Philippines morning news for April 13, 2020

$5 mln ADB ‘Bayan Bayanihan’ project to help feed 55K ‘at risk’ Luzon residents
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched a $5 million project to help the Philippine government deliver food supplies to up to 55,000 vulnerable households in Metro Manila and neighbouring areas, which are under enhanced community quarantine to contain the spread of COVID-19.
— AEC News Today (video)

Over 1 million Filipino workers displaced due to coronavirus
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported that over one million workers have now been displaced in the country due to the coronavirus outbreak .
— Rappler

PH gov’t now requires public disclosure of coronavirus patients’ identities
The Philippine government will now disclose to the public the personal information of patients who tested positive for COVID-19.
— Rappler

Deaths due to COVID-19 rise to 297 as cases climb to 4,648
The Department of Health (DOH) announced 220 new confirmed COVID-19 cases bringing the country’s total to 4,648. The COVID-19 related deaths also increased the past day as 50 more fatalities were recorded.
— Eagle News

IATF to local governments: Allow ships to dock so OFWs can return home
The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases urged local government units (LGUs) to allow ships to dock so that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) can disembark and go back to their families amid the coronavirus outbreak .
— Rappler

Palace scoffs at claims COVID-19 deaths were being concealed
Malacañang on Sunday belied “false news” that a certain hospital had been ordered by the government to conceal the accurate number of deaths from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
— GMA Network

China Sends Coast Guard Ship to Scarborough Shoal
China has deployed a Coast Guard patrol ship to the Scarborough Shoal, the latest salvo in its sustained pressure campaign against Philippine-claimed features in the disputed South China Sea, ship-tracking data shows.
— Benar News

DOH exec: No need for mass burial yet
The Department of Health (DOH) does not yet see the need for a mass burial of patients who died from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-2019).
— Philippine News Agency

Hospitals, LGUs told: Stick to 12-hour rule in cremating patients who die of coronavirus
The national government directed hospitals and local government units to cremate bodies of patients who die of COVID-19 within the prescribed 12 hours, regardless if dues are still unpaid and documents are not yet processed.
— Rappler

Magnitude 6 quake jolts Batanes
A magnitude 6 earthquake shook Batanes yesterday.
— Philstar

Investments in IT sector down 42% in first quarter
Investments in the information technology sector registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority dropped by 42 percent in the first quarter from a year ago, with no new investments approved in March due to the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 outbreak.
— Philstar

Foreign borrowings seen to rise sharply due to COVID-19
Foreign borrowings by the national government as well as state-run corporations jumped by 32 percent to $9.7 billion last year from $7.4 billion in 2018, and the figure may increase sharply this year as the government spends more to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 outbreak, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
— Philstar

Philippines COVID-19 testing centers now 15 – Galvez
The number of institutions that have been certified to conduct independent COVID-19 testing has climbed to 15, the head of the government s COVID-19 response announced Sunday.
— GMA Network

BSP eyes ‘deeper’ policy rate cuts
THE central bank is looking at a “deeper cut” in interest rates to help cushion the economy from the impact of a “once-in-a-lifetime crisis” caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said ahead of a policy meeting next month.
— BusinessWorld

Export firms can ‘enhance’ operations amid ECQ
THE government is allowing export-oriented companies to boost their operations as long as they provide accommodations and shuttle service for workers during the expanded Luzon-wide lockdown.
— BusinessWorld

DBM issues guidelines on Bayanihan grant use
The Department of Budget and Management has issued the guidelines on the use of the P30.82-billion grant to city and municipal governments in their fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.
— Philstar

BSP ramps up efforts to help Philippine economy
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas continues to ramp up efforts to flood the Philippine economy with money amid the chaos caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
— Philstar

Health-care workers’ deployment ban up for review amid protests
THE inclusion of health workers with already existing contracts in the controversial deployment ban issued last week by authorities should be seriously reconsidered, according to the chairman of the Senate Labor committee, as the Cabinet was expected to tackle the issue on Monday.
— Business Mirror

Survey stresses role of vaping in tobacco control
Results of a first-of-its-kind survey in India highlight the potential of e-cigarettes as an additional option for tobacco control and how vaping can have a substantial impact on public health.
— Manilastandard.net

Recruitment expert sees OFW job losses at 50K-100K; remittance loss at under $3B
THE job losses to overseas Filipino workers (OFW) displaced by the Covid-19 pandemic will only be between 50,000 and 100,000, and not the 400,000 projected by private economists, according to an expert in overseas recruitment and migration policies.
— Business Mirror

Davao Region records more Covid-19 recoveries
The Department of Health in Davao Region (DOH-11) has recorded a total of 50 recoveries from the 90 positive cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) as of Saturday afternoon (April 11).
— Philippine News Agency

BSP opens forex facility for OFWs
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has opened a multi-currency exchange facility for overseas Filipino workers displaced and affected by the tension between the US and Iran as well as the public protests in Lebanon.
— Philstar

ECs to subsidize power needs of poor consumers
Electric cooperatives are planning to subsidize the electricity needs of poor consumers affected by the Luzon-wide quarantine, according to state-run National Electrification Administration.
— Philstar

Porridge downs 80 persons
At least 80 individuals were hospitalized after eating porridge mixed with wild yams in Sagay City, Negros Occidental on Friday.
— Philstar

IATF eyes add’l measures to address overcrowding in markets
The government will be implementing additional measures to prevent overcrowding in marketplaces, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) said on Sunday.
— Philippine News Agency

Filipino billionaires and their COVID-19 response
The story of the banana and the hard-boiled egg in the time of the new coronavirus pandemic could morph into a thousand and one imaginings.
— Philstar

NGCP donates P500 million for COVID relief groceries
The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines has donated P500-million worth of grocery items as part of its COVID-19 relief and response efforts.
— Philstar

857 health workers to be deployed in COVID-19 referral centers –DOH
An initial 857 healthcare workers would be deployed to three referral hospitals for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Department of Health (DOH) said Sunday.
— GMA Network

DOLE pleads with employers to pay workers displaced by quarantine
Although the official quarantine only covers the entire island of Luzon, local governments in the Visayas and Mindanao have announced similar measures to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19.
— Philstar

Cavite, other areas under thunderstorm advisory
A thunderstorm advisory has been hoisted over Cavite and other areas. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said moderate to heavy rainshowers with lightning and strong winds are expected over Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan and Laguna within the next two hours.
— Eagle News

12 more Filipinos abroad die of coronavirus; death toll rises to 84
Twelve more Filipinos overseas died from coronavirus, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Saturday, April 11, bringing the total deaths to 84.
— Rappler

Crimes down 56 percent – PNP
The number of crimes went down by 56 percent since the enhanced community quarantine to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 was implemented last month, the Philippine National Police reported yesterday.
— Philstar

LOOK: Philippines’ presidential yacht set to take in coronavirus patients
More than a week after President Rodrigo Duterte volunteered his presidential yacht to be used as a coronavirus hospital, the Philippine Navy opened BRP Ang Pangulo to take in patients.
— Rappler

I have body bags for drug addicts, fake news peddlers -Bong Go
Senator Bong Go said on Easter Sunday that he had extra body bags for those who may need them, even for drug addicts and fake news peddlers.
— GMA Network

Filipinos abroad with novel coronavirus now at 654
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Sunday, April 12, confirmed 3 new novel coronavirus cases involving Filipinos abroad, bringing the total number to 654.
— Rappler

OVP raises over P50-M for COVID-19 frontliners protective gear
The Office of Vice President’s fund-raising drive raised more than P50 million for the purchase of personal protective equipment for medical workers combating the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
— GMA Network

DOH tasked to set guidelines on use of coronavirus rapid test kits
The government’s task force handling the response to the coronavirus outbreak in the country ordered the Department of Health (DOH) to set guidelines on the use of rapid test kits.
— Rappler

Number of unclaimed bodies in East Avenue Medical Center down to 8 – spokesperson
From the 20 cadavers reported to have piled up along a hallway of the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC), the hospital now has 8 unclaimed bodies as of Sunday noon, April 12, a hospital offcial said.
— Rappler

Nograles backs proposal to bury fallen COVID-19 frontliners at Libingan ng mga Bayani
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on Sunday expressed support to the proposal to allow frontliners who died of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
— GMA Network

DOJ: Early release of sick, elderly prisoners ordered before virus crisis
The Department of Justice (DOJ) said it ordered the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and the Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP) to fast-track the release of elderly and sick persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) even before the coronavirus outbreak.
— Rappler

Reports on another extension of Luzon ECQ is ‘fake news’ –Nograles
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on Sunday branded as fake information the supposed reports on another extension of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
— GMA Network

Emergency response website tapped by gov’t for online contact tracing and reporting of COVID-19 cases
An emergency response website developed to allow online contact tracing and reporting of COVID-19 cases has been tapped by the government to aid in its fight against the disease.
— Eagle News

Joggers face arrest in Taguig
Persons caught jogging in Bonifacio Global City and otherwise violating a ban on outdoor activities face arrest, the Taguig City government said on Thursday.
— Philstar

Lopez Group gives P100 million for quarantine terminals
The Department of Transportation has received a P100 million donation from the Lopez Group of Companies to strengthen its efforts in containing the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
— Philstar

Ilocos Norte buys P18M oxygen machines, looks to build own soon
The Ilocos Norte provincial government bought P18 million worth of medical oxygen machines, and was spending P1.5 million more in building a warehouse so it could produce their own soon.
— Rappler

Philippine jails are a COVID-19 time bomb
On Wednesday, April 1, the police brought to a jampacked detention center at the Quezon City Police District headquarters 21 residents of a poor community who had been arrested for breaking quarantine rules.
— Rappler

13K households in Cagayan Valley town get SAP cash aid
At least 13,270 household beneficiaries of the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP) in this town received their cash assistance from April 9-13, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said.
— Philippine News Agency

PSA survey team, nat’l ID implementers now excluded from ECQ
Members of survey teams from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) are now included in the list of the Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APOR) in Luzon while the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is in effect, the Joint Task Force Corona Virus Shield (JTF CV Shield) said on Sunday.
— Philippine News Agency

Gov’t taking steps to address anti-Covid measures violators
The government is taking steps as the number of quarantine violators breached past 100,000 who have either been warned, fined or charged amid the country’s battle against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), Malacañang said on Sunday.
— Philippine News Agency

Looting relief goods prohibited: Palace
Malacañang on Sunday warned against the pilfering of relief goods intended for families affected by the crisis brought about by coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
— Philippine News Agency

PSA employees exempted from ECQ
Employees of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) will be exempted during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon, Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said.
— Philippine Information Agency

Weekly church attendance down, but more Pinoys say religion very important –survey
The average number of Filipinos who go to church weekly dropped to the lowest level in two years in 2019, even as more individuals said they consider religion as very important in their lives.
— GMA Network

Manila detainee dies after rejections from hospitals
A detainee suffering from meningococcemia died on Wednesday after he was refused admittance by several hospitals in Manila.
— Philstar

Realtors urged to step up digitalization
Real estate players are being urged to accelerate the adoption of technology to help keep their businesses running amid the coronavirus disease 2019 crisis.
— Philstar

‘State of limbo’: Labor groups oppose deployment ban on health workers
A coalition of labor unions and advocacy groups are opposing the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) ban on the foreign deployment of health workers, saying it violates their right to travel and constitutional protection from involuntary servitude.
— Rappler

Militant farmers’ group leader nabbed in Butuan
The leader of a farmers’ organization tagged as having links with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), was arrested in a joint operation conducted by the Police Regional Office (PRO)-13 (Caraga) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Saturday.
— Philippine News Agency

Feature photo Ministry for the Youth – SMAP Lobo

This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on COVID-19 in 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 April 13 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on April 13, 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.