Philippines morning news for April 24, 2020

Duterte’s lockdown decision hinges on PH capacity to treat patients
President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision on whether to lift, ease, or extend the Luzon lockdown or enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) will be based on the health sector’s capacity to treat coronavirus patients.
— Rappler

‘New infections waning, but PH far from target’
The Philippines has yet to flatten the curve of new coronavirus (COVID-19) infections, even though there are signs that the increase in new cases has started to decline, the Department of Health said Thursday.
— Manilastandard.net

PH coronavirus cases reach 6,981, death toll at 462
The Philippines has 271 new coronavirus cases, raising the total number to 6,981, the Department of Health (DOH) reported on Thursday, April 23.
— Rappler

Checkpoint killing sparks cry for justice
A human-rights group and relatives of a former soldier who was gunned down near a quarantine checkpoint on Thursday condemned the killing and demanded justice as police officials promised to investigate whether the officer who shot him made the right “judgment call.”
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Citizen sounds alarm over dirty QC quarantine facility
A resident of Quezon City sounded the alarm on Thursday, April 23, over dirty bathrooms and unclear implementation of handling suspected novel coronavirus patients in the city.
— Rappler

500 Pinoy patients joining int’l trial for coronavirus drug
Five hundred Filipino COVID-19 patients will join an international trial of possible drugs for the disease caused by the new coronavirus, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Thursday.
— Manilastandard.net

Chinese resume mining at Homonhon Island amid quarantine
Residents of Homonhon Island in Eastern Samar have protested against the continued chromite ore mining of the Chinese even amid a community quarantine to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease.
— GMA Network

Gov’t tightens belt amid virus crisis
THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will no longer release 35% of the budget of state agencies this year, ordering them to suspend non-essential activities such as mass celebrations, sports activities and travels to free up funds for the government’s response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
— BusinessWorld

Duterte to announce fate of COVID-19 quarantine on Friday morning
President Rodrigo Duterte will announce his decision on whether to extend the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon on Friday morning.
— GMA Network

Chinese warship targeted Philippine Navy vessel in West PH Sea – AFP
In “clear violation of Philippine sovereignty” a Chinese warship targeted a Philippine Navy vessel on patrol in the West Philippine Sea on February 17, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command (Wescom) said on Thursday, April 23.
— Rappler

World Bank approves $100-M loan for PHL coronavirus fight
THE World Bank (WB) on Wednesday approved a $100-million (P5-billion) loan for the Philippine government’s efforts to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
— BusinessWorld

Domestic trade grew by 0.4% in 2019
Domestic trade grew marginally in terms of volume and contracted in terms of value in 2019, the Philippine Statistics Authority said yesterday.
— Philstar

Funds for nat’l ID system in GAA short by P2.6B of what PSA asked
The allocation for the national ID system under the 2020 national budget is P2.6 billion less than the Philippine Statistics Authority requested to have the most number of Filipinos registered as possible.
— GMA Network

Roque: China did not violate int’l obligations over coronavirus
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday, April 23, turned down for now any possibility of the Philippine government suing China over the spread of coronavirus, saying no state obligations were violated.
— Rappler

Double trouble: PH pork industry faces coronavirus, ASF
Pork is still widely available on grocery shelves in the Philippines, but the industry is fending off problems brought about by the coronavirus and African swine fever (ASF).
— Rappler

Uy says vessels free to use, but DoTr cites price haggle
THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) said on Thursday the two vessels of 2GO Group, Inc., currently used as quarantine facilities for returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), were first priced at P120 million, but the amount was lowered to P35 million after Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade insisted that the ships should be offered free of charge.
— BusinessWorld

DOTr remits P19.3 billion for COVID measures
The Department of Transportation continues to beef up its contribution to the national coffers as it turned over a total of P19.3 billion in dividends so far this year.
— Philstar

Premature lifting of ECQ could lead to spike in COVID-19 cases, deaths – UP experts
Premature lifting of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) could cause cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to spike and lead to more deaths, experts from the University of the Philippines warned.
— GMA Network

Sarangani extends payment of taxes for 6 months
To help its constituents cope with the COVID-19 crisis, the provincial government extends the period of payment of taxes for the year 2020.
— Philippine Information Agency

Taguig drive-thru coronavirus testing centers to open this weekend
Taguig City’s drive-thru coronavirus testing centers will be operational by this weekend to make the tests more accessible to residents, Mayor Lino Cayetano announced on Thursday, April 23.
— Rappler

Biz groups urge gov’t to lower costs of logistics
FOURTEEN of the country’s biggest business groups on Thursday urged the government to implement a moratorium on fees and charges slapped on shipments currently stuck at the country’s ports, as the Luzon-lockdown continues.
— BusinessWorld

BSP eases rules on asset cover of banks’ FCDUs
The Monetary Board, the policy-making body of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, eased the asset cover requirement on banks with expanded/foreign currency deposit units to provide them with greater flexibility to manage their foreign currency exposures.
— Manilastandard.net

Think tank outlines ‘barriers’ to PHL’s infra development program
Aside from the impact of the coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, the government’s low absorptive capacity will keep the Philippines from meeting its infrastructure and gross domestic product (GDP) growth targets in the medium term, according to an international think tank.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

COVID-19 relief fund breaches P600-M mark
The group of property tycoon Andrew Tan’s COVID-19 relief fund mobilization has breached the P600-million milestone since the Luzon-wide lockdown to curb the pandemic in mid-March.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

PGH has high hopes on plasma therapy
THE convalescent plasma therapy has “a little bit over 60 percent batting average” in treating severely-ill Covid-19 patients, the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (PGH) said.
— Business Mirror

Antique mulls conduct of mass testing
The conduct of mass testing in the Province of Antique is in the pipeline once the provincial government could meet the requirement of the Department of Health (DOH) and when testing kits would be available.
— Philippine Information Agency

GSIS to give additional P500k life insurance to COVID-19 gov’t frontliners
The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) said it will provide additional life insurance coverage to 27,682 frontline workers of the government nationwide in the battle against COVID-19.
— GMA Network

Angara: DOH’s pre-pandemic weaknesses haunting COVID-19 response
The shortcomings of the Department of Health (DOH) long before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hit the Philippines are affecting the country’s response efforts against the outbreak, Senator Sonny Angara said on Thursday.
— GMA Network

Marcos says pushing for tax reform amid pandemic ‘very bad timing’
Senators rejected passing the pending tax reform bills immediately, even as Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Chua said it could fund the government’s pandemic response.
— Rappler

At least 3 Abu Sayyaf members killed as Sulu clashes continue
Three members of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) were killed in clashes with the military in Sulu on Wednesday, April 22, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).
— Rappler

Davao City to relax coronavirus lockdown measures on April 26
Davao City will relax its coronavirus lockdown measures on Sunday, April 26, when the current enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is lifted to make way for a modified community quarantine (MCQ).
— Rappler

Aliens told to follow ECQ rules or leave PH
Malacañang said yesterday that foreigners staying in the country are not exempted from the enhanced community quarantine being implemented in Luzon and are free to leave the Philippines if they do not want to follow the lockdown restrictions.
— Tempo

Roque takes lead in gov’t Covid-19 info dissemination
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque will take the lead in the government’s information dissemination on the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
— Philippine News Agency

Poll: 80% of Filipinos ‘satisfied’ with gov’t response to health crisis
Malacañang hailed the findings of the global polling firm Gallup International which indicated that 80 percent, or majority, of Filipinos are satisfied with the government’s response to the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

May emergency subsidies to be delayed if LGU fails to report April payouts – DSWD
Nearing the last week of April, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Thursday, April 23, that emergency subsidy payouts for the month of May will be delayed for localities whose governments do not submit a liquidation report on time.
— Rappler

Russia thanks PH for helping repatriate nationals amid ECQ
The Russian Embassy in Manila on Thursday night thanked the Philippine government for helping repatriate some 650 Russian nationals affected by the community quarantine imposed in different parts of the country,No Embassy in the world has its own boats or airplanes.
— Philippine News Agency

Mayor Sara asks families with positive cases to stay home
Mayor Sara Z. Duterte appealed Wednesday to members of families who have 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients to refrain from going out of their homes.
— Philippine News Agency

Makati adopts e-money transfer for cash distribution
Makati is set to release the second wave of financial assistance for transport workers in the city using electronic money transfers to avoid physical contact among the beneficiaries, Mayor Abby Binay announced yesterday.
— Philstar

Line agencies urged to halt programs to save on funds
The Department of Budget and Management has directed line agencies to halt the implementation of some programs, activities and projects to save funds which can be used in the country’s fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 pandemic.
— Philstar

Gov’t owned ambulance caught smuggling persons into Pangasinan
An ambulance from a municipal Rural Health Unit (RHU) in Pangasinan was intercepted by authorities for attempting to smuggle two individuals into the province on Thursday, April 23.
— Rappler

Angeles City to provide milk to indigent kids
City government of Angeles will distribute milk formula beginning Monday, April 27. Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. disclosed that they procured PhP5 million worth of milk and other children’s needs to be distributed to poor children. Lazatin instructed Executive Assistant Reina Manuel to supervise the distribution …
— Philippine Information Agency

Angara’s hospital bill reached P400,000 after battle with COVID-19
Senator Sonny Angara, a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivor, spent P400,000 for treatment at a private hospital in the country.
— GMA Network

OVP’s fund drive for PPEs reaches P55M on Leni’s 55th birthday
The Office of the Vice President’s fund drive to buy personal protective equipment for health workers in the campaign against COVID-19 has reached P55 million, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Thursday.
— GMA Network

Over 5.7 million beneficiaries got assistance under Social Amelioration Program –DSWD
Over 5.7 million beneficiaries have so far received assistance under the Social Amelioration Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) amid the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.
— GMA Network

Human rights orgs urge gov’t to drop charges vs Cebu artist Bambi Beltran
New York-based international organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged the Cebu City government to drop charges against local artist Maria Victoria “Bambi” Beltran who was arrested on Sunday, April 19, in Cebu City.
— Rappler

Number of overseas Filipinos with coronavirus climbs to 1,122
The Philippines recorded 8 new cases of the coronavirus among Filipinos overseas, bringing the total number of cases as of Thursday, January 23, to 1,122.
— Rappler

Maximum or low tolerance? PNP general says shooting of Winston Ragos act of self-defense
Even as the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it is observing maximum tolerance during the lockdown, one of its top cops said Thursday, April 23, that a policeman acted in self-defense when he shot twice a former …
— Rappler

Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi remain COVID-free
Since the onset of state advisories about coronavirus in January, the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi have remained COVID-19-free, while the mainland province of Lanao del Sur emerged as the “epicenter” in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, according to BARMM’s Health Ministry.
— Tempo

Angeles City releases P37 million for hazard pay of gov’t workers
The coronavirus frontliners of the Angeles City government have received their hazard pay, the mayor said on Wednesday, April 22.
— Rappler

Naga City in Cebu imposes stay-at-home rule on Sundays under expanded lockdown
Except for frontliners and others performing essential tasks, all other residents of Naga City, Cebu, will not be allowed to leave their homes on Sundays under the expanded enhanced community quarantine ordered by Mayor Kristine Vanessa Chiong.
— Rappler

No late registration penalty for 30K vehicles in Caraga: LTO
The Land Transportation Office in Caraga Region (LTO-13) has assured there will be no penalty for the late renewal of registration of vehicles.
— Philippine News Agency

Banks see losses from loan defaults
S&P Global Ratings said credit losses of Philippine banks may reach $2 billion this year due to deteriorating asset quality arising from defaults amid the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 pandemic.
— Philstar

RITM neglected for decades for being Marcos-built, says Imee
The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), established almost four decades ago, is having a gloomy founding anniversary on Thursday as a result of long years of neglect, Senator Imee Marcos said.
— GMA Network

Palace: Agencies told to study lifting of ban on public transport
The Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19 response has directed agencies to study the possible reopening of public transport even as the country grapples with the pandemic.
— GMA Network

U.P. to follow numeric grading system during outbreak
While grades can be deferred, the University of the Philippines (UP) will generally be following a numeric grading system for the second semester of academic year 2019-2020.
— Rappler

Privacy problems? Naked guy pops onscreen during Pasig Mayor Sotto’s Zoom talk
You know how video communications giant Zoom was recently in hot water over security issues, then publicly apologized, claiming that they will fix the problem?
— Coconuts Philippines

Palace revamps communication team
The government has implemented a minor revamp in its communication team for better information dissemination on efforts to address the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
— Tempo

Army orders probe into police killing of ex-soldier Winston Ragos
The Philippine Army ordered a probe into the killing of former corporal Winston Ragos in an altercation with police in Quezon City last Tuesday, April 21, Army spokesperson Colonel Ramon Zagala said in a statement on Thursday, April 23.
— Rappler

Even in stricter lockdown, military says it will play ‘support role’
In fatigues, they roam the streets in military trucks fitted with loudspeakers, reminding residents in market places, basketball courts, or even near cockpits to head home unless they have legitimate reasons to be outdoors.
— Rappler

Feature photo Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines
This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on World Intellectual Property Day, April 26.

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 24 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on April 24, 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.