"The JAO is still a draft and will still be presented to our principals for further comments as well as our respective Legal Offices, and then will go through stakeholder consultation. After the public consultation, the draft will be finalized."

Local health authorities on Tuesday reported 4,777 more COVID-19 infections, bringing the national caseload to 1,280,773.

"We shall be proposing the inclusion of indoor activities in a safe manner," Trade and Industry chief Ramon Lopez said on Tuesday.

Foreign nationals with approved visas may leave the Philippines even though they have not yet been issued their alien certificate of registration identity card, the Bureau of Immigration said Tuesday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told Philstar.com that the drug regulator has amended the emergency use authorization granted to the Pfizer-BioNTech shot to include individuals 12 years and older in its indication for immunization.

Firms looking to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Chinese state-owned Sinopharm in the Philippines still need to wait for emergency use authorization from local regulators, Malacañang clarified Tuesday. 

All international flights will continue to be diverted to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport until June 12, Malacañang announced Tuesday.

The Anti-Red Tape Authority on Tuesday said it will resume surprise inspections of the offices of local government units and national government agencies to check if processes are streamlined for the people's convenience.

"We have filed diplomatic protests several times but we have not been listened to. A stronger maritime defense force sends China a clear message: we will not back down."

Officials of the Philippines and of China have met to discuss compensation over the ramming of a Filipino fishing boat by a Chinese fishing vessel near the Recto Bank in 2019.