Philippines Coronavirus Testing to Be Stepped Up Soon: WHO
Coronavirus testing is expected to increase substantially in coming days in the Philippines, where the high number of deaths relative to confirmed cases reflects lower testing so far, a World Health Organisation official said on Tuesday.
— The New York Times
Duterte draws flak after saying frontliners ‘lucky to die’ for PH
President Rodrigo Duterte has drawn strong criticism for romanticizing the deaths of medical personnel on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak in the country when he said they were “lucky” to die in the service of the Philippines.
— Rappler
Covid-19 cases now 2,084; death toll climbs to 88
The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday reported 538 new positive cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), bringing the total number of cases in the country to 2,084.
— Philippine News Agency
Worst-case scenario: PH economy may contract 0.5%, says World Bank
The Philippine economy is expected to slow down along with regional peers amid the coronavirus pandemic, the World Bank said in a report on Tuesday, March 31.
— Rappler
Week 3 of lockdown: No national quarantine centers yet
It’s been nearly 3 weeks since the Luzon-wide lockdown, but the government’s plan to convert various facilities in and outside Metro Manila into quarantine centers has yet to roll out.
— Rappler
Duterte’s 1st COVID-19 response report lacks details -senators
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said on Tuesday that he was dissatisfied with the first report President Rodrigo Duterte submitted to Congress on the actions taken on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) threat.
— GMA Network
PHL airlines seek gov’t help to survive virus
LOCAL AIRLINES are appealing for government help, as the “catastrophic impact” of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic threatens their survival.
— BusinessWorld
Inflation likely dipped to as low as 2% in March
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said inflation in March likely slowed to as low as 2 percent from 2.6 percent in February, pulled down by lower oil prices amid the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 worldwide.
— Manilastandard.net
Gov’t to finalize guidelines on extension, expansion, or lifting of Luzon lockdown
Midway into the Luzon lockdown , the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the coronavirus ordered its technical working group to finalize guidelines on the extension, expansion, modification, or lifting of the 30-day the enhanced community quarantine due to end on Easter Sunday, April 12.
— Rappler
DOH to test healthcare workers for COVID-19 even with mild symptoms
The Department of Health (DOH) announced on Tuesday that it has revised its policy for COVID-19 testing to include healthcare workers after receiving reports that frontliners were being denied tests by medical facilities.
— GMA Network
Philippines eyes ‘massive forced quarantine’ for suspected COVID-19 cases
The government is considering “a massive forced quarantine” for the country’s hundreds of persons under investigation and the thousands under monitoring for possible COVID-19 infection if the number of confirmed cases doesn’t decrease in the coming days.
— GMA Network
Clark Airport suspends all commercial flights effective April 3
The Luzon International Premier Airport Development (LIPAD) Corporation said on Tuesday that air carriers flying out of Clark International Airport (CRK) have temporarily suspended all their commercial flights, effective April 3.
— Philippine News Agency
58% Filipinos unable to purchase basic goods—survey
More than half of Filipinos could not purchase basic necessities in March amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, which forced the government to impose community lockdown, according to a research by comparison platform Finder.com.
— Manilastandard.net
Unclaimed Cargo Pile Up in Manila’s Ports
THE ports in Manila are almost filled to the brim as cargo owners and consignees—apparently chafing from the initial confusion over Covid-19 lockdown rules that spawned indiscriminate local blockades—are not heeding calls to withdraw cleared, ready-for-delivery and overstaying cargo.
— Business Mirror
PPA warns of port shutdown amid congestion at container terminals
State-run Philippine Ports Authority warned of a possible port shutdown if cargo owners and consignees continue to shun calls to clear overstaying cargoes.
— Manilastandard.net
Threat to Terminate US-Philippine Pact Resonates Around Southeast Asia
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s threat to terminate a lynchpin military pact with longtime treaty ally the United States — if implemented — could not only shake Manila’s defense policy but impact the delicate balance in ties between Southeast Asia and U.S. and China, analysts say.
— Radio Free Asia
Bongbong Marcos tests positive for novel coronavirus
FORMER Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. has tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but his condition has started to improve, his spokesman said on Tuesday.
— BusinessWorld
PH network of testing labs expands
A Department of Health (DOH) official on Monday said the Philippines now has a larger network of testing laboratories that can respond to public health emergencies, especially in the effective screening COVID-19 cases.
— Philippine Information Agency
Duterte considers floating quarantine hospitals
THE government is looking at using “floating quarantine hospitals” on ships in different parts of the country to house persons under monitoring for the novel coronavirus and help unburden hospitals already at their full capacities, the presidential palace said in a March 30 report to Congress.
— BusinessWorld
Probe on Lionair medevac plane may last 6-12 months: CAAP
Investigation on the Lionair RP C5880 medical evacuation (medevac) plane that burst into flames during takeoff at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Sunday night may last six months to one year, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) spokesperson Eric Apolonio bared on Tuesday.
— Philippine News Agency
QC’s fight vs COVID-19 gets big boost with arrival of 12 ventilators
The Quezon City government’s fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is set to receive a big boost with the arrival of 12 mechanical ventilators.
— Philippine Information Agency
18M poor families to get emergency subsidy in April
Around 18 million low-income households affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic in the country will receive the two-time emergency subsidy from the national government starting April, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) announced on Tuesday.
— Philippine News Agency
Duterte won’t take another COVID-19 test after Año tested positive
President Rodrigo Duterte would not have another test for COVID-19 after Interior Secretary Eduardo Año tested positive for the disease, Senator Bong Go told reporters on Tuesday night.
— GMA Network
Property prices post 2-digit growth
The real estate sector continued to post double-digit growth in prices for the second straight quarter in the fourth quarter last year amid the steady rise in the cost of acquiring residential units particularly condominium units in the National Capital Region (NCR), according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
— The Philippine Star
Why its PPEs vs. COVID-19 cost P1,800 per set, DOH explains
The Department of Health on Monday defended the P1.8-billion cost of the one million sets of personal protective equipment it bought for the country’s frontliners against COVID-19.
— GMA Network
PCC clears Synergy acquisition of entities owning NGCP
THE PHILIPPINE Competition Commission (PCC) has approved the Synergy Grid & Development Phils. Inc. acquisitions of shares in electricity holding companies OneTaipan Holdings, Inc. (OneTaipan) and Pacifica21 Holdings, Inc. (Pacifica21).
— BusinessWorld
Tarlac builds own Covid-19 testing facility
This province will soon have its own testing facility needed for detecting new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases.
— Philippine News Agency
4 of 7 new patients to recover from COVID-19 are seniors –DOH
The majority of seven new patients who recently recovered from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are seniors, according to data released by the Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday.
— GMA Network
DILG chief Año positive for COVID-19
Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano has tested positive for COVID-19.
— GMA Network
DOH warns public vs. COVID-19 test kits sold online
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH has seen a number of COVID-19 rapid test kits being sold online.
— GMA Network
DBM crafts order on special risk allowance for health workers
The Department of Budget and Management is currently drafting an executive issuance to cover the “special risk allowance” for public health workers battling the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
— Philippine News Agency
PNP says number of violators of ECQ now over 70k
Data from PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar showed that 71,540 people have violated the guidelines beginning March 17 to 30.
— GMA Network
DSWD rolls out social amelioration forms for emergency subsidy program
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has distributed social amelioration forms which will be used as the basis of local authorities in providing aid to the families who would benefit from the emergency subsidy program.
— GMA Network
COVID-19 rapid test guidelines released –DOH
The Department of Health (DOH) announced that the interim guidelines for using the rapid test kits for coronavirus disease 2019 (COThe Department of Health (DOH) announced that the interim guidelines for using the rapid test kits for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been released on Tuesday.VID-19) has been released on Tuesday.
— GMA Network
Cash aid for 18 million poor families in limbo as gov’t works on database
With the country about to enter its 3rd week under a state of calamity, 18 million low-income Filipino households will still have to wait for cash aid, as the government’s database remains pending.
— Rappler
Philippines sets aside P53.2M for UP-developed COVID-19 test kits
The Department of Science and Technology has allotted P53.2 million for the COVID-19 test kits developed by the University of the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte has said.
— GMA Network
Aid for firms ‘take a back seat,’ poor are ‘priority’ in PH virus fight
State support for businesses amid the coronavirus pandemic will have to take [a] back seat, as the government prioritizes cash handouts to the poorest Filipinos, said Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III.
— Rappler
Zambo crime rate drops amid Covid-19 crisis
Crime incidents in the Zamboanga Peninsula have decreased since the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine to contain the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) crisis, the Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) said on Tuesday.
— Philippine News Agency
Bela Padilla Responds to Netizen questioning P3.3 M Donation she Raised
Kapamilya actress Bela Padilla responds to a netizen who questioned the P3.3 million donation that she raised for frontliners and people affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
— Philippine News
P187-M road project to benefit farmers in Surigao Sur
The Department of Agriculture in the Caraga Region (DA-13) reported the near completion of the PHP187-million farm-to-market road (FMR) that will connect far-flung villages to the market centers including in Cortes town, Surigao del Sur.
— Philippine News Agency
Zambo City launches mobile market amid Covid-19 crisis
The local government is set to launch its mobile market on Wednesday to bring agricultural produce to residents amid the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis.
— Philippine News Agency
DA to rollout more Kadiwa mobile markets in Metro Manila
The Department of Agriculture (DA) will set up more ‘Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita’ outlets to serve more consumers in Metro Manila, providing them fresh farm and fishery products at affordable prices.
— Philippine Information Agency
1 in 4 Pinoys are frequently stressed – SWS survey
One out of four Filipino adults frequently experienced stress in their everyday lives, a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed.
— GMA Network
DOT assists 6,000 tourists stranded in MIMAROPA
The Department of Tourism in Region 4B (DOT-4B) has assisted 6,371 tourists stranded, mostly in Palawan province.
— Philippine News Agency
Pangasinan LGU urges residents to donate relief pack to indigents
Residents here who have more in life are encouraged to donate their share of relief packs to their indigent town mates.
— Philippine News Agency
Duterte orders adequate energy, water supply during COVID-19 emergency
President Rodrigo Duterte cited measures to ensure adequate supply of power, fuel and water while the country is under COVID-19 emergency.
— GMA Network
Gov’t may wire workers their subsidy if employers remiss with requirements
What if employers fail to submit their payroll to the government? How then would displaced employees receive their subsidy during the coronavirus lockdown ?
— Rappler
Government doctor gets P6,400 cash bonus 8 years after appraisal
It took 8 years, but a government doctor finally received the P6,400 cash bonus meant for her excellent work.
— Rappler
Philippines has greatest percentage of women traders in global eToro list
Data from multi-asset investment platform eToro shows Filipino women are leading the way in terms of inclusivity within financial services. Globally, female investors account for nearly 13% of eToro’s 12 million registered users.
— BusinessWorld
DSWD delivers P22M worth of food, non-food items amid COVID-19 crisis
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has distributed more than P22 million worth of food and non-food items to over 4,000 beneficiaries amid the country’s ongoing battle against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
— GMA Network
Increasing e-payment seen in PH amid Covid-19 crisis
Rising demand for electronic payment is projected in the country after the government imposed a community quarantine for one month in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak, the Oxford Business Group (OBG) said.
— Philippine News Agency
Chicken dung allowed entry but truckers to abide with checkpoint rules
The provincial government lifted the suspension of the entry of chicken dung which is used as soil conditioner by farmers in the area, but quarantine and checkpoint guidelines must be strictly followed.
— Philippine Information Agency
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This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on COVID-19 in Asean
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Philippines morning news for April 1 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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