PHL economy declines for first time since 1998
Following 84 quarters of uninterrupted growth, the Philippine economy shrank for the first time since 1998 in the first quarter of 2020, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported earlier this morning.
— BusinessWorld
Malacañang says Duterte ‘not inclined’ to veto ABS-CBN franchise bill
President Rodrigo Duterte will not veto the bill giving ABS-CBN a fresh 25-year franchise once it reaches his desk, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Thursday, May 7.
— Rappler
COVID-19 cases hit 10,343; death toll at 685 — Health dep’t
THE Department of Health reported 339 new coronavirus infections on Thursday, bringing the total to 10,343.
— BusinessWorld
Economic team proposes P131-B in relief measures, P711-B to revive economy
THE government’s economic managers proposed to Congress Thursday P131 billion in new programs to help the vulnerable members of the population deal with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emergency and an economic recovery package of P711 billion.
— BusinessWorld
Health workers with COVID-19 now 1,886; no new deaths in two days — DOH
The number of health workers who have contracted the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has climbed to 1,886, the Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday.
— GMA Network
ABS-CBN seeks Supreme Court injunction on NTC cease and desist order
ABS-CBN Corp. ran to the Supreme Court on Thursday to ask it to set aside the National Telecommunications Commission’s cease and desist order against the network.
— Philippine Star
‘Total crime volume’ drops 34% amid ECQ: PNP
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday cited public cooperation and support as key factors behind the significant decline in traditional crime trend under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
— Philippine News Agency
NTC seeks amendments to allow broadcast operations during franchise renewal
NATIONAL Telecommunications Commission (NTC) Deputy Commissioner Edgardo V. Cabarios said the lesson the Commission learned from dealing with the franchise issue of ABS-CBN Corp. is that the Act No. 3846 or the Radio Control Law that it cited in its cease-and-desist order against the broadcaster needs to be updated to allow operations pending the franchise renewal process.
— BusinessWorld
PH starts signing up COVID-19 patients for WHO clinical trials
The Department of Health on Thursday said the country has started participating in the World Health Organization’s clinical trials in search of a COVID-19 cure.
— ABS-CBN News
CBCP: Gov’t, lawmakers must resolve issues to get ABS-CBN back on air
Filipino bishops expressed alarm over the government’s shutdown of ABS-CBN’s broadcast operations, as the network’s franchise expired and the renewal of which remains in limbo.
— ABS-CBN News
Labor dept report: 2 million workers unable to work since lockdown
Around 2 million workers were unable to work since the government started declaring large-scale quarantine measure to contain the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak last March, according to a new Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) report.
— Business Mirror
Immigration braces for flight resumption
The Bureau of Immigration said its officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and other international ports were standing by for the resumption of flights to the Philippines later this week.
— Manilastandard.net
Economic contraction spurs House bid to rush stimulus bill
THE House of Representatives will fast-track the approval of the economic stimulus plan which seeks to bring back the Philippines on its previous growth path, a leader of the chamber said on Thursday.
— Business Mirror
Lockdowns’ impact on labor may spark unrest
THE International Labour Organization (ILO) on Thursday warned the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic may spark social unrest if governments will not provide enough support for its workers, especially those in the informal sector during the crisis.
— Business Mirror
Pandemic should prompt reexamination of imprisonment as justice — UP Law report
A review of the country’s penal laws for minor offenses may help build a Philippine justice system that is resilient to pandemics, the University of the Philippines College of Law said.
— Philippine Star
PH output losses due to COVID-19 lockdown highest in Asean-5, says UK think tank
The COVID-19 lockdown imposed in Luzon and other parts of the country since mid-March already cost the Philippines forgone output worth 5.8 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP)—the highest in Asean-5, estimates of UK-based Oxford Economics provided to the Inquirer showed.
— Inquirer.net
Philippine lockdown proves to be $3.4b boost for telco stocks PLDT, Globe
While the coronavirus grinds the $331 billion Philippine economy to almost a halt, a boom in mobile digital payments is reviving investor interest in the nation’s two telecom carriers.
— Deal Street Asia (media release)
Fitch Ratings affirms PH’s BBB rating, changes outlook to Stable
Fitch Ratings on Thursday affirmed its BBB credit rating on the Philippines, but changed the rating outlook from Positive to Stable due to the negative economic impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
— Philippine News Agency
Carpio: China’s naming of sea features doesn’t mean sovereignty
China’s naming of features in the South China Sea, including islands in the Philippine-held Kalayaan Island Group, does not matter since names of the geologic features do not determine sovereignty, retired Supreme Court senior associate justice Antonio Carpio said.
— Philippine Star
Press freedom very much alive in PH : Parlade
Press freedom in the Philippines is very much alive contrary to claims of some groups that media freedom in the country is under threat following the cease-and-desist order by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) against ABS-CBN Tuesday.
— Philippine News Agency
BSP rate cut still needed this ’20 to lift growth: economists
Another cut in Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) key rates is expected after the contraction in domestic growth in the first quarter of 2020 but timing depends on factors like inflation and impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
— Philippine News Agency
Duterte will only veto ABS-CBN franchise bill if there s constitutional issue -Palace
President Rodrigo Duterte will only reject the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN if the bill that will be sent for his signature contains legal infirmities, Malacañang said Thursday.
— GMA Network
US commits to donate PHP298M to help Philippines in COVID-19 fight
The United States and the Philippines have had a tempestuous relationship, and it doesn’t help that President Rodrigo Duterte has often lambasted the former (remember when he terminated the Visiting Forces Agreement after the U.S. canceled one of his allies’ visa?).
— Coconuts Philippines
MIAA lost P1.8 billion in revenues due to lockdown
Ninoy Aquino International Airport has lost close to P2 billion in revenues, airport chief Ed Monreal said Thursday, May 7.
— Rappler
NegOcc eyes extension of GCQ after May 15
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he is eyeing an extension of the general community quarantine (GCQ) in Negros Occidental after May 15 amid the continuing threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
— Philippine News Agency
Congressmen seek to outlaw POGOs, say they’re a menace
THIRTY-ONE congressmen have filed a bill seeking to outlaw offshore gaming operations in the Philippines, calling the sector a social menace.
— BusinessWorld
Metro Manila, other areas under thunderstorm advisory
A thunderstorm advisory has been hoisted over Metro Manila and other areas.
— Eagle News
Gov t to tap 1,500 people to run mega swabbing centers
The government will need 1,500 people to run the four mega swabbing centers which were put up in order to ramp up the country s COVID-19 testing capacity.
— GMA Network
Gov’t sets another 30-day grace period on loans, rent
Borrowers, tenants and lessees have another 30 days after the lifting of the community quarantine to pay their loans and rent, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases said in its Resolution No. 33 approved on Wednesday.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer
Bill banning Pogos filed in House
Thirty-one lawmakers crossed party lines on Wednesday to file a bill that seeks to ban Philippine online gaming operators (Pogos) in the country, described in the proposed measure as a “social menace.”
— Philippine Daily Inquirer
DBM sets P50-billion to P70-billion savings target to fund fight vs Covid-19
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is aiming to generate less than a hundred billion pesos in savings from its adoption of “economy measures” to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
— Business Mirror
Study: Air pollution level in parts of Manila drops amid lockdown
The air quality in parts of Manila continued to improve amid the lockdown, the Manila Public Information Office (MPIO) said on Wednesday.
— Manilastandard.net
QC government sets up mobile morgue for cremation
The Quezon City government has set up a mobile morgue to accommodate at least 40 cadavers awaiting cremation.
— Manilastandard.net
Workers unearth two vintage bombs at Naia
Airport construction workers Wednesday unearthed on Wednesday two unexploded vintage bombs believed to have been dropped by Japanese warplanes during World War II.
— Business Mirror
Surge of joy, relief as Pinoys stream ‘TV Patrol’ online, celebrate its return
By the end of Thursday’s “TV Patrol”, the first time the news program was streamed live in full on Facebook, news anchor Bernadette Sembrano said: “Patuloy kaming maglilingkod, mga Kapamilya.”
— ABS-CBN News
Even animal rescue workers will miss ABS-CBN, its role promoting their advocacy
An animal rescue worker said the absence of ABS-CBN in traditional media doesn’t bode well for people in her field.
— ABS-CBN News
Manila barangay officials face show cause orders
The Manila City government on Wednesday issued show cause orders against barangay officials over alleged irregularities in the distribution of relief assistance and allowances amid the COVID-19 crisis.
— Manilastandard.net
‘Undernourished children more prone to virus infection and possible death’
Save the Children Philippines is calling on local health centers to resume maternal and child health services as the number of babies and young children contracting the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has already reached 424 with nine deaths.
— Business Mirror
Call center group reviews revenue, employment targets
The umbrella organization of the country’s contact center industry is revisiting its revenue and employee growth projection for the year to take into account the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 crisis to operations.
— Philippine Star
Filipino-Chinese group raises P270 million for relief
The Filipino Chinese community’s 11 major Filipino-Chinese business, civic and cultural organizations have formed the Filipino Chinese Community Calamity Fund (FCCCF), raising P270 million in donations from March 12 to April 30, in order to undertake charities and civic projects to support medical, police and military frontliners as well as help marginalized people whose livelihoods have been disrupted.
— Philippine Star
‘TV Patrol’ airs despite NTC’s cease and desist order
ABS-CBN ‘s evening newscast TV Patrol aired for the first time since the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued a cease and desist order (CDO) against the media giant.
— Rappler
Senators ask NTC to reconsider shutdown order vs ABS-CBN
The senators argued there is precedent for entities whose franchises have expired to be allowed to continue operation pending the grant of franchise renewal by Congress.
— Philippine Star
Palace allays fears ABS-CBN closure could lead to martial law
Malacañang on Thursday disagrees with insinuations that the shutdown of media giant ABS-CBN could lead to the imposition of martial law in the Philippines.
— GMA Network
QC still ‘very high-risk’ coronavirus area – DILG
Department of Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Thursday that Quezon City remains a very high risk area with over 1,000 confirmed coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) positive cases.
— Tempo
IATF adopts NEDA proposal to address, manage supply chain issues
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has adopted the recommendation of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to address and manage the country’s supply chain issues.
— Philippine News Agency
Gov’t orders intensified drive vs smoke belchers
While many areas are still under enhanced and general community quarantine, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) was directed to intensify and strictly implement anti-smoke belching initiatives as part of the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) thrust to ensure public health.
— Tempo
22 repatriated OFWs test positive for virus in Western Visayas
There are now 22 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) after coming home in Western Visayas region.
— Tempo
On Month of the Ocean, groups call for policies that will protect country’s seas
Environmental organizations on Thursday called for laws and regulations that will protect the country’s seas from the “devastating” effects of plastic and chemical pollution.
— Philippine Star
Virus-hit cruise ship under probe in Australia arrives in the Philippines
A cruise ship Australia has launched a criminal investigation into suspected mishandling of an outbreak of coronavirus, has arrived in the Philippines to allow healthy Filipino crew members to return home.
— Coconuts Philippines
Nightingales in Peril: Filipino nurses put their lives on the line in the UK
Patrick looked at the dialysis patients and adjusted his face mask as he stamped out a feeling of dread rising within him.
— Coconuts Philippines
Too early to say if ECQ lifted by May 15 — DoH
The Department of Health said yesterday that it is too early to say if the enhanced community quarantine in certain areas will be eased by May 15.
— Tempo
Andanar decries ‘unfair’ international media reporting on Duterte’s ties over ABS-CBN closure
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar decried the “unfair” coverage of international media that linked President Rodrigo Duterte to the shutdown of ABS-CBN.
— Philippine Star
NGO calls for maternal, child health services as more babies, young children contract COVID-19
A non-government organization on Thursday sounded the alarm on the rising number of children affected by the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), calling on local health centers to resume maternal and child health services.
— Philippine Star
Cebu sets guidelines for release of children in conflict with the law
The Cebu provincial government has set guidelines for the release of children in conflict with the law (CICL) in the province amid the coronavirus pandemic.
— Rappler
5 million more families ‘waitlisted’ for emergency subsidy program
Five million poor families who were excluded from the 18 million beneficiaries of the government’s emergency subsidy program (ESP) are waitlisted to receive aid amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced on Thursday, May 7.
— Rappler
As part of aggressive mass testing, PHL pushes setting up mega swabbing facilities nationwide
After building quarantine and isolation facilities, the Philippine government will now also be embarking on building mega swabbing facilities.
— Eagle News
DFA repatriates 125 Filipino crew members of cruise ship docked in Japan
At least 125 Filipino crew members from a cruise ship docked in Japan were repatriated in the country, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
— Eagle News
Task force on media security to look into killing of Dumaguete broadcaster
Pepino, a reporter and anchorman of radio dyMD Energy FM, was gunned down by unidentified assailants in Dumaguete City on Tuesday.
— Philippine Star
Ilocos Norte removes ‘express lanes’ in border checkpoints
Express lanes in borders between local government units are no longer available for front-liners as the province is placed under interim general community quarantine (GCQ).
— Philippine News Agency
IATF approves workplace guidelines to prevent COVID-19
As several areas are now under general community quarantine, and with some businesses allowed to operate, government through the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Labor and Employment have issued interim guidelines on workplace prevention and control of COVID-19 as part of the new normal.
— Philippine Information Agency
Hundreds of new COVID-19 cases not a cause for concern –DOH
The uptick in new cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the past few days was caused by the continued expansion of the country s testing capacity and should not be a cause for concern, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Thursday.
— GMA Network
DepEd sets up “Learning Continuity Plan” as new normal this school opening; no more traditional classroom set-up
The Department of Education (DepEd) said it is preparing for the opening of classes for the next school year on August 24 and addressing challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic by setting up what it called the “Learning Continuity Plan.”
— Eagle News
Senate rescheds COVID-19 hearing to May 18
The Senate Committee of the Whole on Thursday decided to reschedule the series of COVID-19 hearings it was set to hold next week.
— GMA Network
Agrarian reform beneficiaries split from leftist group
Some 37 members of the “Nagkahiusang Mag-Uuma sa Pindasan og Pangibiran” (NAGMAPPA) from the Davao de Oro town of Mabini withdrew their support from the leftist “Kilusan ng Mambubukid sa Pilipinas” (KMP), the Army’s 71st Infantry Battalion (71IB) said Thursday.
— Philippine News Agency
2 BIFF radicals linked to Maguindanao bombing arrested
Acting on a tip, joint police and military forces arrested early Wednesday two suspected members of the Daesh-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) tagged in a recent grenade attack near a police station in Datu Piang, Maguindanao.
— Philippine News Agency
Amid COVID-19, Asia’s White Rice Is the New Black Gold
For Eduardo Astrero, a small-hold farmer in the Philippines’ lowlands province of Nueva Ecija, located north of Manila on the country’s main island of Luzon, the rice growing season that begins in June every year is regarded with a certain degree of foreboding.
— The Diplomat
Policymakers wait as coronavirus stalls data collection
The impact of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) on the economy may already be distorting economic data in an unprecedented manner, but for policymakers, the availability of data crucial in crafting sound policies is the more immediate challenge.
— Philippine Star
PH farmers sell P1.6-B worth of agri products for coronavirus relief of LGUs
Farmers around the country sold P1.6 billion worth of agricultural products to local government units (LGUs) that opted to distribute relief packs that included healthy alternatives to the usual canned goods.
— Rappler
Military told to behave properly on social media
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reminded its military and civilian personnel, and their dependents to “maintain proper behavior in their online and social media activities,” it said in a statement on Thursday, May 7.
— Rappler
DICT requests aid from NTC to ensure free use of DepEd Commons
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has requested aid in ensuring that users will not incur data charges when using the Department of Education’s (DepEd) online educational platform.
— GMA Network
UP Law faculty proposes use of new tech for ‘smart courts’ during pandemic
Incorporation of new technologies into the Philippine court system will help dispensation of justice during the COVID-19 pandemic and even after, a study from the University of the Philippines College of Law said.
— Philippine Star
P75B from P80-B aid fund given to 13M of 18M beneficiaries –DSWD
The Department of Social Welfare and Development on Thursday reported that over P75 billion from the over P80-billion fund for Social Amelioration Program has been distributed to to target beneficiaries.
— GMA Network
PAO says it moved for release of over 1k detainees during ECQ
The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) said it moved for the release of more than a thousand inmates during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) intended to slow down the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
— GMA Network
No mall sale in Metro Manila under GCQ
Presidential spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque on Thursday reminded the public that there will be no mall sales and services provided by malls would still be very limited in case the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is lifted in Metro Manila come May 15.
— Philippine Information Agency
Palace defends reopening of POGOs amid ABS-CBN shutdown
Malacañang on Thursday addressed criticism that the government allowed the online gambling business to resume but ordered the closure of media giant ABS-CBN amid the COVID-19 crisis.
— GMA Network
Beneficiaries claiming cash aid exempted from ECQ curfew -DILG
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday announced that beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program who have yet to receive their financial assistance are exempted from the enhanced community quarantine curfew.
— GMA Network
82K Cebu City elderlies to get P3-K aid next week
The 82,000 senior citizens here will get their PHP3,000 financial assistance next week, Mayor Edgardo Labella said on Thursday.
— Philippine News Agency
During pandemic, farmers find home for their produce in online platform
Settled in a corner at the Balintawak Market is 38-year-old farmer Mylene Rafer, as she waits for buyers to pick up at least some of the thousands of pineapples she brought all the way from Camarines Norte.
— Rappler
UST to refund unused tuition, other fees
The University of Santo Tomas (UST) will refund students for their unused tuition and other fees during the coronavirus pandemic.
— Rappler
PNP turns over P228.4-M Bayanihan Fund for the poor to govt.
The Phillipine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday turned over more than P228.4-million to the Department of Finance headed by Secretary Carlos Dominguez as proceeds from #Team PNP Bayanihan Fund Challenge to help poor families amid the enhanced and general community quarantine due to COVID-19 pandemic.
— Philippine Information Agency
LTO warns public vs individuals who offer to facilitate application, renewal of license for a fee
The Land Transportation on Thursday, May 7, warned the public against unscrupulous individuals who, through social media, offer their services to facilitate the application for or the renewal of driver’s licenses.
— Eagle News
LOOK: PH Navy ships in India to pick up face masks, repatriate Filipino tourists
Two Philippine Navy vessels docked in Cochin, India on Wednesday, May 6, to bring home some 200,000 face masks and fetch a group of Filipino tourists who were stranded because of travel bans due to the coronavirus pandemic .
— Rappler
Driver’s license expiring soon? LTO extends validity past ‘enhanced quarantine’
Honk if you’re happy. All drivers’ licenses that have expired or are expiring during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) will remain valid until the end of the lockdown, the Philippines’ Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced yesterday.
— Coconuts Philippines
AFP mobile kitchen distributes 2K hot meals in Pasig village
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff, Gen. Felimon T. Santos Jr. on Thursday personally supervised the preparation and distribution of hot meals for beneficiary families in Barangay Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City.
— Philippine News Agency
Region 8 DAR-assisted farmers earn P23M during quarantine
Some 104 farmers’ organizations in Eastern Visayas have earned more than PHP22.9 million for supplying food during the heightened community quarantine due to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
— Philippine News Agency
Education workers’ group offers guidelines on safe reopening of classes
When the Department of Education (DepEd) announced its decision to open classes on August 24, some stakeholders supported the move but many others opposed it, saying the country’s education system is not fully prepared to manage classes during the coronavirus pandemic.
— Rappler
More Filipinos in Oman appeal for financial aid: envoy
Philippine Ambassador in Muscat Narciso Castañeda said Thursday some Filipinos in Oman are appealing for financial aid amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
— Philippine News 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).
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Philippines morning news for May 8 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on
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Stella-maris Ewudolu
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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