We acknowledge that the data provided by Bloomberg in its COVID-19 Resilience Ranking may be useful in evaluating our pandemic response. The indicators used by Bloomberg include reopening progress, COVID-19 status, and quality of life. However, we have to consider that the 53 countries in the report have different COVID-19 experiences and strategies. There is little consideration for country-specific COVID-19 context, which in our view is imperative to objectively assess Read More

We acknowledge the SWS for conducting and publishing its Third Quarter 2021 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, a regular initiative that provides the government with useful indicators it can use to calibrate its programs and policies.

This is to clarify that the Inter-Agency Task Force’s (IATF) temporary suspension of inbound international flights from South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe contained in IATF Resolution 150, supersedes the earlier Green List classification of the three abovementioned countries in IATF Resolution 148-A.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) approved on Friday, November 26, 2021, the temporary suspension of inbound international flights from South Africa, Botswana, and other countries with local cases or with the likelihood of occurrences of the B.1.1.1529 variant. This shall take effective immediately and until 15 December 2021.

We note Transparency International’s Government Defence Integrity Index where the Philippines received a “C” rating, or a “modest” institutional resilience to corruption rating — similar to the rating of more than 20 countries that include Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, among others.

While we have received reports that International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan will request the Philippines to provide substantiating information regarding its investigations into allegations involving the country’s anti-illegal drug campaign, we would like to clarify that we have yet to receive a formal request with regard to this matter.

We welcome the decision of the Supreme Court dismissing the petition for mandamus filed against President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

The President has directed all government agencies and instrumentalities to extend all possible support to the “Bayanihan Bakunahan” program spearheaded by the Department of Health and the Department of Interior and Local Government.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) approved to implement Phase 4 of the Alert Level System placing the remaining regions under respective Alert Levels from 22 November 2021 to 30 November 2021, thereby covering all regions in the country.

We reiterate that it is the position of the Philippine government that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has no jurisdiction over it.