Philippines eyes mass testing of suspected COVID-19 cases starting on April 14
The government is looking to start mass testing persons suspected of having COVID-19 on April 14, the chief implementer of the national action plan against the disease said on Thursday.
— GMA Network
Davao City goes under enhanced community quarantine starting April 3
Mayor Sara Duterte placed Davao City under enhanced community quarantine effective Friday, April 13, further restricting the movement of residents.
— Rappler
Asean governments jump on dodgy COVID-19 instant test kits (video)
Governments across Asean have raised alarm over the sudden emergence of unregistered COVID-19 instant test kits being sold online and in markets, warning the public not to fall victim to the unproven devices.
— AEC News Today
PHL Covid-19 cases now 2,633; DOH reports 11 new deaths
THE Covid-19 cases in the country rose to 2,633 as of Thursday, the Department of Health (DOH) said.
— Business Mirror
Wearing of face masks now mandatory
The national government has adopted the policy requiring those going outside to wear face masks, handkerchiefs, or other protective equipment to prevent the further spread of the novel coronavirus disease-2019 in the country.
— Tempo
PH ambassador to Lebanon dies of coronavirus
Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon Bernardita Catalla died in Beirut, Lebanon early morning of Thursday, April 2, due to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus .
— Rappler
Current account deficit seen widening to 2.6% of GDP as exports weaken — Fitch Solutions
THE CURRENT account deficit is expected to expand this year to about 2.6% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) due to weak external demand during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, according to Fitch Solutions Macro Research.
— BusinessWorld
ADB implements $5 M food aid project for vulnerable communities
THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) rolled out its $5-million project to provide food to up to 55,000 poor households in Luzon affected by the month-long enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
— BusinessWorld
BI tells foreigners in Philippines: Stay inside, no need to apply for visa extension yet
The Bureau of Immigration(BI) on Thursday discouraged foreigners who are still in the Philippines from going out to apply for visa extensions amid the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
— GMA Network
Iloilo restricts travel to, from towns with local transmission
Traveling to municipalities with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) local transmission is now being restricted in Iloilo province.
— Philippine News Agency
DOST to study use of virgin coconut oil as coronavirus treatment
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is conducting clinical studies on the possible benefits of virgin coconut oil for patients with moderate to severe cases of COVID-19 and patients under investigation (PUIs).
— Rappler
China sends 12-person medical team to help fight COVID-19 in Philippines
China on Thursday announced that it was sending a 12-man medical team in Manila on Sunday to assist and advice the Philippine government on its efforts to address the coronavirus outbreak.
— GMA Network
Duque tells smokers, vapers: Quit now, you’re at risk from Covid-19
HEALTH Secretary Francisco T. Duque III appealed to smokers and vapers to stop immediately for they may be at a higher risk for severe illness from Covid-19
— Business Mirror
$5-Billion Remittance Loss Seen in COVID-19’s Wake
AN economist-lawmaker said that it may take two to three years before the country can return to normal levels due to the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
— Business Mirror
Banks told to waive charges during ECQ period
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has directed banks to waive interest, fees and charges during the 30-day grace period to future payments of the borrowers as part of the government’s efforts to ease the burden of Filipinos amid the health crisis.
— The Philippine Star
4.5-magnitude quake hits Negros Occidental
A 4.5-magnitude earthquake struck Negros Occidental on Thursday, April 2.
— Eagle News
Attacked & underpaid: Medics in Philippines battle stigma, virus
Joaquin Sapul, Jr started getting the frantic calls a few hours after the health department announced the first coronavirus case in Iloilo City in the central Philippines on March 21.
— Aljazeera
Filipinos with Covid-19 abroad now 448
A total of 448 Filipinos abroad have contracted the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) as of April 2, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported Thursday.
— Philippine News Agency
4 overseas domestic workers die in Qatar house fire
During the early hours of Monday, March 30, 4 migrant domestic workers died in a house fire in Al Khor City, Qatar. Three of the women were Filipinas and the other Sri Lankan.
— Rappler
Manila makes it illegal to discriminate against COVID-19 patients, frontliners; violators to be fined, jailed
The city government of Manila today (April 2) passed an ordinance making it illegal to discriminate against COVID-19 patients, whether confirmed or under investigation, as well as health workers and other frontliners.
— Eagle News
DOH starts distributing 15k sets of PPEs to various hospitals, says 985,000 PPE sets due to arrive April 6-24
The Department of Health said it has started to deliver 15,000 sets of Personel Protection Equipment (PPE) that arrived on Wednesday, April 1, to six of its referral hospitals.
— Eagle News
Cotabato City to implement ban on public utility vehicles
Operations of all public transport here will temporarily be suspended starting Friday as two more persons have tested positive of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
— Philippine News Agency
DSWD: P100-billion subsidy ready for distribution to 18 million poor families
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Thursday, April 2, that P100 billion in cash aid is ready for distribution to 18 million poor families as emergency subsidy to help them cope with lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic.
— Rappler
Lucena village in total lockdown due to positive Covid-19 case
Residents of Barangay Cotta, one the large villages here, were surprised to learn Thursday morning that their locality is now under a total lockdown.Police personnel in complete camouflage uniform were manning the checkpoints, strictly implementing the lockdown imposed by the city government.
— Philippine News Agency
DoE preparing to tap funds for COVID-19
THE Department of Energy (DoE) has prepared a draft circular directing the use of all available and unremitted funds accumulated under Energy Regulation 1-94 (ER 1-94) to bolster the government’s efforts to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic.
— BusinessWorld
LTFRB-7 issues special permit for vehicles hired amid quarantine
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Central Visayas is now issuing special permits to private vehicles commissioned to ferry workers of essential establishments, medical front-liners and public officials and employees.
— Philippine News Agency
Palace denies Duterte’s hospitalization rumors
Malacañang on Thursday denied rumors that President Rodrigo Duterte is confined at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City.
— Philippine News Agency
Philippines to join WHO, other countries’ bid to find cure for COVID-19
The Philippines will participate in the solidarity trial being conducted by the World Health Organization with other countries to find a cure for COVID-19, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said on Thursday.
— GMA Network
Gov’t wants supermarkets, pharmacies to operate for 12 hours
The government’s coronavirus task force on Thursday, April 2, urged all supermarkets, pharmacies, and other similar establishments to operate up to 12 hours to give residents more time to purchase essential goods.
— Rappler
Vietnam reaffirms commitment to supply rice to Philippines —DA
Vietnam has reaffirmed its commitment to continuously supply the Philippines’ rice requirement amid concerns over food security due to the COVID-19 situation, the Department of Agriculture said.
— GMA News
NBI summons ‘more than a dozen’ for coronavirus posts
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has summoned “more than a dozen people” over their social media posts related to the coronavirus.
— Rappler
DPWH begins conversion of PICC tent into Covid-19 facility
The conversion of the Forum Halls of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City to a facility to manage mild to moderate cases of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients started on Thursday, a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official said.
— Philippine News Agency
AboitizPower drops Vietnam wind farm
ABOITIZ POWER Corp. reported that its unit terminated the deal to fully acquire a wind power company in Vietnam.
— BusinessWorld
Duterte threat to shoot quarantine violators is against rule of law –CHR
President Rodrigo Duterte s threat to shoot people who will disrupt the enhanced community quarantine amid the COVID-19 pandemic is dangerous and in violation of rule of law, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) warned Thursday.
— GMA Network
Ilocos Norte converts hotel into PUI isolation facility
A provincial government-owned hotel and convention facility in Barangay Balacad in this city has opened its doors to patients under investigation (PUIs) with mild symptoms of the new coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
— Philippine News Agency
SC, DOJ, DILG urged: Issue joint order not to arrest light offenders
With nearly 20,000 people arrested since the start of the coronavirus lockdown, the government’s justice cluster is urged to issue a joint order that would spare light offenders from arrest.
— Rappler
PACC chairman disowns commissioner’s call for probe vs. Robredo
Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) chairman Dante Jimenez on Thursday denied that the agency was calling for an investigation against Vice President Leni Robredo for allegedly competing with the national government s relief efforts amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) threat.
— GMA Network
Legarda urges hospitals to ensure payment of employees’ salaries
Deputy Speaker and Antique Lone District Representative Loren Legarda today urged all nine hospitals in Antique to update their payment of salaries for permanent, contractual, and job order employees.
— Philippine Information Agency
Quarantine your mouth, Bong Go tells unhelpful officials
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Thursday advised officials who cannot pitch in help in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to just quarantine [their] mouths.
— GMA Network
Anti-red tape body wants e-payments for gov’t cash aid
THE Anti-Red Tape Authority wants electronic payments for cash aid under the government’s P200-billion program to support the poor affected by a Luzon-wide lockdown to contain a coronavirus pandemic that has brought the economy to a standstill.
— BusinessWorld
DSWD rules on releasing COVID-19 aid unnecessary, burdensome , says ARTA
The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s requirement for potential beneficiaries of the social amelioration program to be certified by the barangay and local government officials is unnecessary and tedious, the Anti-Red Tape Authority said on Thursday.
— GMA Network
Pangilinan to raise NBI’s fake news probe to Bayanihan Act’s oversight panel
Senator Francis Pangilinan on Thursday expressed opposition to the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) probe on ordinary citizens who aired their sentiments on social media amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) health emergency.
— GMA Network
Duterte warns Filipinos of the “Left” creating trouble; tells public to trust, listen to gov’t in this time of crisis
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, President Rodrigo Duterte came out on national television once again on Wednesday night, April 1, to stress the seriousness of the crisis and asked the people to listen to and trust the government.
— Eagle News
Duterte tosses aid distribution to DSWD
Malacañang said yesterday President Duterte has stripped local government units of their authority to distribute assistance during the novel coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic to avoid political patronage.
— Tempo
Palace says Admin Order No. 27 only meant to “streamline process of donations to the national government”
The Palace on Thursday, April 2, slammed as malicious reports saying Administrative Order No. 27 was issued to allow Senator Bong Go to manage the donations consolidated by the Office of the Civil Defense so he can be given credit for the same.
— Eagle News
Gov’t ‘red tape’ frustrates Iloilo City mayor amid coronavirus response
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas on Wednesday, April 1, expressed frustration towards a handful of national government agencies, slamming their inaction and the prevalence of restrictive “red tape” during the coronavirus crisis .
— Rappler
390 French tourists repatriated from PH: embassy
A total of 390 stranded French tourists and other Europeans were repatriated from the Philippines, the French embassy in Manila reported on Thursday.
— Philippine News Agency
TESDA urges Pinoys to avail of online courses
With many Filipinos staying in their homes with the implementation of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) scare, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Secretary Isidro Lapeña is urging everyone to avail of the agency’s online courses.
— Philippine News Agency
Isabela has ample rice supply: NFA provincial exec
Isabela province has at least 500,000 kilograms of palay and 10,000 sacks of rice in store, enough to last until after the enhanced community quarantine is lifted, the National Food Authority (NFA) provincial manager said.
— Philippine News Agency
Cebu province distributes P376 million to LGUs affected by lockdown
The Cebu provincial government will begin distributing financial aid to cities and towns under its jurisdiction on Thursday, April 2, to help grapple them with the coronavirus-prompted lockdown – or enhanced community quarantine – here.
— Rappler
[OPINION] Duterte’s callous disregard for health workers’ lives
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has a perverse message for health workers who have died of COVID-19 contracted in the country’s struggle against the novel coronavirus: Be grateful.
— Rappler
DOST seeks textile donation for reusable mask production
The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) is seeking for textile donations for the 500,000 reusable face masks it would produce, its chief said Thursday.
— Philippine News Agency
26 Samar ex-rebels get P1.85-M cash aid
A total of 26 former fighters of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Samar province received PHP1.85 million in cash incentives on Wednesday.
— Philippine News Agency
Feature photo Department of Public Works and Highways
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 3 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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