COVID-19

130,000 COVID-19 cases by August? UP team says it’s not meant to scare but inspire action from people
At least 130,000 cases of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) by end of August. A team of experts at the University of the Philippines (UP) said the projection was not meant to stoke fear but was a reminder to everyone to do their share in helping stop the transmission of SARS Cov2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Cases

COVID-19 infects 68,898 persons in PH, up by 1,521
The number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country is now 68,898. This, after the Department of Health (DOH) on Monday reported 1,521 new cases.
Manila Bulletin

1 in 5 active COVID-19 cases among health workers are from Cebu hospital
A fifth of the active COVID-19 cases among health workers in the country are from the government-operated Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu, based on the latest Department of Health data released Monday.
ABS-CBN News

COVID-19 cases in police force now at 1,564
There are now 1,564 commission and non-commissioned officers in the Philippine National Police (PNP) who have contracted the latest coronavirus strain, according to an update on Monday night.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

62 MMDA personnel contracted COVID-19 from March to July —spokesperson
At least 62 personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) have contracted COVID-19 from March to July, agency spokesperson Celine Pialago said Monday.
GMA News

Department of Health

DOH now monitoring 638 clustering of COVID-19 cases, up from 488
The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said at least 638 clustering of COVID-19 cases are being monitored nationwide. At a press conference, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that 513 of them were found within communities and 49 in hospitals.
GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer

DOH: COVID-19 rapid tests not ideal for mass screening of workers
The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday reiterated that the use of rapid antibody test kits is not recommended for the screening of workers as the tests may yield inaccurate results that may further contribute to the spread of the disease.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News

DOH reminds jail execs to observe health protocols amid Bilibid COVID-19 deaths
The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday reminded jail authorities that health protocols should be strictly observed in jail facilities after 19 inmates in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) died of COVID-19.
GMA News

DOH looking into grievances of frontliner health care workers, hospitals
The Department of Health (DOH) is coordinating with healthcare workers and hospitals to address issues on overwhelmed facilities and overworked employees amid the pandemic crisis.
GMA News

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NKTI seeks relief from COVID-19 overcapacity
The National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI) is seeking relief from “the burden of catering to COVID-19 patients” by saying it has reached its full capacity in dealing with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Manila Bulletin, ABS-CBN News

St. Luke's ICU, critical care beds, wards for COVID-19 reach full capacity
St. Luke’s Medical Center said Monday the critical care beds for COVID-19 cases in its emergency room, which it has increased to twice the capacity, are now fully occupied.
GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Manila's Bonifacio Memorial Medical emergency room closed for 3 days due to COVID-19
The emergency room at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center in the capital is closed for 3 days from Monday noon due to a spike of patients with the novel coronavirus, its management said. 
ABS-CBN News

IATF

COVID-19 admission surge addressed by NTF; priority on critical cases stressed
The National Task Force (NTF) Against Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) is enforcing measures to help hospitals maximize their facilities amid the increased admission of critical patients, its chief implementer disclosed on Monday.
Manila Bulletin

Bayanihan 2 law to boost support for health workers, says Galvez
Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force (NTF) Against coronavirus disease (COVID-19), on Monday expressed optimism that support for the health workers will be sustained under the proposed Bayanihan to Recover As One (Bayanihan 2) Act.
Manila Bulletin

Government eyeing more COVID-19 quarantine facilities
The government is planning to establish more coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) quarantine facilities following its move to transfer mild and asymptomatic patients to temporary treatment and isolation sites.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DILG’s Diño urges citizens to remind others about health protocols
Interior Undersecretary Martin Diño on Monday urged ordinary citizens to remind others to follow health and safety protocols amid the health crisis, saying it is the responsibility of each individual to protect his or her family against COVID-19 pandemic.
GMA News

Diño clarifies ‘shame campaign’ proposal
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Diño on Monday stressed his “shame campaign’’ proposal only targets stubborn quarantine protocol violators and not the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients.
Manila Bulletin

Regions

4 more COVID-19 cases added to Ilocos Norte tally
Four residents of Ilocos Norte, three of whom had a travel history to Metro Manila, tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), authorities said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Parañaque City’s legislative building, BPLO closed for disinfection – Olivarez
The legislative building and Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) the Parañaque City Hall will be shut down for disinfection from July 20 to 22, 2020, Mayor Edwin Olivarez announced.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Mayor Duterte to ask CAAP for leeway on RT-PCR testing
The Davao City government will ask the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) for more leeway on the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results required from passengers bound for Davao City, Mayor Sara Duterte said Monday.
Mindanews

Davao City lifts ‘hard lockdown’ in Barangay 23-C
The city government lifted effective 12 p.m. Monday, July 20, the “hard lockdown” imposed in Barangay 23-C, one of the barangays (villages) in the city classified as “very high risk” due to the high cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) there.
Mindanews

QC mayor allays fears, clarifies issues on warrantless arrest of quarantine violators
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Monday denied that the city government is “out to indiscriminately arrest people” as she apologized for the confusion and alarm caused by a memorandum she earlier issued which listed guidelines on the warrantless arrest of quarantine violators.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Lockdown in South Cotabato ‘sitio’ extended to July 24
The lockdown in one of the “sitios” (hamlets) of Banga town in South Cotabato has been extended until Friday, July 24, in the wake of the continuing monitoring on residents who have had contact with a confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patient, the municipal government confirmed on Monday.
Mindanews

Diplomatic, Development and Private Sector 

US donates P14.8-M in protective equipment to PGH, other COVID-19 treatment centers
The United States has donated P14.8 million worth of personal protective equipment to the Philippine General Hospital and other COVID-19 treatment centers in the Philippines, its embassy in Manila said Monday.
ABS-CBN News

Incidents and Violations

Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features

World

Governments around world eye tougher steps to fight virus
Signs of governments reassessing their coronavirus response were scattered around the world Sunday, with the mayor of Los Angeles saying the city was reopened too quickly, Ohio’s governor warning his state is “going the wrong way,” Hong Kong issuing tougher new rules on wearing face masks and Spain closing overcrowded beaches.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

EU summit leader appeals for unity on virus fund
Seeking to tug at the hearts of all European Union leaders, EU Council president Charles Michel implored them late Sunday to overcome their fundamental divisions and agree on an unprecedented 1.85 trillion-euro ($2.1 trillion) EU budget and coronavirus recovery fund to tackle the crisis.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

UK coronavirus vaccine shows early promise - Live updates
Scientists at Oxford University said their experimental coronavirus vaccine has been shown in an early trial to prompt a protective immune response in hundreds of people who got the shot
Aljazeera

China’s COVID-19 Vaccine: Third phase trial in Bangladesh
Bangladesh Medical Research Council has approved the phase-III clinical trial of a Chinese vaccine for Covid-19 treatment.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Hong Kong tightens coronavirus restrictions as new cases spike
Hong Kong’s civil servants will resume working from home starting Monday and the government will provide only emergency and essential services in an effort to contain the latest coronavirus outbreak, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Indonesia’s coronavirus cases, deaths accelerate after reopening
After almost a month of taking gradual steps to reopen the economy, Indonesia has seen its COVID-19 cases and deaths double as crowds reemerge in virus epicenters like Jakarta. Experts have cautioned that the country is at risk of becoming one of the worst hit worldwide.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Duterte signs law allowing President to set class opening date during state of calamity or emergency
President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a bill allowing the chief executive to set at any date the opening of classes in case of a state of calamity or emergency.
GMA News, Manila Bulletin, Rappler

Is Duterte looking at moving Aug. 24 opening of classes?
The new law that allows President Rodrigo Duterte to adjust the opening of classes during a state of emergency or calamity provides "flexibility," Malacañang said Monday as it noted that moving the Aug. 24 opening of classes would still depend on the recommendation of Education Secretary Leonor Briones.
ABS-CBN News

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Duterte is ‘great disruptor’ of buddy system between PH leaders, oligarchs — Cayetano
President Duterte became the “great disruptor” to centuries of buddy system between the country’s leaders and the so-called oligarchy, according to House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.
Manila Bulletin

[OPINION] Beyond Duterte's oligarch spin
Make no mistake: Rodrigo Duterte is not the enemy of the oligarchy. In fact, if one takes an incisive look into how the Duterte presidency unfolded in the last 4 years, the same oligarchy he claims to scorn has been the unyielding bedrock of his administration – from Enrique Razon to Dennis Uy, from the Aranetas to Chinese tycoons.
Rappler

Edited
WHILE it is common for image-makers and handlers to edit speeches of politicians, they usually do it prior to the delivery of the speech, and not after. The same is true for taped messages. They remove unpleasant words, unattractive graphics and even unflattering angles before the actual airing of the speech, and not after. 
The Manila Times

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‘Shame campaign? No; lawful warrantless arrests? Yes’ — Roque
Malacañang is not in favor of a proposed “shame campaign” of coronavirus patients but is amenable to the warrantless arrest of quarantine violators as long as the rules of court are followed.
Manila Bulletin

COVID-19 response has saved thousands of lives; gov’t strengthens test-trace-treat capacity — Roque
Government critics should open their eyes and realize that the government’s concerted efforts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has saved thousands of lives.
Manila Bulletin

‘Sabong’ online? Let IATF decide — Palace
Malacañang urged stakeholders of online cockfighting to ask the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases for permission first before continuing with their innovation of the classic betting game commonly known as “sabong.”
Manila Bulletin

Palace told: Let people judge VP’s COVID-19 proposals
‘Nothing new?’ Let people judge Vice President Leni Robredo’s COVID-19 proposals after presidential spokesman Harry Roque said her suggestions on coronavirus response are already being carried out by the national government.
Manila Bulletin

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Duterte to deliver 5th SONA at Batasang Pambansa on July 27
President Rodrigo Duterte will be physically present at the Batasang Pambansa to deliver his 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA) amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, his spokesman Harry Roque announced Monday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News, ABS-CBN News

PNP to SONA protesters: Avoid mass gathering, do protests online
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday urged groups planning to conduct physical protest rallies during President Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) to avoid mass gathering and just do their protests online.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News, Rappler

Bayan rejects online protests for Duterte’s SONA
A militant group will not heed the call of the Philippine National Police to stay home and protest online when President Duterte delivers his State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 27.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Media won’t be allowed inside Batasang Pambasa for Duterte’s SONA
Members of the media will not be allowed inside the premises of the House of Representatives when President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his penultimate State of the Nation Address (Sona) next week, according to an advisory from the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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How is the Duterte regime normalizing the Filipino suffering? (Part 1)
Police officer Chauvin’s knee on George Floyd’s neck reminds us of that foretelling Orwell quote: “If you want a vision of the future, imagine a foot stomping on a human face–forever.”
Davao Today

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

VP Robredo calls on gov't to allow jeepneys to operate in Metro Manila
Vice President Leni Robredo has called on the government to allow jeepneys back in the streets of Metro Manila amid the COVID-19 pandemic, provided these comply with minimum health standards.
GMA News

ELECTION RELATED

DISASTER

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Palace: Charter change not a priority
Charter change or “Cha-cha” is not among the priorities of the government amid the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Malacañang said Monday following the call of a number of  mayors to amend the Constitution.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News, Rappler

VP Robredo on charter change: Not now, please
Vice President Leni Robredo is urging government officials to refrain from pushing for charter change during the coronavirus pandemic, which she said needed an "all hands on deck" approach. 
ABS-CBN News

House panel to convene soon to discuss mayors' Cha-cha proposal —Rep. Rodriguez
The House Committee on Constitutional Amendments is set to convene after the July 27 opening of the Second Regular Session to discuss the constitutional reforms proposed by over a thousand mayors in the country supposedly to empower local government units.
GMA News, Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Constitutional reform connected to pandemic, says DILG
Amid critics questioning the timing of pushing for amendments to the Constitution, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said Monday that constitutional reform is in fact connected to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

JUDICIARY

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

Senators back probe into deaths of high-profile Bilibid inmates
Senators on Monday backed calls for an in-depth probe on the deaths of high-profile inmates at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City allegedly due to COVID-19.
Manila Bulletin

Lacson thumbs down Senate probe on high profile inmates’ deaths
Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday said he’d rather focus on other pressing issues than to conduct a probe on the deaths of high-profile inmates at the New Bilibid Prison.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Cayetano wants creation of Department of Arts and Culture
House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano is proposing the creation of a government agency that would focus in the field of creative and performing arts in the country.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

House of Representatives

House of Representatives records 17th COVID-19 case
The House of Representatives on Monday reported that another employee, the 17th overall, tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

P5-B annual budget for pandemic preparedness, response pushed
A P5 billion budget should be allotted annually for pandemic preparedness and response to ensure that the country is equipped to address future health emergency crises, a lawmaker proposed Monday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

DOJ orders probe into high-profile inmate deaths at NBP due to COVID-19
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe the deaths of at least nine high-profile inmates — including controversial inmate Jaybee Sebastian — at the New Bilibid Prison due to the coronavirus disease.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Up to DOJ, BuCor to confirm Jaybee Sebastian's death from COVID-19 —NPC chief Liboro
It is up to the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) to confirm if convicted drug lord Jaybee Sebastian indeed perished from COVID-19 while incarcerated, according to Chairman Raymund Liboro of the National Privacy Commission (NPC).
GMA News

DOJ confirms death of high profile Bilibid inmate Jaybee Sebastian
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has officially confirmed the death of high profile inmate Jaybee Sebastian while incarcerated at the New Bilibid Prison.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

BuCor chief refuses to disclose names of inmates who died of COVID-19
Citing the Data Privacy Act, Bureau of Corrections director-general Gerald Bantag has refused to disclose to the public the names of inmates or persons deprived of liberty (PDL) who died in BuCor facilities due to the coronavirus disease 2019.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

‘Bilibid 19’ member Marcelo dies of COVID-19
Benjamin Marcelo, a member of the “Bilibid 19” – a group of high-profile inmates discovered to be living in luxury in 2014 – also died of COVID-19. The Bilibid 19 lived  in “kubols” or special detention areas at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
Manila Bulletin

19 inmates die in Bilibid as number of COVID-19 cases reaches 343 —BuCor spox
The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Monday said that 19 inmates in New Bilibid Prison (NBP) who tested positive for COVID-19 have already died.
 
CHR vows to investigate deaths of Bilibid inmates due to COVID-19
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has vowed to investigate the deaths of inmates due to COVID-19, its spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said. 
GMA News

Dead or alive? Drilon scores BuCor for ‘lack of transparency’ in Bilibid deaths
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Monday scored the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) for its supposed lack of transparency after it invoked the Data Privacy Act in refusing to disclose information on the reported deaths in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Philippine National Police

PNP orders probe on eviction confrontation involving NCRPO chief
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa has ordered a thorough investigation on the alleged harassment of the family of a retired police sergeant accused of illegally occupying a parcel of land inside a police camp in Taguig City.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer

BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION

BUSINESS, ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

Lockdown cuts 5-month infrastructure spend by 12.2%
STATE infrastructure spending as of end-May declined by 12.2 percent year-on-year or P32.8 billion, partly because of the temporary suspension of construction activities due to the Covid-19 lockdowns.
Business Mirror

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

Hong Kong-bound Filipinos need to present docs certifying they are COVID-free
Filipinos going to Hong Kong will be required to present documents certifying that they have tested negative for COVID-19 before departure starting July 25.
Manila Bulletin

West Philippine Sea

LABOR

120,000 workers displaced this year — DOLE
More than 120,000 workers in the private sector have so far been displaced this year, the latest Job Displacement Monitoring Report of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) revealed Monday.
Manila Bulletin

Nearly 100,000 OFWs sent back to their homes — DOLE
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Monday reported that nearly 100,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were already sent back to their homes.
Manila Bulletin

TRANSPORTATION

Review of motorcycle barrier for pillion riding pressed
Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. on Monday asked the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases anew to reexamine its requirement on the use of motorcycle barrier for back-riding couples.
Manila Bulletin

J&T Express has several law violations -PNP chief
Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) has found out that local courier company J&T Express allegedly violated several laws, PNP chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa said Monday.
GMA News, Manila Bulletin

Jeepneys resume operations in Cebu province
Public utility jeepneys can ply feeder roads in Cebu province starting Monday, July 20. Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Central Visayas Director Eduardo Montealto Jr gave the go signal for the resumption of PUJ operations, relenting to the multiple requests from local chief executives, according to Sugbo News, the official news site of the Cebu Capitol Public Information Office.
Rappler

HEALTH

DOH resumes ‘Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio’ program
After being put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Health (DOH) has resumed its “Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio” campaign to combat the poliovirus outbreak in the country.
Manila Bulletin

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

ARBOs tapped for DA ‘Kadiwa on Wheels’ program
Some agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) have been enlisted to a government mobile marketing strategy to bring basic food items in different Cebu communities that were critically affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

Work at DA Central Office suspended
The Department of Agriculture suspended work at the central office in Quezon City from July 20 to 24. DA Secretary William Dar, in a memorandum signed July 19, said work in the department’s main office will be suspended “amid the recent development of the threat of COVID-19.”
Manila Bulletin

EDUCATION

DepEd welcomes law allowing school opening beyond August
The Department of Education (DepEd) welcomed on Monday the signing of Republic Act (RA) 11480 which allows the movement of the opening of classes beyond August during times of emergency.
Manila Bulletin

DepEd search for teacher-broadcasters on
The search is on for the next teacher-broadcasters who will help the Department of Education (DepEd) as it prepares for the production of video and audio episodes to be used for blended or distance learning this upcoming school year.
Manila Bulletin

[ANALYSIS] School opening 2020: Immediate concerns, longer-term structural reforms
We are preparing for school opening in late August 2020. We know there will be a major disruption in the education system. But in fact, we will need to prepare for 3 disruptions in basic education (K-12) over 3 time periods.
Rappler

PNP to assist in opening of classes on August 24 — Gamboa
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is ready to provide assistance during the opening of classes on August 24, its chief said on Monday.
GMA News

ENERGY

POVERTY

SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

HOUSING and SETTLEMENT

TOURISM

PH named ‘Best Diving Area, Overseas’
The Philippines is set to receive another international award as it was named the “Best Diving Area, Overseas” in the 2020 Marine Diving Awards in Japan.
Manila Bulletin

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

UP professor receives death threat after testifying against tree cutting in Baguio
On the night of Monday, July 13, just as he was about to go to bed, Deign Frolley Soriano, a biology teacher from the University of the Philippines Baguio, received a chilling text message.
Rappler

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY