizations have been pushing for the restrictions to be implemented nationwide amid the spike in infections and the threat of the Omicron coronavirus variant. He noted that checkpoints were installed to restrict the mobility of the unvaccinated people in light of the rapid rise of Covid-19 cases believed to be caused by the highly transmissive Omicron variant. "Ang ating mga barangay capta
(File photo) MANILA - To save lives and livelihood, Taguig's Safe City Task Force will be adopting the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) resolution that limits the movement of unvaccinated individuals Under Advisory No. 62, enforcement will focus on areas with a high possibility of Covid-19 transmission, such as public transportation and closed spaces, and areas which have seen increased cases and low vaccination rates. In a news release on Sunday, the city also asked the private sector to check its employees' vaccination status. "Unvaccinated individuals are at a higher risk if infected with the Covid-19 virus. The regulation of the mobility of this vulnerable segment of the population is also a better alternative to a total lockdown that affects the entire economy," Mayor Lino Cayetano said. Under the MMDA resolution, unvaccinated individuals are mandated to remain in their residences at all times except for the procurement of essential goods and serv