Covering the week’s most noteworthy news stories in the Philippines for the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
The Philippine Department of Health on Tuesday, April 7, reported 104 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country, bringing the official count to 3,764. “More than half or more or less 80% [of the cases] were recorded in Metro Manila,” noted Health chief Francisco Duque III. The Davao region and Central Visayas…
The enhanced community quarantine in Luzon will be extended until April 30 to further contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country, a cabinet official said on Tuesday, April 7. Previously, the quarantine was set to end on April 14. President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte came under fire after ordering the police and military to shoot quarantine violators dead during Luzon’s enhanced community quarantine due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). “I will not hesitate. My orders are to the police and military, also the barangay, that if there is trouble or the situation arises that people…
Low-income households will be receiving between P5,000 to P8,000 in cash under the Philippine government’s coronavirus relief program, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Thursday, April 2. The cash will be given along with the food packs it is distributing to beneficiaries, according to DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista. “In cash na…
The U.S. Department of State on Tuesday, March 31, said that it has provided approximately $18.3 million in emergency health and humanitarian assistance to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states, including the Philippines. The local government received nearly $4 million, or approximately P200 million, in health assistance to help the government prepare…
THE Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, April 1, announced that there are a total of 401 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) among overseas Filipino workers. Of the number, 270 are currently undergoing treatment, 118 have recovered while 13 have died. According to the agency, the OFWs who contracted the disease are from…
THE Department of Science and Technology on Monday, March 30, announced that at least 120,000 locally-developed test kits for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) will be rolled out this week. According to the agency, its priority is the production of 26,000 test kits for field implementation and distribution to certain hospitals that can do the testing…
P200 billion will be allocated to low-income households affected by the enhanced community quarantine enforced in Luzon, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Monday, March 30. The quarantine was implemented in mid-March to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in the country, but has left a dent in the livelihoods of thousands of Filipino families….
A medical evacuation plane caught on fire during takeoff on Sunday, March 29 at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), killing all the eight people on board. The incident took place at the end of Runway 24 while the aircraft was taking off at around 8 p.m., according to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA)….
The Philippine Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday, March 29, condemned the acts of harassment and discrimination against health care workers amid the COVID-19 crisis. In the past few weeks, incidents of some health care professionals being victimized and subjected to acts of violence have been reported across the country. The DOH, in particular, denounced…
Philippine Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año announced on Tuesday, March 31 that he tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). “Today, March 31, I received the result from RITM (Research Institute for Tropical Medicine) informing me that I am positive for COVID-19,” he said in a statement. The DILG chief said…
Former Philippine Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), his spokesperson confirmed Tuesday, March 31. Victor Rodriguez, Marcos’ lawyer, wrote in a Facebook post that the former senator is “improving” following the test. “Gumaganda na ang kondisyong pangkalusugan ni dating Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. makaraang ihayag sa resulta ng…
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte will start his self-quarantine over the weekend after several officials tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Malacañang said on Friday, March 27. “PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) will self-quarantine himself on his birthday tomorrow following the advice of the PSG as well as doctors for his protection following his exposure…
The Philippine National Police (PNP) will launch an investigation on Senator Aquilino “Koko” for allegedly breaching quarantine protocols after testing positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). “PNP is ready to launch investigation once complaint is filed by hospital or by an aggrieved party,” said PNP Spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac on Friday, March 27. While…
The second week of Luzon’s enhanced community quarantine opened with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) adding two more routes to the free shuttle service for health workers in Metro Manila for a total of 16 routes. “From the three initial routes since the program began on 18 March 2020, it now has 16 routes. This…
The Philippines has 71 new coronavirus cases, bringing the national tally to 707, the Department of Health on Thursday, March 26, reported. Meanwhile, seven patients passed away, bringing the overall death toll in the country to 45. All the fatalities are Filipinos with no recent travel history overseas. They are as follows: • 72-year-old Filipino…
Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Wednesday, March 25, confirmed that he has tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), becoming the second senator to contract the disease after Senator Migz Zubiri. “I was informed last night. I’m okay, I just have a slight sore throat. I don’t have fever nor chills,” he said. Pimentel…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, March 25, signed a bill that grants him special powers to address the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) threat in the country. Under the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act (Senate Bill 1418), the president is authorized to adopt several “temporary emergency measures” to contain COVID-19 as well as to mobilize…
THE Philippines has 84 additional cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total count to 636, the Department of Health reported on Wednesday, March 25. The department also recorded three additional deaths, bringing the official death toll to 38. The fatalities include a 56-year-old male Filipino resident of Quezon City with no travel history…
Flag-carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Tuesday, March 24, announced that it is temporarily suspending international flights from March 26 to April 14 as more people around the world become infected with the coronavirus (COVID-19). The airline said in a statement that it “could no longer sustain even a limited number of international flights” as more…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will not abuse the special powers granted to him by Congress to address the new coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country, Malacañang said on Tuesday, March 24. According to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, the president would use the special powers in accordance with the 1987 Constitution. “The Filipino people are assured that…
There are now 552 coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed on Tuesday, March 24. It also reported two additional deaths, bringing the death toll to 35. Meanwhile, the number of recoveries is now at 20. According to health authorities, they are expecting the number of confirmed cases in the…
A bill granting President Rodrigo Duterte emergency powers to address the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Philippines has been approved in a House of Representatives committee. The committee passed House Bill No. 6616 or the “Bayanihan Act of 2020” on Monday, March 23, seeking to declare a national emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The…
Foreigners will be temporarily barred from traveling to the Philippines starting Sunday, March 22, following the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)’s suspension of visa issuances amid the threat of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The DFA announced the travel ban on Thursday, March 19, which cancels previously issued visas and those currently being processed for foreigners…
Thirteen additional cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported in the Philippines, bringing the official count to 230, the Department of Health reported on Friday, March 20. The department announced that one of the patients with COVID-19 has died, bringing the total number of fatalities to 18. Ten of the new cases are…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, March 20, appealed to the local government units (LGUs) to abide by the directives set by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. “We are in a critical time [and] the national government needs your help during this time. Do not make this quarantine more…
MANILA — Vice President Leni Robredo in a video released on Tuesday evening, March 17 called for more social safety nets for the poorest Filipinos affected by a month of quarantine. The vice president appealed to the private sector to provide meals and financial aid to affected barangays and communities. Robredo backed the strategy of social distancing to…
The Philippine Department of Health said novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the country could rise to 75,000 in two to three months if the spread of the contagion is not contained. “Within two to three months, it can reach that peak in which 75,000 may possibly get infected,” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on…
The 72-hour deadline for international travelers to leave the Philippines has been lifted, the government announced on Wednesday, March 18. The updated announcement from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases will allow overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), balikbayans, and foreigners to leave the country through any of the ports in Luzon…
President Rodrigo Duterte has placed the Philippines under a state of calamity in an attempt to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). He signed Proclamation 929 on Tuesday, March 17, which declares a state of calamity for a period of six months unless lifted earlier extended “as circumstances may warrant.” The declaration…
