COVID-19

Cases

DOH: COVID-19 recoveries increase to 572, cases at 6,259; RITM temporarily scales down operations
The number of patients who have recovered from COVID-19 continues to increase as 56 new recoveries were reported on Sunday by the Department of Health (DOH).
Manila Bulletin, Philippine News Agency, Philippine Star, CNN Philippines, GMA News, ABS-CBN News

Head nurse handling PGH COVID-19 ward dies
The head nurse of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), who was handling the health facility’s COVID-19 ward, has died.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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DFA records 116 new COVID-19 cases among overseas Filipinos; another diplomat succumbs to coronavirus
The Department of Foreign Affairs recorded on Sunday 116 new coronavirus COVID-19 cases and 25 new deaths among overseas Filipinos, the highest number of deaths reported in the span of two weeks.
Manila Bulletin, CNN Philippines

Erik Belfrage, Philippine consul general in Sweden, dies of COVID-19
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed on April 19, Sunday, the death of Philippine Honorary Consul to Sweden Erik Belfrage due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Manila Bulletin

Department of Health

DOH conducts almost 53K individual Covid-19 tests
The Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday said it performed a total of 52,837 individual tests for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). According to the latest data from the DOH Covid-19 Tracker, 7,166 of these tests are positive cases and 45,626 are negative cases.
Philippine News Agency

UP-NIH targets 16K Covid-19 tests per day by May 1
The University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) is targeting 16,000 tests for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) per day by May 1 as its locally-produced kits will be offered at its facility starting tomorrow.
Philippine News Agency

Lung Center morgue freezer exceeds capacity as COVID-19 deaths mount
The morgue freezer at the Lung Center of the Philippines exceeded its capacity last Good Friday, April 10, due to the number of patients who have died from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
GMA News

IATF

Prepare for new normal, difficulties throughout year, DILG chief says
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eudardo Año asked the public on Sunday to prepare for the “new normal’’ where wearing face masks, social distancing, and prohibition of mass gatherings will be mandatory.
Manila Bulletin

IATF will try to reach a consensus on ECQ lifting on April 20
The government task force on top of fighting the coronavirus outbreak will try on Monday, April 20, to reach a “consensus” on the proposed next official action after April 30 when the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon expires.
Manila Bulletin

Nograles: Nab, jail anyone abusing government subsidy to buy drugs, gamble
Any person who uses the government subsidy to buy illegal drugs or engage in illegal gambling and other vices must be prosecuted and brought to jail, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Sunday.
Manila Bulletin

Nograles: ECQ always an option vs COVID-19 pandemic
As the government determines the fate of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) which is nearing conclusion, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the ECQ can always be brought back if the number of coronavirus diseases (COVID-19) cases in the country resurge.
Manila Bulletin

Año reminds public of consequences of sharing fake news
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año reminded the public on Sunday of the unfavorable repercussions and consequences that may befall them for spreading fake news.
Manila Bulletin

Inmates in prison also protected from virus –Nograles
The government has taken steps to ensure the protection of inmates in correctional facilities from the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), according to a Palace official.
Manila Bulletin

Nograles hopes Marikina testing facility will be accredited
The government is optimistic that the proposed Marikina City testing facility will be added to the country’s list of accredited laboratories that can diagnose the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Manila Bulletin

Nograles respects Pernia’s resignation, though clueless about reason for stepping down
The Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases said it respects Ernesto Pernia’s decision to resign as Socioeconomic Planning secretary despite being clueless about his reason for stepping down.
Manila Bulletin

Regions

QC logs 4 new COVID-19 recoveries, 26 more cases
The number of COVID-19 cases in Quezon City has risen by 26 to 1,042, the city government said Saturday as it tallied 4 new recoveries from the respiratory illness.
ABS-CBN News

DOH-Bicol confirms 6 new Covid-19 cases
Bicol Region has six additional coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients, bringing the total confirmed cases to 25, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Sunday.
Philippine News Agency

Cebu records 7th COVID-19 death
Another patient died of the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 in Cebu on Sunday, bringing the total number of deaths on the island province to seven.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Vico Sotto: Testing needed to end quarantine faster
Testing is the key for the imposed enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to end much sooner, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto said.
Manila Bulletin

COVID-19 testing centers to open in all Quezon City districts
All six districts of Quezon City will each have a COVID-19 testing center in the upcoming days, the city government said on Sunday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Isko Moreno says Sampaloc will be on lockdown, but city officials are still planning it
The entire Sampaloc district of Manila will be placed under a lockdown, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno confirmed in a message to reporters on Sunday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Mayor Sara: MICEcon may be cancelled this year
The staging of the two-day Philippine Meetings, Incentive Travel, Convention, and Exhibitions/Events Conference (MICECon) 2020, dubbed the “biggest and most anticipated” gathering of MICE professionals in the country, may be cancelled this year as local health experts suggested there should no mass gathering to control the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Mayor Sara Duterte said.
Mindanews

Bataan People’s Center now patient care hub for health workers
The Bataan People’s Center (BPC) at the capitol compound here was designated as patient care center for health workers of the government-run Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) in this city, Governor Albert Garcia announced on Sunday.
Philippine News Agency

Cabanatuan imposes longer curfew, stricter use of Q-pass
The city government here will enforce longer curfew hours and stricter use of home quarantine passes (HQP) starting on Monday, 10 days before the lapse of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid- 19).
Philippine News Agency

Bulacan designates 3 more Covid-19 facilities
Three additional facilities were designated as patient care centers in this province to help combat the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Philippine News Agency

66 NegOcc residents stranded in Cebu, Panay return home
Some 66 Negrense residents stranded in Cebu and Panay returned to Negros Occidental over the weekend through the assistance of the provincial government.
Philippine News Agency

Taguig set to open 40-bed quarantine facility for COVID-19 patients
A 40-bed quarantine facility for possible COVID-19 patients will soon be opened in Taguig City’s Lower Bicutan area.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Diplomatic, Development and Private Sector 

SMC donates 40,000 PPEs to over 60 hospitals, expects delivery of first 10,000 PPEs locally produced
San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is expecting to get hold of the first 10,000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) coveralls from local garment manufacturers through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) today (Monday, April 20). This comes after the conglomerate completed delivery of 40,000 sets of protective gear to over 60 health facilities in the country.
Manila Bulletin

Youth orgs launch Kapit-Mindanao to assist low-wage earners, IPs, communities amid COVID-19 pandemic
At least 100 youth organizations and local personalities from all over the country have converged to initiate a digital fundraising campaign that aims to assist organizations in giving aid to Mindanawon communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mindanews

Incidents and Violations

PFDA slams video tagging Navotas fish port ‘barker’ as COVID-19 positive
The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) has slammed a video uploaded by a former mayor of Laurel, Batangas, which tagged a “barker” of the Navotas Fish Port Complex (NFPC) as a coronavirus-positive patient.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Cebu film writer arrested over Facebook post about coronavirus in Sitio Zapatera
A Cebu film writer and owner of a local bar was arrested early morning on Sunday, April 19 over a sarcastic Facebook post she made in relation to the coronavirus "contamination" of Sitio Zapatera in Cebu City.
Rappler, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Cops enforcing quarantine rules barge into gated Taguig City condo compound
Overzealous policemen wandered off late Sunday afternoon into the gardens of a gated condominium compound in Taguig City and started “screaming,” with one allegedly waving a gun at its residents who are mostly foreigners.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features

Health group concerned over growing number of doctors, nurses, health workers with COVID-19
A group of health workers expressed concerns over the growing number of coronavirus disease cases among their ranks.
Manila Bulletin

Vietnamese lesson in fighting Covid-19: Nationalism
VIETNAM has emerged as a model — without the expensive mass testing — for stopping Covid-19 in its tracks: This country of 97 million has, so far, only 298 cases and no deaths from the disease at all.
The Manila Times

Metro Manila quarantine 'very effective' at checking COVID-19 - UP think tank
The enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) imposed over Metro Manila seems to have been "very effective" at checking the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the head of a University of the Philippines think tank said on Sunday. 
ABS-CBN News

Shifting investment landscape
Something big is happening in the global supply chain, and if the Philippines plays its cards right, significant manufacturing investments may come its way in the wake of COVID-19.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Let LGUs lead
“It’s one of the best laboratories I’ve seen,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said after he finally inspected the Marikina COVID-19 testing center. The health secretary also said the facility will receive its accreditation by Tuesday (April 21).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Amelioration turned nightmare
The intention was to help poor families with cash assistance in this time of great need. Instead, the national government has brought chaos and hostility to every barangay all over the country.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Loosening the lockdown
As we enter the sixth week of the Luzon-wide lockdown, not a few observers have urged the loosening of the drastic quarantine measures that have been put in place to control the spread of the coronavirus. But many, not seeing a strong enough reason for its imposition, have simply gone ahead to break quarantine rules.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

World

Coronavirus Live Updates: White House Calls Testing ‘Sufficient’ but States Say They Need More
New York, New Jersey and other states say reopening their economies must be linked with wider testing for the virus. Leaders say a second lifeline for small businesses and hospitals nears approval.
The New York Times

US and Russia blocking UN plans for a global ceasefire amid crisis
The Trump administration and Russia are blocking efforts to win binding UN security council backing for a global ceasefire to help fight the coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed more than 150,000 lives worldwide.
The Guardian

Singapore Now Has Most Coronavirus Cases in Southeast Asia
Singapore overtook Indonesia in coronavirus infections and now has the most cases in Southeast Asia after the city-state detected hundreds more victims among low-wage foreign workers.
Bloomberg, The Star Online

Singapore's coronavirus spike sends world a wake-up call
Surging coronavirus infections in Singapore's migrant worker communities have underscored the difficulty of stomping out the disease -- and may offer lessons for other countries.
Nikkei Asian Review

Virus outbreak threatens Germany’s tradition-laden breweries
The Werneck Brewery has survived a lot: world wars, economic crises and decades of declining beer consumption. But after 400 years in existence, it has finally met a challenge it can’t overcome: the coronavirus outbreak.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Pentagon extends travel restrictions through June 30
The US Defense Department said Saturday it would extend travel restrictions through June 30 in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus, but will allow for some redeployments and repatriation of troops serving abroad.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Horrors revealed at virus-hit Canada nursing home
Elderly residents left soiled and unfed after their caregivers fled the premises, 31 deaths in the space of a few weeks: a nursing home in Montreal has become the symbol of the terrible toll coronavirus is taking in Canada’s long-term care homes.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Chinese scientists: Virus mutating, but won’t affect drug, vaccine work
Scientists are now aware that the novel coronavirus is changing its genetic makeup slightly, but the rate of mutation is slow and no evidence of a change in the virus’s biology has been found, meaning these minor mutations will not affect current drug and vaccine development, scientists have said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Coronavirus: Trauma lingers as Wuhan reopens
It has been nearly a week since academic Han Lining was allowed to leave his studio apartment in Wuhan where he spent 76 days alone, but the assistant economics professor is still worried about going outside.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Nigeria leader’s top aide dies of coronavirus
The powerful chief of staff to Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari has died after contracting the novel coronavirus, the presidency said Saturday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Trump calls Duterte to discuss COVID-19 response cooperation
US President Donald Trump called President Rodrigo Duterte to discuss bilateral cooperation on the COVID-19 response, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said Sunday.
CNN Philippines, ABS-CBN News

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Palace tells PSA to hurry up with National ID system
The government is counting on the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to hasten the rollout of the national identification system even during the quarantine period.
Manila Bulletin

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Duterte to consult past DOH secretaries over quarantine extension, says Bong Go
President Rodrigo Duterte will talk to health experts this week to seek their inputs on whether there is a need to extend the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine beyond April 30.
Manila Bulletin

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

VP seeks ‘balancing act’ between economy and public health amid lockdown
Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday recognized the need to allow economic activity, but she said people should be protected from novel coronavirus infection.
Manila Bulletin

Shun infighting, VP tells fellow gov’t officials: ‘We have a common enemy’
Vice President Leni Robredo on April 19, Sunday, urged her fellow public officials help each other improve efforts in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

VP Robredo says admin must be ready if modified quarantine is imposed
“Handa na ba tayong harapin iyong boundary noong quarantine (Are we ready to face the boundary of the quarantine)?” This was the question posed by Vice President Leni Robredo on April 19, Sunday, in the event a “modified lockdown” is implemented after April 30.
Manila Bulletin

ELECTION RELATED

DISASTER

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

Sotto backs AFP's role in enforcing strict COVID-19 quarantine measures
Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Sunday backed the involvement of Armed Forces of the Philippines in the move to strictly enforce quarantine measures to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.
GMA News

House of Representatives

Security personnel is 4th House employee to test positive for COVID-19
A security personnel of the House of Representatives has tested positive for COVID-19, House Secretary General Atty. Jose Luis Montales said on Sunday.
Manila Bulletin, CNN Philippines

LGU-level testing vital, says House leader
Deputy Speaker and Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte has underscored the importance of mass-testing for COVID-19 at the local government level at this stage of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Manila Bulletin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DILG orders 81 governors to speedily utilize P6.1 billion ‘Bayanihan Grant to Provinces’
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Sunday ordered the 81 governors to use the P6.197-billion “Bayanihan Grant to Provinces (BGP)’’ to implement the National Strategy Against the novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) in their respective turfs.
Manila Bulletin

DILG asks LGUs to realign budgets for COVID-19 efforts
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has reiterated its call on Sunday for local government units (GU) to realign their budgets to be used for COVID-19 concerns.
Manila Bulletin

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

BJMP amenable to decongesting jails amid COVID-19 crisis
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said on Sunday it is amenable to all lawful efforts to decongest its jail facilities after nine persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) and nine jail personnel of the Quezon City Jail (QCJ) Male Dormitory tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Manila Bulletin

BJMP beefs up efforts to keep PDLs and staff safe
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) assured its full support for persons deprived of liberty (PDL) and its personnel in the midst of the dreaded novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Lorenzana orders deployment of more soldiers for ECQ
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana disclosed on April 19, Sunday, that he has instructed the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to deploy more troops for the remaining days of the enforcement of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon, which is set to lapse on April 30.
Manila Bulletin

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Philippine National Police

COVID-19 cases in PNP rise to 71
The number of police officersn who have contracted the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has climbed to 71, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced Sunday.
GMA News

Community quarantine violators exceed 130K: PNP
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday said over 130,000 individuals have so far violated guidelines on the enhanced community quarantine nationwide (ECQ) imposed to contain the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak.
Philippine News Agency

PNP to support any Presidential decision on total lockdown
The Philippine National Police (PNP) will support any decision to implement a total lockdown in the country amid the increasing number of violators of home quarantine and social distancing.
Manila Bulletin

BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION

BIR reports lowest tax collection in same time period, first time in one century history
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has reported lower tax collection for the first three months of the year compared to the same period last year, the first time that happened in more than one century of its history.
Manila Bulletin

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

Group airs suggestions on how to safely restart the economy after ECQ
A private sector disaster risk management group is in favor of the lifting of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) after April 30, but offered a plan to do it in a “safe manner.”
Manila Bulletin

Impressive private-sector assistance noted by Pernia
Former socio-economic planning secretary Ernesto Pernia tipped his hat off to the private sector’s efforts to help government in its fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Manila Bulletin

Experts weigh Pernia’s Cabinet exit
THE changing of the guard at the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) while the Philippines is battling a pandemic will have minimal impact on government operations and the economy, but some economists said this could discourage investors.
Business Mirror

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

272 stranded foreigners flown out of Davao
A total of 272 passengers in Davao Region stranded here since the lockdown was enforced on March 15 were flown to Manila from the Davao International Airport (DIA) on Saturday afternoon.
Mindanews

West Philippine Sea

Del Rosario urges gov’t to protest new Chinese districts in South China Sea
Former Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario on Sunday urged the Philippine government to protest China's establishment of two districts aimed at exerting control over the South China Sea, where the Philippines and other Asian nations have overlapping claims.
GMA News

LABOR

DOLE hopeful of resuming CAMP aid to displaced formal sector workers
Not all hope is lost for workers needing government aid. The Department of Labor and Employment said it is seeing the possibility of resuming its cash assistance to formal sector workers, as it cited efforts by lawmakers to pump additional funding to the COVID Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) that provides a P5,000 one-time assistance to workers affected by the national emergency due to COVID-19.
Manila Bulletin

Workers’ rights must be protected upon return to work, TUCP says
Although they do not disagree with the idea of a gradual return to work when the enhanced community quarantine is lifted, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said safeguards should be put in place so that workers will not be exposed to risk of exposure to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) while in transit and inside workplaces.
Manila Bulletin

TRANSPORTATION

HEALTH

Gatchalian: Do not forget regular immunization of children
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday urged local government units not to forget immunization services despite the country’s ongoing battle against the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

DA earmarks P246-M in loans to farmers, small agribusiness enterprises
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has allotted an initial P246.3 million in loans to help micro and small enterprises (MSEs) and small farmers and fisherfolk that were adversely affected by the implementation of enhanced community quarantine.
Manila Bulletin

MinDA eyes PO system to boost agri-production
The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) said it is finalizing a purchase order or PO system for farmers to help them secure more capital and increase productivity.
Philippine News Agency

EDUCATION

ENERGY

POVERTY

SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

DSWD: P12.46-billion in SAP funds given to 17 NCR LGUs; payouts ongoing
A total of 20,233 low-income families in the National Capital Region (NCR) have received their P8,000 emergency subsidy, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Sunday (April 19).
Manila Bulletin

DSWD: LGUs, not us, identify SAP beneficiaries
A total of P6.773 billion emergency subsidies have been given to more than 800,000 low-income households who are non-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) nationwide, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Sunday, April 19.
Manila Bulletin

DSWD distributes 6 months’ worth of social pensions to indigent senior citizens
Good news for all 3.4 million indigent senior citizens. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has started distributing six months’ worth of social pension amounting to P3,000 to indigent senior citizens.
Manila Bulletin

DSWD studying possibility of rolling out Livelihood Assistance Grant during ECQ
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is looking into the possibility of implementing its P15,000 Livelihood Assistance Grant (LAG) during the enhanced community quaratine (ECQ).
Manila Bulletin

HOUSING

TOURISM

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY  

New IT tool to help in contact tracing, mass testing
Local officials can now easily conduct contact tracing of suspected COVID-19 cases and pinpoint areas where mass testing must be done through TanodCOVID, a tracing system developed by local researchers.
Manila Bulletin