Philippines morning news for May 15, 2020

PH war chest vs COVID-19 up to $16.7B, but 4th lowest per person in Southeast Asia
The Philippines’ war chest against COVID-19 inched up to $16.7 billion in May, but still lagged behind most of its Southeast Asian neighbours if spending was divided across the population, the latest data compiled by Asian Development Bank (ADB) economists showed.
— Inquirer.net

Typhoon Ambo slams Philippines, testing COVID-19 protocols
Typhoon Ambo slammed coronavirus-stricken Philippines Thursday with heavy rains and fierce winds, as tens of thousands required evacuation while observing pandemic protocols.
— ABS-CBN News

Government confident of eliminating testing backlog ‘in two weeks’
The government is optimistic that it will be able to address the backlog on coronavirus testing in two weeks as it expects the country’s testing capacity to increase with the help of the private sector.
— Philippine Star

Pandemic hampers Philippines typhoon evacuation
coronavirus pandemic is complicating Philippine efforts to move hundreds of thousands of people into evacuation centres where social distancing is hard to enforce as a strong typhoon pummelled through its eastern provinces.
— Bangkok Post

PH coronavirus cases climb to 11,876, deaths now at 790
The number of confirmed coronavirus patients in the country reached 11,876, as the Department of Health (DOH) reported 258 new cases as of 4 pm on Thursday, May 14.
— Rappler

Duque: To stem infections, at least 1 contact tracer needed per 800 people
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has reminded local government units that they need at least one contact tracer per 800 people to stem coronavirus cases in their areas.
— Rappler

NTC: Issuing provisional permit to ABS-CBN encroaches on Congress domain
Allowing ABS-CBN Corp to operate beyond its lapsed franchise would have encroached on Congress’ exclusive right over legislative franchises, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said in its explanation to lawmakers.
— ABS-CBN News

Continuous forest operation nets P3.4M worth of illegally cut lumber
The continuous forest operation by the joint forces of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) of Northern Samar led to the seizure of P3,483,628.10 worth of assorted sizes of lumber and boat keels.
— Philippine Information Agency

FDA warns against ‘anti-virus’ lanyard, says no evidence of effectivity
The Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration on Thursday said Filipinos should be wary of products claiming to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
— ABS-CBN News

Nearly 10,000 evacuate in Samar due to Ambo; power out in whole province
Nearly 10,000 people were evacuated in Northern Samar after Typhoon Ambo, packing heavy rains and strong winds, made landfall in the country, a disaster official said Thursday.
— ABS-CBN News

81 Filipino patients join int’l trial for coronavirus drug
At least 81 Filipino COVID-19 patients are participating in an international trial of possible drugs for the severe respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus that has sickened more than 4.35 million people in the world, killing over 295,000 of them.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Cebu airport prepares for ‘new normal’ in travel
The management of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) on Thursday started to ramp up preparation for the “new normal travel experience,” as Cebu Province, except this city, will be downgraded from enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to general community quarantine (GCQ) on May 16 to 31.
— Philippine News Agency

Typhoon Ambo, with violent winds and intense rains, bears down on Bicol region
Typhoon Ambo, bringing violent winds and intense rains, has crossed Samar island and moved closer to Bicol region Thursday night, state weather bureau PAGASA said.
— ABS-CBN News

Galvez threatens legal action vs. Inquirer, Rappler over malicious PPEs report
The chief implementer of the government s coronavirus response on Wednesday threatened to take legal action against Rappler and Philippine Daily Inquirer over their “malicious” articles on the procurement of P20 billion worth of personal protective equipment (PPE).
— GMA Network

Senate plans one-year franchise for ABS-CBN
THE Senate is looking at granting ABS-CBN Corp. a provisional franchise of at least one year, which it plans to have approved on final reading by June 1, a Senate leader said on Thursday.
— BusinessWorld

Remittances seen to end 18-year growth streak
Remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) may decline by 2.5 percent this year, ending 18 years of robust growth due to job losses, falling income and severely restricted deployment of new workers abroad due to the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 pandemic, according to US-based credit rating agency Fitch Ratings.
— Philippine Star

Liquidity support, tax perks eyed for firms to boost recovery
The government is looking to provide liquidity support and tax incentives to firms and stimulate employment as it prepares for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) recovery period.
— Philippine News Agency

Gov’t to procure 11 million add’l PPE sets
The government will purchase an additional 11 million personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies worth PHP 20 billion to ensure the safety of healthcare workers amid the coronavirus pandemic, National Action Plan on Covid-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. said Thursday.
— Philippine News Agency

PHL spending half of what’s needed on vulnerable — Nomura
THE Philippines needs to double its aid to vulnerable members of the population after the lockdown strategy for containing the pandemic disrupted their earning capacity, Nomura Global Markets Research said.
— BusinessWorld

DPWH resumes work on NCR flagship projects
THE DEPARTMENT of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Thursday that it resumed work on government flagship projects in Metro Manila.
— BusinessWorld

Number of COVID-19 testing centers rises to 31 as 29th PCR facility gets nod
The number of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing centers for the coronavirus disease 2019 climbed to 29 on Thursday after the Department of Health (DOH) announced that one more laboratory received accreditation, bringing the total number of COVID-19 testing facilities in the Philippines to 31.
— GMA Network

Boracay lockdown costs Aklan more than P11-B in lost revenues
Aklan province, where the famous Boracay Island is located, lost up to P11.33 billion in tourist receipts due to coronavirus lockdowns, according to estimates from the Department of Tourism (DOT).
— Rappler

Health workers with COVID-19 now 2,165; no new death recorded
The number of healthcare workers who have contracted coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has climbed to 2,165, the Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday.
— GMA Network

Angat to deliver water to Metro at full blast until May 30
The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) has raised the allocation of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) from 46 cubic meters per second (CMS) to 48 CMS starting Thursday, May 14, 2020, to boost the raw water supply for Metro Manila residents.
— Business Mirror

NEDA proposes 25% corporate income tax starting July
The National Economic and Development Authority proposed the reduction in corporate income tax from the current 30 percent to 25 percent effective July 2020 to help businesses recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Manilastandard.net

Salceda: More than 14 million workers can go back to work under new quarantine measures
The chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means on Thursday said 14 million additional workers would be able to work under a new quarantine regime.
— Business Mirror

Senator presses passage of medical scholarship bill
Citing lessons learned from the raging Covid-19 pandemic, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto prodded Congress Wednesday to front-load passage of the Medical Scholarship Act to boost the ranks of doctors needed to effectively contain a similar contagion in the future.
— Business Mirror

Albay needs to evacuate 300,000 residents as Typhoon Ambo nears
The provincial government of Albay sought to evacuate on Thursday, May 14, up to 80,000 families or over 300,000 residents living along its coasts and areas prone to flooding and lahar flows.
— Rappler

Senator seeks rehab assistance for Taal eruption victims
Over 900 families displaced by the Taal Volcano eruption in January are still residing in evacuation centers in Talisay, Batangas and should receive assistance from the government as their ordeal has been coupled with the threats of COVID-19, according to Senator Francis Tolentino on Thursday.
— GMA Network

DOH says Philippines at 9,000 COVID-19 tests per day as PCR laboratories reach 29
Philippine laboratories successfully ran over 9,000 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tests in a single day, the Department of Health said Thursday, amid consistent clamor for mass testing to determine a better picture of how many people are really infected.
— ABS-CBN News

43 mayors face show cause orders over cash aid distribution
Some 43 mayors across the Philippines are set to receive show cause orders for failing to hit the target distribution rate set by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
— Rappler

Philippines lifts restrictions on OFW departures as coronavirus lockdown eases
The government has lifted restrictions on Filipino departures for overseas employment as the country prepared to ease lockdown measures enforced because of the coronavirus pandemic.
— ABS-CBN News

Overseas Filipinos with coronavirus climb to 2,322
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported that 12 more Filipinos tested positive for the coronavirus abroad, bringing the total number to 2,322 as of Thursday, May 14.
— Rappler

ABS-CBN free to report during 5-month temporary franchise: solon
A lawmaker on Thursday said ABS-CBN Corp would be “free” in its reportage even if Congress approves a temporary franchise for only 5 months.
— ABS-CBN News

Senate panel to hear ABS-CBN provisional franchise on Tuesday–Gatchalian
The Senate committee on public services will conduct a hybrid hearing on bill seeking to grant a provisional franchise for ABS-CBN Tuesday next week, according to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.
— GMA Network

Salesman arrested, jailed for calling Duterte ‘crazy’
Police arrested on Wednesday, May 13, a 41-year-old salesman in Butuan City for a Facebook post where he called President Rodrigo Duterte an “asshole” and “crazy.”
— Rappler

2M private school students to transfer to public schools or drop out due to COVID-19 crisis: officials
About 2 million students studying in private educational institutions are expected to either enroll in public schools or drop out from studying this school year after their parents’ income were affected by the coronavirus crisis, education officials said Thursday.
— ABS-CBN News

Proposed emergency jobs for Pinoys backed
Senator Cynthia Villar has expressed support for the proposal of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno to provide emergency employment to Filipinos.
— Tempo

Pilot courts nationwide can now do virtual hearings for all matters
The Supreme Court has authorized all pilot courts nationwide to hold virtual hearings for all matters, regardless of the type of pleading and stage of trial.
— Rappler

DOTr: Fuel subsidy for buses transporting medical workers to hospitals extended until May 31
The fuel subsidy for buses transporting medical workers to hospitals has been extended to May 31.
— Eagle News

Duterte’s final gambit to end insurgency: task force vs communists
As if the government shutting down the country’s largest media company wasn’t messy enough, its anti-insurgency task force jumped into the fray by turning it into an issue of communist propaganda.
— Rappler

BARMM readies quarantine facilities for repatriated OFWs
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), in coordination with its local government units, has set up more quarantine facilities across the region for repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), an official said.
— Philippine News Agency

Davao Sur ECQ, GCQ violators reach 2K
A total of 2,401 individuals in Davao del Sur violated the guidelines of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and general community quarantine (GCQ) from March 17 up to May 14, the police said.
— Philippine News Agency

Couple missing in typhoon-hit Eastern Samar: governor
A couple went missing after traveling by boat to an island village in Eastern Samar to sell fish amid Typhoon Ambo’s onslaught, Gov. Ben Evardone said Thursday.
— ABS-CBN News (video)

Palace: Business that can’t provide rides for employees should stay closed during MECQ
Malacañang on Thursday advised companies in areas to be placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) to defer their reopening if they cannot provide transportation for their employees.
— Philippine Star

NWRB hikes water allocation for NCR
THE National Water Resources Board (NWRB) has increased the raw water allocation of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) starting May 14 until the end of the month.
— BusinessWorld

Health safeguards in place as NegOcc bus trips resume May 18
The Vallacar Transit, Inc. (VTI), operator of Ceres Liner and Tours buses, is implementing health safeguards to protect passengers and bus personnel once it resumes trips in Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, on May 18.
— Philippine News Agency

Energy department proposes fuel discounts to aid agricultural sector
THE Department of Energy has proposed fuel discounts or subsidies for the agriculture sector to help it achieve food security for the Philippines.
— BusinessWorld

Private schools seek P2.4 billion wage subsidy for teachers during COVID-19 crisis
A group of private schools on Thursday urged senators and Department of Education (DepEd) officials to provide a wage subsidy for teachers who also lost their income due to the coronavirus crisis.
— ABS-CBN News

DICT asks local governments, homeowner groups to help expedite cell site rollout
THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Thursday appealed to local government units (LGUs) and homeowner associations (HoAs) to simplify their permit procedures for telecommunications companies erecting cell sites.
— BusinessWorld

Palace confirms criminal charges readied vs NCRPO chief Sinas, other police officers for May 8 bday bash
“A criminal case is now being readied” for filing tomorrow against National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Debold Sinas, along with other senior police officials who attended a gathering related to his birthday celebration.
— Eagle News

OWWA-6 disburses over P27M OFW cash aid
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) 6 has already disbursed some P27,110,000.00 worth of emergency assistance to 2,711 overseas Filipino workers in Western Visayas affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
— Philippine Information Agency

Teacher arrested over tweet to be charged in court for inciting to sedition
The public high school teacher arrested over his tweet offering P50-million for President Rodrigo Duterte’s head will be charged with inciting to sedition in relation to cybercrime next week, an official said Thursday.
— GMA Network

Alibaba Cloud to hold first ever ACtivate Philippines Online Conference
Alibaba Cloud, a cloud computing company and a subsidiary of Alibaba Group, is holding its very first ACtivate Philippines Online Conference on May 20, 10 pm to 5 pm.
— Rappler

DSWD, DICT launch ‘ReliefAgad’ app for electronic cash aid distribution
The Departments of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Information and Communications Technology (DICT) launched a mobile app on Thursday, May 14, to facilitate automated cash aid distributions for the emergency subsidy program (ESP) which aids poor families affected by the coronavirus lockdown.
— Rappler

Resumption of classes in college based on education delivery mode — COVID-19 task force
The government’s task force on the coronavirus pandemic has adopted the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) recommendation to open schools based on the manner of delivering classes.
— Philippine Star

Appeals to lift liquor ban not discussed at IATF meeting -Roque
Malacañang on Thursday said the government has not discussed the appeals to lift the ban on the sale of alcoholic drinks amid the community quarantine due to the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
— GMA Network

Nicaragua releases 2,800 prisoners to contain virus
Nicaragua released more than 2,800 prisoners to house arrest on Wednesday to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, but advocates said there were no political prisoners among them.
— Rappler

Davao City has over 5,000 unused trash bins – COA
The Davao City government purchased thousands of trash bins in 2016 as part of its solid waste management program but 40% of the units worth P107 million have remained unused since then, the Commission on Audit (COA) said in a report.
— Rappler

Commentary: COVID-19 disrupts legacy banking
Over-the-counter banking will be among the casualties of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the Philippines.
— Philippine Star

Wellness tourism in good position in post-Covid era
Wellness tourism is expected to be in a good position during the post-pandemic period as tourists shift to focus on health and wellness, a Department of Tourism (DOT) official said Thursday.
— Philippine News Agency

No parents allowed in PMA virtual graduation rites
Members of the Philippine Military Academy graduating class of 2020 will receive their diplomas without their parents and their loved ones on May 22.
— Philstar

Feature photo Seed Quest
This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, May 17.

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).

—

About Philippines morning news.

Philippines morning news roundup is the most comprehensive hand-curated selection of Philippines English language news headlines published. Each weekday we scour hundreds of local and international news sites and websites to find the most recent Philippines English language news today.

We filter our the dull, the boring, the repetitive, and the click-bait and package all of the Philippines daily news that you need to know to start your day into an easy to read, time saving format of Philippines news headlines and first paragraphs before 8.15am Manila time.

We clearly identify the source of all the Philippines news headlines, whether it is behind a paywall, a media release, or whether the news site uses annoying pop-up advertising or auto-play video, in case those things annoy you too. If a website uses particularly invasive pop-up adverts, we’ll tell you.

This enables you to make an informed choice of whether you want to learn more by clicking directly through to the original Philippines news article, or keep on reading the remaining Philippines daily news headlines.

Click here to get your Philippines English language news today by email before 9am Manila time daily. Remember to watch out for the confirmation email from us to confirm your subscription. Check your trash folder if you do not see it.

For more immediate updates download the AEC News Today Mobile App from the Apple or Google stores, or follow us on Twitter.

#Independentmedia

Governance, not government; policies not politics.

Philippines morning news for May 15 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on May 15, 2020
View all posts by Stella-maris Ewudolu →

Bio
Latest Posts

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.