Philippines Morning News For February 5, 2020

Duterte okays P2.25 billion for workers’ masks, gear
President Rodrigo Duterte has approved in principle the P2.25-billion budget for the purchase of personal protective equipment for 5,000 health care workers so they will not be infected by the novel coronavirus (nCoV), Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Tuesday.
— Manilastandard.net

Filipinos in nCoV-hit Hubei wishing to go home have until 05 February to contact PHL consulate –DFA
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) urged Filipinos in Wuhan City and the rest of Hubei Province who wish to come home to contact the Philippine Consulate General in Shanghai for arrangements. They have until Wednesday, 05 February 2020.
— Business Mirror

Duterte ready to seize private buildings to quarantine nCoV patients
The government may expropriate private facilities and convert them to quarantine centers or hospitals if the Philippines is hit by a novel coronavirus outbreak, President Rodrigo Duterte said.
— The Philippine Star

PH, Kuwait seal new labor pact
The Philippines has signed a standard contract of employment with Kuwait to improve the working conditions of overseas Filipino workers, but the Duterte administration will not lift just yet its deployment ban on the Middle Eastern country.
— Manilastandard.net

Still no known cure for 2019-nCoV: DOH
There is no known cure for the novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD), Health Secretary Francisco Duque III reiterated on Tuesday.
— Philippine News Agency

Duterte says Philippines will not deport Chinese nationals amid coronavirus outbreak
President Rodrigo Duterte has shot down suggestions to deport Chinese nationals from the Philippines or specifically bar them from entering the country in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, dismissing such restrictions as “xenophobia”.
— South China Morning Post

4 quarantined Pinoys from Hong Kong in stable condition –DOH
Four Filipinos who were quarantined because of a connecting flight they had in Hong Kong are in stable condition, the Department of Health (DOH) Region 7 said.
— GMA Network

House okays bill punishing ‘electronic violence’ against women, children
THE House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill defining electronic violence against women and their children and prescribing corresponding penalties.
— Manila Times

105 patients now being probed for novel coronavirus in PH
The Department of Health (DOH) is now probing 105 persons for the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) as of noon on Tuesday, February 4.
— Rappler

Duque hits DOH bureau for ‘incompetence’ in coronavirus response
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said “heads will roll” in the health department’s Epidemiology Bureau as a Senate hearing revealed gaps in its work identifying people who possibly came in contact with patients who tested positive for the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
— Rappler

WHO-PH says receiving packages, letters from China is safe; debunks two home remedies
The World Health Organization (WHO) Philippines has assured Filipinos that it is safe to receive packages from China.
— Manila Bulletin

Phivolcs records 3rd Taal Volcano harmonic tremor in less than a week
The number of volcanic earthquakes recorded from Taal Volcano rose in the past 24 hours, with one of them being a harmonic tremor, or prolonged shaking.
— Rappler

Senate hearing bares gaps in PH contact tracing for novel coronavirus
The Department of Health (DOH) has only contacted 17% or around 50 of the 331 passengers who may have come in contact with the country’s first two confirmed cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), revealing gaps in the government’s protocol for tracking down potentially infected persons.
— Rappler

GenSan in state of calamity due to 2019-nCoV
The City Council here declared the city under a state of calamity on Tuesday in the wake of the nationwide alert on the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV).
— Philippine News Agency

Davao Occidental put under state of calamity due to ASF outbreak
The province of Davao Occidental declared a state of calamity following the African swine fever outbreak in its two towns, which killed thousands of hogs.
— Rappler

Sarangani under lockdown amid ASF alert
Governor Steve Chongbian Solon on Monday (February 3) ordered the temporary lockdown on the entry of live hogs and all meat products into Sarangani amid the African Swine Fever (ASF) that currently plagued Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental.
— Philippine Information Agency

SWS: Jobless Pinoys drop to 7.9 million in Q4 2019
Adult joblessness dropped by four percentage points to 17.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) said on Tuesday.
— GMA Network

GDP growth could slow on outbreak
THE Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) raised a record P310.8 billion from its sale of retail Treasury bonds (RTBs) that ended on Tuesday, two days ahead of the original schedule, following strong demand from investors.
— BusinessWorld

Salceda files bill on P2.4-B supplemental budget for nCoV response
Albay Representative Joey Salceda has filed a measure seeking to appropriate a P2.4-billion supplemental budget to help the government address the risks of the novel coronavirus.
— GMA Network

DOLE now a step closer to lifting HSW deployment ban to Kuwait, Bello says
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is now a step closer to lifting the total deployment ban for Kuwait after Kuwaiti officials finally agreed to enforce the country’s Standard Employment Contract (SEC) for Filipino household service workers (HSW).
— Business Mirror

60 families lose homes in Quezon City fire
At least 60 families were left homeless after a fire razed a residential area in Quezon City yesterday.
— The Philippine Star

Last batch of Chinese tourists travelers departs from Davao
The last group of Chinese tourists visiting this city and other places in Mindanao were all flown to Manila to catch their next flight back home to mainland China, the China Consulate General here said.
— Business Mirror

Philippines: Banana exporters push for cap on exit prices
The Filipino banana export industry wants its government to set a cap on the exit price of the commodity, intent on smoothing out seasonal swings in demand and fluctuations in the harvest.
— Fresh Plaza

Makati padlocks 3 biz operating without permits
Three more establishments in Makati City were ordered closed on charges of human trafficking and for operating without business permits.
— Manilastandard.net

Architecture, design event to bring ‘brightest minds’ around Southeast Asia to Manila
FOR the fifth time, Manila is all set to host again the Anthology Arch. and Design Festival, themed “Think Architecture,” happening from February 7 to 9, timely to the historic massive developments now taking place in the country and across the region.
— Business Mirror

5 inmates escape from Negros jail
A manhunt is on for five inmates who bolted a jail in Manjuyod, Negros Oriental on Monday.
— The Philippine Star

PHL only has 10 percent of needed sanitary landfills, says DENR exec
Twenty years after the enactment of Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, the Philippines has managed to build only a total of 108 sanitary landfills nationwide, or 10 percent of what is actually needed, and a far cry from the estimated 1,700 requirement for the proper disposal of garbage, an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.
— Business Mirror

Reducing demand for pangolins nips trade in the bud – ASEAN biodiversity expert
The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) commended the rescue of pangolins and other threatened species in Palawan and South Cotabato in the Philippines, citing the role of communities in combatting wildlife trafficking.
— Philippine Information Agency

UK seeks inmate transfer agreement with Philippines
THE United Kingdom wants an agreement with the Philippines that will allow sentenced British convicts to go home and vice versa, a Justice official said on Tuesday.
— BusinessWorld Online

DTI suspends PS licenses of 6 steel firms
The Department of Trade and Industry said Tuesday it suspended the Philippine Standard licenses of six steel manufacturers in 2019 for allegedly producing non-conforming steel products.
— Manilastandard.net

30 cops apprehended for violating traffic laws
Thirty police officers were apprehended for allegedly violating traffic laws and the Anti-Carnapping Act in simultaneous law enforcement operations conducted nationwide on Monday, Feb. 3.
— Inquirer.net

71% of Central Visayas barangays affected by illegal drugs
At least 71 percent or 2,143 of the 3,003 barangays in Central Visayas are still affected by illegal drugs.
— The Philippine Star

PH, Germany to kick off JEC meeting this year
The Philippines and Germany will kick off the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) this year as they seek to strengthen economic ties, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said.
— Philippine News Agency

Philippines banana company wants to develop 1,000 hectares in Basilan
A Filipino banana company is finalizing its plan to expand in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), particularly the province of Basilan.
— Fresh Plaza

Philippines underscores commitment to ASEAN-ROK film cooperation
Film agencies from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Republic of Korea (ROK) have been coming together over the past few years to foster better ties within the region.
— Manilastandard.net

Businesses worry more about Duterte gov’t than novel coronavirus
The novel coronavirus has caused most stock markets in Asia, including the Philippines’ local bourse, to bleed.
— Rappler

BTA adopts resolution to prevent entry of 2019-nCoV in Bangsamoro Region
The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) has adopted Resolution No. 186, urging the concerned agencies and Local Government Units (LGUs) of the Bangsamoro government to adopt and implement measures to prevent the entry of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus in the Bangsamoro Region.
— Philippine Information Agency

U.P. scientists develop test kit for novel coronavirus
Scientists at the National Institutes of Health of the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila said they have developed a test kit that would help the Department of Health (DOH) confirm more cases of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the country.
— Rappler

Up to DOH to seek higher 2021 budget: Nograles
It will be up to the Department of Health (DOH) to decide whether a higher budget for 2021 is needed to improve its capacity to fight diseases such as the novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (nCoV-ARD), Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Tuesday.
— Philippine News Agency

8 insurers, NHMFC charged for anti-competitive deals
THE Philippine Competition Commission’s Enforcement Office (PCC) has charged a pool of insurers and state-led secondary mortgagor for entering into anti-competitive agreements that cornered a type of insurance offered to borrowers for nearly four decades.
— BusinessWorld

DND urges delay in PMA Homecoming as Baguio placed in nCoV lockdown
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Tuesday suggested that the Philippine Military Academy Homecoming, scheduled for February 14 and 15, be moved to a later date due to Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong’s decision to impose a mandatory a city-wide lockdown for tourists and visitors.
— GMA Network

PH eyes other markets, increased domestic tours amid nCoV
The Department of Tourism (DOT) aims to intensify its marketing efforts in other countries to offset the impact of 2019-novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) on Philippines’ tourism industry in line with the goal on reaching the targeted 9.2 million foreign tourists by end of 2020 despite the travel ban on visitors from nCoV-hit areas.
— Philippine News Agency

NBI directed to go after fake news purveyors amid nCoV threat
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the alleged dissemination of fake news about the novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD).
— Philippine News Agency

2 foreigners under watch for nCoV in Bataan
A health official here on Tuesday said the city and the whole of Bataan province are still free from the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) but there are two persons under investigation (PUIs) in two towns.
— Philippine News Agency

Duque orders nCoV contact tracing on travelers to be completed in 2 days
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III gave his subordinates two days to complete the contract tracing of plane passengers who traveled with the Chinese couple who were found infected with the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019 nCoV ARD).
— GMA Network

Quezon City hospital staff deny nCoV case, lockdown
PERSONNEL from the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City belied claims on social media that a patient was admitted for the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD) and that hospital declared a lockdown because of it.
— Manila Times

SSS extends calamity assistance to Taal eruption victims
The Social Security System on Tuesday reminded its members and pensioners who were affected by the Taal Volcano eruption that they could avail of a Calamity Assistance Package (CAP) from the SSS.
— GMA Network

Northeast monsoon continues to affect PHL
Cloudy skies and rains will continue to prevail in the country today, Feb. 4.
— Eagle News

Carlo Singson to step down from NBA Philippines
Carlo Singson will step down as associate vice president and managing director of NBA Philippines,.
— Rappler

LOOK: Maria Ressa, Leila de Lima, Maria Lourdes Sereno star in exhibit on courage
Rappler’s Maria Ressa, Senator Leila de Lima, and former chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno were the faces of courage in an exhibit that celebrated the 3 women for fighting for their rights and freedom.
— Rappler

Coronavirus impact on tourism may be worse than Boracay closure
The impact of the coronavirus outbreak on Boracay’s tourism industry could be worse than the Boracay closure .
— Rappler

Gov’t raises record P311B from RTBs
THE Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) raised a record P310.8 billion from its sale of retail Treasury bonds (RTBs) that ended on Tuesday, two days ahead of the original schedule, following strong demand from investors.
— BusinessWorld

DTI monitors price, supply of face masks in NorMin
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Northern Mindanao is stern in warning businesses and individuals not to take advantage of the public’s sudden demand of face masks or they may face possible charges.
— Philippine Information Agency

CabSec Nograles: Gov’t to prioritize clearing of under threat barangays
The national government will focus on clearing barangays under insurgency threat in the country, implementing development programs for Filipinos in communities influenced or controlled by the New People’s Army.
— Philippine Information Agency

SEC flags more illegal businesses
THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is revoking the registration of Togachat Academy Philippines, Inc. after finding it is operating an illegal investment scheme.
— BusinessWorld

Doctor abducted in Jolo, Sulu – military
Four unidentified suspects abducted a man in Jolo, Sulu, on Tuesday evening, February 4, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) confirmed.
— Rappler

Guv suspends classes in NegOr due to nCoV scare
Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo on Tuesday afternoon ordered a province-wide suspension of classes in all public schools amid the threat posed by the novel coronavirus (2019 n-CoV).
— Philippine News Agency

Healing priest Fernando Suarez dies at 52
Fr Fernando Suarez, known among local Catholics as a healing priest, died Tuesday, February 4, after collapsing while playing a game of tennis at the Alabang Country Club.
— Rappler

House OKs bill on good manners and right conduct school subject
The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on third and final reading the measure seeking the inclusion of good manners and right conduct (GMRC) as a separate subject at kindergarten to Grade 3 levels.
— GMA Network

Sotto shows video on coronavirus conspiracy theory at Senate hearing
As the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak continued to stir public concern, Senate President Vicente Sotto III showed a conspiracy theory video that claimed the coronavirus to be a form of biowarfare developed by the United States against China.
— Rappler

Naval Forces Northern Luzon leads search for missing Zambales fisherman
A fisherman from Barangay Inhobol here has been reported missing since Saturday, February 1, after sailing out into the sea 3 days ago, officials of the Naval Forces Northern Luzon (NFNL) said.
— Rappler

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This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak.

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Philippines morning news for February 5 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on February 5, 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.