Each week, Remote Workmate compiles a quick summary of a few major Philippine stories. Here are some of the top headlines from this first week of December 2020.
Christmas parties, caroling banned in Metro Manila
Caroling and office Christmas parties won’t be allowed in Metro Manila this holiday season, Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez said on Monday, November 30.
In a radio interview, Olivarez, head of the Metro Manila Council, said the mayors discussed the ban during their meeting last November 29.
Equitable access to COVID-19 vaccine in PH might be achieved by 2022
National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said “equitable access” to the COVID-19 vaccine might only be achieved in the Philippines by 2022.
Galvez said the government might allow the commercialization of COVID-19 vaccines by 2022 if the country has enough supply by then.
Tail-end of frontal system, northeast monsoon affecting parts of Luzon, Visayas
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration is monitoring the effects of the tail-end of a frontal system, the northeast monsoon, and a low pressure area (LPA).
The LPA inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility was located 835 kilometers east northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, or 850 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, as of Monday morning, November 30.
3.8M Filipinos unemployed in October as some jobs restored
More Filipinos found jobs in October 2020 as the economy reopened after previous COVID-19 lockdowns, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Thursday, December 3.
The PSA reported an 8.7% unemployment rate among residents aged 15 and up, easing from 10% in July but still worse than October 2019’s 4.6% level. This translated to about 3.8 million people still out of work.
It’s actually an improvement compared to the 4.6 million tallied three months ago, which represents a gain of about 760,000 jobs.
Telcos to report on service improvement on December 8
Telecommunication companies will make a progress report to the public on Tuesday, December 8, in compliance with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s demand to improve their services by December.
According to the presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, representatives from Globe Telecom and Smart Communications, as well as the National Telecommunications Commission, will attend his regular Malacañang press briefing to report what has been done to improve connectivity.
