Philippines morning news for March 16

Philippines morning news for March 16
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Philippines morning news

Manila under state of calamity as city confirms 2 new coronavirus cases
The nation’s capital Manila has been placed under a state of calamity due to the coronavirus.
— Rappler

Philippines’ Coronavirus Death Toll Rises to 12, Cases Spike to 140
The Philippines recorded four additional coronavirus deaths and 29 new cases, bringing the domestic tally of infections to 140, as authorities placed the entire capital Manila under “community quarantine” for about a month beginning Sunday.
— The New York Times

444 Pinoys from virus-hit Grand Princess land in Pampanga
The 444 Filipinos from the coronavirus-hit MV Grand Princess, which had been held off in California, arrived at Pampanga’s Clark Airbase early Monday morning, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Twitter.
— GMA Network

Filipinos entering Singapore required to stay home for 14 days
Filipinos entering Singapore, if coming from the Philippines, need to stay home for 14 days after entry into the city-state, as part of efforts to fight the novel coronavirus .
— Rappler

DOH: 5 confirmed COVID-19 patients discharged, to undergo home quarantine
Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire clarified that this does not mean that the patients have recovered, but merely that their symptoms are mild enough to permit a home quarantine.
— GMA Network

Office of the President assures funding for COVID-19 test kits
The Office of the President, under the 2020 general appropriations act (GAA), was allocated a budget of P8.201 billion this year, of which over 80% will go to maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE).
— GMA Network

Philippine General Hospital asks for donations in fight against COVID-19
The Philippine General Hospital took to social media to ask for help in fighting against COVID-19.
— GMA Network

Coronavirus lockdown: No thermal scanners, missing checkpoints
At checkpoints across Metro Manila, there are more firearms than thermal guns.
— Rappler

Catholic Church to flock: Use ‘Facebook online’ for Masses
THE Catholic Church hierarchy has called on the faithful to use social media and other means of communication as more dioceses in Metro Manila and other parts of the country decided to temporarily suspend public Masses due to the coronavirus disease outbreak in the country.
— Manila Times

Pinoys cooperative on first day of community quarantine: Palace
Filipinos have been cooperative during the first day of implementation of the community quarantine being imposed in Metro Manila to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus disease (Covid-19), Malacañang said Sunday.
— Philippine News Agency

PUI dies while awaiting result of test for COVID-19
A person under investigation died Sunday morning at a private hospital here while waiting for the results of her swab test for COVID-19.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

ADB extends $3-M grant to the Philippines for COVID-19 response
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $3-million grant (about ₱150 million) to the Philippines to help tackle the novel coronavirus pandemic, including the purchase of medical supplies.
— CNN Philippines

House of Representatives employee with COVID-19 passes away
A House of Representatives employee who tested positive for COVID-19 has died, the chamber’s secretary general said Sunday.
— ABS-CBN News (video)

Firms told: Develop alternative supply chain
While the flow and supply of goods from Metro Manila in Cebu will not be greatly affected by the impeding community quarantine, businesses are encouraged to start looking to source their goods and other supplies locally.
— CDN/ Inquirer.net

Panelo says no one dies of hunger, even for a month
Malacañang on Sunday downplayed concerns of Metro Manila employees living outside the region, whose livelihoods might be affected by the implementation of the community quarantine.
— GMA Network

COVID-19 patient in serious condition takes up to 6 weeks to recover –Duque
A patient infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) needs up to six weeks to recover, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said on Sunday.
— GMA Network

ABS-CBN artists, workers to get compensation during suspension of production
Despite the suspension of its live show and teleserye productions, ABS-CBN will be paying artists and crew of their shows, according to a statement of The Professional Artist Managers, Inc. (PAMI), an organization of talent managers in the country.
— Rappler

Año says 41 LGUs, 2 regions also imposed community quarantine
Forty-one (41) local government units (LGUs) and two regions have decided to follow the example of Metro Manila by placing themselves under community quarantine in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said on Sunday.
— Philippine News Agency

2019 state infra spend hits P881.7B
DESPITE the delay in the passage of the national budget, as well as the election ban during the first half of the year, state infrastructure spending in 2019 reached P881.7 billion as it outperformed infrastructure disbursements in 2018.
— Business Mirror

PAGCOR suspends all gaming, casino operations for one month
State-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. said over the weekend it is suspending all casino and gaming operations effective immediately in line with the instruction of President Rodrigo Duterte to put Metro Manila under community quarantine to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease-2019.
— Manilastandard.net

No contradiction on proposed NCR-wide curfew: Palace
Malacañang on Sunday denied that there was any contradiction between statements made by two government officials regarding the proposed curfew in Metro Manila to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
— Philippine News Agency

Thousands of police seal Philippine capital to fight coronavirus
Thousands of police in the Philippines, backed by the army and coast guard, started sealing the densely populated capital from most domestic travelers Sunday in one of Southeast Asia’s most drastic containment moves against the new coronavirus.
— The Mainichi

Coast Guard to enforce ‘no sail’ policy during lockdown
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has shifted Saturday, March 14, to full alert status, bracing to enforce travel restrictions in all waterways during the Metro Manila lockdown.
— Rappler

Puyat convenes tourism council, encourages local travel
DEPARTMENT of Tourism (DoT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat called a special meeting of the Tourism Coordinating Council (TCC) at the Makati Diamond Residences to tackle measures mitigating effects of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on the tourism industry.
— Manila Times

Ilocos Norte suspends classes in all levels due to COVID-19 threat
The provincial government of Ilocos Norte indefinitely suspends classes in all levels of both public and private schools effective March 13, 2020, amid concerns on the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
— Philippine Information Agency

Outsourcing firms told to prepare flexible work schemes amid virus
AN outsourcing business group has advised companies to implement flexible work arrangements amid the new coronavirus (COVID-19) disease outbreak.
— BusinessWorld

Metro Manila power supply sufficient, says DOE
The Department of Energy (DOE) has been working with power stakeholders to ensure sufficient and uninterrupted power supply during the 30-day community quarantine (15 March to 14 April 2020) in the National Capital Region (NCR).
— Philippine Information Agency

Tax court denies JG Summit move on P1.3-B assessment
THE Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) denied for lack of jurisdiction the petition of JG Summit Holdings, Inc. to cancel the P1.3 billion tax liabilities assessed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
— BusinessWorld

NAIA off limits to non-passengers, non-airport employees
The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) temporarily banned entry of non-passengers and non-airport employees into the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminals.
— Philippine News Agency

Indonesia and Philippines move to revive nuclear ambitions
Without much fanfare, Indonesia and the Philippines appear to be moving to revive dormant nuclear energy plans through recently-proposed regulatory changes.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

4 Cabinet officials test negative for coronavirus
At least 4 Cabinet officials tested negative for the novel coronavirus .
— Rappler

Coronavirus stops bingo and casinos, POGOs remain open
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) on Sunday, March 15, suspended all gaming operations in the country amid the spread of the novel coronavirus .
— Rappler

Bulacan extends class suspension until April 14
Governor Daniel R. Fernando has extended the class suspension in all levels, both public and private schools, in this province from March 10 to April 14, 2020, amid the rising number of cases of the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the country.
— Philippine News Agency

LIST: Metro Manila lockdown checkpoints
Where have the police and military established checkpoints to ensure that people don’t enter or exit Metro Manila?
— Rappler

Faith in the time of coronavirus: Where to watch online Masses
It’s a first in predominantly Catholic Philippines: Masses are suspended for up to a month in Metro Manila to help stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.
— Rappler

PGH asks public to refrain from consulting OPD unless necessary
The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) on Saturday requested the public to refrain from consulting its Outpatient Department unless necessary due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
— GMA Network

Filipino workers worry about low daily earnings amid coronavirus outbreak
As of Sunday, March 15, the government has implemented aggressive measures in an effort to contain the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus in the Philippines.
— Rappler

Bangko Sentral ready to deploy monetary tools
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said over the weekend the bank is ready to deploy the necessary measures to shield the economy and the financial markets from the impact of coronavirus disease 2019.
— Manilastandard.net

Motorbike taxis halt services too, to stop Covid-19
THE transport guidelines for Metro Manila’s community quarantine has forced motorcycle taxi apps to temporarily stop their ride-hailing service in the capital region, as the government enforces strict social distancing protocols to stop the further spread of the deadly virus.
— Business Mirror

DA sets food resiliency plan l
The Department of Agriculture will start implementing its food resiliency action plan to ensure the stable supply of affordable food for Metro Manila following the community quarantine amid increasing cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.
— The Philippine Star

Govt OKs importation of over 1.4MMT of rice
The government has approved the importation of over 1.4 million metric tons (MMT) of rice after it issued over 1,800 sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances (SPS-ICs) to about 145 grain retailers, traders, importers and farmers organizations.
— Business Mirror

Senate work hours temporarily adjusted, now from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Senate work hours are now from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
— Eagle News

Senators call for special session on supplemental budget vs. COVID-19
Senators from the minority bloc on Sunday called for a special session of Congress to approve a supplemental budget to ease the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) threat to the livelihood of Filipinos and the Philippine economy.
— GMA Network

Negros town councilor with COVID-19 dies, becoming 9th coronavirus fatality in PHL
A 64-year old town councilor from Negros Oriental who had visited Greenhills, San Juan last February, died on Sunday, March 15, due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), becoming the ninth COVID-19 fatality in the country.
— Eagle News

Albay requires self-quarantine for residents who traveled outside province, Bicol
Albayanos who traveled outside Albay and the Bicol region are now required to do a self-quarantine as a preventive measure against the coronavirus outbreak.
— Rappler

Groups slam ‘grossly anti-poor’ measures for labor during Metro Manila lockdown
Labor groups have slammed what they called inadequate government measures to cushion the impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak on workers’ livelihood and income.
— Rappler

DOJ: No arrest for lockdown violators unless they ‘assault, bribe, slander’
Can you be arrested for violating the lockdown terms of Metro Manila that will begin at 12:01 am of Sunday, March 15?
— Rappler

Cebu imposes flight ban on Legazpi, Clark, Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete
Cebu province has suspended all flights from Cagayan de Oro City, Clark International Airport, Dumaguete City, and Legazpi City by virtue of an executive order signed by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia on Saturday, March 14.
— Rappler

PNP calls on unit heads to provide safety gear at COVID-19 checkpoints
Due to reports that some police officers lacked safety equipment at coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) checkpoints, the Philippine National Police (PNP) directed unit commanders to provide needed safety equipment.
— GMA Network

LRT-1 maintains normal operating schedule
The Light Rail Transit 1 (LRT-1) will maintain normal operating hours in spite of the Metro Manila lockdown.
— Manila Times

Batangas government prohibits visits to beaches and resorts
The Batangas provincial government issued on Saturday, March 14, a quarantine advisory that will take effect at 12:01am of March 15.
— Rappler

Metro-wide cleanup, disinfection, and public health investment against coronavirus needed
Ensuring ecological health is a key public health solution for the novel coronavirus outbreak in Metro Manila, a non-government organization said.
— Rappler

Davao City puts up ‘operation center’ for Covid-19
The city government here established an operation center (opcen) on Saturday which will solely cater to individuals with possible symptoms of the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
— Philippine News Agency

Some PH athletes left behind amid PSC lockdown
Even after an ordered lockdown on government sports facilities, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will continue to look after the national athletes and coaches who were left behind.
— Rappler

Don’t be afraid of cops manning checkpoints, public told
The Philippine National Police (PNP) appealed to the public not to be afraid of policemen manning checkpoints in Metro Manila, which was placed under community quarantine beginning Sunday to contain the spread of the coronavirus diseases 2019 (Covid-19).
— Philippine News Agency

BI nabs 5 fugitives from Korea, Japan
Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Jaime Morente announced Sunday the arrest of four fugitives from Korea and another one from Japan in separate operations in the cities of Quezon, Lapu-lapu, and Taguig.
— Tempo

Bohol in provincial day of prayer for protection against Covid-19
Governor Arthur Yap has designated Sunday, March 15 as provincial day of prayer for Boholanos, as he announced over the weekend the start of community quarantine on Monday (March 16).
— Philippine News Agency

DOTr limits public transport operations during Metro Manila lockdown
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Saturday, March 14, announced suspended and limited operations of various modes of public transportation during the Metro Manila lockdown that begins on Sunday, March 15.
— Rappler

Oil to plunge by over P4 per liter as coronavirus slows economy
Oil companies announced on Sunday, March 15, their largest reduction in pump prices this year, so far, as the world economy continues to slow down due to the novel coronavirus and Saudi Arabia wages a price war.
— Rappler

2 Ifugao LGUs impose 4-day work week
Two local government units (LGUs) in the province are set to adopt a four-day work week starting Monday, March 16, 2020 as a precautionary measure amid the threat of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease(COVID -19).
— Philippine Information Agency

[ANALYSIS] The flawed economics of Duterte’s partial Metro Manila lockdown
To contain the further spread of COVID-19, on March 12 President Rodrigo Duterte put all of Metro Manila under partial lockdown (technically “community quarantine”) from March 15 to April 14.
— Rappler

 

 

Feature photo The Philippine STAR/ Walter Bollozos

This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on The Metro Manila COVID-19 lockdown.

 

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.

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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.

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