The Office of the President, upon the joint recommendation of the Department of Health and the Department of Foreign Affairs, included the United States of America (US) as among the countries subject to travel restrictions.

We are closely monitoring the situation in the United States (US) regarding the new COVID-19 strain in Colorado. Concerned local officials are now studying this matter.

We recognize the democratic process of a sovereign state, such as the United States, which according to reports, recently enacted a congressional measure which bans foreign government officials allegedly “threatening, wrongfully imprisoning, or otherwise depriving of liberty of independent journalists.”

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte approved the following additional measures in light of the new variant of COVID-19.

This is to inform that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) conducted a meeting today, December 27, 2020, regarding the two low pressure areas (LPAs) and the Northeast Monsoon which have brought prolonged rainfall to the country.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte approved last night, December 26, 2020, the recommendation of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. for an extension of the ban on flights from the United Kingdom (UK) for two more weeks after December 31, 2020.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte presided the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) meeting with infectious diseases experts tonight, December 26, 2020, in Heroes Hall, Malacanan Palace.

Year 2020 has been a challenging year for the Philippines with lockdowns adversely affecting the socioeconomic condition of our people. It is therefore not surprising that the Fourth Quarter Survey of the Social Weather stations (SWS), conducted last November 21-25, 2020, showed 62% of Filipinos believe that their quality of life got worse in the last twelve months.

The Chief Executive continues to monitor Tropical Depression Vicky as concerned agencies of the government assist areas that are in the track of “Vicky” and provide rescue and relief operations to affected residents.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, together with the members of his Cabinet, approved the P3.52-B additional budget for 2021 to register 20 million more individuals (on top of the 50 million target) to the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) by the end of 2021, as presented by Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua.