Philippines morning news for March 18

Philippines morning news for March 18
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Philippines morning newsBREAKING: Duterte: Philippines now under state of calamity due to COVID-19
President Rodrigo Duterte has placed the entire Philippines under a state of calamity in an attempt to contain the 2019 coronavirus disease or COVID-19 which has sickened over 180 people.
— Inquirer.net

Duterte doubles-down on fortress Manila with Luzon lockdown
In the wake of an unprecedented lockdown of Metro Manila, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte doubled-down on Monday by ordering the entire island of Luzon sealed off to fight the COVID-19 outbreak.
— AEC News Today

Passengers of all nationalities may leave Philippines within 72 hours of Luzon quarantine — BI, DOTr
Passengers of all nationalities may leave the Philippines through any international airports in Luzon within 72 hours of the effectivity of the enhanced community quarantine over the island unless their flights have been canceled, authorities said Tuesday.
— GMA Network

GDP loss in Covid-19 mass transmission higher than lockdown
A lawmaker on Tuesday said a mass transmission of the coronavirus disease could cost the Philippine economy up to 4.13 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), which is significantly higher than the economic cost of a Luzon-wide quarantine.
— Philippine News Agency

DOH: Two more COVID-19 deaths, count now at 14
Novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) claimed two more lives on Tuesday night, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed, bringing the nation’s death toll to 14.
— The Philippine Star

PAL, Cebu Pacific, AirAsia cancel flights on lockdown
THE country’s three main airlines announced massive flight cancellations once the 72-hour window imposed by government ends, following the declaration of a Luzon-wide lockdown to stop mass transmission of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
— Business Mirror

Duque: COVID-19 cases expected to increase due to availability of more test kits
Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said that they expect a rise in the number of positive cases of corona disease (COVID-19) with the availability of more test kits already.
— Business Mirror

‘Virus beyond control to cost 4.13% of GDP’
LIMITING economic activity in Luzon in the desperate race to stop the spread of Covid-19 would result in significant losses for the economy, a senior lawmaker and economist said, but weighed this against a far bigger estimate of losses should the chain of transmission get out of control.
— Business Mirror

Gov’t urges deferment of utility, loan payments amid quarantine
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez has urged utility companies to postpone payments during the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.
— Philippine News Agency

DOJ: Police can arrest violators of Luzon lockdown even without warrants
No more ifs, and, or buts – the Department of Justice (DOJ) made it clear on Tuesday, March 17, that if you are found outside your house and you are not among the narrow exemptions of the Luzon lockdown, then you can be arrested even without a warrant.
— Rappler

PH first to shut financial markets
STOCK, bond and currency trading in the Philippines have been halted, making the Philippines the first country to shut financial markets amid the escalating coronavirus pandemic.
— Sun Star

Philippines growth target down to 5.4 % — Moody’s
Moody’s Investors Service slashed anew the gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for the Philippines to 5.4 percent this year due to the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.
— The Philippine Star

PhilHealth sets P30-billion program
The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. is releasing an initial P30 billion to accredited hospitals to help them respond to the onslaught of COVID-19.
— Manilastandard.net

Ecozone firms may grind to a halt
ECONOMIC zone locators are facing a serious risk of funding shortage that could suspend their operations, as they are unable to receive foreign currency from their headquarters overseas with the stoppage of peso-dollar trading.
— Business Mirror

Meat processors warn of supply gap if panic buying doesn’t stop
THE Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (Pampi) has appealed to the public to stop panic buying and hoarding processed meat products as a surge in demand could deplete the industry’s production supply faster — to 15 days from the normal 30-day capacity.
— Business Mirror

Quezon City bans motorcycle backriders
No more backriders on motorcycles in Quezon City.
— The Philippine Star

Malaysia and the Philippines enact sweeping measures, as coronavirus cases jump in Southeast Asia
Tens of millions of people in Southeast Asia have had their movements, travel and daily life restricted as countries prepare for a surge in novel coronavirus cases.
— CNN

Jack Ma to donate 50,000 coronavirus testing kits to Philippines
The Philippines will get 50,000 coronavirus testing kits from Chinese billionaire Jack Ma, Senator Manny Pacquiao announced on Tuesday, March 17.
— Rappler

DFA halts processing of passport applications in Luzon
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has suspended consular operations throughout Luzon and has scaled down in the Visayas and Mindanao as parts of the country go on community quarantine to avert the spread of the novel coronavirus.
— Rappler

Agencies asked to implement price control measures
Malacañang has ordered all government agencies, offices, and local government units to implement price control measures on basic food commodities and emergency medicines due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak in the country.
— Philippine News Agency

Zambo Norte pulmonologist says virus statistics may be deceiving
As the provincial government and other local health units kept on reassuring the public that Zamboanga del Norte was still free of the novel coronavirus, one of the province’s only two adult pulmonologists appealed to stop focusing on statistics and instead consider the virus to be already here.
— Rappler

DOH launches COVID-19 emergency hotlines
The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday launched emergency hotlines for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) concerns.
— GMA Network

Where are testing centers for coronavirus in PH?
Governments around the world have responded in various ways to contain the coronavirus outbreak, which the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared as a pandemic .
— Rappler

Human Settlements dep’t orders 3-month freeze on gov’t mortgage payments
THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) ordered a three-month moratorium on loan payments to government agencies providing housing finance during the Luzon enhanced community quarantine.
— BusinessWorld

Out-patient department of PGH closed indefinitely due to enhanced community quarantine
The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) indefinitely closed its Out-Patient Department in compliance with the enhanced community quarantine imposed over Luzon.
— Eagle News

Stranded commuters given window hours to return home
Philippine National Police (PNP) Deputy for Operations, Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Tuesday said stranded commuters were given window hours to return home as the police began strict implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, including Metro Manila.
— Philippine News Agency

10K cops guard checkpoints in Central Luzon
About 10,000 police are currently manning checkpoints or control points all over the region as the enhanced community quarantine in the entire Luzon took effect midnight of March 17.
— Philippine Information Agency

Ilocos Norte board members submit to 14-day home quarantine
All members of the Provincial Board and the vice governor have volunteered to undergo a 14-day mandatory quarantine at home amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) threat.
— Philippine News Agency

Banks: Services to go on, but operations limited
SOME of the country’s biggest banks assured the public on Tuesday that their services would continue, but stressed that operations would be limited because of the “enhanced community quarantine” imposed on Luzon on Monday.
— Manila Times

Government unveils P27-billion stimulus, but some say it’s not enough
THE GOVERNMENT has rolled out P27.1 billion in funds to help contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and aid affected sectors, with $1 billion more in financing under negotiation, the Department of Finance (DoF) said.
— BusinessWorld

DOH says one of its senior officials has COVID-19
The Department of Health announced that one of its senior officials has tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
— Eagle News

Gov’t bans POGO operations during enhanced community quarantine
Philippine Online Gaming Operations (POGO) are not allowed to operate, according to the guidelines issued byt he government for the implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine in the entire Luzon region.
— GMA Network

Cagayan: State of calamity calls for 13th month pay now
Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba ordered the whole province of Cagayan placed under a state of calamity on Tuesday, a day after President Rodrigo Duterte declared an “enhanced community quarantine” over the entire Luzon, the country’s biggest group of islands.
— Manila Times

Gov t to provide point-to-point transportation for health workers
The Department of Transportation (DOTr), in cooperation with local government units, was instructed on Monday to develop a point-to-point transportation service for health workers amid the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.
— GMA Network

Davao Region to seal its borders for 14 days starting March 19
Officials in President Rodrigo Duterte’s home region have decided to go into full lockdown, preventing the entry of any individual from other areas starting Thursday, March 19.
— Rappler

Tourism sector to get big share from Covid-19 relief aid
The tourism sector will receive a large chunk of the PHP27.1-billion package set by the government to cushion the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
— Philippine News Agency

DOST seeks production of 26,000 COVID-19 test kits, 500,000 masks
Attached agencies to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) were seeing to the production of 26,000 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) test kits and 500,000 face masks as infections across the country rose to 187.
— GMA Network

BIR won’t extend April 15 tax filing deadline despite lockdown
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is keeping its deadline for filing of taxes on April 15, as it encourages taxpayers to file through online means.
— Rappler

Journalists call on PCOO to rescind lockdown accreditation requirement
Amid a Luzon-wide lockdown or enhanced community quarantine due to the 2019 novel coronavirus , journalists, advocates and members of the academe called on the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) to rescind the order for journalists to secure an identification card from the government office.
— Rappler

Ceasefire call highlights PRRD’s desire to save lives: AFP
The pronouncements of President Rodrigo Duterte calling for a ceasefire with New People’s Army (NPA) communist rebels as the government strives to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) highlights his genuine concern for the public.
— Philippine News Agency

Baliuag, Bulacan mayor tests positive for coronavirus
Mayor Ferdie Estrella of Baliuag, Bulacan confirmed Tuesday, March 17, that he tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus .
— Rappler

DOLE rolls out P1.3B financial assistance for workers affected by Luzon-wide quarantine
The Department of Labor and Employment announced Tuesday it is rolling out a P1.3-billion financial assistance for 250,000 Filipino workers who stand to temporarily lose their source of income due to the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.
— GMA Network

Gov t addressing transportation problems amid Luzon-wide quarantine — Palace
Malacañang on Tuesday said the government is addressing the plight of workers exempted from the travel restrictions imposed by the government in Luzon to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
— GMA Network

Cebu City bans sale of liquor during community quarantine
Cebu CIty Mayor Edgar Labella banned the sale of liquor throughout the city for the period of community quarantine from March 16 to April 14.
— Rappler

LTFRB-6 to ask loan moratorium for affected transport groups
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Western Visayas will recommend to its central office to offer a loan moratorium to transport operators affected by the implementation of social distancing measures.
— Philippine News Agency

Robredo calls for aid for daily wage earners, poor communities
Vice President Leni Robredo has called on the government to provide financial assistance and other social services to daily wage earners and poor communities, among others in the vulnerable sector.
— GMA Network

Navy patrols Metro Manila coast to enforce sea travel ban
The Philippine Navy (PN) has deployed two patrol boats to help enforce the travel ban in Metro Manila waters.
— Philippine News Agency

Philippine News Agency warns public vs home sanitation services scam
The Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Monday warned the public about criminals taking advantage of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation in the country.
— GMA Network

Bohol needs emergency teams to contain ASF
Bohol can only say it has prepared against the dreaded African Swine Fever (ASF) if it can put up emergency response teams prior to and after a reported suspected case, said an officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
— Philippine Information Agency

Leni Robredo’s Office Will Provide Free Shuttle Services For Health Workers
The office of Vice President Leni Robredo will provide free shuttle services for health workers.
— Philippine News

Vico Sotto vows full salaries for all Pasig government workers during lockdown
Pasig City government employees will be receiving their full salaries despite reduced operations during the enhanced community quarantine , Mayor Vico Sotto said on Tuesday, March 17.
— Rappler

Cainta to distribute 6,000 meal stubs
Cainta Mayor Johnielle Keith “Kit” Nieto will distribute 6,000 food stubs as a subsidy to residents affected by the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.
— Philippine Information Agency

Cebu gov assures price ceiling for basic items
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has assured that government authorities will closely monitor the supply and prices of basic commodities, including rice.
— Manila Times

OFW: Lost (and found) after 9 years
The Philippine Embassy in Jordan was able to rescue in Amman a missing female overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from the town of Guindulungan, Maguindanao whose parents and relatives were not able to contact her for the last 9 years.
— Manila Times

Metro Manila construction materials prices rise in Feb.
WHOLESALE prices of construction materials in Metro Manila rose in February, though the rate of growth slowed compared with a month earlier, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.
— BusinessWorld

DTI assures ample supply of basic necessities
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Antique provincial office assured on Tuesday consumers of an adequate supply of basic necessities in supermarkets and retail stores.
— Philippine News Agency

 

 

Feature photo The Philippine STAR/ Walter Bollozos

This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on The Metro Manila COVID-19 lockdown.

 

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).

 

 

About Philippines morning news.

Philippines morning news roundup is the most comprehensive hand-curated selection of Philippines English language news headlines published. Each weekday we scour hundreds of local and international news sites and websites to find the most recent Philippines English language news today.

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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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