Philippines Morning News For February 4, 2020

Persons under investigation for nCoV in the PHL jump to 80, with 30 testing negative for the virus
Persons under investigation (PUIs) for the 2019 novel coronavirus in the country have reached 80, with 30 of them having negative test results for the virus, according to the Department of Health.
— Eagle News

Philippines containing coronavirus; no outbreak yet
THE Philippines is at the “containment stage” in its fight against a deadly coronavirus strain that has killed hundreds in China and sickened thousands more, health authorities said on Monday.
— BusinessWorld

300 Chinese stranded in PH due to coronavirus travel restrictions
About 300 Chinese were left stranded at several terminals across the country, following the Philippine government’s sweeping travel restrictions imposed amid the global spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus.
— Rappler

Manufacturing purchasing managers’ index up in January
The local manufacturing sector’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) increased to 52.1 in January from 51.7 in December 2019, IHS Markit reported Monday.
— Philippine News Agency

Philippines’ Duterte says xenophobia against Chinese must stop
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday urged Philippine citizens to stop stirring up anti-Chinese xenophobia related to the outbreak of a coronavirus that emerged in Wuhan, China, in December and has since killed more than 300 and infected more than 17,000.
— Reuters

Philippines to reject transit passengers from China, Hong Kong too
Bureau of Immigration Spokesperson Dana Sandoval said on Monday, February 3, that travelers coming from transit points in Hong Kong are also covered by travel restrictions put in place to address the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
— Rappler

74 traced to have had contact with nCOV-positive Wuhan couple advised to undergo “home quarantine”
The 74 persons who have been traced to have had contact with the Chinese couple from Wuhan City who have travelled to Dumaguete City and Cebu have been advised to undergo “self-quarantine” for 14 days, and not to make contacts even with their family members as a precaution.
— Eagle News

Crackdown on environmental defenders ‘may lead to P1-T ecological damage yearly’
The Philippines’ 6.2 million hectares of critical landscapes and seascapes that provide at least P1.04 trillion of annual ecosystem services are at stake in the ongoing crackdown against environmental defenders.
— Rappler

Pinay OFW Reveals Real Situation in China, Expresses Fury To Filipinos Insisting Travel Ban
Video of Pinay OFW Revealing Real Situation in China Elicits Comments Online A certain Pinay OFW expressed her fury towards Filipino people insisting to ban flights from China and revealed the real situation in Wuhan.
— Philippine News

BOC on alert vs. meat shipments from China
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is on alert against all meat products coming from China amid the reported cases of H5N1 virus.
— Philippine News Agency

Even if after death of confirmed case, Palace says meeting on nCoV not late
President Rodrigo Duterte’s emergency meeting with members of his Cabinet to discuss the novel coronavirus didn’t come too late, a Malacañang official said on Monday.
— GMA Network

Solon seeks P1-B supplemental budget for DOH’s nCoV efforts
House Committee on Health chair Angelina Tan would file a measure that would provide a P1 billion supplemental budget for the Department of Health’s (DOH’s) efforts against the spread of the novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD).
— GMA Network

Review VFA first before ending it, Duterte told
SENATORS urged President Rodrigo R. Duterte to reconsider a plan before to end an agreement with the US on the deployment of troops and equipment for war games.
— BusinessWorld

Cebu hotels suffer up to 20% occupancy rate drop amid nCoV
HOTELS IN Cebu City and its surrounding metro area are feeling the impact of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) as occupancy rates drop by up to 20% in the past week.
— BusinessWorld

Philippine Lawmakers Warn of Chinese Influence over Power Grid
Senators in Manila expressed concerns Monday about China’s potential access to the Philippine power grid, as an executive from a Chinese-linked utility told a senate inquiry that hackers had breached the national grid’s computers “hundreds of times” in recent weeks.
— Benar News

Crew of vessels from China not allowed to disembark in PH ports
Crew members of vessels that departed from China will not be allowed to disembark while docked at any port controlled by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), as the country combats the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) .
— Rappler

Gov’t to give cash aid to OFWs affected by China travel ban
Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the temporary travel ban to mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau will receive assistance in the form of cash, accommodation, and transportation from the government.
— Rappler

At least 7 with flu-like symptoms quarantined in Negros provinces
At least 5 individuals were quarantined at a hospital in Negros Oriental while two others were quarantined at another hospital in Bacolod City after exhibiting flu-like symptoms.
— Rappler

House takes precautionary measures vs. 2019-nCoV
The House of Representatives has started implementing precautionary measures for all members, employees, and personnel amid the threat of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
— Philippine News Agency

Sotto, Lacson, Drilon file reso urging Duterte to reconsider VFA abrogation
Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Monday led two other senators in urging President Rodrigo Duterte to reconsider his decision to unilaterally withdraw from the Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States.
— GMA Network

FALSE: Coronavirus can be ‘eliminated’ by high temperatures
Claim: A post on Facebook dated January 28 says that the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) will not last long in the Philippines because of our warm climate.
— Rappler

Coronavirus need not drive panic for facemasks
A mini drugstore in Tagum City says in a postcard “Wala Na’y facemask! (No more facemask)”.
— Philippine Information Agency

Davao Occidental ready to augment DA’s ASF fund for culled pigs
DAVAO OCCIDENTAL Governor Claude P. Bautista said on Monday that the provincial government is ready to buy pigs from farmers as another measure to prevent the further spread of the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak that started in Don Marcelino town.
— BusinessWorld

PSG conducts temperature checks amid nCoV threat
The Presidential Security Group (PSG) has deployed personnel with infrared thermometers to check the temperature of employees and visitors entering Malacañang’s New Executive Building (NEB) as a precautionary measure against the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
— Philippine News Agency

Senate to implement stricter visitor protocols amid nCoV outbreak
The Senate was set to implement stricter visitation protocols amid the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus.
— GMA Network

Amid Chinese ‘threat,’ senators warn NGCP to allow audit or face franchise revocation
Senators on Monday warned the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to submit itself to an audit or risk having its franchise revoked amid fears that China has access to the Philippines’ power grid.
— The Philippine Star

How Duterte’s ‘tough’ advice helped Philippine tycoon Dennis Uy
Philippine tycoon Dennis Uy has built an empire spanning oil, shipping, casinos and telecommunications, but eight years ago his oil-trading business was in trouble over government allegations of fuel smuggling.
— South China Morning Post

RITM exec seeks added hazard pay, face masks for nCoV health workers
A health official appealed for additional hazard pay and urged the public to give health workers more access to face masks amid the confirmation of 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019 nCoV ARD) cases in the country.
— GMA Network

Conflagration hits 3 villages in Jolo
A conflagration hit three villages in Jolo, the capital of Sulu, on Monday morning, which the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has yet to determine the cause and worth of properties damaged in the incident.
— Philippine News Agency

Bank affiliates barred from holding debt papers
Related entities of Philippine banks are not allowed to hold bonds, commercial papers as well as long-term negotiable certificates of deposits (LTNCDs), according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
— The Philippine Star

Over P100-M allocated for coco expansion, replanting in Caraga
Coconut farmers in Caraga Region who want expansion or replanting will receive funding from the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).
— Philippine News Agency

PHL’s sole face mask maker vows to supply 2 million pieces
THE sole producer of face masks in the Philippines has committed to provide the country about 2 million pieces per month at a time the government is struggling to find supply from overseas with stocks running out globally.
— Business Mirror

Mindanao youth urged to play more active role in peacebuilding
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) is calling on the youth of Mindanao to act as agents of peace and development as the nation continues to face challenges at the local and international fronts.
— Philippine News Agency

Davao City bans pigs, pork products from neighboring provinces
The city government here has banned the entry of live pigs, pork meat and other pork-related products coming from two neighboring provinces beginning Monday.
— Philippine News Agency

Billionaire Razon buys 25% stake in Manila Water
PHILIPPINE billionaire Enrique K. Razon, Jr. will buy a 25% stake in Ayala Corp. unit Manila Water Co., Inc. amid a government review of allegedly onerous water contracts.
— BusinessWorld

PDEA declares Aurora, Bataan as drug-cleared provinces
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) declared Saturday Aurora and Bataan as drug-cleared provinces during a ceremony held in Balanga City.
— Philippine Information Agency

DRMC to conduct training on coronavirus control
The Davao Regional Medical Center-Department of Health with its network of government and private health entities is set to conduct next week a training on infection control to effectively handle coronavirus cases.
— Philippine Information Agency

MoU on Regional Inclusive Innovation Centers bridges academe, industry
The establishment of the Regional Inclusive Innovation Centers (RIIC) aims to bridge the gap between Industries and Academe through the application of Research and Development efforts to budding industries and start-ups all over Region XI.
— Philippine Information Agency

LGUs told to equip local workforce for Panay-Guimaras-Negros bridges construction
THE NATIONAL Economic and Development and Authority (NEDA)- Western Visayas regional office has called on local governments to build up a workforce that can be tapped for the anticipated construction of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros interisland bridges.
— BusinessWorld

Navy poised for more milestones under new chief: Duterte
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday expressed confidence that the Philippine Navy will achieve more milestones under the leadership of newly-appointed PN flag-officer-in-command, Rear Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo.
— Philippine News Agency

TIEZA approves high-impact tourism facilities in Baler
The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) has approved some PHP44.05 million worth of tourism facilities in this capital town of Aurora which seeks to promote sustainable tourism here.
— Philippine News Agency

DICT’s Rio quits after being kept ignorant on P300-M confidential fund
Former Undersecretary Eliseo Rio of the Department of Information and Communications Technology revealed on Monday that he resigned from his post after DICT chief Gregorio Honasan kept him out of the loop over how the agency spent P300 million in confidential funds.
— GMA Network

‘Disiplina Muna’ campaign launched in Pampanga
The city government here officially launched on Monday the “Disiplina Muna” national advocacy campaign.
— Philippine News Agency

BSP, Bank Indonesia sign digital agreement
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Bank Indonesia signed Feb. 1 a memorandum of understanding that will strengthen cooperation in the area of payment systems and digital financial innovation.
— Manilastandard.net

Gabriela seeks probe on misuse of DICT confidential funds
The Gabriela Women’s Party is calling on the House of Representatives to conduct an investigation into the alleged misuse of the Department of Information and Communication Technology’s (DICT) confidential funds.
— GMA Network

CCTV cameras in Dgte inspected
The 336 high definition CCTV cameras installed in strategic locations in the 30 component barangays in the city are now inspected for its functionality.
— Philippine Information Agency

Nat’l confab on UHC law set in Dgte
About 500 medical practitioners representing 50 medical schools across the country will meet in a three-day national convention on Feb. 5-7, 2020 in Dumaguete City.
— Philippine Information Agency

COMELEC to test mobile apps that may used for voting in Philippine elections
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will soon test a mobile app for use in the next election in an aim to increase voter turnout among overseas voters, Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said.
— GMA Network

With VFA uncertain, U.S. envoy hails military alliance with PH at WW2 event
Without explicitly mentioning the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) , US Ambassador Sung Kim highlighted the benefits of US troops’ presence and cooperation in the Philippines sanctioned by the agreement, which is now under question after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered its termination in late January.
— Rappler

12 Philippine pageant candidates who conquered their fields without a crown
The national pageant scene is again gearing up with the Binibining Pilipinas and Miss Universe Philippines organizations counting down the deadline for the submission of applications.
— Rappler

Bacolod mayor cancels trip to Abu Dhabi forum amid nCoV threat
Mayor Evelio Leonardia has canceled his trip to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates for the 10th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF10) amid the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) threat.
— Philippine News Agency

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Philippines morning news for February 4 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on February 4, 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.