Philippines morning news for July 3

Philippines morning news for July 3
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Philippines morning news

Cebu hospitals hit critical level
Big hospitals in Cebu City have reached the “critical level” in capacity due to a surge in new coronavirus cases, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Thursday.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

DOH says safe to transport properly-sealed remains of COVID-infected OFWs from Saudi
The Department of Health assured the public on Thursday that it would be safe to bring home the remains of overseas Filipino workers who died of COVID-19 as long as they are properly sealed.
— ABS-CBN News

Defense chief says pact with China forbids PHL to develop Sandy Cay
The Philippines—not China—is still in possession of Sandy Cay, the sandbar closest to the island of Pagasa in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana asserted on Thursday.
— Business Mirror

Antique dengue cases drop due to Covid-19 cleanup activities
The cash-for-work program initiated by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as a response measure amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic has likewise led to the decline of dengue cases in this province.
— Philippine News Agency

Panel probing drug war deaths is no ruse: Palace
Malacañang disagreed with the Human Rights Watch’s (HRW) statement that the newly formed inter-agency panel that would investigate more than 5,600 deaths in the administration’s war on drugs is “a ruse to shield the country from international scrutiny.
— Philippine News Agency

PH logs only 294 add’l COVID-19 cases, DOH points to ‘extraction time’
The Department of Health reported only 294 additional COVID-19 cases on Thursday because of a change in the data process.
— ABS-CBN News

Cases spike in Northern Mindanao as more returning residents positive for coronavirus
Coronavirus cases in Northern Mindanao spiked as more locally- stranded individuals (LSIs) and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who returned to the region tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 10 days, regional health officials said.
— Rappler

Coronavirus foreign borrowings balloon to $7.76 billion as July starts
Just before revenues can slowly pick up with economic reopening, foreign borrowings by the Duterte administration to fund a costly pandemic response sustained an uptrend at the start of July.
— Philstar

PHL’S end-May G.I.R. hits $93.3 billion, highest ever on record
THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported on Wednesday that the Philippines’ dollar reserves climbed to its all-time high in end-May despite economic disruptions caused by the pandemic.
— Business Mirror

At least 15,000 qualified Filipino prisoners freed as COVID-19 spreads in jails
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced today that it has released thousands of qualified Filipino prisoners to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 within detention facilities.
— Coconuts Philippines

Expired Bayanihan Law stalls compensation for coronavirus-hit health workers
The Department of Health (DOH) said on Thursday, July 2, that it is looking for alternative sources to compensate health workers who were severely infected or died due to the coronavirus after the Bayanihan Law expired on June 25 .
— Rappler

Philippines keeps entry ban on foreigners
The Philippines has decided to keep its ban on the entry of foreign nationals for now, Malacañang said Thursday even as the country further eased virus restrictions.
— ABS-CBN News

COVID-19 worsens abuse, lack of access to services of children with disabilities –group
The COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions that came with it have aggravated the suffering of children with disabilities in the Philippines, according to the group Save the Children on Thursday.
— GMA Network

Almost 150,000 Manila residents tested for COVID-19 — Moreno
The Manila City government on Thursday said 135,048 of its residents have been tested for novel coronavirus using rapid antibody test kits.
— Philstar

AirAsia bars stranded individuals from flights to Eastern, Western Visayas, cites gov’t restrictions
Budget airline AirAsia Philippines announced Thursday it was not allowing stranded individuals to fly to destinations in Eastern and Western Visayas for two weeks even as it gradually resumed domestic operations.
— ABS-CBN News

PCCI urges gov’t to ease travel curbs to aid airlines
THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) called for the easing of travel restrictions in order to aid the recovery of airlines.
— BusinessWorld Online

Naia problem: Bottom line, not name
THE Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), the country’s main gateway which proadministration congressmen want renamed, may soon be known as the “Need Assistance International Airport” due to pandemic restrictions, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto warned Wednesday.
— Business Mirror

Lorenzana: Chinese military drills in South China Sea ‘highly-provocative’
Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has raised alarm over China’s move to hold military exercises in contested areas in the South China Sea.
— ABS-CBN News

Palace to review bill versus terror before it lapses into a law
MALACAÑANG will review the anti-terror bill that Congress had passed, a week before it lapses into law.
— BusinessWorld Online

Duterte steps into Sulu case, Senate probe set on shooting
PRESIDENT Duterte is set to visit Mindanao soon to defuse the brewing tension between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) over the Jolo, Sulu, incident on Monday, which resulted in the death of four soldiers and was initially tagged as a “misencounter” but is now deemed a “shooting.”
— Business Mirror

Coast Guard: 14 missing could still be under sunken boat
As the search for the 14 people missing from the June 27 sea collision off Mindoro Island entered its fifth day on Thursday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) raised the possibility that they could still be in their sunken fishing vessel, the Liberty 5.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Nearly half of children with disabilities in PH have no access to education during COVID-19 crisis, says survey
Nearly half of children with disabilities in the Philippines could not access educational services during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis, an advocacy group said Thursday.
— ABS-CBN News

Chua says Public Service Act amendments top FDI priority
AMENDING the 83-year-old Public Service Act (PSA) will be a key milestone in capturing more foreign investment in the post-pandemic era, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said.
— BusinessWorld Online

Solon warns loss of gov’t revenues, not just jobs, if ABS-CBN franchise not renewed
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday said ABS-CBN Corp. remitted P15.4 billion in various taxes from 2016-2019 making it one of the top taxpayers in the country.
— ABS-CBN News

DOH temporarily adjusts COVID-19 reporting protocol
The Department of Health (DOH) said it made temporary changes to its reporting protocol after a low number of new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases was reported on Thursday.
— GMA Network

Philippines still a lower-middle income economy — World Bank
THE Philippines remained as a lower-middle income economy, according to the latest data from the World Bank.
— BusinessWorld Online

450 patients in PH participating in WHO clinical trials for COVID-19 treatment
There are now a total of 450 patients in the Philippines who are receiving off-label drugs to treat COVID-19, the Department of Health said on Thursday.
— ABS-CBN News

Pork products from China on tight watch
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is keeping a tighter watch on the country’s air and seaports to stop the entry of prohibited pork and pork products from China and prevent the spread of the new strain of swine flu, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said on Thursday.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Over 70% of PEZA firms enjoying tax perks back to business
Majority of companies enjoying tax perks at the country’s largest economic zone operator are now operational as of mid-June, as the government slowly rolls back tough lockdown measures that shut the economy down for nearly three months.
— Philstar

Palace on looming ABS-CBN job cuts: Sad, but network needs a franchise to operate
Malacañang on Thursday admitted that having thousands of ABS-CBN employees at risk of losing their jobs due to the shutdown of the company s broadcast operations is a sad development, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but said that the company needed a franchise to operate.
— GMA Network

8 more airports resume operations
Eight more airports in the country have been given clearances to operate commercial flights after concerned local government units granted the request of airlines to resume commercial operations.
— Philstar

DOH deploys more health workers to Cebu City
More health workers will be deployed to Cebu City, which remains under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) amid increasing coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 cases.
— Philstar

Diplomatic protest, monitoring await MSR ships without clearance
Countries whose vessels are found conducting marine scientific research (MSR) activities in Philippine waters without the necessary clearances will be a subject of diplomatic protests.
— Philippine News Agency

NEDA: ‘new normal’ poses brakes on economic growth
WITH social distancing and sporadic lockdowns curbing a lot of activities, the Philippine economy may not be able to repeat its recent economic success under the “new normal,” according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).
— Business Mirror

Quezon City to enforce strict quarantine
Local officials in Quezon City thought it was permissible for residents to engage in social and sporting activities under the general community quarantine (GCQ), prompting the city government to nudge barangay leaders to enforce strict quarantine rules, Mayor Joy Belmonte said on Wednesday night.
— Philstar

PHL Green Lane offers seafarers quick relief
FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. on Thursday led the unveiling of a Philippine Green Lane, described as a pioneering effort for providing timely humanitarian relief not only for Philippine seafarers but for all sailors of the world.
— Business Mirror

PHL needs to strengthen fight vs financial crimes
THE Philippines should review its information-sharing mechanism to better address issues related to financial crimes, according to an analyst.
— BusinessWorld Online

Angara launches website for COVID-19 survivors who want to donate blood plasma
Sen. Sonny Angara on Thursday launched a website where coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors can privately sign up to donate blood plasma, seen as a possible treatment for severely ill COVID-19 patients.
— ABS-CBN News

Lenders use nearly P45B in MSME loans as alternative reserve compliance
MORE than 100 banks have utilized their loans to small businesses and large enterprises as alternative reserve compliance during the pandemic, according to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin E. Diokno.
— BusinessWorld Online

Gov’t repatriates over 300 Filipinos from Kuwait
Over 300 displaced Overseas Filipino Workers were recently repatriated from Kuwait.
— Eagle News

Amid 92 workers positive for COVID-19, MRT-3 to continue regular operations
The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 will continue regular operations on Thursday even if 92 of its depot workers tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
— Philstar

Enough rice supply for at least two months, D.A. chief assures
The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday said the country’s existing rice supply is enough to address local demand for the staple for at least two months.
— Business Mirror

COA told: Halt P1.12-billion NHA Smokey Mountain payout
A PARTY-LIST group on Thursday asked the Commission on Audit (COA) to stop the National Housing Authority (NHA) from proceeding with a questioned compromise deal with a private contractor of the Smokey Mountain Development and Reclamation Project (SMRDP).
— Business Mirror

6,000 Metro jeepneys back; QR codes a must
A day before jeepneys were set to return to the road, site migration issues downed the website of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) where the operators were supposed to get their quick response (QR) codes needed for them to ply their routes.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

DA issues advisory on G4 swine flu
The Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) reminds the general public to report to farm veterinarians or to the nearest government veterinary/agricultural office any unusual pig mortalities.
— Philippine Information Agency

Lawmakers hit ‘very unfair’ NTC orders vs ABS-CBN
Several senators on Wednesday decried the latest decision of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to shut down ABS-CBN’s digital broadcast unit, a move that could further emasculate the Lopez-owned media network.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

For Duterte administration, ‘it’s been a great 4 years’
Malacañang on Thursday trumpeted the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte as he marked the fourth year of his presidency this week.
— ABS-CBN News

Monetary Board approves BSP Payment Oversight Framework
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Monetary Board has approved the Payment System Oversight Framework (PSOF), which streamlines BSP’s regulatory oversight in payment system of the country.
— Philippine Information Agency

108 more Filipinos abroad get coronavirus; total at 8,614
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported on Thursday, July 2, the number of Filipinos abroad confirmed to have the coronavirus disease grew to 8,614, after 108 new infections were recorded among overseas Filipinos.
— Rappler

Reserve judgment on drug war panel at ‘proper time’: DOJ chief
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Thursday urged outspoken critics of the administration’s war on drugs to hold their fire and reserve judgment on the inter-agency review panel that is evaluating the government’s anti-drug operations.
— Philippine News Agency

Andanar urges due diligence in validating HR abuse claims
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar on Thursday urged human rights watchdogs, including the United Nations (UN), to acknowledge the need for due diligence in validating allegations presented to them.
— Philippine News Agency

LIST: Quarantine status of provinces, cities in PH until July 15
President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Tuesday night new quarantine levels that would be in effect nationwide from July 1 to 15 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Inquirer.net

DOH still supports Duque amid resign calls
The Department of Health (DOH) staff members are still behind Health Secretary Francisco Duque III amid calls for his resignation from various groups, Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Thursday.
— Philippine News Agency

Imee Marcos warns water, electricity bill shock may ‘haunt’ 2022 admin bets
Sen. Imee Marcos on Wednesday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to “intervene” in reported spikes in water and electricity bills, saying the issue could “haunt” administration candidates in the 2022 national elections.
— ABS-CBN News

Banks demoted from list of most valuable companies
Thailand’s biggest banks aren’t so large when it comes to their market values.
— Bangkok Post

PH banks ask BSP to extend some relief measures
Banks have requested the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for the extension of some relief measures undertaken since the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine middle of March.
— Philippine News Agency

No delays in gov t assistance for stranded individuals, DOTr says
There has been no delay in the government’s response to locally stranded individuals (LSIs) stuck for days on the streets and other public spaces amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Transportation (DOTR) said Thursday.
— GMA Network

Financial firms ink accord to help in 2nd-tranche SAP disbursement
SEVERAL financial institutions signed a multilateral agreement to disburse the second tranche of cash assistance under the government’s social amelioration program (SAP).
— Business Mirror

NBI: One soldier killed by cops in Jolo had eight gunshot wounds, others had three
NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin said a forensic examination showed one soldier suffered eight gunshot wounds. He said three gunshot wounds were found on the other two.
— GMA Network

Army admits lapses: Soldiers rushed to Sulu crime scene to check on their dead
It turns out, the men looking around and sifting through the scene of the recent shooting incident in Jolo, as seen in CCTV footage, were not policemen but soldiers, and the Philippine Army on Thursday, July 2, admitted “lapses” in the handling of the crime scene.
— Rappler

PNP reports 754 COVID-19 cases in its ranks
The number of coronavirus disease 2019 cases in the Philippine National Police has risen to 754.
— Eagle News

Pagcor misses P34-billion H1 goal by 47%
STATE-RUN Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) missed by 47 percent its gross revenue target of about P34 billion for the first half of the year.
— Business Mirror

UP Quarantine Facility Shut Down,15 Personnel Test Positive For COVID
The University of the Philippines’ quarantine facility has shut down operations after employees tested positive for the COVID-19.
— Philippine News

Duterte to call Congress to special session as stimulus deadlock starts to resolve
A deadlock between legislators and the Executive department on how to fund stimulus has been partly resolved, paving the way for discussions over one of the administration’s preferred economic booster even as bigger rescue packages pushed by Congress continue to be a sticking point.
— Philstar

Makabayan bloc seeks House probe into StaySafe’s data privacy issues
The progressive lawmakers in the Makabayan bloc are calling for a House investigation into the alleged irregularities and data privacy issues hounding StaySafe PH, the Duterte government’s official contact-tracing platform for coronavirus cases.
— Rappler

Pork suggested retail price raised to P230-P250 in Metro Manila
THE suggested retail price (SRP) for pork sold in Metro Manila was raised to P230-P250 per kilogram, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.
— BusinessWorld Online

DSWD gives cash aid to 9K ‘waitlisted’ beneficiaries in Region 1
Some 9,190 out of the 49,803 waitlisted household beneficiaries in the Ilocos Region have received emergency cash subsidy under the special amelioration program (SAP) of the national government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
— Philippine News Agency

Rural banks’ reserves compliance loan to MSMEs hit P44.2-B
About 88 rural banks have availed of the relief measures that are considered as alternative compliance to the reserve requirement rule by extending loans to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
— Philippine News Agency

Angara confident Senate will be receptive to executive s proposed Bayanihan 2 amendments
Senator Juan Edgardo Sonny Angara on Thursday said he is optimistic that his colleagues in the upper chamber will be open to the executive department’s suggested amendments to the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, or the P140-billion economic stimulus bill pending in Congress.
— GMA Network

EJK not a state policy, Año tells Trillanes
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Thursday disputed the claim of former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV that the fatal shooting of four soldiers by policemen in Jolo, Sulu early this week was an indication of the culture of impunity under the Duterte administration.
— GMA Network

BARMM parliament urges Duterte to veto anti-terror bill
The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) on Thursday approved a resolution urging President Rodrigo Duterte to veto the controversial anti-terror bill.
— GMA Network

PH banks ask BSP to extend some relief measures
Banks have requested the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for the extension of some relief measures undertaken since the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine middle of March.
— Philippine News Agency

15 Bicol towns to receive P141.7M for DROP projects
Fifteen municipalities in Bicol region will receive funding from the Department of Social Welfare and Development Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS), for the implementation of Disaster Response Operations Procedure (DROP).
— Philippine Information Agency

No order for teachers to visit communities to boost enrollment figures: DepEd
The Department of Education denied Thursday reports that teachers in the provinces were asked to visit communities to convince parents to enroll their children for the coming school year.
— ABS-CBN News

LIST: Groups that offer counseling for sexual harassment victims
Several stories of sexual harassment from different schools and universities circulated on social media during the quarantine period.
— Rappler

Binay to PNP: Ensure public health not compromised during operations
Senator Nancy Binay on Thursday reminded the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure that the safety and welfare of the public, including cops, are not compromised in police operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
— GMA Network

ABS-CBN Franchise: Palace Expects Congress To Consider Workforce
The Malacañang Palace said in a statement that is expecting the Congress to consider the Kapamilya network’s workforce in giving the decision on its franchise.
— Philippine News

Hontiveros Calls For ‘Extensive Reform’ Following ‘Shooting’ Incident In Jolo
Sen. Risa Hontiveros called for “extensive reform” after cops shoot four (4) solders in Jolo, Sulu.
— Philippine News

‘Not leisure,’ says Roque about swim with dolphins at Ocean Adventure
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque tried to convince the public that his visit to a marine park on Wednesday, July 1, was not for leisure and thus not in violation of quarantine measures.
— Rappler

UP Visayas fraternity under fire after leak of lewd messages
A fraternity from University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) found themselves in hot water after an alleged leaked group chat of their members surfaced on Twitter.
— Rappler

Accommodation facilities in Ilocos region resume operations
Several accommodation facilities in the Ilocos region are now open for business under “new normal” condition amid the pandemic.
— Philippine News Agency

Bacolod is USAID pilot city for education
Bacolod City was chosen by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of Education (DepEd) as among the pilot cities for education in the country.
— Philippine Information Agency

Quezon City Police to Cooperate with Hospital Over Doctor Hostage Incident
Quezon City Police to Cooperate with Hospital Over Doctor Hostage Incident Quezon City Police District (QCPD) will cooperate with the hospital management after the hostage-taking incident involving a doctor.
— Philippine News

DSWD vows no more anomalies after LGUs removed from cash aid distribution
After reports of local officials allegedly politicking in choosing beneficiaries and pocketing money from the first tranche of the emergency subsidy program (ESP), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) promised that there will be no more anomalies committed in the next wave of aid.
— Rappler

Congressman ignores national anthem, blames ABS-CBN reporters after catching flak
While most people are forced to cough up an apology when caught red-handed for doing something wrong, Congressman Jesus Crispin Remulla took things a step further by pinning the blame on ABS-CBN’s reporters for his mistake.
— Coconuts Philippines

3 ‘persons of interest’ eyed in connection to Calamba driver slay
Calamba City police have identified three “persons of interest” in connection with the killing of driver Robyn Jang Lucero, whose body was found dead with multiple stab wounds on Sunday.
— Coconuts Philippines

CHED allows medical schools to admit students who have not taken NMAT
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has authorized medical schools to admit students who have not taken the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) for school year 2020-2021, subject to regular admission requirements.
— Rappler

 

 

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Stella-maris Ewudolu

Journalist at AEC News Today

Stella-maris graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Education from Ebonyi State University, Nigeria in 2005.

Between November 2010 and February 2012 she was a staff writer at Daylight Online, Nigeria writing on health, fashion, and relationships. From 2010 – 2017 she worked as a freelance screen writer for ‘Nollywood’, Nigeria.

She joined AEC News Today in December 2016.

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