The Philippines has logged in its 16th straight day with fewer than 1,000 new cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
A continued manifestation for the flattened Delta variant curve, the 562 fresh COVID-19 cases Thursday was also devoid of the new Omicron variant, which has been described by the World Health Organization (WHO) as another highly-infectious mutation.
While Philippine health authorities are on a high with the improved COVID-19 situation, they maintain that the entry of Omicron in the country is not a question of if, but when.
In other news, all eyes are on President Duterte for his expected participation in the discussions during the Summit for Democracy, a two-day event hosted by the United States (US). Over 100 heads of state were invited to the virtual event, which will run from Dec. 9 to 10.
Elsewhere, the Supreme Court (SC) en banc has declared two provisions in controversial Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 2020 as unconstitutional. The law is a key mechanism of the Duterte administration's anti-terror campaign.
These are among the top stories this busy Thursday afternoon, December 9, 2021.
1) PH COVID-19 Update: 562 new cases; 882 new recoveries; 176 new deaths
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/ph-red-cross-vaccinates-close-to-4000-across-ph-in-one-day/
2) ELECTION 2022
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/escudero-bring-build-build-build-to-the-countryside/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/businesses-pink-up-for-robredo/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/pl-listing-on-ballot-known-dec-10/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/thanks-for-support-sara-meets-nine-metro-mayors/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/nea-power-tripping-on-beneco-takeover-trillanes/
3) Duterte joins Summit for Democracy
4) Jesus Malabanan case
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/senators-condemn-killing-of-pampanga-based-journalist/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/pnp-creates-task-force-to-probe-into-journalists-death-in-samar/
5) SC ruling on anti-terror law
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/robredo-hopeful-sc-will-resolve-all-concerns-against-anti-terror-law/
6) Omicron watch
7) Weather Update
8) PH pledges P10M to UN
9) Lawmakers' Corner
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/senate-wants-social-media-platforms-to-reveal-identity-of-trolls/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/poe-chastises-mumbling-uncooperative-bir-men-in-senate-hearing/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/poe-will-recommend-extension-of-air-philippines-corp-franchise/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/gordon-seeks-mandatory-reporting-on-prison-deaths
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/de-lima-cusis-libel-raps-vs-media-frivolous-baseless/
10) Better Christmas for Pinoys
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/promise-fulfilled-better-christmas-for-pinoys-this-year-galvez/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/ltfrb-retains-70-puv-capacity-this-christmas-season/
11) Church Corner
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/feast-of-san-juan-diego-2/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/church-leader-lauds-vaccination-drive-vs-covid-19/
12) Taal watch
13) Business Corner
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/stronger-gdp-may-prompt-bsp-to-adjust-rates-sooner/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/stocks-rise-on-hopes-of-weaker-omicron-variant/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/lrt-1-kiosks-accept-beep-payments-load/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/citicore-corners-3-new-power-supply-contracts/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/bank-of-commerce-plans-p4-b-ipo/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/ph-ease-of-doing-business-report-to-start-next-year/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/pal-boosts-domestic-flights/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/8990-targets-p165-b-sales-in-7-years/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/doe-to-exempt-waste-to-energy-projects-from-csp-policy/
14) Metro Manila Round-up
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/ex-vp-binay-boost-needed-to-inspire-confidence-in-the-economy/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/manila-zoo-cebu-safari-team-up-on-wildlife-exchange/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/pasig-areas-to-experience-power-outage-on-dec-11/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/qc-govt-warns-residents-vs-fake-solicitation-letters/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/malabon-city-named-nutrition-champion-in-2021/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/las-pinas-citys-covid-19-cases-down-to-21/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/san-juan-no-1-in-tax-collection-in-ncr-third-in-entire-ph/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/3-1m-vaccines-administered-in-bulacan-pho/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/muntinlupa-lgu-asks-bucor-about-development-project-in-bilibid/
15) Provincial Round-up
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/doh-w-visayas-hospitals-health-facilities-ready-for-surge/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/3-nabbed-inside-illegal-lpg-refilling-plant/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/iloilo-city-gets-p3-billion-budget-for-2022/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/womens-organization-raises-concern-in-iloilos-unsolved-murder/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/flooding-inundates-areas-in-e-visayas/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/sara-duterte-backs-call-to-protect-ph-eagle-nesting-site/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/albarka-mayors-family-calls-on-prrd-to-give-justice-to-slain-leader/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/09/nocot-farmer-finds-3-rifle-grenades-alerts-army/