SONA 2020
PH posts 51% drop in crime rate since start of quarantine
July 22, 2020, 8:27 pm
MANILA – The government's intensified efforts to uphold the rule of law resulted in a 51-percent decline in the country's crime rate since the start of community quarantine measures in the country, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Wednesday. Citing data from the Philippine National… Read More
Gov't balancing 'targeted lockdowns' while rebuilding economy
July 22, 2020, 8:14 pm
MANILA – The second phase of the government's National Action Plan (NAP) to combat the coronavirus pandemic focuses on balancing Filipinos' health and the gradual reboot of the economy, National Action Plan (NAP) on Covid-19 chief implementer, Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr., said Wednesday. "NAP Phase… Read More
LGUs okay tougher sanctions for violators of health protocols
July 22, 2020, 7:03 pm
MANILA – Local chief executives have agreed to come up with a uniform policy aimed at imposing tougher sanctions against those who violate health protocols as part of response efforts to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said on Wednesday.… Read More
Climate change remains 'top priority' amid pandemic: Cimatu
July 22, 2020, 7:00 pm
MANILA – Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu said Wednesday the Duterte administration prioritizes climate change issues amid the coronavirus pandemic. During a pre-SONA forum aired over state-run PTV4, Cimatu, also chairman of the Cabinet Cluster on Climate… Read More
DILG to hire more contact tracers under Bayanihan 2
July 22, 2020, 6:53 pm
MANILA – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday said it is waiting for the enactment of the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One (Bayanihan 2) Act to be able to hire additional contact tracers in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. "Upon… Read More
DA releases P2.6-B loans under SURE aid program
July 22, 2020, 6:31 pm
MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has released more than PHP2.6 billion worth of loans under the Expanded SURE Aid and Recovery Project for micro and small enterprises (MSEs), and small, marginal farmers and fishers adversely affected by the quarantine measures due to the coronavirus… Read More
DFA facilitates over 96K repatriations since Covid-19 outbreak
July 22, 2020, 6:23 pm
MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has so far facilitated the repatriation of some 96,228 distressed Filipinos since the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic broke out, DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. said Wednesday. Of the number, Locsin said 41,981 are seafarers while… Read More
DOJ ensures human rights protection during pandemic
July 22, 2020, 5:57 pm
MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday said it continues to ensure that the constitutional rights of the people are protected and the rule of law is consistently upheld amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Speaking at a pre-SONA forum virtual presser, Justice… Read More
PH upgrading existing facilities in Kalayaan Islands: DND
July 22, 2020, 5:52 pm
MANILA – The Philippines is now upgrading existing facilities in the nine islands that comprise the municipality of Kalayaan, with the bulk of improvements centered on Pag-asa Island. In a pre-SONA forum aired over state-run PTV-4 Wednesday, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said these upgrades… Read More
Gov’t mitigates Covid-19 impact on most vulnerable sectors
July 22, 2020, 5:35 pm
MANILA – With the country's most vulnerable sectors reeling from the economic impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on Wednesday said the government is pouring all its resources into assisting the sectors in need -- the poor, youth,… Read More
Protecting PH sovereignty, territory key goal of Duterte admin
July 22, 2020, 5:33 pm
MANILA – Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday said defending the country's sovereignty and territory is a priority of President Rodrigo R. Duterte's administration. "Defending national sovereignty and protecting territorial integrity is a paramount priority of this administration,"… Read More
Anti-terrorism law to curb, defeat terror groups: Lorenzana
July 22, 2020, 5:28 pm
MANILA – The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 will allow government security forces to defeat the threats posed by terror groups, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Wednesday. "The passage of Republic Act No. 11479, also known as Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, will greatly enable our security… Read More
Locsin rejects proposal to raise SCS arbitral award before UNGA
July 22, 2020, 5:09 pm
MANILA – Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Wednesday rejected calls to bring up the landmark arbitration ruling on the South China Sea (SCS) at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) this September 2020. Locsin posited that raising the award would only turn Manila's win into a… Read More
PH pursuing 'independent, principled' foreign policy
July 22, 2020, 5:04 pm
MANILA -- The Philippines continues to observe an "independent and principled" foreign policy that serves its national interest. This was said by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana during the televised pre-SONA (state-of-the-nation-address) presentation of the Security, Peace, Justice, Cluster,… Read More
House to implement strict health protocols during SONA
July 22, 2020, 2:11 pm
MANILA – Officials from the House of Representatives on Wednesday said strict physical distancing and health protocols will be implemented inside the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City during President Rodrigo Duterte's fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27. In a media… Read More
PRRD to deliver SONA from chamber separate from guests
July 22, 2020, 1:45 pm
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte will not be anywhere near guests when he delivers his fifth state of the nation address (SONA) on Monday (July 27), a Palace official said Wednesday. Secretary Karlo Nograles said Duterte will still go to the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City but will be… Read More
Duterte to unveil Covid-19 recovery roadmap during SONA
July 22, 2020, 11:30 am
MANILA – On his fifth and penultimate State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Rodrigo Duterte will present a roadmap that will help the country recover from the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), Malacañang said on Wednesday. “He (Duterte) will be presenting now a… Read More
Duterte’s physical presence for SONA to push through despite risk
July 21, 2020, 3:28 pm
MANILA – Unfazed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, President Rodrigo Duterte has opted to fulfill his constitutional mandate to deliver his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27 at the Batasang Pambansa Complex, Malacañang said Thursday. Duterte might be at risk… Read More
DBM chief cites PH achievement on budget transparency
July 16, 2020, 1:03 pm
MANILA – The country’s bid to ensure transparency on government processes and engagement makes it among the best in this field, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Wendel Avisado said. In his presentation during the second virtual pre-State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) forum… Read More
Gov't programs available for OFWs displaced by pandemic
July 15, 2020, 6:51 pm
MANILA – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Wednesday enumerated several programs to mitigate the effects of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). “We have many programs for our OFWs who have returned to the country due to this pandemic. We have the… Read More
