The additional BQ.1 cases were found in Cagayan Valley and Central Visayas.

In a briefing Friday, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said it asked the Commission on Audit to conduct a special audit of vaccine procurement deals.

“Once enacted, our measure will surely give more substance to the mandate of the Constitution for the State to prioritize the needs of Filipinos who are highly vulnerable to marginalization,” Rillo said in a statement on the eve of International ...

"This rate of increase in the positivity rate in the NCR is around the same rate of increase during the Omicron BA.5 wave from June and the XBB from September," he said. 

The eTravel platform—an online registration system for travelers bound for the Philippines, including returning residents—was launched in a bid to streamline the government’s entry procedures and data collection processes.

"Information gaps can stall efforts to arrest the number of HIV infections in the Philippines, which has the fastest-growing HIV epidemic in the Asia-Pacific region."

Close to 13,000 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases were reported in the country this year, the Department of Health said.

The officer-in-charge for the health department is “doing a fine job,” according to President Marcos who also said he is “happy with the situation” in the defense department which is also headed by an OIC.

The Department of Trade and Industry is expecting to release new suggested retail prices for basic necessities and prime commodities in January as it evaluates price increase requests.

The European Union is seen focusing on green financing for the Philippines amid the worsening impacts of climate change.