In a move that will potentially push the Philippines further toward "normalcy" two years into the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for emergency use among Filipino children five to 11 years old.
FDA Director-General Rolando Enrique Domingo said the decision was based on local experts' perusal of "technical documents and evaluation of the US (United States) FDA recommendations". Pfizer is an American pharmaceutical company.
The Philippine government began its pediatric vaccination against COVID-19 last Oct. 15 wherein the minimum age allowed to take the jab was 12 years old.

Meanwhile, President Duterte continued to make rounds in the provinces ravaged by typhoon "Odette", promising cash aid and a steady delivery of food and water to locals.
Pledges of assistance from outside the country also kept pouring in, with the latest one coming from Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The emir and President Duterte spoke via telephone a few days after the typhoon struck the Philippines.
These are among the top stories this busy Thursday afternoon, December 23, 2021.
1) PH COVID-19 Update: 288 new cases; 270 new recoveries; 65 new deaths
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/let-more-overseas-pinoys-come-home-allow-flexible-arrival-caps-concepcion/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/ph-fda-authorizes-molnupiravir-for-emergency-use/
2) ELECTION 2022
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/comelec-issues-rules-on-appointment-hiring-of-new-employees/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/lacson-tells-lgus-how-to-deal-with-emergency-hotline-prank-callers/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/comelec-releases-guidelines-on-election-checkpoints/https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/eleazar-urges-sk-officials-to-focus-on-other-youth-activities-aside-from-ball-games/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/comelec-issues-resolution-on-liquor-ban/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/tangub-city-under-lockdown-after-gun-attack-vs-solon-2-local-bets/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/from-fiercest-critic-to-staunchest-lacson-supporter-puno-tells-what-happened/
3) On 'Odette' relief and rehabilitation
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/clearing-operations-continue-as-dpwh-works-on-road-restoration/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/caritas-manila-gives-cash-aid-to-dioceses-affected-by-typhoon-odette/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/pcg-delivers-food-packs-other-items-to-pag-asa-island/https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/afp-transports-donations-from-manila-bulletin-other-donors-to-odette-victims/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/marina-authorizes-31-ships-to-aid-in-odette-hit-areas/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/dswd-meets-with-iom-un-ocha-for-odette-response/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/evacuees-in-odette-hit-regions-decrease-to-372k-dswd/
4) Rody, Leni visit 'Odette' victims
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/robredo-touches-base-with-odette-victims-in-palawan/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/qatari-emir-phones-duterte-pledges-post-odette-disaster-relief-aid/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/duterte-visits-dinagat-islands-as-govt-braces-for-post-odette-rehab-works/
5) DepEd Corner
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/deped-reaffirms-commitment-to-embrace-implement-rights-based-education/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/benguet-school-under-deped-receives-donation-from-royal-thai-embassy-manila/
6) Lawmakers' Corner
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/lady-solon-urges-iatf-to-grant-villages-access-to-booster-shots/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/gatchalian-to-govt-uphold-childrens-welfare-in-post-odette-relief-efforts/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/zarate-to-duterte-admin-stop-scrimping-on-govt-funds-for-odette-relief/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/lacson-urges-govt-prosecutors-to-act-on-coa-report-flagging-p1-44-t-idle-projects/https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/drilon-slams-govt-over-p1-44-t-stalled-idle-funds-describes-it-as-criminal-neglect/
7) Weather Update
8) Taal watch
9) GOCCs to take a hit
10) On vacant posts in CA
11) Good news for informal workers
12) Business Corner
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/calax-gears-up-for-10-traffic-surge/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/dti-allots-p200-m-for-msmes-in-typhoon-hit-areas/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/petron-bats-for-safe-re-opening-of-gas-stations-in-calamity-hit-areas/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/nia-transfers-60-cmipp-stake-to-psalm/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/figaro-sets-ipo-price-at-p0-75-per-share/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/dof-to-draw-80-m-of-wbs-standby-loan/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/doe-okays-tor-for-meralcos-addl-power-supply/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/maersk-to-buy-chinese-logistics-firm-for-3-6-b/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/bsp-assures-adequate-cash-in-odette-hit-regions/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/odette-dampens-ph-agri-growth-outlook/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/unionbank-pays-p55-b-for-citis-consumer-business/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/ceb-issues-travel-relief-cargo-advisory/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/dof-orders-24-7-processing-of-odette-related-donations/
13) Metro Manila Round-up
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/young-girl-in-manila-donates-entire-savings-to-odette-relief-ops/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/pateros-mayor-tells-citizens-limit-your-pamamasko-firecracker-ban-in-effect/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/pandemic-victims-in-pasay-city-get-livelihood-projects/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/parts-of-manila-to-experience-power-interruption-on-dec-23-24/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/antipolo-cvo-conducts-blood-sampling-on-poultry-vs-avian-flu/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/bulacan-readies-accident-prevention-plan-for-christmas-new-year-revelries/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/cabuyao-los-banos-san-pablo-top-lagunas-vaccination-performance/
14) Provincial Round-up
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/pangasinan-farmers-get-solar-powered-irrigation-project-from-dar/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/more-deaths-recorded-in-cebu-a-week-after-odettes-wrath/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/aklan-capiz-electric-coops-help-restore-power-in-guimaras/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/israel-china-come-to-aid-of-typhoon-stricken-cebu/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/cebu-still-reeling-from-poor-telco-services-5-days-after-odette/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/ied-materials-seized-in-zamboanga-city/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/police-arrests-bomb-threat-suspect-in-davao-city/
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/23/dqr-team-working-on-ways-for-dabawenyos-to-donate-to-typhoon-victims/