Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:
Marcos: South China Sea code of conduct with Vietnam ‘pretty much there’
President Bongbong Marcos says the South China Sea code of conduct with Vietnam is “pretty much there,” citing the memorandum of understanding with Hanoi on incident prevention in the disputed waters.
PNP: No plot to overthrow Marcos admin
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said it has not monitored any plot to bring down the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said morale is high within their ranks as they remain focused on its mandate to protect the people.
Senate to tackle economic Cha-cha next week
Senate discussions on economic Charter change will officially begin next week, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri announced Wednesday.
Zubiri said this would still be made possible through Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6, which he filed on January 15.
MMDA official: No need for a traffic czar
No traffic czar is needed to oversee the traffic situation in Metro Manila, an official from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Wednesday.
MMDA Undersecretary Procopio Lipana explained that transportation agencies continuously conduct studies to alleviate the never-ending traffic problem in Metro Manila.
Jeepneys seized despite extended consolidation deadline – groups
Several drivers were flagged, and their traditional jeepneys impounded, despite the government-sanctioned extension of the deadline for consolidation under the modernization program, two transport organizations claimed Wednesday.
At the hearing of the House committee on transportation, Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas asked the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) about their members’ observations on the ground concerning the implementation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s order extending the consolidation requirement until April 30 this year.
Herbosa says VAT removal on 21 medicines to benefit more people
More people may now benefit from cheaper medicines following the government’s decision to exempt 21 medicines from the value-added tax (VAT), the Department of Health said on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. announced that drugs now exempted from VAT are those for cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, mental illness, and tuberculosis.