COVID-19

Cases

Philippines' COVID-19 cases reach 12,718
The Philippines' health department on Monday reported 205 new COVID-19 cases in the country, bringing the cumulative total to 12,718.
ABS-CBN News, CNN Philippines

32 more medical frontliners recover from COVID-19; no new deaths recorded
An additional 32 healthcare workers were reported to have recovered from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Department of Health (DOH) announced Monday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Nurse, 29, dies from COVID-19, away from family in Isabela
A nurse from Isabela who chose to stay in Metro Manila and care for patients succumbed to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on May 6.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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DFA notes high rate in COVID-19 recoveries among Filipinos abroad
The total number of Filipinos abroad who recovered from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection remains almost three times more than the total fatalities and comprises 34 percent of the total confirmed cases, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a report on Monday.
Manila Bulletin

No COVID-19 cases among Filipinos in war-torn Libya
The Philippine embassy in Tripoli on Monday reported zero coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related cases among the 2,300 Filipinos still working in war-torn Libya.
Manila Bulletin

Department of Health

DOH so far conducts at least 11,000 COVID-19 tests a day
The Department of Health (DOH) so far has been able to conduct at least 11,000 tests for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a day.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

COVID-19 test samples undergo 8-hour, highly technical process — health experts
The processing of swab samples for COVID-19 in licensed laboratories is highly technical and complicated, causing backlogs in test results, health experts said Monday.
Manila Bulletin

DOH allots P18-M for trials of flu drug Avigan as COVID-19 treatment
The Department of Health (DOH) has set aside P18 million for the clinical trials of Japanese anti-influenza drug Avigan as a potential treatment for the new coronavirus disease, President Duterte said Monday (May 18).
Manila Bulletin

DOH reminds public to observe health standards under MECQ, GCQ
The Department of Health reminding everyone to maintain the observance of minimum health standards as the country enters transition from enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to a new normal.
Manila Bulletin

Medical graduates urged to serve as ‘deputized doctors’ during COVID-19 pandemic
The Department of Health on Monday repeated its call for medical graduates to help in handling non-COVID-19 as the country’s health professionals focus on the pandemic.
ABS-CBN News

Palma Hall at UP-Diliman now open as an isolation area for suspected and probable COVID-19 cases
A building at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman in Quezon City, which was designated an isolation area for suspected and probable cases of persons with COVID-19, is now officially open after passing its second Department of Health inspection on May 13.
Manila Bulletin

IATF

‘People movement still restricted under MECQ’
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año on Monday stressed that under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), movement of people is still restricted, even as business firms like malls have been allowed to reopen to reinvigorate the economy that was hit hard by the prolonged quarantine period.
Manila Bulletin

Concepcion: First batch of rapid test kits for mass testing now in PH
Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion announced yesterday the arrival of the first batch of more than 500,000 antibody rapid test kits for Project ARK. These will be shared among 205 partner companies to screen their employees for the safe reopening of their businesses.
Manila Bulletin

MMDA: Malls to stay closed if they fail to enforce distancing, health protocols
Malls should stay closed if operators fail to enforce physical distancing and health protocols to prevent the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) transmission, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Monday.
Manila Bulletin

Social distancing violations in malls ‘fake news’ as crowd was only at 20 percent — DTI
The viral images and videos depicting social distancing violations in the newly-reopened malls are fake news, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez told the House of Representatives on Monday.
Manila Bulletin

Social distancing, wearing of face masks observed in malls on day 2 of MECQ
Social distancing and wearing of face masks were observed in malls around the country on the second day of the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
Manila Bulletin

Palace urges CBCP to propose distancing measures to IATF
Malacañang invited the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to coordinate with the government on how they plan to implement strict physical distancing measures inside churches to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Manila Bulletin

Regions

COVID-19 infections in Nueva Ecija rise to 52
The number of confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections in Nueva Ecija rose to 52 after four more patients tested positive over the weekend, according to the provincial inter-agency task force (NEIATF).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Quezon town’s 2nd COVID-19 patient is another 2-year-old boy
A second two-year-old boy tested positive for coronavirus in the town of Buenavista, Quezon province.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

1 dead among 9 COVID-19 suspects who tested negative in Palawan
Nine people in Palawan suspected of coronavirus infection tested negative, according to health authorities in the province.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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3 cities in Cebu province boost rapid mass testing for coronavirus
The three major cities of Cebu are using public funds in the purchase of rapid test kits for their strategic mass testing to determine the next move in the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Muntinlupa posts highest COVID-19 recovery rate in NCR
Muntinlupa City has recorded the highest coronavirus disease (COVID-19) recovery rate in Metro Manila. City Health Office chief Dr. Teresa Tuliao said Muntinlupa’s recovery rate is 56.85 percent as of May 16 in which the city recorded 112 patients who recovered from the virus out of the total 197 COVID-19 positive cases.
Manila Bulletin

Region 10 to start own COVID-19 testing on May 21
Barring any delays, the laboratory of the government-owned Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) will start processing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tests this Thursday, May 21.
Mindanews

South Cotabato tracks down persons in contact with new COVID-19 positive
Health personnel in South Cotabato have launched an extensive tracing of persons who possibly had close contact with a patient from Polomolok town who tested positive for the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Mindanews

Bohol vice gov explains reason for being ‘missing in action’
After almost three months of not being seen in public, Bohol Vice Gov. Rene Lopez Relampagos finally broke his silence.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Bacolod mayor tells constituents to follow GCQ protocols
Please follow the rules. This was the appeal of Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia to the public as the city transitioned to general community quarantine (GCQ) on Saturday, May 16.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Diplomatic, Development and Private Sector 

Catholic parishes feeling the pinch of funds lack
The lack of Mass collection due to the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine has financially affected parishes in the country.
Manila Bulletin

Ilonggo artists sell artworks to buy face masks for local residents
Ilonggo artists have raised more than P1.7 million by selling art works to help raise funds for the production and free distribution of 200,000 cloth face masks for Iloilo City residents.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Incidents and Violations

15 held for violating GCQ curfew in Albay
Police rounded up 15 people for curfew hour violation just as the implementation of the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) in Albay province entered its second day on Sunday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

CBCP bemoans escape of COVID-19 positive OFWs from quarantine
The report that some overseas Filipino workers with COVID 19 escaped from quarantine facility saddened an official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People.
Manila Bulletin

PCG finds, brings 1 OFW to treatment facility after escaping quarantine; traces 7 others
One of the eight returning overseas Filipino workers, who tried to cut short their quarantine period by escaping from their designated facilities, have been taken back for treatment after testing positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while the rest are yet to be traced, the Philippine Coast Guard said Monday.
Manila Bulletin

Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features

TIMELINE: What happened since the Philippines was locked down
Since the first reported case on January 30, the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines has reached 11,876 as of May 14, 2020 — with 2,337 recoveries and 790 deaths, according to a news bulletin from the Department of Health (DoH).
Business World Online

Live as though virus is there, Project ARK proponent says
The nation “cannot forever hide” from new coronavirus disease and instead must live as though one is infectious and take precautions, according to one of the proponents of Project ARK (Antibody Rapid Test Kits).
Manila Bulletin

Netizens have ‘bilin’ for those who want to go out
The modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) has finally taken into effect, but there are still so many questions among the regular citizenry as to what they should do or what limitations are still in place.
Manila Bulletin

Joy Belmonte asked: What did you learn from bashers during virus crisis?
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said Monday that critics of her leadership during the coronavirus crisis made her "stronger" and "a better leader. 
ABS-CBN News

The Role of Insurance, Government, and Pandemic Insurance 
Insurance is a financial product which is based on social need. It does not serve just the interest of one but of many. From regulations through academic theory, it is accepted and required that “the business of insurance is to serve the public trust.”  
Forbes

World

Coronavirus was not synthesized in a laboratory—WHO’s chief scientist
The Covid-19 coronavirus was not synthesized in a laboratory, the World Health Organization’s chief scientist has said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

No shortcuts; people must get used to a new way of living, warns WHO’s chief scientist
It is critically important for governments to present facts in a way that people really understand what the Covid-19 coronavirus is, and the logic behind some of the measures put in place, says Dr Soumya Swaminathan, chief scientist at the World Health Organization (WHO).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

France death toll passes 28,000 as virus hits slaughterhouses
Deaths from the new coronavirus in France passed 28,000 Sunday, the health ministry announced, as officials tried to contain outbreaks in two abattoirs.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

US records 820 new coronavirus deaths in 24 hours—tracker
The United States on Sunday recorded 820 new coronavirus fatalities in the previous 24 hours, but the country’s total death count neared 90,000, a Johns Hopkins University tracker reported.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Italy posts lowest one-day death toll from coronavirus since lockdown
Italy on Sunday recorded the fewest deaths from coronavirus in one day since its two-month lockdown began, as the country stands poised to reopen most commercial activity.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

South Korea counts 15 new COVID-19 patients
South Korea’s daily count of new coronavirus cases stayed below 20 for the third day in a row on Monday, as the outbreak from Seoul’s party district of Itaewon seems to have been contained, health authorities said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

70 cases of COVID-19 at French schools days after re-opening
Just one week after a third of French schoolchildren went back to school in an easing of the coronavirus lockdown, there has been a worrying flareup of about 70 COVID-19 cases linked to schools, the government said Monday.
ABC News

Thousands of Covid-19 cases missed due to late warning on smell loss, say experts
Tens of thousands of cases of Covid-19 may have been missed because of delays in warning the public that loss of taste and smell is a key symptom that should lead to self-isolation or testing, experts say.
The Guardian

New coronavirus deaths in Spain fall to two-month low under 100
Spain on Sunday reported 87 coronavirus deaths over a 24-hour period, the first time in two months that the daily toll has dropped below 100.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Isolation unnecessary for recovered COVID-19 patients—S. Korea health execs
People who test positive for the novel coronavirus after making a full recovery do not transmit the disease to others, health authorities said Monday, reversing earlier guidance calling for an additional two-week quarantine in such cases.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican reopens
Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican reopened to visitors on Monday after being closed for over two months under Italy’s lockdown orders to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Duterte’s 8th weekly report to Congress on use of additional powers
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday submitted to Congress his eighth report on his use of additional powers in dealing with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, ABS-CBN News

Nearly 37k barangays posted list of emergency subsidy beneficiaries —Duterte
Nearly 37,000 barangays in the country have complied with the national government’s directive to post the list of beneficiaries of the COVID-19 emergency subsidy program in public places, President Rodrigo Duterte told Congress on Monday.
GMA News

Duterte: Health remains top priority in battle vs. COVID-19
President Duterte assured the public that the people’s health remains the government’s top priority as he renewed his commitment to exercise all powers and optimize all available resources in dealing with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

Sara Duterte defends father's Davao trip: President is frontliner
President Rodrigo Duterte had every right to fly home to Davao City as he is the country's topmost "frontliner," said his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on Monday.  "So wala nay mas frontliner pa sa atong tanan sa presidente sa atong nasud," said Duterte-Carpio in a live interview on Davao City Disaster Radio.
ABS-CBN News, GMA News, Philippine Star

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Gov’t to aid 20.3 M families in ECQ areas
The government wants to provide emergency aid to 20.3 million poor families and small business workers this month to enable them to cope with the coronavirus crisis.
Manila Bulletin

Palace: Shift to MECQ not a mistake despite mall fiasco; malls must enforce health protocols or face closure, charges
Despite lamenting the complete disregard of physical distancing in malls on Saturday, Malacañang said the shift of Metro Manila to a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) was not a mistake because of the need to revitalize the economy.
Manila Bulletin

Gov’t to let private sector step in to conduct mass testing for COVID-19
Admitting to the government’s limited capacity to conduct mass testing, Malacañang on Monday said it will leave it up to the discretion of private businesses to conduct tests for COVID-19.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, ABS-CBN News

DTI to monitor basic commodity prices, says Roque
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is expected to “act accordingly” on whether or not to impose another price freeze on basic necessities during the coronavirus emergency, according to a Palace official.
Manila Bulletin

Palace calls for stricter security measures in gov’t quarantine facilities after 8 OFWs ‘escape’
Malacañang has called for the strict enforcement of security measures following the reported escape of some overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from quarantine facilities.
Manila Bulletin

Palace says companies must provide employees shuttle transport, lodging facilities if they reopen
Workers cannot be blamed if they cannot report to work due to the lack of company shuttle transport service during the quarantine period, according to a Palace official.
Manila Bulletin

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Palace brands as ‘fake news’ Facebook geotag of PH as province of China
Malacañang has branded as fake news the Facebook location tag that described the Philippines as a supposed province of China.
Manila Bulletin

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Palace waiting for IAS probe report before filing charges vs. Sinas
Malacañang refused to comment on the fate of Metro Manila police chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas but said the result of the investigation on the embattled police officer was being awaited before giving the green light to the filing of administrative charges against him.
Manila Bulletin

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De Lima hits crackdown on online Duterte critics
Detained Senator Leila de Lima on Monday slammed the arrest of individuals who criticized President Duterte online, calling it “double standard at its worst.”
Philippine Daily Inquirer

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

VP willing to help oversight panel’s probe on ‘overpriced’ PPE sets
Vice President Leni Robredo is willing to cooperate with Congress in the investigation of the procurement of alleged overpriced personal protective equipment if and when it pushes through.
Manila Bulletin

VP’s online market project a ‘blessing’ for vendors and trike drivers in QC
Vice President Leni Robredo made a surprise visit on Sunday, May 18, to the market vendors and tricycle drivers who are beneficiaries of the Community Mart project.
Manila Bulletin

Public confused with changes in quarantine rules
Confusion over the effectivity of new quarantine levels and guidelines in Metro Manila and other parts of the country left the people more questions than answers.
Manila Bulletin

ELECTION RELATED

DISASTER

9 Eastern Samar towns now under state of calamity after Typhoon Ambo
Nine towns in Eastern Samar have been placed under a state of calamity due to the devastation brought by Typhoon “Ambo.”
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Typhoon ‘Ambo’ brings P1-B damage to agriculture
Typhoon “Ambo” had so far wrought damage and losses worth P1.04 billion to the agriculture sector, leaving as many 21,655 farmers and fisherfolk reeling from its impact.
Manila Bulletin

DSWD says it still has funds after ‘Ambo,’ COVID-19 relief ops
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday said it still has funds for possible relief operations within the year, despite having their hands full with relief operations for victims of Typhoon Ambo and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

‘Not fake news’: PDI stands by its story on ‘cha-cha’
The Philippine Daily Inquirer stands by its story: ‘Cha-cha drive alive amid pandemic.’ There was nothing fake in it, contrary to a statement earlier today by Interior Secretary Eduardo Año.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Charter change not a priority during pandemic, says Roque
The Charter change drive is not a government priority for now as the country deals with the coronavirus pandemic, Malacañang declared on Monday.
Manila Bulletin

DILG calls Cha-cha online signature campaign ‘fake news’
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año on Monday debunked a report that the agency has continued efforts to collect two million signatures to expedite the approval of constitutional amendments in the midst of the novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the country.
Manila Bulletin

Sen. Binay to DILG, PCOO: Focus on Cha-Cha in the midst of a pandemic is ‘excessive, unnecessary, and insensitive’
Senator Nancy Binay on May 18, Monday, urged the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) to drop its signature campaign for Charter Change and instead launch an aggressive information drive on COVID-19.
Manila Bulletin

JUDICIARY

QC Executive Judge denies death of trial court personnel due to COVID-19
The Executive Judge of Quezon City has denied reports that a personnel of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) or Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC) in the city died of suspected coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Manila Bulletin

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

‘Steal as one?’ Senators want probe of ‘grossly overpriced’ health supplies
Several senators on Monday called for an investigation into the alleged “grossly overpriced” health supplies reportedly purchased by the government in the wake of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Senators ask gov’t: why no COVID-19 tests for returning employees?
Senators on Monday raised concern over the government’s decision not require testing for employees who would return to work.
Manila Bulletin

Sen. Marcos to supermarket owners: provide employees face masks
Senator Imee R. Marcos, chairperson of the Senate economic affairs committee, said today supermarket owners should be held liable for depriving employees of personal protective equipment (PPE) meant to protect them from being infected by coronavirus disease (Covid-19) while at work.
Manila Bulletin

Transfer of China-based US companies to Indonesia confirms SEA countries’ edge as alternative manufacturing sites — Marcos
Senator Imee R. Marcos on Monday said the reported decision by the United States government to transfer a number of its China-based factories to Indonesia confirms a growing economic trend favoring Southeast Asian countries as alternative sites for manufacturing.
Manila Bulletin

Go files bill mandating PNP, AFP to assist DOH in contact-tracing
Senator Christopher Lawrence ‘’Bong’’ Go has filed a bill mandating the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to assist the Department of Health (DOH) in its contract tracing efforts in a bid to slow down the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Manila Bulletin

‘Do not trifle with the truth,’ says Gordon, as Senate passes bill to increase fines for perjury
The 24-member Senate on May 18, Monday, approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to impose longer prison sentences and larger fines for individuals, especially public officials, who will commit perjury, or the act of making untruthful statements under oath.
Manila Bulletin

House of Representatives

PH may be ‘new normal’ model, says House leader
The Philippines could become a model for fellow developing countries as far as best practices on the “new normal” is concerned.
Manila Bulletin

Rep. Recto touts P30-B supplemental budget for Taal
Deputy Speaker and Batangas 6th district Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto is counting on the House leadership to include in its priority list the passage of the proposed P30-billion supplemental budget for Taal evacuees.
Manila Bulletin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

23 barangay execs face criminal charges for SAP anomalies
Twenty three barangay officials are now facing criminal charges for cash aid related anomalies under the social amelioration program (SAP) after the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) filed cases against them before the prosecutor’s office of the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

18,355 PDLs released from PNP lockup cells, BJMP jails nationwide
A total of 18,355 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) have been released as of May 15 since the Supreme Court (SC) adopted measures to expedite the resolution of their cases to decongest jails and other detention facilities to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease.
Manila Bulletin

DOJ to prioritize cases filed vs corrupt barangay officials
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is is poised to direct prosecutors to prioritize the cases filed against barangay officials who are allegedly involved in anomalies concerning the distribution of emergency subsidy under the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP).
Manila Bulletin

DOJ sets preliminary probe of Marawi veteran killed in quarantine checkpoint
The preliminary investigation of the charges filed against Police Master Sergeant Daniel Florendo for the killing of retired Army Corporal Winston Ragos will start in mid-June, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Monday.
Manila Bulletin

NBI clearance processing still suspended in ECQ, MECQ areas
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has resumed clearance processing on Monday (May 18) but only in places under general community quarantine (GCQ).
Manila Bulletin

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Armed Forces of the Philippines

AFP opens Rizal Memorial Coliseum quarantine facility
A new quarantine facility at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Malate, Manila was inaugurated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday to provide isolation rooms for suspected coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients.
Manila Bulletin

Military helps in relief aid delivery to Ambo-hit E. Visayas
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) and Philippine Navy (PN) have deployed air and naval assets to deliver another batch of relief assistance to provinces in Eastern Visayas (Region 8) struck by typhoon Ambo (International name: Vongfong), authorities said on May 18, Monday.
Manila Bulletin

Philippine National Police

PNP activates new unit for cop recruitment, management of PNPA cadets
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has activated a unit that will take charge of the recruitment of new policemen and the lateral entry for technical and line officers.
Manila Bulletin

Sinas stays as NCRPO amid public uproar, filing of charges over mañanita
Embattled Metro Manila police chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas will stay in his post amid the public uproar over his birthday celebration and the filing of charges against him for violation of quarantine rules on social distancing and mass gathering.
Manila Bulletin

BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION

Transfer of BIR regional offices delayed
The transfer of two big regions of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in Metro Manila to their new headquarters was delayed due to the coronavirus quarantine.
Manila Bulletin

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

West Philippine Sea

LABOR

DOLE advises employers on how to save jobs
The Department of Labor and Employment on Monday issued guidelines on how best employers can protect jobs, and prevent layoffs and retrenchments amid the COVID-19 health pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

Bello: COVID-19 tests for workers not mandatory
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III clarified on Monday that employees do not need to undergo mandatory coronavirus test before returning to work.
Manila Bulletin

Open more airports for OFW return flights
Senator Richard J. Gordon on Monday proposed the opening of more airports to allow more passenger flights to bring home overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the United Arab Emirates, most of whom are already unemployed and stranded there for months.
Manila Bulletin

Workers won’t return to work at Parañaque factory unless health safety measures assured – BMP
A workers’ union in Parañaque has refused to return to their factory lines without their company’s management placing health safety measures against COVID-19 first, labor group Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) confirmed.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Pasig City mulling mandatory coronavirus tests for returning workers
The local government of Pasig City is mulling to require rapid antibody tests for returning workers as Metro Manila eases quarantine restrictions.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DOLE, DTI urged to probe supermarkets for labor abuse
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) should investigate supermarket owners if they are remiss in giving their employees the appropriate personal protective equipment against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

TRANSPORTATION

DOTr reminds public: Limited public transportation in shift to GCQ
While many employees began returning to work on Monday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) reminded passengers that public transportation in Metro Manila will be resumed with limited capacity upon the region’s shift to general community quarantine as part of the “new normal” to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Manila Bulletin

LTFRB requires PUVS to keep a manifesto of passengers to help in contact tracing
Public transport operators were directed by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to maintain a manifesto of passengers for contact tracing as part of safety protocols when public utility vehicles (PUVs) resume under general community quarantine.
Manila Bulletin

Cebu Pacific implements contactless flights amid COVID-19 pandemic
As the country continues to gear up toward the “new normal”, budget carrier Cebu Pacific urged its passengers to check-in online prior to their flights to lessen the risk of contracting the dreaded coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Manila Bulletin

HEALTH

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

No-interest loans for returning OFWs venturing into agri-business
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is providing no-interest loans to encourage returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to venture into agriculture and in turn help in the revival and rebooting of the countryside.
Manila Bulletin

EDUCATION

Teachers group to gov’t, DepEd: ‘No mass testing, no school opening’
The school opening for this year should not push through without the conduct of mass testing, which will cover both the learners and personnel, including teachers and other non-teaching staff of schools, a federation of teachers on Monday said.
Manila Bulletin

Gatchalian urges inclusion of learners with disabilities in DepEd’s learning continuity plan
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to ensure that learners with disabilities or special needs won’t be left behind in its learning continuity plan amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

ENERGY

House to ERC: Verify if ‘high’ Meralco bills are in order
House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate on Monday asked the Energy Regulatory Commission to determine whether or not Meralco violated rules for the sudden rise in electricity charges on consumers.
Manila Bulletin

Poe tells Meralco to hold off bills payment until it addresses its ‘unusually high’ charges
Senator Grace Poe on Monday urged the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to hold off the payment of electricity bills until it addresses its “unusually high” charges to consumers during the quarantine.
Manila Bulletin

POVERTY

SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

DSWD distributes 827,000 food packs in 16 regions
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has distributed almost 827,000 Family Food Packs (FFPs) worth P348.41 million in 16 regions.
Manila Bulletin

USAID, DSWD launch ‘ReliefAgad’ to hasten SAP distribution
A new web application called “ReliefAgad” was jointly launched by the United States government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), to hasten the distribution of financial assistance to Filipinos affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

HOUSING and SETTLEMENT

Help ‘Balik Probinsya’ returnees, Sen. Go urges
Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go asked on Monday the government to immediately help all stranded individuals and families in Metro Manila and other urban centers and safeguard their welfare as the initial phase of the ‘’Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2)’’ program gets underway during the modified enhanced community quarantine.
Manila Bulletin

TOURISM

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Villar seeks stricter implementation of NIPAS to protect biodiversity, stop spread of diseases
Senator Cynthia Villar has called for the stricter implementation of the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act to protect biodiversity and prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
Manila Bulletin

Environmental group pushes for measures to ensure waste-free, toxic-free post-COVID era
An environmental group on Monday has pushed for a “whole-of-society approach’’ in a bid to minimize the volume and toxicity of the generated garbage with restrictions on quarantine protocols being gradually relaxed amid the novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

Warm, humid days head with afternoon rains as PH transitions to rainy season — PAGASA
The whole country will be warm and humid as the low pressure area (LPA), formerly tropical cyclone “Ambo” (international name: “Vongfong”) may dissipate while moving further away on Monday.
Manila Bulletin

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY  

DICT: Internet cafes can be repurposed as digital classrooms, workplaces
As a part of the “new normal” in light of the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Information and Communications Technology is eyeing the use of internet cafes as “digital classrooms or workplaces” for students and workers.
Philippine Daily Inquirer