Body of Filipino Seaman Positive for Covid Washes Ashore in Vanuatu

The body of a Filipino seaman, which later tested positive for Covid-19, washed ashore on a beach April 11 in the Pacific country of Vanuatu (See RNZ for story).

PH Coast Guard Officer Gets Highest Honor for Saving 62 Lives

Philippine Coast Guard personnel rescue passengers from MV Siargao Princess on November 7, 2019. (Source: ANCX)

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) officer Ensign Ralph O. Barajan received the highest honor from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for his bravery, leadership, and determination in ensuring the safety of 62 lives onboard the sinking of M/V Siargao Princess in Sibunga, Cebu in November 2019 (See ABS-CBN News for story).

PH Seizes $24.8M Worth of Giant Clam Shells in Raid

Philippine authorities said Saturday they have seized some 200 tonnes of illegally harvested giant clam shells worth nearly $25 million in one of the biggest known operations of its kind in the country (See International Business Times for story)..

PH Biz Groups to China: Stop Acting Like a Colonizer

Organizations such as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Makati Business Club expressed support for the government in demanding the departure of Chinese vessels from the Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef (See Esquiremag.PH for story).

Canada to Give Temporary Workers More Paths to Permanent Status

Temporary workers and international graduates who are currently in Canada will be granted permanent status, Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said Wednesday (See Inquirer.net for story).

San Jose, California Names Park in Honor of Filipino Pioneers

SAN JOSE, California –A new community park in this city will be named “Delano Manongs” to honor the city’s Filipino American community and its role in the fight for farm workers’ rights (See Inquirer.net for story).

PH Banks' Bad Loans Hit 11-Year High

The asset quality of Philippine banks further deteriorated for the second straight month in February as the industry’s gross non-performing loan (NPL) ratio rose to 4.08 percent, the highest in more than 11 years due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) (See Philstar.com for story).

PH Gov't: Brace for Midyear Covid-19 Surge

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. yesterday warned the public to brace for another surge in COVID-19 infections by June or July (See Philstar.com for story).