COVID-19

Cases

COVID-19 infection in PH soars to 21,340; 714 new cases logged
The Department of Health (DOH) has logged 714 new COVID-19 patients, including 350 “fresh” cases, as of June 6, raising the country’s count to 21, 340 novel coronavirus infections.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Department of Health

DOH: Compensation given to 29 heirs of healthcare workers dead of COVID-19
The Department of Health (DOH) said that the families of 29 healthcare workers who succumbed while fighting the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have already received their mandated compensation.
Manila Bulletin, GMA News

DOH says PH now has 54 accredited COVID-19 test laboratories
There are now 54 laboratories that can facilitate the COVID-19 test nationwide, the Department of Health (DOH) said Saturday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Philippines to continue hydroxychloroquine use in WHO solidarity trial, says DOH
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Saturday said the Department of Health (DOH) has again included hydroxychloroquine in the solidarity trial it is conducting with the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding COVID-19.
GMA News

Duque seems raised to 'beatific levels' despite COVID-19 errors, says Angara
Health Secretary Francisco Duque appears to have been raised to the level of a saint who could do almost nothing wrong, Senator Sonny Angara said on Friday.
GMA News

IATF

Gov't contact tracing ability now at 80% to 90% -IATF
The capability of the national government to conduct contact tracing is now at 80% to 90%, Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) against the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Saturday.
GMA News

Gov't eyes 1 million Filipinos tested by Aug. -IATF's Galvez
By August, the Philippines should have already tested one million people, or 1% to 2% of the country's population, as the government continues to procure test kits and personal protective equipment (PPE) in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
GMA News

Regions

OFWs who tested negative for COVID-19 in NCR, test positive in province
Some overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who had tested negative for the coronavirus disease 2019 in Metro Manila tested positive for the illness in their respective provinces.
GMA News

LGU employees, health workers among 16 new COVID-19 patients in Lucena
At least three of the latest 16 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients in this city are local government employees, Lucena Mayor Roderick Alcala, disclosed Saturday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Husband of COVID-19 patient in Quezon tests positive
The second confirmed case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Catanauan town in Quezon province is the husband of the first recorded virus carrier in the locality, Mayor Ramon Orfanel said on his Facebook page on Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Quezon COVID-19 watch: 3 patients recover, 1 new case listed in Lucena
Three COVID-19 patients in Quezon province have recovered while a new case was listed in Lucena City, health authorities reported on Saturday afternoon.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

27-year old male in Sultan Kudarat is Region-12's 29th COVID-19 positive
One new case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) positive has been reported in the Soccsksargen region, the Department of Health Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD-12) today said. 
NDBC News, Mindanews

--------------------------------------

SPMC to increase daily virus tests to 1,000
The government-run Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) is expected to increase its daily number of tests for COVID-19 to between 800 and 1,000, newly-appointed Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said.
Mindanews

With poise, LGBT in Çolumbio, Sultan Kudarat haul sacks of rice
Napagkatuwaan ng ilang empleyado ng LGU at mga miyembro ng Lesbian, Gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) na magsuot ng costume habang nagbubuhat ng bigas sa Barangay Poblacion sa nasabing bayan.
NDBC News

Isko Moreno lifts liquor ban in Manila
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno announced on Saturday the lifting of the ban on selling alcoholic drinks in the national capital, effective on Monday, June 8.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

--------------------------------------

Diplomatic, Development and Private Sector 

Chinese Embassy donates 3,500 food relief packs to Philippine Red Cross for NCR distribution
Senator Richard J. Gordon, chairman and CEO of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), has welcomed the Chinese Embassy in Manila’s donation for food relief packs to be distributed in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Manila Bulletin

Incidents and Violations

Another illegal Chinese clinic raided, ordered shut – NCRPO
A Chinese clinic in Parañaque was raided and padlocked on early Saturday morning after police found the medical facility operating without the necessary permits, according to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Balik Probinsya OFW laments discrimination from townmates
An overseas Filipino worker who took part in the Balik Probinsya Program lamented the discrimination she faced once she was back home in Leyte.
GMA News

Omnibus asks NBI to for more time to respond to allegations
A medical trading firm which has been ordered investigated by President Duterte for selling overpriced medical equipment has asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for more time to respond to the allegations.
Manila Bulletin

Coast Guard orders its men to strictly obey IATF policies after 2 personnel found pillion riding
After two of its personnel were caught violating the anti-pillion riding regulation amid the general community quarantine, the Philippine Coast Guard ordered all its personnel not to duplicate the act and strictly follow policies crafted to prevent further transmission of the coronavirus disease.
Manila Bulletin

Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features

World

US sues Chinese firm over half-million ‘fake’ N95 masks
The US Justice Department sued a Chinese company for selling nearly a half-million fake and substandard N95 respirators to U.S. buyers in April as the COVID-19 pandemic swept the country.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Indonesia records single-day high in new cases
Indonesia reported nearly 1,000 new cases of the coronavirus on Saturday, a new single-day high for the country that brought its total caseload past 30,000, as the government unveiled an enhanced stimulus package worth $47.6 billion to anchor the virus-battered economy.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Pakistan reports 97 more coronavirus deaths
Pakistan reported 97 more coronavirus deaths on Saturday, the highest 24-hour increase to its fatalities, as authorities urged volunteers to motivate people to adhere to social distancing regulations to contain the spread of the virus.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Most of 51 new South Korea cases linked to door sales
South Korea on Saturday reported 51 new cases of COVID-19, mostly in the densely populated capital region, as authorities scramble to stem transmissions among low-income workers who can’t afford to stay home.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Duterte says OECD exec fired for ‘irresponsible’ use of gov’t funds
President Duterte revealed that he fired Kristoffer James Purisma from the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) because he was doing what he wants with the funds of the office, without regard to proper accountability.
Manila Bulletin

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

ELECTION RELATED

DISASTER

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

Nancy Binay: Battle not yet over, but government has already quit
Senator Nancy Binay on Saturday decried the seeming lack of support from the government for displaced workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic after the non-certification of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act as urgent by Malacañang.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Recto appeals for increase in personnel to facilitate return of OFWs to their home provinces
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Saturday appealed for the increase the number of personnel to receive and facilitate the arrival of repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in their home provinces.
Manila Bulletin

Legarda bill espouses national heritage conservation
“Our culture is our story as our nation.” This was stressed by Deputy Speaker and Antique lone district Rep. Loren Legarda, as she pushed for the passage of her bill seeking to strengthen the conservation and protection of national cultural heritage.
Manila Bulletin

Revilla pushes bill to end discrimination, ‘negative tagging’ by media
Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. pushed for the approval of a bill prohibiting the media from using denotations of religious, regional, cultural and ethnic affiliation to describe persons who are suspected or convicted of crimes.
Manila Bulletin

Pacquiao bill addresses home, mobile communications needs
With the increased reliance on internet access and to the use of home and mobile communication units, international boxing icon and Sen. Emmanuel D. Pacquiao has filed a bill which seeks to address internet congestion and home and mobile communication unit problems in the country.
Manila Bulletin

Drilon calls on lawmakers to act swiftly to mitigate impact of unemployment on 7.3 million Filipinos
Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon today called on the Duterte administration to act swiftly to mitigate the impact of unemployment on 7.3 million jobless Filipinos and their families, including thousands of returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who lost their jobs as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

House of Representatives

Congress approves bill that expands jurisdiction of municipal and metropolitan trial courts
The House of Representatives has approved a bill that would expand the jurisdiction of municipal and metropolitan trial courts in an attempt to unclog the dockets of second level courts In the country.
Manila Bulletin

House bill assists dialysis patients with greater access to lower-cost treatment
Leaders of the House of Representatives have assured more accessible treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, especially those from rural areas, following the Lower Chamber’s final approval of the Comprehensive Renal Replacement Therapy Act.
Manila Bulletin

Final reading of bill to boost trade, tourism, and investment growth for Eastern Visayas
“Sound and balanced” industrial, economic and social development is seen in Eastern Visayas, as the House of Representatives has passed on third and final reading a bill creating the Eastern Visayas Development Authority (EVDA) that would ensure trade, tourism, and investment growth in the region, lawmakers said on Saturday, June 6.
Manila Bulletin

Lawmakers decry PNP escort of fuel tanks to Nueva Vizcaya mining concession during ECQ
Lawmakers want the Philippine National Police to punish officers and members of a company of 100 fully armed PNP personnel that escorted fuel tanks to a Nueva Vizcaya mining concession at the height of the enhanced community quarantine period last month.
Manila Bulletin

Congressman Yap hospitalized, undergoing tests—staff
ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Eric Yap was rushed to the Benguet General Hospital Saturday morning after supposedly experiencing “overfatigue” and “stress” in the past few days, the lawmaker’s chief of staff confirmed in a radio interview.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

POPCOM urges LGUs to mobilize volunteer local tracers
The Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) is urging local government units (LGUs) to mobilize volunteer barangay-based contact-tracing teams to address the influx of COVID-19 positive repatriates.
Manila Bulletin

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Philippine National Police

PNP sees nothing wrong in the arrest of protesters inside UP Cebu
The Philippine National Police (PNP) sees nothing wrong in the arrest of seven protesters inside the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu Campus despite an existing agreement that policemen and soldiers could not conduct operations inside all UP campuses without prior notice or approval of the School Administration.
Manila Bulletin

BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION

Customs approves accreditation of over 1,400 importers, brokers; revokes erring firms
Close to 200 non-compliant importers were slapped with revocation of accreditation while the accreditation of more than 1,400 importers and brokers were approved by the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
Manila Bulletin

Customs disposes 5 tons of seized unregistered, unsafe products shipped to Port of NAIA
Almost five tons of unregistered medicines and cosmetic products deemed unsafe for public use were destroyed in Cavite Friday by the Bureau of Customs.
Manila Bulletin

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

West Philippine Sea

LABOR

31,700 OFWs repatriated, sent home to provinces — OWWA
Around 31,700 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have been repatriated by the Overseas Worker Welfare Administration (OWWA) and were sent home to their home provinces as of June 5,  OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said Saturday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Sen. Go cites DOLE, DTI programs to boost livelihood, sustain jobs
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) should now collaborate with the Department of Trade Industry (DTI) and other concerned agencies in order to work on strategies and lay down necessary measures to mitigate the adverse effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak on the livelihood and employment of affected Filipinos, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said today.
Manila Bulletin

Senators to gov’t: ‘Prevent retrenchment, preserve jobs’
The government has to prioritize funding programs that would prevent retrenchments and preserve jobs while the country continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

TRANSPORTATION

LTFRB gives go-signal to taxis, ride-hailing services to resume Metro Manila operations
More than 31,000 taxis and ride-hailing units were given the green light by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to resume its operations in Metro Manila on Friday, following its shift to general community quarantine (GCQ).
Manila Bulletin

HEALTH

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

P5.8 billion worth of products sold through DA’s Kadiwa program
About P5.8 billion worth of farm and fishery products were sold through the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita marketing platforms, which had so far benefited around 1.3 million households nationwide.
Manila Bulletin

EDUCATION

5.9M learners register in first week of enrollment for new school year
Despite the COVID-19 situation in the country, the Department of Education (DepEd) said that there are nearly six million learners – both in public and private schools – across all basic education grade levels who have registered during the first week of the enrollment period for the School Year (SY) 2020-2021.
Manila Bulletin

Teachers’ group bats for a January 2021 school opening, says DepEd needs ‘more time’ to prepare
A teachers group on Saturday said that the Department of Education (DepEd) needs more time to prepare for the opening of classes for school year (SY) 2020-2021 after President Duterte himself casts doubts on the readiness of the agency to implement distance or blended modalities – particularly online learning.
Manila Bulletin

UP shortlisted for award on research excellence
The University of the Philippines (UP) is among eight Asian universities shortlisted for the 2020 Times Higher Education (THE) DataPoints Merit Award for research excellence.
Manila Bulletin

Without gadgets, internet, Samar island student wonders how to cope with online learning
Without gadgets and internet connection, and even television, a student and a teacher in Almagro Island in Samar are wondering how they will cope with online learning introduced in the education system in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
GMA News

ENERGY

‘Ensure adequate electricity for online learning,’ senator urges DOE
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has asked the Department of Energy (DOE) to ensure continuous delivery of electricity services in every household for students to utilize alternative learning modalities while schools prepare for the “new normal” in the education system.
Manila Bulletin, GMA News

POVERTY

SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

HOUSING and SETTLEMENT

TOURISM

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Greenpeace hopes Congress can pass bills to address climate crisis
Environmental organization Greenpeace Philippines is hoping that the Congress can urgently create and pass bills, particularly aiding government actions to address the climate crisis and its impacts on Filipino communities, following the approval on first hearing of two resolutions seeking to declare a national climate emergency.
Manila Bulletin

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY