It is not yet clear if the three persons are also carriers of the variant from India which has been classified as being "of concern" by the World Health Organization, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told state-run PTV. 

Security Bank and RCBC profits went down, while that of PNB went up in the first quarter.

The capital region along with Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal will be under GCQ “with heightened restrictions” starting this weekend.

Mobility prohibitions continued to hamper company operations, but there were gains in asphalt and grease for construction.

In a briefing Friday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire stressed there was scant evidence suggesting fully-vaccinated individuals will no longer get sick or transmit COVID-19 to other people.