We search online for notable Philippine stories to share and keep you informed about what’s happening on this side of the world.
Here are some of the top headlines from this first week of March 2021.
Pagasa: Cloudy skies, rain showers over Northern Luzon due to ‘amihan’
The northeast monsoon or “amihan” is expected to bring cloudy skies with isolated rain showers to Northern Luzon on Friday, March 5, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported.
The state weather bureau said cloudy skies with rain showers are expected in Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, and Quezon.
Negative COVID-19 test results still required for Boracay tourists
The local government of Malay in Aklan will still require negative COVID-19 test results for those traveling to Boracay Island as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus, its mayor said on March 5.
All travelers arriving to Boracay will still have to present a negative RT-PCR test result issued within 72 hours, said Mayor Frolibar Bautista.
China to donate 400,000 more COVID-19 vaccine doses – Duterte
China will donate 400,000 more doses of anti-coronavirus vaccines, President Rodrigo Duterte announced on March 4.
However, Duterte did not mention which brand of vaccine China will donate.
Alert Level 1 raised over Mt Pinatubo, no imminent eruption – Phivolcs
Authorities are closely monitoring Mount Pinatubo in Central Luzon, which was placed under Alert Level 1 on March 4.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in its morning bulletin that Alert Level 1 means there is low-level unrest in Pinatubo.
No imminent eruption, however, is foreseen despite the observance of persistent seismic activity.
Surge in COVID-19 cases in NCR may be driven by new variants – OCTA Research
The presence of two coronavirus variants might have caused the spike in COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila, the OCTA Research said on March 3.
Based on OCTA’s March 1 bulletin, the reproduction number in the National Capital Region is at 1.5, meaning the virus is continuously spreading. The group also said the surge, while still in its early stages, has spread “very quickly” in a short period.
Cebu, Davao receive Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine
Cebu City and Davao City on March 2 received thousands of doses of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine as the government ramped up its vaccination drive against the disease.
Some 7,200 doses of the Chinese-made anti-coronavirus jabs were delivered at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City where nearly 2,000 medical frontliners will be first inoculated.
