COVID-19

Cases

COVID-19 cases now total 28,459 –DOH
The country’s coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases have already surpassed the 28,000-mark after the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed 661 new infections.
Manila Bulletin, Rappler, GMA News

6,128 Filipinos abroad are COVID-19 positive
Thirty-seven new COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) cases and 11 new deaths among Filipinos abroad were reported by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) as the total number of confirmed cases in its latest tally has climbed to 6,128.
Manila Bulletin

Department of Health

Central Visayas areas under GCQ except Cebu and Talisay cities — DOH
Most areas in Central Visayas remain under the general community quarantine (GCQ) except for Cebu City which is under the strictest measure, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Friday.
Manila Bulletin

Nearly 2 out of 5 low-income municipalities are ‘doctor-less’, says DOH official
People living in the country’s rural areas continue to face insufficient medical attention due to the lack of medical professionals attending to their needs, an official of the Department of Health said Friday.
ABS-CBN News

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Ombudsman to issue subpoenas to Duque, DBM today
Ombudsman Samuel Martires said that subpoenas will be issued to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Friday, June 19, demanding documents concerning irregularities in the Department of Health’s response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

DOH execs back Duque, say there’s no need for him to take a leave of absence yet
The Department of Health (DOH) expressed its support for its chief–Secretary Francisco Duque III—saying there’s no need yet for him to take a leave of absence amid the Ombudsman’s investigation on the DOH’s alleged irregularities in handling the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

Frustrated over Duque’s refusal to quit, Sotto says he is ‘tired’ of talking about beleaguered DOH chief
Senate President Vicente Sotto III is “tired” of talking about Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. The Senate leader expressed his apparent frustration at Duque’s firm stance despite the persistent calls for his resignation due to his blunders in handling the COVID-19 pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

Gov’t to vigorously promote ‘buy local’ movement to help small businesses
In line with efforts to stimulate the economy, the government is vigorously promoting the “buy local” movement to support small businesses and enhance domestic tourism.
Manila Bulletin

IATF

Philippines has tested 500k for COVID-19, says Galvez
More than half a million individuals have been tested for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the chief implementer of the national plan against the illness announced Friday.
GMA News

Central Visayas not placed under ECQ — DILG
Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año belied reports on Friday that the entire Central Visayas has been placed under the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).
Manila Bulletin

Trillanes wants VP Robredo to head IATF
Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Friday urged Malacañang to appoint Vice President Leni Robredo as head of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID) if it wants to successfully win the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

Año reiterates stringent measures in depressed areas
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año on Friday reiterated the urgency to come up with strategies to allow the full enforcement of quarantine protocols in the overcrowded depressed areas.
Manila Bulletin

Regions

DOH data: One-third of new COVID-19 cases in Cebu City in past 2 weeks concentrated in just 10 barangays
Data from the Department of Health showed that a third of COVID-19 cases in Cebu City announced in the last 2 weeks came from just 10 barangays (villages). 
ABS-CBN News

Pangasinan police office on lockdown after 2 more cops positive for coronavirus
The Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO) in Lingayen was placed on lockdown starting Monday, June 15, after two more cops tested positive for the coronavirus.
Rappler

Caap-GenSan issues QR codes for incoming passengers
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) has adopted the digital tracking of inbound or incoming passengers of commercial flights here to ensure faster contact-tracing amid the continuing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
Mindanews

CDO mayor warns private labs vs 'uncoordinated' COVID-19 rapid tests
Mayor Oscar Moreno on Thursday, June 18, warned private laboratories against conducting rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) for the coronavirus without coordinating with the City Health Office (CHO) and the Department of Health (DOH) in Northern Mindanao.
Rappler

Bacoor City unveils Stay Safe app
The local government here launched Friday, June 19, a contact tracing mobile application named 'Stay Safe Bacoor' as part of its effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Rappler

Only few Tagaytay restaurants allowed to operate for dine-in
The Tagaytay Tourism office released a list of restaurants that could operate again for dine-in at 30% capacity under Cavite's General Community Quarantine (GCQ), starting on Wednesday, June 17, 2020.
Rappler

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Diplomatic, Development and Private Sector 

PH Red Cross opens bio-molecular lab at Clark Freeport
A new bio-molecular laboratory of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) opened in Clark Freeport Zone here on Friday, June 19. In a statement sent to the media, Senator Richard Gordon, PRC chairman and chief executive officer, said the opening of the bio-molecular laboratory will boost the country’s COVID-19 testing capacity.
Rappler, Manila Bulletin

DOST launches OneStore app
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on Friday launched its OneStore City app which will allow locally produced products of small to medium businesses to be made available online.
Manila Bulletin

PH Army gives retail store merchandise to kin of stranded single mom who died in Pasay
The family of Michelle Silvertino, the stranded woman who died while waiting for a bus ride in Pasay City on her way home to Camarines Sur, received groceries from the Philippine Army (PA) which they can use to establish a small retail(sari-sari) store , the military reported on Thursday.
Manila Bulletin

Bishop seeks prayers for priests serving the people during pandemic
Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila Bishop Broderick Pabillo on Friday asked the faithful to pray for the safety of priests who continue to serve the people amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

Google giving $1B in ads to non-profits this year
Google on Thursday boosted to $1 billion the amount of free advertising it will give non-profits this year, taking special interest in groups combatting racism and damage done by the coronavirus pandemic.
Rappler

Incidents and Violations

CIDG probes complaints vs 728 persons tagged in SAP anomalies
The Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has received 264 complaints against 728 individuals who were tagged in alleged anomalous activities involving the distribution of government cash assistance under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP).
Manila Bulletin

Cebu artist Bambi Beltran sues Mayor Edgar Labella, cops for rights violations
Cebu-based artist Maria Victoria “Bambi” Beltran filed complaints against Cebu City Mayor Edgar Labella on Friday afternoon, June 19, claiming her rights were violated when she was arrested by the police in her home last April.
Rappler

Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features

The spread of COVID among the urban poor in Metro Manila continues to be alarming
It’s been almost six months since the beginning of this pandemic, depending on whose timeline you’re looking at). In the Philippines, you will agree with me that our lives have been in pause for a quarter. As the rainy season sets in, June is fast coming to a close, but the numbers just keep on coming. 
ABS-CBN News

World

WHO eyes hundreds of millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses before 2021
The World Health Organization said Thursday, June 18, that a few hundred million COVID-19 vaccine doses could be produced by the end of the year – and be targeted at those most vulnerable to the virus.
Rappler

Virus already in Italy by December, waste water study finds
The coronavirus was already present in two large cities in northern Italy in December – over two months before the first case was detected – a national health institute study of waste water has found.
Rappler

China releases genome from Beijing virus cluster as cases near 200
China has released genome data for the coronavirus found in a new outbreak in Beijing, which state experts suggest share similarities to European strains, as the number of cases neared 200 on Friday, June 19.
Rappler

Outrage after Bolivian TV broadcasts COVID-19 death
A TV channel sparked controversy in Bolivia on Thursday, June 18, after it broadcast live the final minutes of a COVID-19 patient's life while doctors tried desperately to save him.
Rappler

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

5 new envoys present credentials to Duterte via telecon
President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday affirmed five new ambassadors through teleconferencing, a “first time” in history in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Palace tells Trillanes: No need to appoint Robredo to IATF if her intentions are pure
Malacañang said there is no need to appoint Vice President Leni Robredo to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases if her intentions in helping in the fight against COVID-19 are genuine.
Manila Bulletin

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Palace lauds COVID-19 frontliners, likens them to Jose Rizal
Malacañang commended the frontliners in the fight against COVID-19 for rising up to the challenge just like how the country’s national hero Dr. Jose Rizal did more than a century ago. The country commemorates the 159th birth anniversary of the Filipino martyr on Friday, June 19.
Manila Bulletin

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Ressa a sore loser — Roque
Journalist Maria Ressa is a sore loser following her conviction for cyber libel by a Manila court, according to Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque.
Manila Bulletin

Roque’s verbal tussle with PhilHealth’s Morales escalates
The verbal tussle between presidential spokesman Harry Roque and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation president Ricardo Morales escalated on Friday with Roque urging the latter to examine whether his continued stay in the state health insurance corporation will be a service to the country.
Manila Bulletin

Palace: Rice importation must first be approved by the President
The planned additional rice importation by the government must first obtain the approval of President Duterte, according to a Palace official.
Manila Bulletin

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Nograles touts digital marketing to lift agriculture, food security
Digital marketing of agriculture products is one of the government’s strategies to fight hunger and ensure food security amid the coronavirus pandemic, a Palace official announced recently.
Manila Bulletin

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[ANALYSIS] Duterte’s new COVID-19 loans: Need we worry?
“Walang pera.” (There’s no money.) It’s a phrase we often hear from President Rodrigo Duterte, especially during his late night briefings. Last time we heard it was midnight of Monday, June 15, in the context of his proposal to buy transistor radios for quarantined students.
Rappler

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

Robredo serves in ‘whatever capacity’ she is needed –spokesman
With or without formal position in addition to the office she was elected to, Vice President Leni Robredo stressed that her efforts and initiatives to help her fellow Filipinos will remain unhampered.
Manila Bulletin

OVP assists more stranded passengers amid COVID-19 crisis
As part of its initiatives to help locally stranded individuals (LSIs) affected by the community quarantine, the Office of Vice President Leni Robredo sent off on Friday the LSIs it assisted earlier.
Manila Bulletin

ELECTION RELATED

DISASTER

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

JBC now accepting applications to 14 vacancies in Ombudsman, CA, CTA, Sandiganbayan, LEB
The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) on Friday announced the opening for applications and recommendations to 14 positions in the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB), Court of Appeals (CA), Sandiganbayan, Court of Tax Appeals (CTA), and the Legal Education Board (LEB).
Manila Bulletin

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

Go seeks immediate passage of bill expanding use of Special Education Fund
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Friday called for the early passage of a bill that seeks to expand the application of the Special Education Fund (SEF) to other needs of the public education system.
Manila Bulletin

Lapid pushes broadband internet connection nationwide
Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid has sought the establishment of broadband internet connection in all unserved and underserved cities, municipalities and barangays in the archipelago.
Manila Bulletin

Revilla calls for ‘more comprehensive, equitable’ DOH response to pandemic
Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. urged the Department of Health (DOH) to come up with a “more comprehensive and equitable” response to the COVID-19 pandemic that considers other health-related concerns.
Manila Bulletin

De Lima seeks ‘sex-for-pass’ probe
Detained Senator Leila de Lima has sought a Senate inquiry into the reported cases of policemen allegedly involved in sexual extortion activities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

Muntinlupa court denies De Lima's bid to join Senate virtual sessions
A Muntinlupa court has rejected the bid of detained Senator Leila de Lima to join Senate virtual sessions, the lawmaker said on Friday, June 19. De Lima said in a statement that the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 205 denied her omnibus motion in a June 17 joint order, which she said would prevent her from fully performing her mandate as a senator.
Rappler

House of Representatives

Cayetano sees minimal changes after stepping down as Speaker
Speaker Alan Cayetano said on Friday that there would be minimal changes at the House of Representatives when the speakership was transferred to Representative Lord Alan Velasco this October, as agreed on in their leadership sharing deal.
GMA News

Lawmaker demands fair taxation treatment for local, foreign online sellers
A senior administration lawmaker on Friday demanded fair taxation treatment for local and foreign online sellers, with the latter apparently getting no tax responsibility under a memorandum issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Manila Bulletin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

NBI headquarters on partial lockdown after detainee dies of COVID-19, 5 others infected
The National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) main headquarters in Manila has been placed on partial lockdown on Friday after one of its detainees died of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and five others were found to have been infected with COVID-19.
Manila Bulletin

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

PH, Japan air forces bolster ties
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has engaged its counterparts from the Koku-Jieitai or Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) to discuss future bilateral engagements and enhance their relationship, the military reported on Thursday.
Manila Bulletin

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Philippine National Police

Recto urges IATF to ‘unburden’ police of issuing travel pass
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Friday said the police force should not be tasked with issuing travel passes to those going outside their provinces as he stressed that they have more important jobs to do in the frontlines amid the pandemic.
GMA News

BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION

Central Bank Digital Currency unjustified for now, BSP tells House panel
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) finds the proposed use of Central Bank Digital Currency or CBDC unjustified, given the current payment preferences of Filipinos.
Manila Bulletin

BIR’s collection target for 2020 further reduced to P1.7 trillion
The collection target of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for the year has been further reduced to P1.7 trillion as the coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate the economy.
Manila Bulletin

Philippine banks deny holding Wirecard's missing $2.1 billion
Two of the largest banks in the Philippines denied doing business with German payments giant Wirecard, after claims of supposedly holding the latter's $2.1 billion missing money.
Rappler

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS

Villar: Infra projects will be completed on expected deadlines
Construction of various key infrastructure projects in the country will not be extended and will still be finished on its original deadlines despite the pandemic, Public Works and Highway Secretary Mark Villar vowed Friday.
Manila Bulletin

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

DFA’s Locsin apologizes to UK over death of Brit
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. apologized to the government of the United Kingdom on Thursday following the death of a British national who was allegedly turned away by a hospital in Mandaue, Cebu.
Manila Bulletin

National Security Law to serve the interest of all Filipinos — Chinese envoy to PH
Shortly after the National People’s Congress in Beijing passed the draft of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the Chinese Embassy in Manila on Friday said the legislation will “serve the interests of all Filipinos” including thousands who are working in the former Crown Colony.
Manila Bulletin

Iran invites Duterte to visit Middle East nation
Iran’s government has invited President Rodrigo Duterte to visit the Middle East country, Malacañang said Friday.
GMA News

West Philippine Sea

LABOR

Alonto dismisses video of displaced OFWs scavenging for food as ‘theatrics’
Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Adnan Alonto on Friday dismissed as mere “theatrics” the video footage showing a group of overseas Filipinos in Riyadh scavenging for food from the garbage to survive after reportedly being displaced by the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

Labor-management dialogues in hard-hit industries proposed
Labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) on Friday called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to immediately hold labor-industry dialogues in the airlines industry and other sectors where jobs are being lost.
Manila Bulletin

Army transports 102 stranded individuals to NAIA for homecoming
A total of 102 locally stranded individuals (LSIs) in Metro Manila are now returning to their home provinces after they were escorted by the Philippine Army (PA) to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City on Friday.
Manila Bulletin

TRANSPORTATION

26 airports now allowed to operate commercial domestic flights
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), Local Government Units (LGU), and other concerned government agencies have allowed 26 airports to operate commercial domestic flights, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) announced on Thursday.
Manila Bulletin

Binay hits DOTr for poor transport planning
Senator Nancy Binay on Friday urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to stop experimenting on the commuting public, saying it is high time the agency carries out tried and tested transport plans for them amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Manila Bulletin

‘Angkas’ proposes health, safety protocols for motorcycle taxis
While motorcycle taxis are still not allowed to go back on the road due to physical distancing issues, bike-hailing firm Angkas has set up innovative health and safety guidelines to mitigate the transmission of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on bikes-for-hire.
Manila Bulletin

HEALTH

Gov’t urged to implement UHC law as it tackles COVID-19 — Pangilinan
Opposition Senator Francis “Kiko” N. Pangilinan on Friday urged the Philippines to approach the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic as a medical issue and fully implement the Universal Health Care (UHC) law.
Manila Bulletin

Go underscores necessity of implementing health care law
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Friday urged the executive department to ensure the timely implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law in the wake of the recommendation of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to delay its implementation.
Manila Bulletin

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Farmers group wants halt in DA's next fertilizer bidding until overpricing issue is resolved
The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) on Friday urged the Department of Agriculture to put on hold its procurement of a next batch of fertilizers, saying the agency is not yet off the hook after Central Luzon farmers alleged that the earlier batch of fertilizers it procured were overpriced.
GMA News

EDUCATION

DepEd: Over 12 million learners enrolled for SY 2020-2021
More than 12 million learners in the basic education level from both public and private schools have already enrolled for the incoming School Year (SY) 2020-2021, the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Friday.
Manila Bulletin

No need for parents to buy gadgets for online learning — DepEd
The Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday reiterated that there is no need for parents, guardians, and learners to buy any gadget to participate in the learning programs for the incoming school year 2020-2021.
Manila Bulletin

DepEd’s learning continuity plan backed
As it readies to implement the Basic Education – Learning Continuity Plan (BE- LCP), the Department of Education (DepEd) continues to get more support from various stakeholders who believe that learning must continue even amid the pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

Teachers appeal to DepEd to extend work-from-home arrangement so they don’t have to ‘walk-from-home’
A teachers’ group on Friday appealed to the Department of Education (DepEd) to extend the work-from-home (WFH) arrangement for teachers and other DepEd personnel whose tasks are not essential to skeleton work and cannot hinder the operation of schools or offices.
Manila Bulletin

ACT urges DepEd to conduct consultations
Members and leaders of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines on Friday trooped to the central office of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Pasig City to urge its officials to engage in a dialogue on work arrangements of teachers and other concerns on school opening.
Manila Bulletin

League of Provinces urges postponement of school opening to November
The League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) on Friday has sought the postponement of the opening of the school year 2020-2021 to November.
Manila Bulletin

Villanueva urges gov’t to restore TESDA scholarship funds
Senator Joel Villanueva on Friday appealed to the government to restore the funds of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for its scholarship programs to help the workers displaced by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Manila Bulletin

ENERGY

POVERTY

SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

HOUSING and SETTLEMENT

TOURISM

Erring tourist establishment closed down in La Union
The country’s tourism business operations have not yet fully resumed but the Department of Tourism (DOT) is now clamping down on enterprises that are violating the quarantine guidelines.
Manila Bulletin

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

DENR issues ECC to 320-hectare reclamation project in Bacoor, 700 fisherfolk families to be displaced
Around 700 fisherfolk families fear that they will be displaced after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) already gave the environmental clearance to the 320-hectare reclamation project in Bacoor City.
Manila Bulletin

DENR warns public vs illegal online wildlife trade
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) warned the public on Thursday against buying and selling wildlife through social media.
Manila Bulletin

DENR appoints new RED in Cagayan Valley
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced the appointment of Director Gwendolyn C. Bambalan as the new Cagayan Valley Regional Executive Director (RED).
Manila Bulletin

4 beach resort personnel in Zambales arrested for violating environmental laws
Four beach resort personnel in Zambales were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for violating environmental laws on the illegal occupation of protected foreshore land.
Manila Bulletin

‘Bubble tourism’ will be new norm in Philippines amid pandemic —stakeholders
Wanderlust in the Philippines amid the pandemic may be satisfied by "bubble tourism" or limited travels between safe zones, according to the Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP) on Friday.
GMA News

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY  

FEU calls on students to reset passwords; hacking of portal probed
Amid probe on the reports of possible hacking of its student portal, the Far Eastern University (FEU) on Thursday urged its students to reset passwords of their accounts.
Manila Bulletin