Tourist arrivals, receipts fall by 50% as of April as coronavirus bites
Foreign tourist arrivals fell by more than half in the first four months of the year as the coronavirus outbreak and state-initiated lockdowns continue to crimp travel and tourism at home and abroad.
— Philippine Star
Up to 10 million Filipinos could lose jobs in Philippines due to COVID-19–DOLE
Around five to 10 million Filipinos could lose jobs in the country due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Wednesday.
— GMA Network
Two arrested in raid at Philippine illegal hospital for Chinese coronavirus patients
Philippine police raided a clandestine hospital and pharmacy that was secretly treating Chinese nationals suspected of being infected with the coronavirus, police officials said on Wednesday.
— South China Morning Post
DOH: First COVID-19 wave was in January; 2nd wave started in March and has already flattened
The Department of Health said that the country is actually already on the second wave of COVID-19 cases, and that it had actually started by the first week of March.
— Eagle News
COVID-19 cases in PHL breach 13,000 mark; recoveries rise to 2,932
The number of coronavirus disease 2019 cases in the country has breached the 13,000 mark and is now at 13,221.
— Eagle News
PAL further bleeds as last year’s losses more than double to P10B
THE listed operator of flag carrier Philippine Airlines reported a net loss of P10.31 billion last year, more than twice the attributable losses to equity holders recorded a year earlier.
— BusinessWorld
DOH probes hospitals that refused coronavirus patients – Duque
Secretary Francisco Duque III on Wednesday, May 20, said the Department of Health (DOH) had started its probe into hospitals that refused to admit COVID-19 patients.
— Rappler
House to decide on new ABS-CBN franchise ‘by August’ – Cayetano
Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the House “should be ready to decide” on the grant of a fresh 25-year franchise to ABS-CBN in August, which means the network would have to stay off-air for another 3 months.
— Rappler
PH economy slowly being reopened – DTI chief
Following the directive of the President to balance the health concern and the economy as well as the need to bring back the jobs so that Filipinos will have their income back, Secretary Ramon Lopez of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reported that the economy is now slowly being reopened.
— Philippine Information Agency
Duterte economic adviser pushes combined COVID-19 testing
Combining two types of coronavirus tests can help authorities better manage pandemic as restrictions begin to ease, an economic adviser to President Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday.
— ABS-CBN News
Vulnerable population to be prioritized when COVID-19 vaccine is available
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the government has already prepared an immunization plan for COVID-19.
— Philippine Star
U.P. recalls locally-made coronavirus test kits over ‘very minor’ defects – DOH
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Wednesday, May 20, that the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) had recalled its locally-made coronavirus test kits over “very minor” defects.
— Rappler
Coronavirus layoffs to send home 43,000 OFWs by June
Due to widespread unemployment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, some 43,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are expected to return home to the Philippines between this month and June, the labor department today said.
— Coconuts Philippines
Gov’t facing ‘problem’ with thousands of returning OFWs – Galvez
As the coronavirus pandemic forces thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to return to the Philippines, National Task Force (NTF) COVID-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr said the government could be overwhelmed with even more arrivals in the coming months.
— Rappler
Post-pandemic budget repair to outlast Duterte government
Repairing the pandemic’s damage on the government’s hard-earned strong balance sheet will go beyond the Duterte administration, a consequence of the health crisis and a necessary shift in priorities from achieving historic fiscal ambitions to saving lives and addressing people’s needs.
— Philippine Star
First time: PH Navy ship docks at Pag-asa Island
For the first time, a Philippine Navy vessel was able to properly dock at Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea, where the government is building a port and beaching ramp.
— Rappler
COVID-19 testing temporarily halts in Bicol as ‘Ambo’ damages lab
The Department of Health (DOH-5) in Bicol announced on Friday, May 15, that the Bicol Regional Diagnostic and Reference Laboratory (BRDRL) will temporarily suspend its testing for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after Typhoon ‘Ambo’ damaged one of its facilities.
— Philippine Information Agency
Number of Filipinos abroad positive for coronavirus rises to 2,455
The Department of Foreign Affairs announced another 24 Filipinos abroad tested positive for the coronavirus , raising the total number of confirmed cases to 2,455 as of Wednesday, May 20.
— Rappler
Stimulus plan widens deficit to 9% of GDP
THE Executive’s proposed P170-billion fiscal stimulus program to keep the economy afloat amid the fallout from the pandemic will widen the country’s budget deficit to 9 percent of GDP, or P1.7 trillion based on constant 2018 prices.
— Business Mirror
Magnitude 5.6 quake rocks Davao Occidental
A magnitude 5.6 quake rocked Davao Occidental on Wednesday night, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.
— Philippine News Agency
Lockdown extension will result in closure of businesses — ECOP
The Employers Confederation of the Philippines warned that further extension of lockdown measures to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 could lead to more shuttered businesses.
— Philippine Star
No proof yet that asymptomatic COVID-19 patients can infect others, says Duque
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that there is no sufficient evidence yet supporting claims of asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Wednesday.
— GMA Network
Gov’t to hire 136,000 contact tracers, says Neda chief
The government’s economic team has proposed to hire 136,000 contact tracers to boost the efforts of the Department of Health (DOH) to halt the spread of the new coronavirus in the Philippines.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer
DOH says UP-developed test kits to undergo re-validation after ‘minor’ correction
The Department of Health on Wednesday said the test kits developed by University of the Philippines scientists had to be recalled because of a minor deficiency.
— ABS-CBN News
Stop the US government’s $2-B arms sale to the Philippines
Amid the worsening COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, the U.S. government is brokering a $2 billion arms sale to Duterte’s repressive regime, fueling a human rights catastrophe.
— Bulatlat (blog)
Thousands of Filipino seafarers out of work
The coronavirus pandemic is devastating to the global maritime industry.
— Aljazeera
House OKs bill encouraging corporate social responsibility among companies
The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on third reading a measure that encourages and rewards companies for their corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities.
— GMA Network
Guv alarmed by illegal Covid-19 clinic for Chinese patients
Governor Dennis Pineda on Wednesday sounded the alarm on the operation of an illegal coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) clinic, which was catering exclusively to Chinese nationals, and asked concerned government agencies to find out if there are other similar facilities inside Clark Freeport.
— Philippine News Agency
Philippines invited to global clinical trial for COVID-19 vaccine by Chinese pharma
The Philippines has received an invitation from China to participate in a global clinical trial for a possible vaccine for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Wednesday.
— GMA Network
PRRD adviser pushes use of RTKs to test asymptomatic persons
Rapid test kits (RTKs) for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) will help the government to contain the spread of the virus as RTKs can also test asymptomatic persons, an adviser to President Rodrigo Duterte said.
— Philippine News Agency
No new COVID-19 cases, deaths among health workers; recoveries top 1,000
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Wednesday said the total number of health workers infected with COVID-19 remained at 2,315 while the death toll stood at 35. Meanwhile, recoveries rose to 1,018.
— GMA Network
Gov’t to review policy on mandatory COVID-19 testing, quarantine for returning Pinoys
The government will review its policy on mandatory COVID-19 tests and 14-day quarantine for returning overseas Filipinos amid reports of chaos in the airport due to influx of arrivals, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said Wednesday.
— GMA Network
163 families in Bukidnon flee homes amid NPA rebels’ threats
Ragtag New People’s Army (NPA) terrorists awoke folks Saturday night in San Roque and Santa Rita sub-villages of barangay Sinanglanan, Malaybalay City.
— Philippine Information Agency
DFA: 347 Filipinos arrive from Saudi Arabia
Over 300 Filipinos were repatriated from Saudi Arabia, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
— Eagle News
DOH: Testing of those without symptoms ‘not cost-effective’ for now
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said it is not cost-effective to prioritize the testing of those who do not exhibit coronavirus symptoms because the country’s healthcare system does not have the capacity for it right now.
— Rappler
Makabayan solons hit Duterte for ‘double standards’ on Sinas’ mañanita mess
Makabayan Bloc lawmakers on Wednesday hit President Rodrigo Duterte for defending National Capital Region Police Office chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas over the controversy involving the cop’s mañanita on his birthday.
— GMA Network
Imee tells DOF: Take advantage of Philippines’robust’ credit rating, borrow more for COVID-19 relief
Senator Maria Imelda Josefa Imee Marcos on Wednesday appealed for the government to increase borrowing to fund efforts against the coronavirus disease, as the finance department said borrowing is now on a record high.
— GMA Network
Malabon gov’t to file charges vs woman who lied about coronavirus exposure
The Malabon City government will file charges against a woman who did not disclose that she was a probable coronavirus case prior to admission at the Ospital ng Malabon (OsMal), where she gave birth.
— Rappler
ARBs in southern Negros to get aid packages
An initial 4,000 to 7,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in southern Negros Occidental are expected to receive aid packages containing supplemental food and hygiene products from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) starting this week.
— Philippine News Agency
Physical distancing will be ‘very costly’ for some firms
COMPANIES that rely on face-to-face interaction are likely to be more negatively affected by the implementation of physical distancing measures than other sectors, as fears over the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) persist, according to economists from the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P).
— BusinessWorld
Government to enforce localized lockdown
The government may limit lockdowns to barangays or villages with coronavirus cases instead of resorting to widespread community quarantines, to minimize the impact of the pandemic on the economy.
— Philippine Star
Amok shot dead after killing 6 in Samar
A former soldier was shot dead by police officers who responded to reports that he went amuck and killed six persons and wounded two others in Barangay Gadgaran in Calbayog City, Samar on Tuesday night.
— Philstar
PhilHealth to review P8,150 COVID-19 package after overpricing allegations
PhilHealth on Wednesday said it is reviewing its coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) package in response to allegations of overpricing.
— GMA Network
P141 million remitted to Red Cross for COVID-19 testing –PhilHeath
The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) on Wednesday said it has already remitted some P141 million to the Philippine Red Cross to finance the testing for the coronavirus disease, but the organization said the government still owes it some P18 million.
— GMA Network
Party-list helps Samar typhoon victims rebuild homes
The An Waray Party-list has turned over 2,000 roofing materials to help families in Northern Samar and Eastern Samar rebuild their houses destroyed by Typhoon “Ambo” (Vongfong).
— Philippine News Agency
Dominguez counters Marcos with history to debunk Masagana 99 ‘success’
History was not kind to Senator Imee Marcos during a Senate hearing on Tuesday.
— Philippine Star (video)
[PODCAST] ‘Yung Totoo?: Fact checking ABS-CBN shutdown claims
When ABS-CBN went off-air on Tuesday, May 5, several claims and dubious posts about the franchise issue and network shutdown circulated on social media.
— Rappler
Senator Villar ‘humbly apologizes’ after backlash on anti-middle class remarks
Shortly after drawing brickbats for saying in a Senate hearing that middle-class families should be left out of the government’s COVID-19 cash aid relief, billionaire Senator Cynthia Villar has today “humbly” apologized for her seeming “insensitive” comments.
— Coconuts Philippines
Thunderstorm advisory raised over Cavite, other areas
A thunderstorm advisory has been hoisted over parts of Cavite and other areas.
— Eagle News
LIST: Metro Manila cities lift liquor ban during MECQ
As the government started to ease restrictions and Metro Manila transitioned to a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), some cities lifted the ban on the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages.
— Rappler
NegOcc guv pushes for school opening in 2021
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has pushed for the resumption of classes next year instead of the scheduled school opening in August earlier announced by the Department of Education (DepEd).
— Philippine News Agency
DOST grants P4.7-M for sanitation cubicle fabrication
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) provided more than PHP4.7 million grant for the design and fabrication of sanitation cubicles meant to be distributed to various hospitals.
— Philippine News Agency
Feature photo City Government of Valenzuela
This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on feeding those impacted by COVID-19 #FeedThePeople
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 May 21 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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