Metro Manila under ‘lockdown’
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, March 12, placed the entire Metro Manila under “community quarantine” for 30 days as he approved the recommendation to raise the alert level for Covid-19 to Code Red sub-level 2.
— Sun Star
DOH reports 3 more COVID-19 cases, bringing total to 52
The Department of Health reported three more cases of the coronavirus disease in the country, bringing the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 52, as of Thursday, March 12.
— Eagle News
Code Red Sub-Level 2: Duterte announces tougher measures vs. COVID-19 threat
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday announced tougher measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including work and class suspensions as well as travel restrictions, as the Philippines raised Code Red Sub-Level 2 over the threat.
— GMA Network
PSG: All of President Duterte’s foreign travels suspended
All of President Rodrigo Duterte’s foreign travels are suspended.
— Eagle News
Philippines records 3 more COVID-19 deaths; total now at 5
The Philippines recorded three more deaths from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Thursday night, bringing the total number of fatalities from the disease in the country to five.
— GMA Network
Boracay tourist arrivals plunge 80%
BORACAY’S average daily tourist arrivals fell by more than 80% year-on-year to around 1,000 people in early March the wake of the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, Tourism Undersecretary Arturo P. Boncato, Jr. said.
— BusinessWorld
Duterte allows return of OFWs to China except Hubei province
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday relaxed the travel restrictions on Filipinos working in China amid the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
— GMA Network
Philippine President Duterte undergoes coronavirus test
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday was tested for coronavirus as the island nation reported its second death from the virus.
— Anadolu Agency
Several solons under self-quarantine over COVID-19 scare
Several lawmakers at the House of Representatives are currently under self-quarantine after attending an event last week where a person who later tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) also attended.
— GMA Network
DTI orders nationwide price freeze amid coronavirus emergency
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Thursday, March 12, imposed a nationwide price freeze on basic necessities amid the spread of the novel coronavirus .
— Rappler
ADB offers to fund makers of key goods used in Covid-19 containment
COMPANIES in Asia and the Pacific region manufacturing and distributing products essential to containing the outbreak of coronavirus (Covid-19) have been offered the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) $200-million Supply Chain Finance Program for capital to support the expected increase in production amid demand for such products.
— BusinessWorld
Ex-DOH secretaries urge hospital exclusively for COVID-19 patients
Former health secretaries on Thursday urged the government to designate a hospital exclusively for patients infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to contain the spread of the illness.
— GMA Network
P108-B stimulus package bill filed in House; P50B for businesses
A HOUSE BILL filed Thursday is seeking to set aside P108 billion for a stimulus package that will address the economic impact of the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
— BusinessWorld
Philippines bans foreigners from countries with local transmission of COVID-19
The Philippines will keep foreigners from countries with COVID-19 cases from entering the country, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday night.
— GMA Network
Implement response plans vs Covid-19 – BSP
THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has advised its supervised financial institutions, such as banks and payment system operators, to implement response plans to protect their employees and customers from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak in the country
— Manila Times
Duterte to ask for China s help if COVID-19 situation worsens
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he will seek the assistance of China if the coronavirus outbreak in the country worsens.
— GMA Network
Workers exempted from Metro Manila lockdown РA̱o
Workers and businessmen from the provinces will be allowed to enter and leave Metro Manila during the upcoming lockdown meant to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus , as long as they present identifying documents that prove they need to work in the capital region.
— Rappler
Davao City closes borders due to coronavirus outbreak
The Davao City government is prohibiting residents from leaving its borders as the country deals with an increasing number of novel coronavirus cases.
— Rappler
First Filipino to die of COVID-19 had hypertension, succumbed to pneumonia
The Philippines first Filipino fatality due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) died of severe pneumonia, the Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday.
— GMA Network
China’s new envoy: Ready to help PHL contain virus
THE Chinese government said it is ready to help the Philippine government in its efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
— Business Mirror
SSS earmarks P1.2 billion for workers to be laid off due to virus impact
The Social Security System (SSS) has earmarked as much as P1.2 billion to pay unemployment benefits to workers who are projected to lose their jobs amid the economic fallout from the coronavirus disease 2019 COVID-19 pandemic.
— The Philippine Star
DA preps for worst in food supply gaps as virus spreads
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is still crafting a plan to ensure food stocks are sufficient in Metro Manila amid rising coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in the country.
— Business Mirror
Bataan forms outbreak response team on Covid-19
The provincial government here called for an emergency meeting on Wednesday for the establishment of a Bataan Outbreak Response Team (BORT) in preparation for a worst-case scenario should there be cases of local transmission of the new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the province.Dr. Rosanna Buccahan, provincial health …
— Philippine News Agency
DA to pre-position key food items within NCR
AGRICULTURE Secretary William D. Dar said the Department of Agriculture (DA) will strategically position stockpiles of key food items around Metro Manila in the event of supply disruptions arising from the outbreak of coronavirus (Covid-19).
— BusinessWorld
Group urges elderly to avoid crowds due to COVID-19
A non-government organization urged the elderly to exercise extra caution amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as they are considered to be at high risk.
— GMA Network
SSS program to cover job order, contractual workers in Albay
At least 1,000 job order (JO) and contractual workers in Albay will now be covered by the Social Security System after a memorandum of agreement (MOA) was inked by the local government unit (LGU) of Libon, the city government of Legazpi, and the SSS recently.
— Philippine News Agency
CHED urges schools to prepare for possible coronavirus ‘community-level transmission’
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) called on state universities and colleges to prepare for possible community-level transmission of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
— Rappler
Class suspensions in NCR extended to April 12, 2020 over COVID-19 threat
The suspension of classes in all levels in Metro Manila is hereby extended until April 12, 2020, the IATF resolution said.
— GMA Network
#DuterteLive: Statement on PH coronavirus situation
President Rodrigo Duterte issues a statement on the novel coronavirus situation in the Philippines Thursday, March 12
— Rappler
BSP to use teleconferencing for Monetary Board meeting
Technology will be used to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) advantage so that monetary officials would be able to continue their functions despite challenges posed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), Governor Benjamin Diokno said Thursday.
— Philippine News Agency
Robredo: Work-from-home scheme a must to contain COVID-19
Vice President Leni Robredo called on both public and private sectors to implement a work-from-home scheme for workers who can avail of it, saying that it will help contain the spread of the coronavirus disease.
— GMA Network
SC: All court hearings suspended from March 13 to 18
Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta has suspended all court hearings from March 13 to 18.
— Eagle News
President Duterte, Chinese envoy meet over COVID-19 response
President Rodrigo Duterte met with China’s Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian, the Palace said on Thursday, March 12.
— Eagle News
Hoarding, overpricing would lead to criminal charges, warns DTI
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) warned that criminal charges would be filed against those suspected of overpricing and hoarding medical devices and products like alcohol, medicines, and face masks.
— Rappler
Cebu Pacific extends free rebooking to April 2020 flights
Budget carrier Cebu Pacific allowed more flexible booking policies amid the coronavirus outbreak, including free rebooking for domestic and international flights from March 10 to April 30, 2020.
— Rappler
Sotto orders restricted access to Senate
SENATE President Vicente Sotto 3rd on Thursday ordered the Senate security unit to temporarily restrict entry to the building until it has been completely disinfected.
— Manila Times
Ex-Maguindanao budget officer sentenced to 8 years in prison for corruption
The Sandiganbayan found Maguindanao province’s former budget officer Datu Ali Abpi, Al Haj guilty of corruption and sentenced him to spend 8 – 12 years in jail.
— Rappler
Sara Duterte on self-quarantine after lunch with Gatchalian
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has gone on self-quarantine as a precautionary measure against the spread of COVID-19 even if she had no symptoms, her office said on Thursday, March 12.
— Rappler
NoCot to build 3-storey jail facility
To improve the conditions of inmates at the North Cotabato district jail, provincial government officials broke ground Wednesday for the construction of a three-storey building inside the jail compound in Barangay Amas, Kidapawan City.
— Philippine News Agency
US has fighting chance to stay put in Philippines
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to scrap a key security pact with the United States will be challenged at the nation’s highest court, a legal maneuever that could have major implications for regional security and balance of power politics.
— Asia Times
Philippines: Guimaras mangoes go viral and sell out in hours
On the morning of March 11, people woke up to see the following message circulating on social media:
— Fresh Plaza
Maguindanao guv leads relief distribution for Ampatuan evacuees
More than 230 internally displaced persons (IDPs) who fled their homes during recent skirmishes between government forces and the Daesh-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao have received relief aid here from the provincial government Thursday morning.
— Philippine News Agency
Pampanga calls off ritual crucifixions over coronavirus
The Philippines’ crucifixion reenactments will be canceled this year as coronavirus cases climb, said authorities in the city where the annual tourist spectacle is held.
— Rappler
El Salvador bans foreigners entering country over coronavirus fears
El Salvador will ban entry to all foreigners for a period of 21 days in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus , the Central American country’s president announced Wednesday, March 11.
— Rappler
DepEd rejects mass promotion, automatic passing of learners
The Department of Education yesterday maintained that mass promotion and automatic passing of learners will not be allowed and tolerated amid the escalating threat of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 in the country.
— Tempo
Former Army chief Alberto is new PH ambassador to Israel
President Rodrigo Duterte appointed former commanding general of the Philippine Army Major General Macairog Alberto as the Philippines’ new ambassador to Israel.
— Rappler
Negros Oriental cops to enforce quarantine of students during class suspension
Governor Roel Degamo of this province directed the Philippine National Police to make sure all public school students will stay home during a five-day suspension of classes in an bid to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.
— Rappler
MARINA to suspend operations on Friday, March 13 as measure against COVID-19
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) on Thursday said it will temporarily suspend its operations on Friday for disinfection procedures against the coronavirus disease 2019.
— GMA Network
IdeaSpace launches ‘Opportunity Fund’ for Philippine startups
Startups who are very early in their cycle may want to take a look at this.
— Rappler
Coronavirus prompts suspension of GrabShare starting March 13
Grab Philippines announced that the carpool service GrabShare will be suspended starting Friday, March 13, as coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases spiked.
— Rappler
Sandiganbayan convicts Leyte mayor of graft over illegal procurement of vehicles
The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan has convicted Albuera, Leyte Mayor Sixto de la Victoria of graft and sentenced him to 6 years in jail for approving the procurement of service vehicles without public bidding.
— Rappler
37 offenders in S. Kudarat fall in 1st quarter of March
Pitching on an intensified anti-criminality campaign by the Philippine National Police, law enforcers in Sultan Kudarat province have so far collared 37 offenders in various police operations for the first quarter of the month.
— Philippine News Agency
Cebu province asks classes be shortened to once a week due to novel coronavirus
The province of Cebu asked the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Cebu office to reduce classes to once a week and to shorten the school year amid a rise in confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in the country.
— Rappler
PRC cancels scheduled licensure examinations for March and April 2020
The Professional Regulation Commission on Wednesday, March 11, announced the cancelation of one qualifying assessment and 7 licensure examinations scheduled for March and April following the spike of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines.
— Rappler
More PH cage leagues suspend games due to Covid-19
Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) fans may need to wait for a while before finding out which teams will make the national finals.
— Philippine News Agency
ADB Manila headquarters closed for coronavirus disinfection
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) headquarters at Ortigas Center in Mandaluyong City was closed on Thursday, March 12, for disinfection, following information that a visitor to the bank tested positive for the novel coronavirus .
— Rappler
Aedes Project: The Filipino-made app that aims to map dengue hotspots
In January, the NASA Space Apps challenge – an international hackathon hosted by the US space agency – crowned its winners.
— Rappler
Feature photo Make It Makati
This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on street musicians around Asean.
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 March 13 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on
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Stella-maris Ewudolu
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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