With the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines needs to urgently strengthen its 20-year-old Wildlife Protection Act to help stop potential outbreaks.

Despite an increase in the number of people heading outdoors following the easing of quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila, violators of COVID-19 protocols have decreased under Alert Level 3, the Philippine National Police reported yesterday.

Local government executives outside Metro Manila want to defer the implementation of the new COVID alert level system until next month, saying the measure was “abruptly” decided.

Tourists and non-essential travelers may be allowed to enter this city as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to drop.

US military personnel donated intensive care unit beds and COVID-19 vaccine cold storage units to the Palawan provincial government on Tuesday.