Manila news today

Here are some of the top news stories from Manila, Philippines today:

Headlines:

1. COVID-19 cases surge in Metro Manila: The Department of Health (DOH) reported a significant increase in COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila, with 1,344 new cases recorded in the past 24 hours. (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
2. LRT-1 operations suspended due to technical issues: The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) suspended operations on the LRT-1 line due to technical issues, affecting thousands of commuters. (GMA News Online)
3. Pangasinan province placed under state of calamity: The provincial government of Pangasinan has placed the entire province under a state of calamity due to the impact of Typhoon Vongfong, which brought heavy rains and strong winds to the region. (Inquirer.net)
4. DOJ files charges against former PNP chief: The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed charges against former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Oscar Albayalde, over his alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade. (Rappler)
5. MRT-3 to resume operations after maintenance: The Metropolitan Rail Transit Authority (MRT-3) will resume operations after a scheduled maintenance shutdown, which affected thousands of commuters. (Philippine Star)

Other news:

• The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) has approved the listing of the initial public offering (IPO) of the country's largest bank, Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI). (BusinessWorld)
• The Department of Education (DepEd) has launched a new program to provide free internet access to public school students. (Manila Bulletin)
• The Philippine National Police (PNP) has launched a new campaign to reduce crime rates in the country, focusing on the reduction of illegal drug use and other forms of criminal activity. (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

These are just some of the top news stories from Manila today.