Philippines Morning News For February 6, 2020

Philippines confirms 3rd case of novel coronavirus
The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday, February 5, reported the Philippines’ 3rd confirmed case of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
— Rappler

Filipinos repatriated from China back home on February 8
Filipinos repatriated from China, where the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) had claimed hundreds of lives, will arrive in the Philippines on Saturday, February 8.
— Rappler

Gov’t to decide on lifting of China travel ban in 2 weeks
The government is set to decide within two weeks on whether or not to lift the travel ban on overseas Filipino workers to China and its special administrative regions (SARs) where there are reported cases of the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD).
— Philippine News Agency

Inflation inches up to 2.9% in January 2020
Inflation or the rate of increase in the prices of goods inched up to 2.9% in January, the Philippine Statistics Authority announced on Wednesday, February 5.
— Rappler

Hong Kong to extend contracts of Filipino maids
The Hong Kong government will allow local employers to extend the employment contracts for their Filipino domestic workers up to the end of May because the supply of new workers has been suspended.
— Asia Times

Manufacturing declined 10.1% in December — PSA
Factory output declined by a tenth in December from a year ago on lower production of petroleum products, basic metals and furniture, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Wednesday.
— Manilastandard.net

Phivolcs: 18 harmonic tremors at Taal Volcano in past 24 hours
There were 18 harmonic tremors, or prolonged volcanic earthquakes linked to the movement of magma, recorded from Taal Volcano in the past 24 hours.
— Rappler

DOH asks for PNP help as nCoV cases contact refuses hospitalization
The Department of Health has asked for police assistance after a person who had been in contact with the country’s first two confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection refused to be admitted at a hospital.
— GMA Network

House of Representatives Committee Approves Bills Legalizing Divorce in PH
House of Representatives Committee OKs House Bills That Seeks Legalization of Divorce in the Philippines A House of Representatives committee approved three measures seeking to legalize divorce or the dissolution of marriage in the Philippines.
— Philippine News

1 Filipino tests positive for coronavirus, 537 other Filipinos quarantined on Japan cruise ship
A Filipino seafarer has tested positive for the novel coronavirus or 2019-nCoV, while 537 other Filipinos have been quarantined onboard a cruise ship in Japan.
— CNN Philippines

Special arrangement at airport for Pinoys arriving from Wuhan –DOH
Filipinos returning to the Philippines from Wuhan, China will not pass through the regular quarantine and immigration areas at the airport, the Department of Health said Wednesday.
— GMA Network

Test kits for novel coronavirus need WHO validation before use – DOH
Rapid test kits that could expedite the process of confirming 2019 novel coronavirus cases in the Philippines need to be validated first by the World Health Organization (WHO) before use, the Department of Health (DOH) said.
— Rappler

DOH assesses 203 who may have been near nCoV-positive Wuhan couple after getting help from PNP, LGUs
The Philippine National Police and other government agencies are now helping the Department of Health in the contact tracing of persons who may have interacted with the Chinese couple who had been confirmed positive for the 2019 novel coronavirus.
— Eagle News

House bills seek P2-B fund for DOH to buy masks, protective equipment
Two ranking lawmakers are now proposing to give at least a P2-billion supplemental budget to the Department of Health (DOH) to purchase surgical masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) amid the ongoing threat of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) .
— Rappler

PHL domestic liquidity expands in December
THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Wednesday said the country ended 2019 with more cash circulating in the local economy, which it attributed to the rise in bank lending.
— Business Mirror

DOLE eyes partial lifting of deployment ban to Kuwait
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is considering the partial lifting of the ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Kuwait following a meeting between the Philippine labor delegation and Kuwaiti officials.
— Philippine News Agency

Pangasinan town plastic ban starts March 1
The municipal government of this town will start enforcing a ban on single-use plastics on March 1.
— Philippine News Agency

Duterte OKs housing grant for families living near Taal
President Duterte has approved the request of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) to provide free permanent housing to families affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano.
— Business Mirror

Philippines keeps ports open to all ships despite virus fears
The Philippines said on Wednesday its ports remain open to all ships, even those from China, in order not to disrupt the cargo supply chain, but the crew of vessels arriving from the coronavirus-hit nation will be barred from disembarking.
— Reuters

EU holds second conference on space program in PH
The European Union Delegation to the Philippines is holding a second national conference on its flagship space program Copernicus, whose mapping technology was utilized during Taal Volcano’s recent activity.
— Inquirer.net

DA temporarily bans poultry from Ukraine
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has issued a temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds and its products from Ukraine following an outbreak of an avian virus in the European country.
— The Philippine Star

Domestic passengers undergo thermal scanning in Aklan airport
The Aklan International Airport has stepped up its defense against the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) by having domestic passengers be screened for any symptoms, an official said on Wednesday.
— Philippine News Agency

Iloilo readies hospital for nCoV PUIs
To boost its preparations in confronting the current health concern on the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), the Iloilo provincial government has identified a hospital to handle cases under investigation for the disease.
— Philippine News Agency

DICT admits using P300 million for surveillance
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) admitted to using P300 million for surveillance and other cybersecurity-related matters, after a memo from state auditors said its use of confidential funds led to the agency’s underperformance.
— Rappler

Senate panel endorses criminal raps vs. Faeldon, BuCor execs over GCTA controversy
The Senate blue ribbon committee has found former Bureau of Corrections Director General Nicanor Faeldon liable for graft over the Good Conduct Time Allowance controversy, including the near-release of ex-Calauan, Laguna mayor Antonio Sanchez.
— GMA Network

BSP seen to slash key rates starting this month
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is projected to resume its easing cycle with a cut of 25 basis points on Thursday, as inflation remains within-target and global growth prospects are still bleak.
— Philippine News Agency

DICT says use of P300M in confidential funds needed to fight cyber security issues
The DICT said that the Philippines was ranked the seventh most attacked by cyber threats in the last quarter of 2019 by cybersecurity firm Kaspersky.
— GMA Network

Duterte still trusts Duque despite flak over DOH’s nCoV response
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III still enjoys the trust of President Rodrigo Duterte, a Malacañang official said Wednesday, after senators complained about the Cabinet member s handling of the novel coronavirus cases in the country.
— GMA Network

PNP cites voided Marcos decree vs ‘fake news’ amid coronavirus scare
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is citing a repealed Marcos-era decree in its fight against fake news peddlers in the wake of misinformation and panic amid the global outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) .
— Rappler

Palace welcomes drop in number of jobless Pinoys in Q4 2019
Malacañang on Wednesday welcomed survey findings showing a decrease in the number of adult Filipinos without jobs.
— GMA Network

Dishonesty, lack of transparency ‘glaring’ features of Duterte gov’t – rights group
The lack of transparency under the Duterte administration remains a hindrance in the quest for justice by victims of the violent anti-illegal drugs campaign.
— Rappler

Palace: President Duterte has approved measures to address gaps in education system
President Rodrigo Duterte has approved measures to address gaps in the education system, the Palace said on Wednesday, Feb. 5.
— Eagle News

Free speech violation? Guevarra defends probe into coronavirus fake news
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday, February 5, defended his department order to investigate fake news on the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), saying there are limitations to the constitutional right to free speech.
— Rappler

Senators say they won t tread lightly in possible probe of Honasan-led DICT s intel funds
DICT Secretary Gregorio Honasan will not be treated with kid gloves by his former Senate colleagues in the event that the chamber probes DICT s use of P300 million in intelligence funds spent during the last three months of 2019, senators said.
— GMA Network

Govt financing surges to nearly P1T last year
NATIONAL government financing soared to nearly P1 trillion in 2019 on the back of higher domestic borrowings, data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed on Wednesday.
— Manila Times

Former DOH Secretary: NCoV spreads faster than SARS, but not as virulent
Former Health Secretary Dr. Manuel Dayrit said on Wednesday that the novel coronavirus (NCoV) has a tendency to spread faster than the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
— GMA Network

LOOK: Mayon Volcano ‘crater glow’ as it stays under Alert Level 2
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) gave the public a glimpse of what it called the crater glow of Mayon Volcano in the province of Albay.
— Rappler

Duterte s real legacy is assault on human rights, group says amid worsening situation
The Philippines’ human rights crisis’ worsened in 2019, a non-government rights organization said Wednesday as it condemned the Duterte administration’s policies for creating a hostile environment for ordinary Filipinos.
— GMA Network

Some Pinoys with connecting flights to Hong Kong barred from checking in at NAIA
Some Filipinos with connecting flights to Hong Kong were barred from checking in at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
— GMA Network

Caloocan police urged to stop ‘illegal’ detention of 10 labor organizers
Labor groups and professors from the Philosophy Department of the Ateneo de Manila University urged Caloocan police to release some 10 union organizers they arrested in a labor strike on Wednesday, February 5.
— Rappler

MECO imposes addt’l visa requirements for Taiwanese citizens amid nCoV outbreak
The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), the country’s representative office in Taiwan, announced on Wednesday that it will impose additional visa requirements for Taiwanese citizens and other foreign nationals in Taiwan who plan to travel to the Philippines.
— GMA Network

Health workers in Pampanga, trained to respond to nCoV ARD
About 100 health workers in the province were trained on how to respond and manage possible cases of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Acute Respiratory Disease (2019 nCoV ARD).
— Philippine Information Agency

GenSan dads seek ban on tourists from nCoV-hit countries
The city council here is seeking a temporary ban on the entry of foreign nationals from countries affected by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV).
— Philippine News Agency

Clark prepared, just awaiting instructions for arrival of repatriated Pinoys
Clark International Airport authorities on Wednesday evening said they learned of the arrival of repatriated Filipinos from the media but are prepared and waiting for instructions, hours after Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the announcement.
— GMA Network

Mobile app seen to boost small businesses
Small and medium enterprises stand to benefit from a pioneering mobile app that will enable them to ship their goods and commodities around the country at cheaper shipping rates.
— Philippine News Agency

Grab to comply with CDO vs. data-sensitive measures
Ridesharing company Grab Philippines on Wednesday said it will comply with the National Privacy Commission’s (NPC) cease and desist order (CDO) against its new data-sensitive safety measures, adding that its new measures “follow the legal criteria for lawful processing of data.
— Philippine News Agency

Philippine journalism loses a towering figure
Those two old sayings about the connection between virtue and human longevity—“Only the good die young” and “Mala hierba nunca muere (Bad grass never dies)”—were disproved anew two days ago with the passing of Gabino Tabuñar Jr. Gabby, as he was known to his countless colleagues and admirers, was 95 at the time of his passing.
— Manilastandard.net

PSA notes rice-price dip after tariffication
ALMOST a year after the full implementation of the rice trade liberalization (RTL) law, rice prices continued to fall, albeit at a slower pace in January 2020, according to data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
— Business Mirror

Thai Navy pays courtesy call on new Philippine Navy chief
The Royal Thai Navy on Wednesday visited the Philippine Navy with the aim to boost the defense cooperation between the two countries.
— GMA Network

Davao City bans pigs, pork products from Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental
Mayor Sara Duterte has banned the entry of live pigs and pork products from Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental, amid the African swine fever (ASF) threat.
— Rappler

CoA staff worried as official had fever after arriving from HK
Two officials of the Commission on Audit who recently arrived from a trip abroad have reportedly been referred to an undisclosed hospital after one of them, a director, was found to be suffering from fever.
— Tempo

Mid-rise buildings eyed for Cebu City informal settlers
Mayor Edgardo Labella has bared the plan of the city government here to implement a massive medium-rise buildings (MRB) project as a resettlement site for informal settlers.
— Philippine News Agency

Gov’t to remain vigilant vs. inflation risks
The government remains vigilant against risks to inflation outlook after consumer prices rose to an eight-month high of 2.9 percent in January 2020.
— Philippine News Agency

DOH exec to public: Avoid sharing nCoV rumors that cause panic
An official of Department of Health (DOH) appealed to the public to refrain from sharing false messages about the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that may likely cause panic.
— Philippine Information Agency

DOH Calabarzon readies health facilities for 2019-nCoV patients
The Department of Health (DOH) Region 4A assured the public that it is ready to respond to the threat of the novel coronavirus-acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV-ARD) in the event that an nCoV case will be identified in the region.
— Philippine Information Agency

Razon’s buy-in of Manila Water won’t stop contract review – DOJ
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Wednesday, February 5, that tycoon Enrique Razon Jr’s buy-in of a 25% stake in Manila Water will have no effect on the ongoing contract review of water concessionaires.
— Rappler

DepEd orders learners, staff in Davao region to get checked for coronavirus
The Department of Education in Region 11 (DepEd 11) ordered all learners, teachers, and non-teaching staff suffering from respiratory infections to be referred to health authorities for assessment.
— Rappler

‘Get your priorities straight,’ lawmakers tell Duque amid coronavirus threat
Visibly upset legislators told Health Secretary Francisco Duque III he needs to get his priorities in order after he failed to attend a House hearing on Metro Manila’s response to the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) .
— Rappler

NPC suspends Grab’s selfie, audio, video recording systems
The National Privacy Commission (NPC) has suspended Grab Philippines’ selfie verification and pilot test of in-vehicle audio and video recording, saying this may endanger the privacy rights of the company’s passengers.
— Rappler

Sandiganbayan acquits ex-Quezon City lawmaker in fertilizer scam
The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Quezon City 4th District representative Nanette Castelo-Daza and 11 others of graft and technical malversation in connection to the fertilizer fund scam.
— Rappler

ARBs, Marsman agree to ‘win-win’ solution on new lease deal
Some 622 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and management of Marsman Estate Plantation Incorporated (MEPI) have agreed to sign a new lease contract which they call a “win-win” solution.
— Philippine News Agency

National athletes to earn civil service eligibility
National athletes will have a chance to acquire professional and sub-professional eligibility soon following talks between the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) on Wednesday, February 5.
— Rappler

Local egg makers losing due to low consumption, high production costs
Local egg producers are incurring losses due to low consumption and high costs of feeds, poultry diseases and other drawbacks.
— Manila Times

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Philippines morning news for February 6 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on February 6, 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.