Philippines morning news for May 6

Philippines morning news for May 6
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Philippines morning news

ABS-CBN ordered to go off air as franchise lapses
The government on Tuesday ordered broadcast giant ABS-CBN Corp. to “cease and desist” after its license to operate, which Congress is yet to renew, expired.
— Philippine Star

PH coronavirus cases rise to 9,684, deaths now at 637
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Philippines has reached 9,684, after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 199 new patients as of 4 pm on Tuesday, May 5.
— Rappler

Immigration bureau: More than 4000 Filipino seafarers to disembark from quarantined vessels at Manila port by May 17
More than 4000 Filipino seafarers are expected to disembark from vessels quarantined off a Manila port by May 17, the Bureau of Immigration said on Tuesday, May 5.
— Eagle News

Lack of reagents, lab staff delaying expansion of testing capacity –DOH
The Philippines still has not met its initial daily target of 8,000 tests for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the end of April due to an insufficient supply of reagents and healthcare workers, the Department of Health (DOH) said Tuesday.
— GMA Network

DOJ: Cease and desist order vs ABS-CBN ‘immediately executory’ but can be reviewed
Guevarra said the order “is immediately executory” but can be elevated for judicial review to either the regional trial court or the Court of Appeals.
— Philippine Star

Inflation rate in April sank to five-month low of 2.2%
The inflation rate April further slowed to a five-month low of 2.2 percent from 2.5 percent in March, pulled down by the decrease in the indices of transport, alcoholic beverages and tobacco, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Tuesday.
— Manilastandard.net

International flights suspended until May 8
The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases has approved the suspension of international flights to and from the Philippines until May 8.
— Philippine Star

PH to receive free supply of Japan flu drug for coronavirus cure trial
The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday, May 5, said that the Philippines will receive a free supply of anti-flu drug Avigan from the Japanese government to test if it could treat the coronavirus disease.
— Rappler

PHL crisis spending seen low amid ample fiscal space
THE Philippines may need to supplement its initial crisis spending plans, which are currently the equivalent to as much as 6% of gross domestic product (GDP), but the government retains adequate fiscal space to escalate its stimulus efforts if needed, analysts said.
— BusinessWorld

PH has ‘flattened the curve’, says epidemiologist
Despite limited testing and problems involving tests for the new coronavirus in the Philippines, an epidemiologist who serves in the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases said on Tuesday the country had already flattened the epidemic curve nearly two months after the government placed the nation on lockdown.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

‘Build, Build, Build’ priorities shifting in favor of health, digital
THE government will assign higher priority to health and digital infrastructure projects in its flagship “Build, Build, Build” program, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said.
— BusinessWorld

Coronavirus prompts telcos to put capex plans under review
The country’s telecom duopoly will revisit their budgets for expansion this year as restrictive quarantine measures meant to arrest the spread of the new coronavirus mess up with their plans.
— Philippine Star

House panel warns NTC of contempt for not allowing ABS-CBN to keep operating
The House committee on legislative franchises warned the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) it may be held in contempt for not issuing media network ABS-CBN the provisional authority to continue operations.
— Rappler

Palace: ABS-CBN free to challenge NTC order to stop operations
Malacañang on Tuesday insisted that the decision whether to allow broadcast giant ABS-CBN to operate sans legislative franchise belongs to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
— GMA Network

PHL gov’t targets setting up 78 COVID-19 labs, to do 30k tests per day by end of May
The Philippines hopes to conduct 30,000 COVID-19 tests a day by the end of May as government officials pushed for a “test,test,test (T3) approach to beat the virus.
— Eagle News

‘I love my countrymen’: Duterte mulls stopping healthcare workers from moving overseas
President Rodrigo Duterte is set to consult with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to know if there’s a legal basis in his plan to stop healthcare workers from leaving the Philippines, the chief executive said in a publicly broadcast speech last night.
— Coconuts Philippines

PH won’t renegotiate VFA with US
The Philippines has shut the door on renegotiating the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States which is set to expire this year.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

‘Grave abuse of power,’ senators condemn NTC flip-flop on ABS-CBN
Senators on Tuesday, May 5, slammed the National Telecommunications Commission for not keeping its word on issuing provisional authority to broadcast giant ABS-CBN, as they called the move a grave abuse of discretion.
— Rappler

Rights groups urge Filipinos: Reject Duterte admin’s ‘tyrannical’ moves vs ABS-CBN
Human rights groups on Tuesday, May 5, condemned the National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) cease and desist order against network giant ABS-CBN.
— Rappler

ABS-CBN may seek redress from Supreme Court, say Senate leaders
Both Senate Majority and Minority Leaders Juan Miguel Zubiri and Franklin Drilon advised the ABS-CBN Corporation to seek redress from the Supreme Court over the National Telecommunications Commision’s (NTC) order to shut down after its franchise expired on May 4.
— GMA Network

Shell to close refinery for 1 month
Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. will temporarily shut down its oil refinery in Batangas for one month starting mid-May as part of “cash conservation measures” due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).
— Manilastandard.net

Media, militants decry ‘assault on press freedom’
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) on Tuesday called the closure order on broadcast network ABS-CBN “an underhanded assault on freedom of the press and of expression.”
— Manilastandard.net

CITIRA faces ‘tweaks’ to maximize potential as stimulus measure
OBJECTIONS to the corporate tax reform bill could be receding because of its potential for resuscitating the economy, though it may need to be reconfigured before it becomes a full-blown post-pandemic stimulus measure, legislators from both chambers said.
— BusinessWorld

GOCCs remit nearly P130 billion to help bolster gov’t funds
STATE-OWNED firms have remitted P129.45 billion worth of dividends to the national government to increase the government’s war chest for containing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, the Department of Finance (DoF) said.
— BusinessWorld

ABS-CBN’s last moments before going off the air for now
At 7:52 p.m. on Tuesday, broadcast giant ABS-CBN’s Channel 2 and Studio 23 officially went off air, hours after the National Telecommunications Commissions issued a cease and desist order against the network “due to the expiration of its congressional franchise.”
— Philippine Star

BSP extends small banks’ compliance to capital rule
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has given mid-sized and small banks more time to comply with the enhanced capital adequacy standards amid the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 pandemic.
— Philippine Star

OFW hacked to death over SAP distribution
An overseas Filipino worker died in a knife attack in Lal-lo town on Monday.
— Philstar

Iloilo home cleanup vs. dengue urged
The Iloilo Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) on Tuesday encouraged Ilonggos to continue the “Limpyo Iloilo” (Clean Iloilo) program in their homes as they observe the enhanced community quarantine.
— Philippine News Agency

Whistleblowers in anomalous SAP distribution protected: Palace
Malacañang on Tuesday vowed protection for individuals who will report government officials committing irregularities in the distribution of cash assistance intended for poor families affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak.
— Philippine News Agency

Muntinlupa, San Juan, and Pasay slow to give out coronavirus subsidies
Several cities in Metro Manila remained slow in distributing coronavirus emergency subsidies, based on updates from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) office in the National Capital Region (NCR).
— Rappler

DOST gives specimen collection booths to Bicol hospitals
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) regional office here has distributed specimen collection booths (SCBs) to various hospitals in Bicol region.
— Philippine News Agency

Health workers infected with COVID-19 now at 1,819 -DOH
The number of healthcare workers in the Philippines who have contracted the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) climbed to 1,819, a health official said Tuesday.
— GMA Network

Globe to cut spending by P2 billion as Q1 2020 earnings fall 3%
Globe Telecom will be trimming its capital expenditures (capex) by at least P2 billion for the 2nd quarter of 2020, as the company braces for the full impact of the coronavirus crisis.
— Rappler

BSP adopts relief measures in support of MSME sector
The Monetary Board has approved prudential measures to assist the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector carry on with its business during the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis, as well as hasten recovery and sustainability of their operations in the post-crisis period.
— Philippine News Agency

De Lima seeks grant of hazard pay for all disaster frontline workers
Amid the virus pandemic, Sen. Leila M. de Lima is urging the government to grant basic hazard allowances for essential workers for both public and private sectors, as well as an additional hazard pay for all public health workers.
— Business Mirror

Morales: PhilHealth ready to double P30-billion ‘war chest’ in fight vs virus
State health insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) stands ready to double its P30-billion war chest in the fight against Covid-19 “if necessary.”
— Business Mirror

Bill clarifying broadcast companies need legislative franchise to operate filed
Deputy Speaker Prospero Pichay has filed a measure to specifically clarify that broadcast companies need to obtain a legislative franchise in order to operate.
— GMA Network

PNP Chief Gamboa to CIDG: Conduct case buildup vs officials involved in irregularities in gov’t cash aid distribution
Philippine National Police Chief Archie Gamboa has ordered a case buildup against officials involved in irregularities in the distribution of cash aid.
— Eagle News

PNP starts adjudication process on second batch of ‘narco cops’
The national adjudication board of the Philippine National Police (PNP) will begin its probe on the second batch of police officers allegedly involved in illegal drugs, a ranking official said Tuesday.
— Philippine News Agency

Protocol in place for repatriation of OFWs to Iloilo
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said Tuesday a protocol is in place as the basis for the repatriation of stranded Ilonggo overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
— Philippine News Agency

House panel chair surprised NTC backtracked on promise, wants explanation on CDO vs. ABS-CBN
The House Committee on Legislative Franchises will call the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) in a hearing to explain why it ordered broadcast giant ABS-CBN to cease its operations, its chairman Palawan Representative Franz Alvarez said Tuesday
— GMA Network

No order on PhilHealth premium payment for OEC release: POEA
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) on Tuesday said it did not issue an order requiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to pay Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) premium first before they can get copies of their overseas employment certificates (OECs).
— Philippine News Agency

ABS-CBN franchise a political matter, says legal expert
The issue behind the renewal of the legislative franchise of ABS-CBN Corp. is political, a legal expert said on Tuesday.
— GMA Network

Gov’t calls for volunteerism to boost PH testing capacity
Malacañang has called on medical professionals, medical students, and government employees to volunteer to ramp up the testing capacity in the country, National Policy Against Covid-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Vivencio Dizon said on Tuesday.
— Philippine News Agency

House, DOJ could have done more for ABS-CBN – FLAG
The Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) said on Tuesday, May 5, that both the House of Representatives and the Department of Justice (DOJ) could have done more to allow broadcast giant ABS-CBN to continue operating while its franchise renewal is ongoing.
— Rappler

132 Antique 4Ps beneficiaries return SAP aid
A total of 132 Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries in the province returned the cash aid under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) after learning they were ineligible to avail of the assistance.
— Philippine News Agency

Duterte tells local officials: Accept OFWs returning to hometowns
President Rodrigo Duterte urged local governments to allow repatriated overseas Filipino workers to return to their hometowns as thousands were stuck in quarantine centers after local officials refused to accept them back for fears of spreading the coronavirus.
— Rappler

Fitch Solutions slashes PHL consumer spending growth outlook
FITCH Solutions Macro Research said it downgraded its 2020 household spending growth outlook for the Philippines to 3.4% from 5.8% previously before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.
— BusinessWorld

1M families receive DSWD cash aid in Bicol
More than one million families in Bicol have received Social Amelioration Program (SAP) cash benefits from the Department of Social Welfare and Development on Monday, the last day of distribution of the aid to people greatly affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
— Philippine News Agency

COVID-19 invasion as possible ground for martial law just for academic discussion –Panelo
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said Tuesday his opinion that the COVID-19 pandemic could be a ground for the imposition of martial law in the country was meant for academic discussion.
— GMA Network

Cease and desist order vs. ABS-CBN serves Duterte s wishes –NUJP
The NTC succumbed to President Rodrigo Duterte s wishes to gag broadcasting company ABS-CBN, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) declared.
— GMA Network

Former cop caught with gun, boxes of liquor after C-5 shootout
A former member of the national police and his son were arrested after they figured in a shootout with members of the Quezon City police along the stretch of C-5 Road in Pasig City on Tuesday.
— Philstar

Duterte says only 207 out of 1,634 LGUs have completed cash aid distribution
Only about 12% of local governments have finished the distribution of the first tranche of emergency aid for sectors sidelined by the quarantine as of April 30, a report submitted by President Rodrigo Duterte to Congress showed.
— Philippine Star

‘An act of betrayal,’ Rappler says on closure order vs ABS-CBN
Below is the statement of Rappler on the cease and desist order issued by the National Telecommunications Commission against ABS-CBN on Tuesday, May 5.
— Rappler

Lawmakers question NTC order for ABS-CBN to stop broadcasting
Lawmakers and journalists on Tuesday questioned the cease and desist order issued by the National Telecommunications Commission against broadcast giant ABS-CBN Corp. despite previously saying it was ready to issue a provisional authority.
— Philippine Star

Philippines now has 23 COVID-19 testing centers after Cebu facility accredited
A testing center in Cebu is the latest facility to receive accreditation from the Department of Health (DOH) to conduct independent testing for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
— GMA Network

Troops search for suspects in killing 2 Maguindanao frontliners
The Army’s 6th Infantry Division is now trying to locate the Dawlah Islamiya bandits who killed Sunday night two soldiers enforcing quarantine regulations.
— Philstar

Palace distances itself from Panelo’s ‘virus invasion’ idea
Malacañang on Tuesday distanced itself from Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo’s statement that an “invasion” by a virus can be a ground for the declaration of martial law.
— Philippine Star

House panel chair: Calida can’t dictate on how to handle ABS-CBN franchise
A House leader slammed Solicitor General Jose Calida for allegedly overstepping on Congress’ powers by warning the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) against issuing a temporary permit to operate to media network ABS-CBN.
— Rappler

PBA: Healthy, safety measures up soon
The PBA Board of Governors will have to make an honest-to-good assessment before it can come up with healthy and safety measures once the government downgrades the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) to General Community Quarantine (GCQ).
— Tempo

Police record over 1,200 crimes vs women, children during virus lockdown
Over 1,200 cases of violence against women and children have been reported to the police since the start of the enhanced community quarantine, President Rodrigo Duterte said.
— Philippine Star

Police to investigate local officials who may have pocketed SAP funds
The Department of the Interior and Local Government on Tuesday ordered the Philippine National Police to look into supposed anomalies in the distribution of financial aid to Filipinos affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Philippine Star

Students, parents slam DepEd decision to open classes in August
The Department of Education (DepEd) just declared it would open the school year 2020-2021 on August 24 , and students and parents were not happy.
— Rappler

Negros Occidental asks NFA to augment its rice supply amid shortage fears
The provincial government of Negros Occidental asked the National Food Authority (NFA) to augment its rice supply after projecting a shortage for two months this year.
— Rappler

Classes to open on August 24 – DepEd
The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday, May 5, said that school year 2020-2021 will open on August 24, adding that classes may be conducted physically or virtually depending on the state of the coronavirus pandemic by then.
— Rappler

Infra, repair works resume in LRT-1 Cavite Extension
The Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), the private operator of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), has resumed infrastructure and repair works on the LRT-1 Cavite Extension project after being given green light by government regulators.
— Philippine News Agency

Exporters urged to explore online channels following trade show cancellations
THE Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) export promotion arm is encouraging exporters to explore online platforms after trade shows were canceled in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.
— BusinessWorld

Palay farmgate prices ‘normalizing,’ rise above gov’t support price
THE farmgate price of palay, or unmilled rice, rose in several regions during the dry season to levels exceeding the government’s P19 per kilogram support price.
— BusinessWorld

DTI launches food development e-learning sessions
The Department of Trade and Industry Region 2 (DTI R2) initiated a two-day online training on Food Development on April 28 -29 as a response to the “new normal” way of doing things after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world.
— Philippine Information Agency

Artists, personalities show support for ABS-CBN amid shutdown order
Artists and personalities – including celebrities from ABS-CBN’s rival networks – came together to support the media company, after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) ordered its closure following the expiration of its media franchise.
— Rappler

Shift to GCQ by LGUs must be decided after thorough preparation – DILG
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG XI) emphasized the importance of the preparation of local government units (LGU) for the shifting from Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) while also being able to consider both the public health and economic impact of the said action.
— Philippine Information Agency

Number of PNP personnel infected with COVID-19 reaches 112
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said the number of its personnel infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has increased to 112.
— GMA Network

Can Duterte stop health workers from leaving PH?
President Rodrigo Duterte will meet with Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and officials of the government’s coronavirus task force to discuss whether or not his administration can ban the deployment of health workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
— Rappler

Zobel brothers, Manny Pangilinan accept Duterte’s apology
The Philippines’ top tycoons, who were once subjected to curse-laden speeches and regulatory threats, have accepted the apology of President Rodrigo Duterte.
— Rappler

‘Baseless’: PhilHealth denies UST Hospital’s allegation that it owes them PHP180 million
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) yesterday denied the allegation made by the University of Santo Tomas Hospital (USTH) that the state insurer owes the latter PHP180 million (US$3.561 million) in unpaid fees.
— Coconuts Philippines

Amway Philippines donates over P3 million to efforts against COVID-19
Amway Philippines pledges over P3 million in cash, products, and personal protective equipment (PPEs), as well as its marketing budget towards efforts to fight the pandemic.
— Philippine Star

Ilocos Norte students welcome flexible learning as ‘new normal’
With a smart phone on hand, Airish Camille Oracion, a nursing student of Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) from San Nicolas town in Ilocos Norte, woke up early on Tuesday as she waited for her classmates and teacher to go online.
— Philippine News Agency

DOLE extends application period for alien work permits
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Tuesday has extended the application period for new alien employment permits (AEPs), as well as renewal and applications for licenses of private employment agencies (PEAs).
— Philippine News Agency

Guevarra contradicts Panelo: Coronavirus not grounds for martial law
President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet men once again clashed over whether or not the coronavirus pandemic can be used as grounds to declare martial law in the Philippines.
— Rappler

Cops chase funeral hearse in Pangasinan town, find liquor inside coffin
Cops in Binmaley town in Pangasinan on Tuesday, May 5, chased a speeding funeral hearse and found liquor hidden inside a coffin.
— Rappler

Mayor appeals for honesty from people entering Kapalong town
Honesty is what Kapalong Municipal Mayor Ma. Theresa Timbol appeals from people entering her town.
— Philippine Information Agency

 

 

Feature photo Kriz John Rosales
This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on World Migratory Bird Day, May 9; here, Egrets.

 

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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