Philippines morning news for July 24

Philippines morning news for July 24
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Philippines morning newsCriticising China could be ‘terrorism’ under Philippines’ anti-terror law, warn retired Supreme Court justices
Two former Supreme Court justices and a maritime law expert have filed a petition to scrap the Philippines’ recently passed anti-terrorism law on the grounds they could be labelled “terrorists” for criticising the country’s relationship with China.
— South China Morning Post

Philippine Airlines reports loss of 183.1 mln USD in Q1
The Philippines Airlines (PAL) announced on Thursday a comprehensive loss of 183.1 million U.S. dollars for the first quarter of 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Xinhuanet

Gov’t eyes COVID-19 ‘pool testing’ for Metro Manila residents
The government eyes using “pool testing” to detect the presence of the novel coronavirus among Metro Manila residents, an official leading the effort said Thursday.
— ABS-CBN News (video)

PAL says ‘cost control strategies’ to cushion pandemic’s impact on operations
Philippine Airlines on Thursday said it is implementing “cost control strategies” to ensure continued operations as the coronavirus pandemic curbed global and local travel.
— ABS-CBN News

Palace blames Health dep’t for unclear rules
THE presidential palace on Thursday blamed Health authorities for unclear home quarantine rules that supposedly caused a surge in coronavirus infections.
— BusinessWorld

Tourism investments hit P663.2-B in 2019
The tourism investment from both private and public sectors in the country reached PHP663.2 billion in 2019, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) revealed Thursday.
— Philippine News Agency

NCR isolation sites swamped by surge in Covid asymptomatics
THE surge in the number of asymptomatic novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients in Metro Manila has overwhelmed the capacity of isolation facilities in the region.
— Business Mirror

Philippine FDA strongly advises against use of face masks with breathing valves
The Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has strongly advised against the use of face masks with breathing valves, saying it is not a recommended protective gear against COVID-19.
— Coconuts Manila

COVID-19 cases in Philippines surge to 74,390 with 2,200 new reported cases
The number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines surged to 74,390 after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 2,200 new cases on Thursday.
— Xinhuanet

Recovery of job losses due to pandemic may take until 2022 – ADB
The worst is over for the economic slump this year, but the Asian Development Bank said bringing back millions of jobs lost during the pandemic could take at least two years.
— CNN Philippines

Philippines suspends leisure travel abroad for Filipinos
Filipinos hoping to leave the country in the coming days for some rest and relaxation will have to hold off on their trip after the Philippine government temporarily suspended “non-essential outbound travel.”
— Rappler

Employers call on government to bear cost of random testing
EMPLOYERS rejected a Health department’s proposal for business owners to conduct random coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing on workers every two weeks, and called on the government to cover the cost of maintaining public health.
— BusinessWorld

Tagum commences 3rd wave of city-wide polio vaccination
In its endeavor to win over the threat of polio virus to Tagumenyo children, the City Government of Tagum through the City Health Office (CHO) launched its third installment of vaccination drive last July 20 at the Brgy. Magugpo South covered court.
— Philippine Information Agency

Death certificates show Bilibid inmates died within days of each other amid COVID-19
Nine high-profile inmates of the New Bilibid Prison died within days of each other amid the community quarantine imposed to arrest the spread of COVID-19, death certificates showed.
— GMA Network

PAL parent faces crucial vote as Lucio Tan’s daughter, son drop out of board
PAL Holdings Inc., the parent firm of Philippine Airlines (PAL), will elect Thursday the replacements for Vivienne Tan and John Tan to the company’s board, the outcome of which would determine the flag carrier’s recovery thrust from the pandemic.
— Philippine Star

Cha-cha to be dead on arrival at Senate, says Gatchalian
Charter change would be dead on arrival if ever it reaches the Senate, according to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday.
— GMA Network

CMFR: Restrictions on access could limit SONA coverage to government narrative
The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility on Thursday warned that the government’s decision to bar media teams from entering the venue of the president’s State of the Nation Address could reduce coverage of the address to broadcasting state propaganda.
— Philippine Star

President Duterte to undergo COVID-19 testing prior to SONA
President Rodrigo Duterte will undergo COVID-19 testing before he holds his fifth State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 27.
— Eagle News

DOH hires more healthcare workers amid fight vs. Covid-19
The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said it will continue to hire healthcare workers to address the shortage of manpower in the hospitals accommodating the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients.
— Philippine News Agency

Ear to the Ground: Gossip to be used in COVID-19 contact tracing in Central Visayas
Gossipmongers (“tsismoso”) are typically viewed with disdain in communities, but a high-ranking official of the Philippine National Police said today that they could help in COVID-19 contact tracing in Central Visayas.
— Coconuts Philippines

First six months of 2020: Disasters, deaths and disease in PH
The first half of the decade’s final year saw disaster, death, and disease.
— Inquirer.net

New gov’t target: 1.5-M COVID-19 tests by end-July
The Department of Health said it is now aiming to conduct 1.5 million COVID-19 tests by the end of the month — lower than the government’s initial target of testing some 1.65 million people in the country.
— CNN Philippines

Diokno: No need to sell assets to buy vaccines
THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) governor assured legislators on Thursday that the Philippines “is in a good position” dollar-wise, and will not need to sell government assets to procure vaccines for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the future.
— Business Mirror

Asian Hospital declares ER ‘full capacity’, can no longer accept patients
The Asian Hospital and Medical Center on Thursday announced that its emergency room has reached “full capacity” due to the number of patients being admitted.
— ABS-CBN News

UP doctors, professors give Duterte administration failing mark in COVID-19 response
Doctors and professors from the University of the Philippines gave the Duterte administration a failing mark in its response to the coronavirus pandemic.
— ABS-CBN News (video)

Biz groups ask Congress to pass 27 legislative reforms
Fourteen Philippine business groups and foreign chambers have asked the Senate and the House of Representatives to pass 27 reform measures pending in the 18th Congress that will support economic recovery.
— Philippine News Agency

Philippine tourism will recover in 2021
The majority of tourism players in the Philippines remains optimistic that their businesses will return to normal within six months to a year, the Philippines News Agency reported Tuesday.
— TTR Weekly

Labor group rejects Sotto bill freeing employers from liability on workers’ COVID-19 infection
Labor group Partido Manggagawa on Thursday rejected Senate Bill 1515 exempting employers from any liability once their workers contracted the deadly corona virus.
— Manila Bulletin

Western Visayas needs P380B to bounce back
Western Visayas will need around P380 billion in investments to fund rehabilitation and recovery efforts in the region which is reeling from the effects of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, according to economic planners.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Ease quarantine further, factory owners tell govt
OVER a hundred manufacturing companies have prodded the government to further ease quarantine restrictions on all main economic centers in the country while strictly observing health and safety protocols, following a standstill in economic activity that stretched more than three months.
— Business Mirror

PH media urged to cover Duterte SONA post-facto: watchdog
The accountability of government has been “razed to a level at which most Filipinos should be deeply concerned about,” a watchdog said Thursday as it urged Philippine media not to cover live President Rodrigo Duterte’s penultimate State of the Nation Address (SONA).
— ABS-CBN News

Anti-terror law challenged by 16 petitions so far
There are so far 16 petitions challenging the constitutionality of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 (ATA) before the Supreme Court (SC), according to a list released by the tribunal on Thursday.
— GMA Network

‘Economic slump likely bottomed out in May’
The worst may be over for the Philippine economy as its contraction is seen to have bottomed out in May, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said yesterday.
— Philippine Star

Vague home quarantine rules blamed for rise in cases
The Department of Health (DOH)’s failure to clarify guidelines on persons with mild or no symptoms of COVID-19 was one of the reasons behind the spike of infections in the country, Malacañang said yesterday.
— Philippine Star

ABS-CBN shares plunge 30%, losing P3.8 billion in market cap
Shares of embattled media giant ABS-CBN sharply fell 30% after the local bourse operator lifted its trading suspension.
— Rappler

Group slams reopening of mine sites closed by Lopez
Fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) yesterday slammed Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu for allowing the reopening of mine sites ordered closed by the late secretary Gina Lopez.
— Philstar

AFP: No more foreign terrorists in Philippines
The military has confirmed the statement of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana that there are no more foreign terrorists in the country.
— Philstar

Philippines seeks access to US COVID-19 vaccine
Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez has made representations with Washington to allow the Philippines access to a vaccine against COVID-19 once it becomes available.
— Philippine Star

Without face-to-face classes, gov’t eyes house-to-house feeding program for children: official
The government eyes bringing food packs to the houses of the poorest schoolchildren, while face-to-face classes are limited to areas facing low risk of novel coronavirus transmission, an official said Thursday.
— ABS-CBN News

85% of Pinoys worried about kin getting COVID-19
Almost nine in every 10 Filipinos are worried that a member of their family would catch COVID-19, according to a mobile phone survey conducted recently by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).
— Philippine Star

Iloilo City locks down 20 houses in Lapuz district
A total of 20 houses in Bo. Obrero in Lapuz district has been placed on temporary lockdown after three residents of the village were tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
— Philippine News Agency

3 Philhealth officials resign over alleged widespread corruption in agency
Three officials of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or Philhealth have resigned over alleged corrupt practices committed by in the agency, according to a report on Unang Balita on Friday.
— GMA Network

BuCor: Only 260 of 29,000 inmates afflicted with virus
The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Wednesday said only 260 out of the 29,000 inmates nationwide have tested positive for the virus.
— Business Mirror

Duterte to certify Bayanihan 2 bill as urgent
President Rodrigo Duterte will certify as urgent the Bayanihan to Recover as One (Bayanihan 2) bill, which will allow him to realign funds for the coronavirus crisis and guarantee government aid for several sectors, Malacañang announced Thursday.
— ABS-CBN News

ADB financing to PH seen to hit record-high $4.2-B
Financing to be extended by the Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) to the Philippines is expected to rise to record-high USD4.21 billion this year.
— Philippine News Agency

ADB sees joblessness peaking in June, but employment rebounding in 2021
The Asian Development Bank said Thursday the jobless rate in the Philippines will peak in June but employment will bounce back early next year as the economy slowly recovers from the lockdowns imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19.
— ABS-CBN News

DENR to reopen mining firms closed by Gina Lopez
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will allow mining companies previously closed by the late secretary Gina Lopez to resume operations.
— Rappler

Taiwan extends visa-free entry for Filipinos until July 2021
Visa-free entry for Filipino travelers to Taiwan has been extended for another year, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Thursday.
— ABS-CBN News

‘Technically impossible’ for gov’t to use ABS-CBN’s frequency: Gatchalian
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday said it would be “technically impossible” for the government to use ABS-CBN’s frequencies even after the media network failed to secure a new franchise from Congress.
— ABS-CBN News

‘My world stopped spinning’ – life on hold for millions of Philippine migrant workers
He had a visa and just the job – six months of work at sea and thousands in pay to send home. Then the virus struck.
— Reuters

Philippines: Decommissioning of Rebel Weapons on Track, Official Says
The Philippines has decommissioned thousands of firearms controlled by former Muslim separatist guerrillas in the south as part of a historic peace deal, the country’s defense chief said, adding the entire process of silencing their weapons is to be completed by 2022.
— Benar News

Nueva Ecija town cleared of bird flu
The avian influenza in Jaen town, Nueva Ecija province, has been stamped out by the Department of Agriculture (DA), four months since its outbreak there.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

DBM eyes P4.5-trillion budget for 2021 on Covid expense
THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is eyeing a much higher national budget of P4.506 trillion for next year as it sees government spending continue to rise amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
— Business Mirror

Senate probers nix bid to move key figure in GCTA mess
TWO Senate committees conducting a joint inquiry into the alleged Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) racket—fraudulently cutting the prison time of inmates—have rejected a request to transfer custody of detained key witness Police Superintendent Rodney Raymundo Juico Baloyo IV from the New Bilibid Prison to the San Fernando City District Jail in Pampanga.
— Business Mirror

Marcos wants PPE, medical supply manufacturers exempted from some taxes
Sen. Imee Marcos on Thursday pushed to exempt local medical supply manufacturers from some taxes to ensure that Filipino-owned businesses would be more competitive against their international counterparts amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.
— ABS-CBN News

IUCN includes PHL’s long-tailed macaque on ‘vulnerable’ list
The Nicobar long-tailed macaque, and all its 10 known subspecies that include the Philippine long-tailed macaque, scientifically called Macaca fascicularis philippensis, is now listed as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
— Business Mirror

China remains Philippines’ top export market, import supplier
China remains the Philippines’ top export market with almost 27 percent of the Philippines’ total exports being shipped to the world’s second largest economy, the Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said on Thursday.
— Xinhuanet

DFA logs 27 new COVID-19 cases, no deaths among Filipinos abroad; total now at 9,192
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday said there were 27 new cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) recorded among Filipinos abroad, raising the total to 9,192.
— ABS-CBN News

Average prisoner cell space in PH is 0.87 square meter – Recto
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto lambasted the poor conditions of Philippine jails, describing them as “pandemic timebombs.”
— Philippines Lifestyle

Palay production seen improving by 6% in Q2, PSA says
The country’s production of palay (rice paddy) is estimated to reach 4.12 million metric tons in the second quarter, up 6.85 percent from the same period last year.
— CNN Philippines

Radio station soon to rise on Pagasa Island–DND chief
The government intends to build and activate a radio broadcast station in Pagasa as it sustains the development of the island following the construction of a beaching ramp and a sheltered port there last month.
— Business Mirror

Military helicopter with 5 people crashes in northern Philippines
A military helicopter carrying five people crashed on Thursday evening while taking off in a military camp in the northern Philippines, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) said.
— Xinhuanet

PNP tallies 118 new coronavirus cases; total now at 1,761
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said 118 more of its personnel has caught COVID-19, raising the total tally of infections in the organization to 1,761.
— ABS-CBN News

Port charges waived for 2nd send off of LSIs
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is reducing port fees and charges in support of the second send-off of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) under the Hatid-Tulong program.
— UNTV

Manila bishop who criticized COVID-19 church restrictions contracts the disease
Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Apostolic Administrator of Manila, said he has tested positive for the coronavirus disease but is not feeling any symptoms.
— CNN Philippines

Solon pushes retail price cap on computers
AS the Department of Education is pushing for the conduct of virtual classes, the vice chairman of the House Committee on Good Government on Thursday urged the government to put a cap on prices of computer.
— Business Mirror

‘Boost plunging immunization rates’, Recto urges
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Thursday said the government should act swiftly and boost the country’s plunging immunization rates, which has been disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Manila Bulletin

Build more temporary hospitals instead of reverting to MECQ, Gatchalian suggests
The government should set up makeshift hospitals where more COVID-19 patients can be accommodated instead of imposing stricter lockdown measures in Metro Manila and other high-risk areas, according to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday.
— GMA Network

Dead drug convict tested negative for COVID-19; BuCor claims he was also positive
One of the nine high-profile inmates who died at the New Bilibid Prison over the community quarantine imposed to keep the spread of COVID-19 tested negative for the coronavirus, documents presented by the Bureau of Corrections showed.
— GMA Network

PH raises output of PPE, ventilators
The country has increased its capacity in producing N88 surgical masks, medical-grade coveralls, and ventilators vital for its fight against coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
— Philippine News Agency

Trade department seeking P500 million to fund shared facilities
THE Trade department is requesting P500 million to fund equipment to be shared by micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSME) in 2021.
— BusinessWorld

ABS-CBN in talks with banks on debts
ABS-CBN CORP. is now in talks with creditor banks on its long-term debts, expressing confidence that it will be able to satisfy its financial obligations despite the impact of the non-renewal of its broadcast franchise on overall operations.
— BusinessWorld

ABS-CBN cuts exposure in non-core businesses
ABS-CBN Corp. is reducing investments in non-core businesses and instead focusing on endeavors that will generate growth in revenue following the non-renewal of its broadcast franchise.
— Philippine Star

…As Philippine lags in EV development in ASEAN
The Philippines remains a laggard in the Southeast Asian region in terms of electric vehicle (EV) adoption due to lack of supporting policies and incentives.
— Philippine Star

DOLE needs 612 para-teachers for opening of classes
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Antique provincial office will hire 612 para-teachers, who will assist learners during the opening of classes on August 24.
— Philippine News Agency

Gov’t seeks to fast track rollout of common towers
THE government is targeting to hasten the construction of new common cell towers in the country by reducing the number of required permits.
— BusinessWorld

Government mulls subsidies for EV production…
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is proposing subsidies for the production and purchase of electric vehicles (EV) to help push the development of the industry.
— Philippine Star

New Economic Zones in the Philippines to Attract Foreign Investment
In June 2020, Philippines announced the approval of 12 new economic zones, which will be managed by the Philippine Economic Zones Authority (PEZA).
— Asean Briefing

Philippines ranks 1st in growth rate of RMB clearing volume in Southeast Asia
The Philippines ranks first in Southeast Asia in terms of growth rate of renminbi (RMB) clearing volume, the Bank of China said on Thursday.
— Xinhuanet

ABS-CBN shifts efforts to digital, cable after shutdown
Media giant ABS-CBN is now focusing on its digital and cable businesses following its shutdown.
— Rappler

Environmental groups call for broadcast resumption of ABS-CBN
Members of various environmental groups, bannered under the Green Thumb Coalition, gather outside the ABS-CBN headquarters in Quezon City on Thursday for a noise barrage to support the network.
— ABS-CBN News

PH working with Asean neighbors to protect maritime borders
The Philippines has entered into security agreements with neighboring states in the Southeast Asian region to protect its shared maritime borders.
— Philippine News Agency

Preparations for August 24 school opening 70% complete – Gatchalian
The public school system’s preparations for the scheduled opening of classes on August 24 are about “70% completed,” Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said on Thursday, July 23.
— Rappler

DOH awaits pilot study result on pooled testing for Covid-19
The Department of Health (DOH) is waiting for the result of the pilot study conducted by the Philippine Society of Pathologists as proof of concept for pooled testing, a health official said on Thursday.
— Philippine News Agency

PAGASA monitoring to boost disaster preparedness
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato dela Peña on Thursday said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has installed additional monitoring equipment to boost the country’s disaster preparedness.
— Philippine News Agency

Brgy residents urged to help bring rebels back to the folds of the law
Provincial Governor Nelson Dayanghirang requested residents in Barangay Maragatas in the Municipality of Lupon, to bring family members still with the circle of communist terrorist group (CTG) to bring the insurgents back to the folds of the law.
— Philippine Information Agency

Gov t books 2,000 hotel rooms in Metro Manila as COVID-19 isolation areas
The government has booked 2,000 hotel rooms in Metro Manila to be used as isolation areas for coronavirus patients, National Task Force Against COVID-19 deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon said Thursday.
— GMA Network

Ride-share firms allowed to charge P50 cancellation fee
THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has allowed transport network companies (TNCs) to charge a cancellation or no-show fee of P50.
— BusinessWorld

DOLE-3 issues 16K certificates for involuntary separation
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional office here on Thursday said it has issued more than 16,000 certificates for involuntary separation in Central Luzon.
— Philippine News Agency

Boracay now open to all Western Visayas tourists: DOT
The Department of Tourism (DOT) announced that all Western Visayas travelers below 21 and above 60 years old are now allowed to enter Boracay after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) on Thursday lifted the age-specific ban on the island.
— Philippine News Agency

BSP warns the public on SIM card fraud, banking scams
The Bangko Sental ng Pilipinas (BSP) cautioned the public against SIM card fraud and banking scams from obtained personal banking information through phishing and other tactics.
— Philippine Information Agency

Factories back looser quarantine, more jeepneys in NCR, ‘other urban areas’
Manufacturers are backing calls within government ranks to ease quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila and key areas, while allowing more jeepneys to carry passengers in a bid to revive an economy struggling to overcome pandemic disruptions.
— Philippine Star

DOLE-3 issues 16K certificates for involuntary separation
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional office here on Thursday said it has issued more than 16,000 certificates for involuntary separation in Central Luzon.
— Philippine News Agency

Farmers in NoCot upland town get P13-M aid from DAR
More than 1,190 farmer-beneficiaries in the farming town of Banisilan in North Cotabato are expected to benefit from the agricultural inputs augmentation from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) that were dispersed on Wednesday.
— Philippine News Agency

 

 

Feature photo Baclaran Church
This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on COVID-19 in Asean.

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).

 

 

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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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