Philippines morning news for July 7, 2020

‘No alternative’ but lockdown if rising coronavirus cases continue, says Roque
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Monday, July 6, that the government would have no choice but to lock down more areas again if coronavirus infections continued to increase.
— Rappler

Duterte’s anti-terrorism law challenged in Philippines’ top court
Critics of a new anti-terrorism law in the Philippines called on the country’s highest court Monday to suspend the legislation, arguing it threatens human rights and freedom of speech.
— CNA

DOH identifies 4 emerging COVID-19 hot spots in Metro Manila
As the number of coronavirus cases continue to rise in the country, the Department of Health (DOH) on Monday, July 6, identified 4 emerging hot spots in Metro Manila.
— Rappler

‘Colorum’ transportation of stranded Filipinos blamed for rise of COVID-19 cases
The unsupervised transportation of stranded Filipinos to their home provinces caused the increase of COVID-19 cases in parts of the Philippines, a government official said Monday.
— ABS-CBN News

DOH-NegOr cautions public against dengue this rainy season
The provincial chief of the Department of Health (DOH) in Negros Oriental on Monday called on the public to put in place measures against dengue with the onset of the rainy season.
— Philippine News Agency

N. Ecija town imposes liquor ban due to rising Covid-19 cases
The municipal government here has reimposed the ban on liquor to stem the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
— Philippine News Agency

DOH: PHL COVID-19 cases at 46,333 after 2 straight days of over 2k cases added per day
The total COVID-19 cases have reached 46,333 with the addition of 2,099 cases – the second straight day where added new cases surpassed 2,000.
— Eagle News

Guimaras folk stop fishing as oil spill reaches their shores
Fourteen years after Guimaras was devastated by the worst oil spill in the country when the MT Solar I tanker sank, residents of the island-province are again trying to contain the spread of bunker fuel that leaked on Saturday from a damaged power barge in nearby Iloilo.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Manila’s policy swings dampen Chinese infra investments
Sharp policy swings limit the Philippines’ ability to cash in on China’s outbound infrastructure spree.
— Asia Times

Wirecard scandal used names of PH banks to ‘cover perpetrators tracks’: BSP Diokno
The Wirecard scandal used the names of the country’s top lenders to cover fraudsters tracks, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said Monday.
— ABS-CBN News

Govt marks 9.3-B liters of fuel in steady fight vs tax leakages
THE government has so far marked 9.3 billion liters of fuel in a bid to plug tax leakages.
— Business Mirror

PH Coast Guard files criminal cases vs HK ship crew
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday, July 6, pressed criminal charges against the company, master, and officers of Hong Kong-flagged bulk carrier Vienna Wood over its collision with Philippine fishing boat Liberty 5 last week, which left 14 Filipinos missing.
— Rappler

Not just Duterte but Roxas too: ABS-CBN says unaired ads spanned parties
ABS-CBN has no political agenda and does not favor some candidates over others, the company’s chief said on Monday as lawmakers discussed the network’s alleged political bias in past elections.
— ABS-CBN News

127 foreigners in Philippines have COVID-19 – DOH
Over 100 foreign nationals in the Philippines have contracted the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.
— GMA Network

Alert status of Bulusan Volcano raised to level 1
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Monday raised the alert status of Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon province to level 1, which signals an abnormal status, following the increase in its volcanic activity since last week.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Sans foreign visitors due to COVID-19, tourism receipts dive in June
Tourism slumped in the first half of the year, a direct effect of a virtual standstill inflected by the pandemic on the industry.
— Philstar

Philippines had to reopen economy or people would die, says Roque
The Philippines had to reopen the economy amid the continued threat of COVID-19 or people would have died due to the lack of livelihood, Malacañang said on Monday.
— GMA Network (video)

House panels to seek NBI probe into ABS-CBN’s ‘deception’ in hearings
Two House committees are set to ask the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into ABS-CBN’s alleged deception of lawmakers in the hearings on its franchise application.
— Rappler

Davao City village locked down
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has placed Barangay 23-C on lockdown due to rising cases of coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 infections.
— Philstar

‘Nobody’ can release terror suspects from 24-day warrantless detention: lawyer
“Nobody” can interfere with the 24-day arrest of terror suspects under the new Anti-Terror Law that critics say could be used to target government critics, a lawyer who is leading the Supreme Court challenge against the measure said Monday.
— ABS-CBN News

AirAsia: Flyers must order meals online
AirAsia said over the weekend that additional measures related to the sale of in-flight meals and products are being taken to ensure guests will have a “safe and convenient journey” under the airline’s new norm of flying.
— Business Mirror

Almost 600 patients in PH participate in clinical trials for COVID-19 treatment
There are now almost 600 patients in the Philippines enrolled in tho World Health Organization’s clinical trials for possible COVID-19 treatments, according to the Department of Health.
— ABS-CBN News

MRT-3 to temporarily stop ops starting tomorrow, July 7, amid increase in COVID-19 cases among train personnel
The Metro Rail Transit-3 will temporarily suspend operations starting tomorrow, July 7.
— Eagle News

Hospitals able to absorb spike in COVID-19 cases, for now
Hospital resources are still able to cope with the renewed spike in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) cases in Metro Manila that came with the area’s reopening to business, industry officials said on Monday.
— Philstar

Nearly 70K OFWs back home, says DFA
THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)facilitated the return of almost 10,000 overseas Filipinos (OFs) last week, bringing the total number of repatriated OFs to 68,440 since it began bringing home Covid-19-displaced migrant workers in February 2020.
— Business Mirror

Iloilo oil spill cleanup likely to last for 15 days says AC Energy
AC Energy said Monday initial investigations showed that the Iloilo oil spill from its power barge was likely due to an explosion in its fuel oil storage that raptured the tank. Cleanup efforts will likely last for 15 days.
— ABS-CBN News

UK think tank: PH can tolerate higher debt to fight COVID-19
The Philippines can afford to borrow more in order to finance the bigger costs in fighting the health and socioeconomic crises caused by COVID-19, London-based Capital Economics said.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Palace to terrorists: Beware of anti-terror law
Malacañang on Monday allayed rising fears over the newly-signed anti-terrorism law, saying only terrorists and not dissenters, should beware since criticizing the government is not a crime.
— Philippine News Agency

Bill seeks creation of plasma banks in hospitals amid COVID-19 crisis
A bill has been filed in the Senate seeking the creation of plasma banks in all public and private hospitals across the Philippines to promote plasma donation for COVID-19 patients while there remains no available vaccine for the virus.
— GMA Network

New twist in Wirecard mess: fake Bureau of Immigration record
JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Sunday promised a full investigation following the relief of two Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers who allegedly tampered with official records to make it appear that German payments company Wirecard AG’s Chief Operating Officer Jan Marsalek entered the country on June 23 and left a day after.
— Business Mirror

Zamboanga City gears for anti-polio campaign
The City Health Office here is undertaking the necessary preparations for the resumption of the conduct of the Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio.
— Philippine News Agency

Overnight rain triggers landslides, flash floods in NoCot town
An overnight downpour brought about by an intertropical convergence zone affecting Mindanao triggered flash floods and landslides in an upland town in North Cotabato on Sunday.
— Philippine News Agency

Solons hit ‘prior restraint on press freedom’ in House probe into ABS-CBN news ‘bias’
A joint House panel’s scrutiny of alleged bias in ABS-CBN’s news coverage while deciding on the network’s application for a new franchise can be deemed as “prior restraint on press freedom,” several members of the House of Representatives said on Monday.
— ABS-CBN News

Groups ask SC to declare Anti-Terrorism law as unconstitutional
Several groups opposing the newly signed Anti-Terrorism law (ATL) trooped to the Supreme Court on Monday to file separate petitions to declare the controversial legislation as unconstitutional.
— Business Mirror

Poultry raisers seek legislative measure on import stoppage
Local poultry raisers are seeking legislative intervention in the country’s meat importation issue as it lobbies that the Department of Agriculture be given authority to suspend imports when needed.
— Philstar

No new coronavirus cases, deaths among Filipinos abroad; total stays at 8,679
The Department of Foreign Affairs reported there were no new coronavirus infections and deaths among Filipinos overseas on Monday, July 6, keeping the total number of confirmed cases at 8,679.
— Rappler

PNP, AFP to revisit operational protocols after Sulu shooting
Ranking police and military officials on Monday met to tackle proposal to form a board of inquiry that will revisit the operational procedures to prevent a repeat of the shooting incident that killed four soldiers in Jolo, Sulu.
— Philippine News Agency

NIA launches construction of P893-M dam in Nueva Ecija
THE National Irrigation Administration (NIA) said it launched the construction of the P893-million Balbalungao Earthfill Dam in Lupao, Nueva Ecija.
— BusinessWorld Online

Meralco waives P47 online payment fee for consumers in GCQ areas
The Manila Electric Co (Meralco) on Monday has agreed to waive the P47 convenience fee for consumers who pay their bills online while the general community quarantine (GCQ) is still in place in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces.
— ABS-CBN News

House panel to probe ABS-CBN blocktime deal with Amcara
The House Committee on Good Government will conduct a separate investigation into ABS-CBN’s blocktime agreement with Amcara Broadcasting Corp., one of the issues raised by a number of congressmen seeking to deny the shuttered media network a new operating franchise.
— ABS-CBN News

232 Filipinos return home from Thailand
The Philippine government on Monday successfully repatriated 232 Filipinos, including an infant, several young children, and four senior citizens who were stranded in Thailand due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.
— Manila Bulletin

4,000 stranded Filipinos transported to their hometowns over the weekend
Some 4,000 stranded Filipinos were transported back to their hometowns over the weekend, an official said Monday.
— ABS-CBN News

MWSS reports completion of P3.29-billion Angat tunnel project
The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) has announced the completion of all the components and subsequent commissioning of the Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project (AWTIP) three months ahead of schedule.
— Business Mirror

Lawmaker urges creation of ‘virus-resistant’ shelters
A deputy speaker on Sunday urged the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to produce a new template for emergency evacuation centers that are resistant to Covid-19.
— Business Mirror

Online sellers of ‘sin’ products should check customers’ ages — DTI
ONLINE vendors should make sure cigarettes and alcoholic beverages are sold only to customers over the age of 18, the Trade department said on Monday as the government considers a ban on online sales of the so-called “sin” products.
— BusinessWorld Online

PH to further expand testing criteria as it expects test kits for 10 million people
More frontliners may be given priority in the Philippines’ COVID-19 testing protocol, the Department of Health said Monday.
— ABS-CBN News

Bank warns public vs SIM-swap scam
BDO Unibank Inc. is warning the public of a new scam tricking the clients into giving out their SIM (subscriber identity module) card to fraudsters.
— Business Mirror

‘Climate of fear’: Constitutional framers stand vs anti-terror law
Framers of the 1987 Constitution have come out against the divisive anti-terror law of the Duterte administration, saying it creates a climate of fear and puts us on a slippery slope to authoritarianism.
— Rappler

Mandaue City gov’t provides mortuary freezer for residents who die of coronavirus
The Mandaue City government purchased a mortuary freezer van where remains of patients who died from the coronavirus disease could be safely stored while waiting to be cremated.
— Rappler

Cayetano wants conscience vote among House members on ABS-CBN franchise issue
Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday said he does not want to influence members of the House of Representatives on how they will decide on the ABS-CBN franchise issue, saying that he is promoting a conscience vote on the matter.
— GMA Network

Meralco: Consumers who paid bills in full may get refund if they opt for installment
The Manila Electric Co (Meralco) on Monday said consumers who paid their March to May bills in full may get a refund should they opt to settle payments on an installment basis.
— ABS-CBN News

DOH asks hospitals to allot more beds for COVID-19 cases
The Department of Health met with officials of hospitals on Monday morning to ensure enough beds are allotted for COVID-19 patients.
— ABS-CBN News

Travel agencies harassed over refund demands
TRAVEL agencies in the country are being harassed and insulted by customers demanding refunds for their canceled tour packages when travel restrictions were implemented to control the spread of Covid-19.
— Business Mirror

Duterte s sickly appearance in Zamboanga due to emotional issue -Palace
Malacañang on Monday said President Rodrigo Duterte’s “sickly” appearance before troops in Zamboanga City last Friday was not because of health issues.
— GMA Network

DILG on one-week lockdown after exec gets coronavirus
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) headquarters in Quezon City was placed on a one-week lockdown starting Monday, July 6, after one of its top officials tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
— Rappler

Basilan seeks moratorium on sending back residents stranded in Manila
The Basilan provincial government has requested the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease to suspend sending home provincial residents stranded in Manila.
— Philstar

As coronavirus cases rise, DOH reiterates: Stay home, follow health protocols
Nearly a month after quarantine restrictions were eased, the Philippines reported a significant increase in the number of coronavirus infections, prompting the Department of Health (DOH) to remind the public to continue following essential health protocols that will limit the spread of the virus.
— Rappler

5 drown in Cagayan river
Five persons, including four children, drowned in a river in Iguig, Cagayan on Saturday morning.
— Philstar

BOC-Cebu imposes P5K fine per clerical error to fight smuggling
The Bureau of Customs-Port of Cebu is imposing PHP5,000 fine per clerical error in the import entry and other customs documents as part of the campaign to eliminate technical smuggling and collect alternative sources of revenue.
— Philippine News Agency

Manila public schools exceed enrollment target
Public schools in Manila exceeded their enrollment target for the upcoming school year as the city government transitions into “blended learning” with general community quarantine measures still in place.
— Tempo

House prepared to boost testing, tracing for Covid-19: solon
The House of Representatives is prepared to authorize the allotment of additional resources for testing, tracing, and preparing hospitals for surge capacity in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, a House leader said on Monday.
— Philippine News Agency

Diokno reiterates no penalty rules on unpaid dues during ECQ
Borrowers need not worry about additional interest for payments due within the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period that were not paid, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno said.
— Philippine News Agency

Angeles City prioritizes welfare of street children, mentally challenged individuals
The city government of Angeles continues to rescue distressed children off the streets.
— Philippine Information Agency

Defensor clarifies proposal for ABS-CBN to air only non-political shows
Anakalusugan party-list Representative Mike Defensor on Monday clarified his remark where he supposedly proposed that ABS-CBN limits its broadcast to non-political shows and drops its news and current affairs division as the House deliberates on the network’s franchise issue.
— GMA Network

Court issues TRO vs Misamis Oriental 2020 budget
A regional trial court on June 29 issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on Misamis Oriental’s budget for 2020, granting the petition of Vice Governor Jeremy Jonahmar Pelaez who claimed the budget ordinance submitted to the regional Department of Budget and Management lacked …
— Rappler

Navotas PNP files complaint vs 17 residents for breaking quarantine, going to party
The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Navotas filed a complaint against a family who tested positive for the coronavirus after they held a party in May, breaking quarantine measures in place at the time.
— Rappler

We strive to correct mistakes, keep biases in check -ABS-CBN news
Responding to accusations of biased reporting, an official of ABS-CBN’s news division on Monday admitted that while their reportage was far from perfect, they always corrected their mistakes and kept biases in check.
— GMA Network

Lacson on petitions vs. anti-terror law: The more, the better
Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday said the more petitions challenging the constitutionality of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 filed with the Supreme Court, the better, so that the controversial provisions would be shedded light by the high court.
— GMA Network

PCC raises alarm over proposed state-backed ARISE Inc
The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) flagged contentious provisions in the proposed creation of a state-backed holding company, which seeks to help private companies struggling with the coronavirus pandemic .
— Rappler

DOF chief vows continuation of fuel marking program
The pandemic will not hamper the government’s fuel marking program, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said on Monday.
— Philippine News Agency

Ilocos Norte gov’t to suspend rental charges for Plaza del Norte
The provincial government of Ilocos Norte is temporarily waving the rental charges it imposes on a private entity managing the Plaza del Norte Hotel and Convention Center here.
— Philippine News Agency

PLDT Enterprise, DTI to help MSMEs restart with 3-month FREE business bundle
With most businesses now going digital to stay afloat, PLDT Enterprise is offering stimulus bundles to help MSMEs kickstart or reboot their businesses.
— Rappler

Shuttles for workers impounded for ‘lack of contract’ amid transportation shortage
Despite the limited availablity of mass transportation, private shuttles servicing office workers were apprehended and impounded on Monday morning after authorities found that they did not have notarized documents supporting their use to transport employees.
— Philstar

Mayor charged over overpriced thermal scanners
A lawyer has filed charges against Mayor Darwin Estrañero of Tabuk City, Kalinga in connection with the purchase of allegedly overpriced medical supplies.
— Philstar

Over 3K Bulakenyo students get financial aid
Some 3,314 poor but deserving students in this province have received financial assistance from the provincial government under its Tulong Pang-Edukasyon para sa Kabataang Bulakenyo program.
— Philippine News Agency

NegOcc biz group pushes for new skills for crisis-hit workers
A business leader in Negros Occidental said helping workers develop new skills or livelihood during this time of pandemic is vital to enable them to adapt to available employment or a new environment.
— Philippine News Agency

Philippines should ‘export’ more doctors, nurses, computer specialists says BSP
The Philippines should take advantage of its young workforce to harness and “export” more professionals in the future, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said Monday.
— ABS-CBN News

Army says rebel slain in Iloilo recruited by NPA as minor
A member of the New People’s Army (NPA) who was killed during an encounter with government troops last June 29 joined the movement when he was still a minor.
— Philippine News Agency

BARMM seeks ‘representation’ in Anti-Terror Council
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has expressed full support to the newly-enacted Anti-Terrorism Law 2020 and is seeking for a “representation” in the Anti-Terror Council (ATC).
— Philippine News Agency

BARMM gives P15M aid for Lanao del Sur biomolecular lab
The Bangsamoro Government has turned over Php15,039,688 cash assistance to Amai Pakpak Medical Center (APMC) Monday, July 6.
— Philippine Information Agency

BARMM to grant tech-voc scholarship to 7,000 beneficiaries
At least 7,000 scholars are targeted to be beneficiaries of the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education’s (MBHTE) scholarship program for Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
— Philippine Information Agency

Filipinas Heritage Library to hold free illustration and writing workshops
Filipinas Heritage Library, the US Embassy in the Philippines, and Adarna House invite everyone to join their upcoming workshops with the War & Children in Books panelists!
— Rappler

Feature photo Philippine Collegian
This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on protest against anti-terror law passage.

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

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Philippines morning news for July 7 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on July 7, 2020
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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.