Philippines morning news for May 5, 2020

Philippines’ Duterte hikes tariffs on imported oil, refined petroleum
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday temporarily increased tariffs on imported crude oil and refined petroleum products to fund measures aimed at mitigating the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
— Reuters

National economy losing P18 billion daily since lockdown–lawmaker
AN economist-lawmaker on Monday revealed that the country loses around P18 billion for each day of lockdown, especially amid coronavirus fears that would hinder an effective reopening of the national economy.
— Business Mirror

Press groups report 61 cases of attacks vs media since January 2019
A day after the commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day, the Freedom For Media, Freedom for All network said it had documented 61 incidents of attacks and threats against journalists between January 1, 2019 to April 30,2020.
— Philippine Star

PHL leads Southeast Asia in budget transparency index
THE Philippines ranked first in Southeast Asia for budget transparency but remained second to Georgia for the whole Asia.
— Business Mirror

Philippines coronavirus cases rise to 9,485, death toll reaches 623
The Department of Health (DOH) announced that 262 more Filipinos tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the number of confirmed cases in the Philippines to 9,485 as of Monday, May 4.
— Rappler

Fitch Solutions cuts 2020 PHL growth outlook to 0.5%, contraction possible if Q1 weak
FITCH SOLUTIONS Country Risk and Industry Research reduced its economic growth forecast for the Philippines to 0.5% in 2020 due to the impact of the lockdown, and warned that a full-year contraction is possible if first-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) comes in lower than expected.
— BusinessWorld

COVID-19 invasion a ground for martial law declaration -Panelo
President Rodrigo Duterte can impose martial law due to the spread of the deadly coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the Philippines, his chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo said Monday.
— GMA Network

Government eyeing P20-billion take from additional oil tax
THE government is now banking on low global oil prices to generate additional revenue for its novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) measures by implementing additional taxes for imported crude and refined petroleum products.
— Business Mirror

Manufacturing PMI falls to record low
FACTORY ACTIVITY slumped to a record low in April, as the extended lockdown continued to prevent manufacturers from operating at normal capacity.
— BusinessWorld Online

Duterte orders to make OFW PhilHealth contributions voluntary
Overseas Filipino Workers are no longer mandated to pay premium contributions to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.
— Philippine Star

Govt grants request of LGUs for sweeper flights for stranded constituents
The national government has allowed local government units to arrange and fund sweeper flights for their stranded constituents amid the community quarantines due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
— GMA Network

PRRD approves ECQ extension in Albay, Zamboanga
President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to include Albay province and Zamboanga City in the list of areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until May 15, Malacañang said on Monday.
— Philippine News Agency

Stimulus spending seen producing 6.5% deficit
PROPOSED spending measures laid out in the stimulus bill currently in Congress will increase the budget deficit as a proportion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to about 6.5%, more than double the level considered prudent, a former socioeconomic planning secretary said.
— BusinessWorld

PH’s Covid-19 testing capacity now over 5K daily
The testing capacity of laboratories for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has reached the 5,000-mark, a health official said Monday.
— Philippine News Agency

Declining inflation provides room for further easing — Diokno
THE DOWNTREND in inflation will give the central bank room for further monetary easing to support to the economy during the pandemic emergency, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said.
— BusinessWorld

DOJ promises to assess 100 convicts per week for parole, clemency
The Department of Justice (DOJ) committed to assess at least 100 convicts per week for early releases based on the relaxed application for parole and clemency, Malacañang reported to Congress on Monday, May 4.
— Rappler

Duterte offers P30,000 reward for reporting officials who steal coronavirus aid
President Rodrigo Duterte is offering thousands of pesos to Filipinos who will report local officials pocketing financial assistance and aid meant to help the poor during the coronavirus outbreak.
— Rappler

Daily wage earners must be allowed back to work – Villar
Sen. Cynthia Villar called on the government to allow daily wage earners to work as soon as possible, but subject to strict health protocols.
— Philippine Star

Group to Duterte admin: Defy, protest China fishing ‘ban’ in disputed waters
The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) is urging the Duterte administration to protest and defy China’s “fishing ban” as a fish conservation measure in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
— Business Mirror

QC government sets up mobile morgue for cremation
The Quezon City government has set up a mobile morgue to accommodate at least 40 cadavers awaiting cremation.
— Manilastandard.net

Mindanao LGUs on building frenzy for Covid-19 centers
Several local governments in Mindanao were not taking chances and heeded the recommendation of the Department of Health that they prepare more confinement centers for probable patients of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19).
— Business Mirror

PCCI asks Congress to pass P500-billion economic stimulus bill
THE country’s largest business group on Monday appealed to lawmakers to immediately pass the stimulus bill in Congress amounting to nearly P500 billion in order to encourage the private sector to resume activity and boost confidence of both investors and consumers.
— Business Mirror

BSP allows banks to use excess capital
THE central bank is now allowing financial firms to tap their Basel III-mandated capital and liquidity buffers to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
— BusinessWorld

‘Billions in franchise tax lost if POGOs reclassified as BPOs’
Treating Philippine offshore gaming operators as business process outsourcing firms will jeopardize the country’s efforts to collect franchise tax owed to the government in 2019 by a majority of the 60 licensed online gaming operators, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon warned yesterday.
— Philippine Star

PNP recorded 763 crimes against women in ECQ areas -Duterte
Nearly 800 cases of crimes against women have been recorded by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in areas under the enhanced community quarantine, President Rodrigo Duterte told Congress on Monday.
— GMA Network

Duterte: CHED says over 9k students stranded in dormitories nationwide
Duterte said that an online survey by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) found that there were 1,229 students and educational institution personnel overseas in need of repatriation and 9,367 students stranded in dormitories/schools across the country.
— GMA Network

Added online classes, businesses to impact video streaming services
Due to limited bandwidth infrastructure capacity in the country, video streaming services will be those affected with the conduct of more online classes, opening of online businesses and the provision of internet for essential services.
— Philippine Information Agency

Guevarra stands firm: Broadcast companies may operate pending franchise renewal
Contradicting Solicitor General Jose Calida, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Monday stood firm on his previous position that broadcast networks can continue operations pending congressional action on franchise renewal bills.
— Philippine Star

Senate adopts rules for ‘hybrid’ sessions, hearings amid COVID-19 threat
During the course of hybrid plenary sessions, senators may vote, sponsor committee reports, and participate during the interpellation and period of amendments, regardless if their attendance is physical or online.
— GMA Network

Press freedom takes a hit in PH during coronavirus pandemic
Press freedom in the Philippines further suffered a hit during the coronavirus pandemic, with more restrictive measures against media entities through intimidation, surveillance, and other tactics, a report said.
— Rappler

68% of COVID-19 positive is from local transmission, RTF reports
The Regional Task Force (RTF) on Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) revealed that majority of the confirmed positive cases in Cagayan Valley region is from local transmission.
— Philippine Information Agency

POGOs like BPOs? Drilon says PH to lose franchise tax, license fees
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon rejected the government’s assertion that Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGO) are technically similar to business process outsourcing companies, raising concerns over tax collections.
— Rappler

President Duterte won’t interfere on ABS-CBN franchise issue, says Palace
President Rodrigo Duterte will not intervene in the issue of the legislative franchise of media giant, ABS-CBN, which is due to expire midnight later, according to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.
— Eagle News

34 health workers die of COVID-19; over 1,700 more infected -DOH
Thirty-four healthcare workers have died on the frontlines in the battle against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.
— GMA Network

Senate approves Alternative Learning System measure in hybrid session
With 22 affirmative votes via hybrid plenary session, the Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading the Alternative Systems Act which seeks to provide alternative basic education programs outside the formal school system especially in underserved and far-flung communities, as well as in communities under emergencies.
— GMA Network

Church seeks government nod on religious gatherings in areas under GCG
The Catholic Church and the Council of the Laity of the Philippines have appealed to the government to consider allowing religious gatherings, including Eucharistic celebrations, in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ).
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

P83.6-M mitigation program to benefit coco farmers in Caraga
A mitigation program that will be implemented in three phases this year by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is seen to benefit thousands of coconut farmers in Caraga Region who are directly affected by the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) crisis.
— Philippine News Agency

DFA: 68 new COVID-19 cases recorded among overseas Filipinos, total breaches 1,800 mark
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported 68 new COVID-19 cases involving overseas Filipinos, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 1,800 as of Monday, May 4.
— Eagle News

DOH to give exemptions to persons traveling between GCQ, ECQ zones for medical reasons –Palace
The national government has authorized the Department of Health to give exemptions to persons traveling between general community quarantine and enhanced community quarantine areas for medical reasons, Malacañang said Monday.
— GMA Network

POGOs must pay taxes before resuming operations in lockdown – Pagcor
Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) will first need to certify they have paid remaining taxes owed to the government before they will be allowed to resume operations during the coronavirus lockdown.
— Rappler

Ensure quality healthcare in countryside for Balik Probinsya: Go
The national government must ensure accessible and affordable quality healthcare services to the people in the countryside to ensure successful implementation of the proposed “Balik Probinsya”, Senator Christopher Lawrence Bong Go said Monday.”
— Philippine News Agency

Lingayen barangay officials arrested for drinking spree
Barangay officials here were caught violating the city’s extreme enhanced community guidelines, going on a drinking spree on Sunday night, May 3, despite the liquor ban.
— Rappler

DFA helps 13 stranded foreigners fly home amid COVID-19 pandemic
The Department of Foreign Affairs has assisted stranded foreign nationals in various destinations in the country get home amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
— GMA Network

PH to open 4 ‘mega’ coronavirus swabbing centers in Metro Manila, Bulacan
Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire announced on Monday, May 4, that the government planned to put up 4 mega swabbing centers in Metro Manila and Bulacan to increase the country’s coronavirus testing capacity.
— Rappler

After OFW rate hike draws ire, PhilHealth suspends collections
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) said on Monday, May 4, it is temporarily suspending collections for all direct members after its directive to increase the mandatory contribution of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to 3% drew flak.
— Rappler

Iloilo City to produce 200K free face masks for residents
While under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the local government here is preparing to produce 200,000 washable face masks to be given free to residents of this highly urbanized city.
— Philippine News Agency

Senate urges executive branch to implement Balik-Probinsya program
The Senate on Monday adopted a resolution urging the executive department to implement a Balik-Probinsya program which would decongest Metro Manila and promote rural development.
— GMA Network

Separate entity eyed to absorb record bad loans seen from coronavirus
A special purpose vehicle is among the mechanisms mulled by banks, regulators and legislators to help lenders cope with unpaid debts.
— Philippine Star

Año: LGUs may declare ECQs in towns, barangays with reg’l task force approval
Local government units (LGUs) that lifted enhanced community quarantines (ECQs) may still impose it in smaller areas – in towns and barangays.
— Rappler

[OPINION] Enduring principles for Philippine leaders and the media that cover them
Based on the latest ranking of the Philippines on the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index for 2020 , Filipinos might well have wondered about or welcomed Malacañang’s vows to promote media rights as the Philippines marked World Press Freedom Day this weekend, May 3.
— Rappler

Feature photo Kriz John Rosales
This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on World Migratory Bird Day, May 9; here, Egrets.

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 5 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on May 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.