Philippines morning news for April 23

Philippines morning news for April 23
Advertisement
Online English lessons

Philippines morning newsHigh number of Filipino healthcare workers with COVID-19 ‘very worrisome,’ says WHO
Many Filipino healthcare workers are getting infected with COVID-19 in the country, a fact that the World Health Organization (WHO) found “very worrisome.”
— Coconuts Philippines

Philippines banks on infrastructure push to revive economy from virus
The Philippines is relying on infrastructure projects to revive its coronavirus-stricken economy , with its new chief economist noting that projects with the most impact should be prioritized.
— Rappler

Philippines COVID-19 cases rise to 6,710, recovered patients now 693
The number of patients who have recovered from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) climbed to 693 on Wednesday after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 39 new recoveries as cases nationwide rose to 6,710 with 111 new infections. Nine more patients have also succumbed to the respiratory illness, bringing the death toll to 446.
— GMA Network

More than 61,000 COVID-19 tests done nationwide as PHL hits April 30 target of up to 10k tests daily
The Philippine government has conducted more than 61,000 COVID-19 tests nationwide as it continued targeted mass testing efforts, prioritizing suspect cases as well as health care workers treating COVID-19 patients.
— Eagle News

Manila files protests vs. China actions in West Philippine Sea
The Philippines on Wednesday filed two diplomatic protests against China over supposed violations of international law and Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Teddy Locsin Jr.
— GMA Network

Cash aid to OFWs stays as DOLE retracts ‘wrong announcement’ after two hours
Financial aid for Filipino migrant workers displaced by lockdowns at home and abroad will continue.
— Philstar

End the lockdown, no more extension
The Philippines remains among the more mildly affected countries by the China virus, a.k.a. SARS-Cov-2 which causes COVID-19, compared to many countries in Europe and North America.
— BusinessWorld

WB extends P5.09-billion aid to PHL to fight coronavirus spread
The World Bank (WB) is extending $100 million, or P5.09 billion, to the Philippines to finance its efforts to combat the coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
— Business Mirror

BSP’s term deposit facility rate declines on high demand
Rate of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) seven-day term deposit facility (TDF) fell Wednesday due to strong demand and further cut in the central bank’s key policy rates.
— Philippine News Agency

Filipinos worry over Taal’s renewed unrest as series of quakes hit Batangas
At least 19 light earthquakes–the strongest recorded at magnitude 4.9– have hit five towns in Batangas since this morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported.
— Coconuts Philippines

Cebu City lockdown extended to May 15
The enhanced community quarantine or lockdown, in Cebu City will be extended until May 15, Cebu City Mayor Edgar Labella said in a statement on Wednesday, April 22.
— Rappler

Solon to DOH: Apply ASEAN ‘best practices’ to fight COVID-19
The Department of Health (DOH) should analyze the “best practices” from the other ASEAN member-countries in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, Cagayan de Oro 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said on Wednesday.
— Manila Bulletin

BSP waives interbank payment fees amid lockdown
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has waived the transaction fees imposed on interbank payments to cushion the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 outbreak.
— Philstar

DoF mulls tweaks to CITIRA bill
THE Department of Finance (DoF) is looking to tweak the Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Rationalization Act (CITIRA) proposal and allow the government’s incentive-giving body to provide “tailored” relief programs for firms hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
— BusinessWorld

Diarrhea kills 2, downs 40 in Maguindanao
Two children have died and more than 40 others have been affected with diarrhea on Bongo Island in Maguindanao.
— Philstar

$2.5-million ADB-funded lab equipment, test kits for Covid-19 arrive in Clark
A $2.5-million laboratory equipment and 45,000 test kits funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and developed by a genome sequencing company in China arrived at the Clark International Airport here early morning Wednesday.
— Business Mirror

Palace to FDA: Study efficacy of Fabunan’s cure
Malacañang on Wednesday urged the Food and Drug Administration to study the effectiveness of the Fabunan anti-viral injection in curing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
— Manilastandard.net

DOJ eases parole, clemency rules for convicts
The Department of Justice has relaxed the rules for parole and executive clemency for convicts amid the possible outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 in jails.
— Philstar

PHIVOLCS: Series of Batangas quakes volcano-tectonic in origin
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has added a new classification of earthquakes following its report on a series of minor earthquakes that occurred in Batangas on Wednesday.
— GMA Network

Economic zone investments fell 28% in first quarter
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority said Wednesday investment pledges declined 28 percent in the first quarter to P16.5 billion from P20.9 billion in the same period last year amid the uncertainty in fiscal incentives and the current health crisis.
— Manilastandard.net

4,000 cops to be deployed vs Zamboanga ECQ violators
At least 4,000 additional police officers will be deployed in Zamboanga peninsula to assist local government units (LGUs) in the implementation of an enhanced community quarantine.
— Philstar

PHL data gaps make it at risk from food crisis–global report
THE Philippines must invest to improve its data system as a tool to prevent food crises as it is currently blind on the extent and degree of food insecurity in the country, according to the 2020 Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC).
— Business Mirror

PHL Solidarity trial for COVID-19 treatments receives green light from ethics review body
The Department of Health (DOH) announced on Wednesday that the participation of the Philippines to the World Health Organization (WHO) Solidarity trial has been approved by the Single Joint Research Ethics Board (SJREB) in support of the Covid-19 global response.
— Business Mirror

PH Red Cross targets 12,000 coronavirus tests a day – Gordon
Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and Senator Richard Gordon on Wednesday, April 22, said that the humanitarian agency has 3 testing laboratories in Metro Manila capable of doing 12,000 coronavirus tests a day.
— Rappler

LGU-Sugpon regulates single-use plastics, styrofoam
Business establishments, fastfood outlets, market vendors, food kiosks, sari-sari stores, ambulant vendors, and the like in this municipality are now prohibited from using plastic cellophanes and sando bags as packaging materials for customers.
— Philippine Information Agency

NEA’s off-grid solar project faces delay
THE National Electrification Administration (NEA) said its off-grid solar project to power far-flung communities faces delay as the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupts trade.
— BusinessWorld

Over 2 million food packs distributed in Quezon City
More than two million food packs have been distributed by the Quezon City government since the enhanced community quarantine was implemented last month.
— Philstar

At least 29 Metro Manila barangays failing to implement lockdown rules
At least 29 barangays in Metro Manila have been failing to implement lockdown rules set by the national government to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said in a statement on Wednesday, April 22.
— Rappler

3,000 test kits with faster turnaround time to arrive on April 25 –DOH
Test kits originally intended for tuberculosis patients will soon arrive in the Philippines to bolster the country s testing capacity for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday.
— GMA Network

Philippines gets P269M from US for fight vs. COVID-19
Washington has approved an additional P269 million or about $5.3 million aid to the Philippines to support its coronavirus response operations, its embassy in Manila said Wednesday.
— GMA Network

Philippines ships back another 2,676 tons of trash to South Korea
The Philippines has returned to South Korea around 2,676 metric tons (MT) of waste materials that were stored since 2018 in a government facility in Misamis Oriental province in the southern Philippines, Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said on Wednesday.
— Xinhuanet

Duterte orders gov’t agencies to move timelines amid community quarantine
President Rodrigo Duterte has directed all government offices to issue guidelines to the public in connection with bureaucratic processes amid the community quarantine aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19.
— GMA Network

Fuel marking program processes 6.88-B liters as of April 15
THE government has marked 6.88 billion liters of fuel products as of April 15, with 75% of the total marked in Luzon, the Department of Finance (DoF) said.
— BusinessWorld

Oil importer Philippines is sitting in a lot of fuel
Rising stocks of petroleum have nowhere to go with demand crippled by lockdowns that halted public transport.
— Philstar

GenSan dads seek subsidy, discount from power, water utilities
The City Council has asked power and water distribution utilities here to grant subsidies and discounts to consumers, as well as remove the penalties for delayed payments amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
— Philippine News Agency

China told to pay for reef damages in disputed sea
A SENATOR on Wednesday said China should pay for damages brought by its reclamation activities in the South China Sea, adding that the Philippines could use the money in its battle against the coronavirus pandemic.
— BusinessWorld

PSA sees Q1 palay output down 4% to 4.25 MMT
The country’s palay output in the first quarter would likely fall by nearly 4 percent to 4.25 million metric tons from 4.42 MMT in the same period of last year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) projected.
— Business Mirror

Chinese-Filipino group raises P265M for front-liners
The Filipino-Chinese Community Charity Foundation has raised P265 million for medical supplies for front-liners as well as food for marginalized sectors whose livelihoods were disrupted by the pandemic.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Nestlé PHL mounts P500 million Kasambuhay program for 1 million families, frontliners, its people as COVID-19 rages
With the country battling the COVID-19 pandemic, Nestlé Philippines is upholding its 108-year heritage as the Kasambuhay or “trusted companion in life” of generations of Filipino families by implementing a P500 million program to assist one million families and thousands of frontliners, others in need of healthcare, and its own employees and those of its business partners.
— Business Mirror

Gov’t studying bus, train runs with just 30% capacity
Authorities are studying the possibility of allowing buses and trains to resume operations but with a diminished capacity as President Duterte decides whether to lift, extend or modify the Luzon lockdown he has imposed to suppress the spread of the new coronavirus in the Philippines.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Dennis Uy declines P35 million from gov’t for quarantine ships
2GO Group chairman Dennis Uy said the company will not be accepting any payment from the government for the use of its ships as floating quarantine facilities.
— Rappler

World Trade Center, ASEAN Convention Center, PICC now welcome COVID-19 patients
More government facilities converted into quarantine areas are now accepting COVID-19 patients, the Department of Health announced on Wednesday.
— CNN Philippines

1,200 PMA cadets to donate blood to Red Cross amid health crisis — Gordon
Around 1,200 Philippine Military Academy cadets will be donating blood to ensure that there will be enough supply amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis, Philippine Red Cross chairman Senator Richard Gordon said Wednesday.
— GMA Network

Cebu City Jail records 123 new COVID-19 infections
The FREEMAN reported that the city confirmed 139 new COVID-19 infections on Wednesday, 123 of which were recorded in Cebu City Jail.
— Philstar

PAL to operate London-Manila flight on April 28
PAL flight PR 721 will depart from Londo Heathrow bound for Manila via an Airbus A350 aircraft with Economy cabin.
— Philstar

#EarthDay2020: PH facing its ‘worst ecological crisis’ – IBON Foundation
As the world marks the 50th celebration of the Earth Day movement, socioeconomic think tank Ibon Foundation said the country is currently facing the “worst ecological crisis:” the coronavirus pandemic.
— Rappler

Gov’t paying Dennis Uy’s 2GO P35 million for quarantine ships
The Philippine government is shelling out P35 million to use two ships of Dennis Uy’s logistics company 2GO Group to house seafarers and migrant workers undergoing quarantine for the coronavirus .
— Rappler

Darul Ifta announces start of Ramadhan on April 24
The Darul Ifta, the highest Islamic religious authority in the country, announced here that the fasting month of Ramadhan officially begins on Friday, April 24, after several moon sighting teams failed to see the crescent moon on Wednesday evening.
— Philippine News Agency

Southeast Asia finds ways to minimize waste during coronavirus outbreak
Wearing a face mask, sanitizing one’s hands, and using other protective equipment to stem the spread of the coronavirus have become essential for many people around the world.
— Rappler

2 killed as Reds attack soldiers securing cash aid distribution
Two soldiers were killed and three others wounded when troops of the 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion (91IB) were attacked by some 20 members of the Komiteng Larangang Gerilya (KLG) Sierra Madre in Barangay Diaat, Maria Aurora town in Aurora province on Tuesday.
— Philippine News Agency

Oil price drop during pandemic a win for Philippines – NEDA chief
Filipino consumers stand to benefit from the nosedive of oil prices in the world market, Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Chua said on Tuesday, April 21.
— Rappler

Lockdown lessened rate of coronavirus infections in PH – U.P. experts
Experts at the University of the Philippines (UP) said the Luzon-wide lockdown has helped slow down the rate of coronavirus infections in the country, but the health care system should be prepared for a surge in cases once the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is lifted.
— Rappler

Bacolod City allots P160-M as Covid-19 supplemental fund
An additional fund of PHP160-million will be used by the city government here for measures against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
— Philippine News Agency

PHL raw sugar output expected to decline amid liberalization worries
RAW SUGAR output in the Philippines during crop year (CY) 2020-2021 is expected to drop, as land planted to sugarcane continues to decline and producers remain cautious about plans to liberalize sugar imports, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said.
— BusinessWorld

NorMin cops raise P8.5-M for ‘Bayanihan Fund Challenge’
Northern Mindanao police officers have contributed over PHP8.5 million from their salaries to help government combat the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
— Philippine News Agency

Gov’t recovery strategy takes shape in House
A MAJOR government bank told Congress that its economic stimulus lending programs will be issued under less stringent risk-assessment conditions to facilitate the release of liquidity into the economy during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.
— BusinessWorld

PNP records over 3K ECQ violators in Caraga Region
The Police Regional Office in Caraga (PRO-13) said it has recorded a total of 3,408 violators of enhanced community quarantine guidelines being implemented in different provinces in the Caraga Region.
— Philippine News Agency

Fewer new COVID-19 cases reported due to scaled down RITM ops –DOH
The number of new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases reported this week is lower than usual after the country s national reference laboratory scaled down its operations, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
— GMA Network

Zambo City disburses P32.9-M amelioration pay
The local government here said on Wednesday it has continued distributing the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) benefit to families affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis.
— Philippine News Agency

Think tank questions P35-M rent for 2GO s quarantine ships
Public policy think tank Infrawatch PH is questioning the government’s move to use 2GO Group’s passenger vessels as floating quarantine facilities and paying P35 million for renting the ships.
— GMA Network

Watch: PHL Consul General in UAE talks about the situation of Filipinos there
The Philippine consul general in the United Arab Emirates said Filipinos there are being helped by the UAE government in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Eagle News (video)

PH-Sweden all-female online chess match slated
As the whole world continues to battle the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, chess players are now going online to continue to play the game.
— Philippine News Agency

26 healthcare workers have succumbed to COVID-19; over 1k others infected –DOH
Twenty-six healthcare workers have died on the frontlines in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday.
— GMA Network

QC cop faces criminal probe for killing ‘mentally challenged’ lockdown violator
A Quezon City policeman who shot dead a mentally challenged quarantine violator is facing criminal and administrative probes, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said on Wednesday, April 22.
— Rappler

DICT urges entities to avail of bulk application for RapidPass
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Wednesday urged entities to register to the Rapid Pass System (RPS) through bulk application, given the recent surge in applications.
— GMA Network

DOJ relaxes parole and clemency rules, excludes heinous crime convicts
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has relaxed the rules for parole and executive clemency as the coronavirus outbreak threatened Philippine jails, but the new guidelines exclude heinous crime, high-risk, and drug convicts.
— Rappler

Immigration bureau to decongest detention center after QC jail virus outbreak
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will decongest its detention center that detains foreigners suspected of crime after the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak at the Quezon City Jail .
— Rappler

Taguig City launches ‘drive-thru’ COVID-19 testing sites
Taguig City on Wednesday started its drive-thru testing for its residents who were assessed to undergo a COVID-19 test.
— Philstar

No take backs? Booze ban reinstated in Iloilo City one day after it was lifted
Mayor Jerry Treñas today reinstated the liquor ban over Iloilo City a day after he lifted it, citing reports that a number of people were allegedly having way too much fun with it.
— Coconuts Philippines

Earth Day 2020: Climate action in the time of the coronavirus
Over half of the world’s population is currently on lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
— Rappler

CHR decries warrantless arrest of Cebu-based writer over satirical COVID-19 post
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has decried the arrest of Cebu-based writer Maria Victoria Bambi Beltran over a satirical post on the government s response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
— GMA Network

Taal water quality ideal for aquaculture — BFAR
Taal Lake’s water quality remains within normal levels, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Region 4A said Tuesday.
— Philstar

DPWH turns over masks to public hospitals
To safeguartd health and medical frontliners against COVID-19 infection, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will turn over surgical masks to six major government hospitals in Metro Manila.
— Philippine Information Agency

66 percent of COVID-19 patients admitted to PGH recovered
More than 60 percent of COVID-19 patients admitted to Philippine General Hospital (PGH) have recovered, UP-PGH spokesperson Jonas del Rosario said Wednesday.
— GMA Network

Military tapped to strictly enforce ECQ in Cavite
Stricter measures and actions with the assistance of the military has been enforced in Cavite to get rid of the citizens defying the rules on the enhanced community quarantine.
— Tempo

No good reason for Philippines’ being clingy to POGOs –Hontiveros
Senator Risa Hontiveros thumbed down on Wednesday the proposal to allow Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and its service providers to resume business in the face of the coronavirus disease 2019 threat.
— GMA Network

‘So clean, so good’: Hotel Sogo allots 800 rooms for frontliners
Popular motel chain Hotel Sogo donated P60 million worth of accommodations equivalent to 800 rooms for health workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
— Rappler

Vico Sotto: Premature to lift lockdown, OK with military presence ‘per se’
It might be too early to end the lockdown, at least in Pasig City, with coronavirus cases still on the rise, said Mayor Vico Sotto on Wednesday, April 22.
— Rappler

Bring It On: PNP Chief Gamboa vows to defend cops who trespassed Taguig City condo
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Archie Gamboa is not backing down from threats of a lawsuit after several Taguig City cops barged into a posh Taguig City condo and allegedly threatened to arrest its expat residents despite not showing a warrant.
— Coconuts Philippines

Safety first or brain rot? Netizens weigh in on proposed December resumption of classes
When should classes resume in the time of coronavirus?
— Rappler

Resumption of bus, train operations with fewer passengers eyed
The government is studying the possibility of allowing bus and train operations after April 30 but at partial capacity to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus.
— Rappler

 

 

Feature photo Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines
This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on World Intellectual Property Day, April 26.

 

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.

 

The following two tabs change content below.

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.

Support independent media by sharing using these tools. Do not steal our content

Make a comment

Your email address will not be published.