Philippines Morning News For February 3, 2020

Coronavirus: Philippines reports first death outside China as Duterte orders travel ban on visitors from mainland, Hong Kong
The Philippines has reported the first coronavirus death outside China, hours after a senator said the country would issue a sweeping travel ban that included Hong Kong.
— South China Morning Post

Philippines detects first African swine fever outbreak in southern province
Blood samples taken from pigs in a southern province in the Philippines, the world’s 10th-largest pork consumer, tested positive for the African swine fever virus, the Department of Agriculture said on Sunday (Feb 2).
— CNA

CebuPac tracks fellow passengers of nCov-positive individuals
As the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed the second case of novel coronavirus (2019 nCov) in the Philippines on Sunday, Cebu Pacific (CEB) is now tracking everyone who was on the same flights with the two confirmed cases last January 21.
— Philippine News Agency

President Duterte orders establishment of quarantine facility to prevent nCoV spread
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the establishment of a repatriation and quarantine facility, as he ordered a mandatory 14-day quarantine for Filipinos and Philippine permanent resident visa holders coming from China and any of its special administrative regions. In his written directive released by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on …
— Eagle News

NEDA XI sees stable inflation in 2020, effect of US-Iran tension
The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) XI reported its development outlook seeing a stable inflation within the target range of 2-4 percent based on the assumptions of the Development Budget Coordination Committee.
— Philippine Information Agency

Taal Volcano unrest enters 4th week
State volcanologists maintained Alert Level 3 for Taal Volcano in the province of Batangas on Sunday, February 2, as the unrest entered its 4th week.
— Rappler

Amid coronavirus scare, face masks fly off the shelves of Cebu drugstores
As fear of being infected with the coronavirus grips Metro Cebu, drugstores here are forced to ration surgical face masks to meet the high demand.
— Rappler

Davao City health officials monitor 8 people for suspected NCOV
Health authorities confirmed monitoring eight patients showing signs and symptoms of flu after arriving in Davao City from their flights in Wubei Province and other provinces in China and Thailand.
— Philippine Information Agency

Virus-induced lockdown hurts PHL exports, imports
AS the novel coronavirus outbreak cripples business operations in China, local exporters are being advised to ship to alternative markets for now to make up for the projected purchase slowdown from the country’s largest trading partner.
— Business Mirror

Cost overruns nearly triple on inflation, project tweaks
HIGH inflation and project changes caused the government’s cost overruns to more than triple in 2018, according to the latest data released by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).
— Business Mirror

ASF reaches Mindanao; 1,000 pigs dead in 8 barangays
African swine fever (ASF) has reached Mindanao, with 1,000 pigs confirmed to have died due to the swine disease in Davao Occidental.
— The Philippine Star

3.6-magnitude earthquake hits Davao Occidental
A 3.6-magnitude earthquake struck Davao Occidental on Sunday, Feb. 2.
— Eagle News

Racism more dangerous than novel coronavirus – FilChi business group
The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Incorporated (FFCCCII) cautioned the public not to resort to racism as the novel coronavirus spreads worldwide, adding that discrimination is more dangerous than the disease.
— Rappler

3 soldiers dead in Army headquarters shooting in Sulu
Three soldiers were killed in a shooting incident inside the Philippine Army headquarters in Patikul, Sulu, on Friday night, January 31.
— Rappler

POGOs to be taxed at 30% under new Senate bill
A MEASURE proposing a 30% tax rate on the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) industry has been filed at the Senate.
— BusinessWorld

DepEd forms task force on 2019-nCoV ARD
The Department of Education (DepEd) formed a task force to address the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD) outbreak.
— GMA Network

Bureau of Immigration expands travel ban to cover China and SARs
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Sunday said it had expanded the travel ban to cover foreigners coming from China and its Special Administrative Regions (SARs) following the Palace s issuance of fresh directives on the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak.
— GMA Network

DavOr proposes P15.5-B budget to help address poverty, insurgency
The provincial government of Davao Oriental is optimistic to get huge funding of about PHP15.5 billion from the national government this year for its high-priority projects in barangays identified as conflict-affected areas and geographically isolated and disadvantaged Areas (GIDA), a statement was released Saturday.
— Philippine News Agency

CAB tells airlines to heed ban; CEB quarantines crew
THE Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) ordered all airlines operating to and from the Philippines to comply with a travel ban that it issued to help prevent the spread of the nCoV 2019 in the country, following the death of a Chinese national due to the virus on Sunday.
— Business Mirror

’19 nCoV travel ban could spell P27-B loss for tourism sectors
THE country’s tourism and travel industry are projected to lose some at least P27 billion with the temporary travel ban imposed by Malacañang on travelers from China and its special administrative territories, Hong Kong and China.
— Business Mirror

Quezon City to spas, massage parlors: Stop ‘extra service’
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte yesterday ordered a crackdown on spas and massage parlors offering “extra service” to put a stop to sexual exploitation and human trafficking in the city.
— The Philippine Star

China vows P7.2-million cash donation for Taal disaster-stricken residents
THE People’s Republic of China (PROC) has pledged a 1-million renminbi or P7.2-million cash donation to help the country in disaster relief efforts for victims of the Taal Volcano eruption.
— Business Mirror

Batangas Land closure aimed at ending Chevron’s 44-year lease deal
The Finance Department said the decision of National Development Co. to close down one of its subsidiaries―Batangas Land Company Inc.―was aimed to end a 44-year-old contract that has proven to be onerous and grossly disadvantageous to both the government and Filipino taxpayers.
— Manilastandard.net

Supply of face masks scarce in Bacolod amid nCoV scare
Apparent fears brought by the novel coronavirus (nCoV) outbreak have led to the scarcity of face mask supply in drug stores and similar distributors in this city.
— Philippine News Agency

NCRPO thanks Duterte admin for P2-B modernization fund
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) expressed “overwhelming” gratitude to the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte for approving PHP2-billion for the modernization of its equipment for mobility, firepower, communication, and investigation.
— Philippine News Agency

DOH urged: Coordinate with LGUs, solons on nCoV info dissemination
Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano is urging the Department of Health (DOH) to coordinate with local government heads and congressional representatives to help disseminate timely and comprehensible information regarding the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
— GMA Network

PH gov’t issues first ever catastrophe funds
The Philippine government, in the fourth quarter of 2019 has offered an initial $225-million for the first-ever Catastrophe Bond (Cat Bond).
— Philippine Information Agency

Palace thanks China for 200K face masks, offer to share medical info
The Palace on Sunday expressed its “great appreciation” to China for donating 200,000 surgical face masks and offering to share medical information amid the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD) outbreak.
— GMA Network

Gov’t hoping talks with China could spur faster disbursement of ODA
MORE MEETINGS with the Chinese government could help address the “slow pace” of disbursement of official development assistance (ODA), a top official said.
— BusinessWorld

DOT advises foreign offices in China on temporary travel ban
The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Sunday advised its foreign offices in China to relay to all stakeholders the latest directive by President Rodrigo Duterte to temporarily ban the entry of any person coming from China, Hong Kong and Macau to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
— Philippine News Agency

PNP to help DTI, LGUs monitor face mask supply amid nCoV outbreak
The Philippine National Police said Sunday it is prepared to assist the Department of Trade and Industry, and local government units in preventing the hoarding of items needed against the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory (nCoV ARD disease outbreak.
— GMA Network

Senate panel to hold hearing anew on alleged POGO-related prostitution
The Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality is set to hold another inquiry into the proliferation of alleged prostitution dens catering to Chinese nationals in the country.
— GMA Network

Robredo urges Filipinos to respect Chinese amid coronavirus spread
Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday, February 2, urged the public not to resort to discrimination against Chinese in the Philippines amid fears over the global spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus.
— Rappler

NEDA-8: Significant drop in E. Visayans who are poor in 2018 due to improved labor market conditions, other reforms
The remarkable reduction in poverty incidence in Eastern Visayas in 2018 can be largely attributed to the improved labor market conditions and other institutional reforms that increased incomes of the households, according to OIC-Regional Director Meylene Rosales of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA-8) in reaction to the official poverty statistics for 2018 released by the Philippines Statistics Authority 8 in a forum held at the Summit Hotel in this city, Jan. 31.
— Philippine Information Agency

Program to plant trees can curb rural poverty
At its last meeting in Davos, the World Economic Forum launched an initiative to grow, restore and conserve a trillion trees.
— Manila Times

DOT details questions for guests manifesting nCoV symptoms
The Department of Tourism (DOT) urged tourism enterprises, especially accommodation establishments, to protect tourists from getting infected with the novel coronavirus (nCoV) by screening checked-in guests with symptoms.
— GMA Network

San Miguel still assessing full impact of Skyway Stage 3 fire
Around 300 meters of the Skyway Stage 3 was severely damaged by the fire on Saturday, February 1, but the incident’s full impact has yet to be determined, according to San Miguel Corporation’s (SMC) construction arm.
— Rappler

Labor inspections resume this month
THE Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said it will resume labor inspections this month, covering company compliance with labor law and workplace safety standards.
— BusinessWorld

Alab outhustles Singapore in revenge home game
San Miguel Alab Pilipinas continued its strong mid-season push in the ASEAN Basketball League with a thrilling 86-77 overtime win over the Singapore Slingers at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna on Sunday, February 2.
— Rappler

DAR, DSWD give livelihood aid to over 400 Cagayano farmers
Some 423 marginalized Cagayano farmers are now benefiting from the government’s Convergence on Livelihood Assistance for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Project (CLAAP).
— Philippine Information Agency

Start-Up project launched for young entreps in Tuguegarao City
A young city councilor in this city, in partnership with the Junior Chamber Industry (JCI) Tuguegarao Ybanag and the Philippine Young Entrepreneurs Association (PYEA), has launched the Tuguegarao Start-Up 2020 project to develop young potential entrepreneurs.
— Philippine Information Agency

Lady dies as fire razes inn in Pangasinan
A lady guest died when a fire lasting one-hour gutted down an inn in Mabini Street here on Sunday dawn.
— Philippine News Agency

Gov’t doing best to stop spread of 2019-nCoV in PH: Andanar
President Rodrigo Duterte and his administration are exhausting all efforts to stop the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from spreading further across the Philippines, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar assured the public on Sunday.
— Philippine News Agency

Sen. Sotto seeks creation of One Info agency for nCoV news, updates
Senate President Vicente Sotto III proposed the creation of a One Info inter-agency body tasked to update the public on the status of the novel coronavirus as well as the actions government has taken to control it.
— GMA Network

DPWH completes access road leading to Ditabuyan Falls
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed a new access road leading to Ditabuyan Falls in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija.
— Philippine Information Agency

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Philippines morning news for February 3 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on February 3, 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.