COVID-19

Cases

9,430 patients have already recovered from COVID-19
The number of patients who have already recovered from the dreaded coronavirus disease (COVID-19) increased to 9,430 after 249 more were reported Saturday.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer, CNN Philippines, GMA News

COVID-19 cases among overseas Filipinos rise to 8,432
No new recoveries and fatalities were recorded among Filipinos suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) abroad but 15 new confirmed cases were reported Saturday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer

UP Diliman on alert; 16 COVID-19 cases among frontliners
The number of COVID-19 positive frontliners assigned at the Kanlungang Palma and University of the Philippines (UP) Health Service has reached 16, as two new cases were reported on June 26.
Manila Bulletin

Department of Health

DOST, RITM prepare study on transmission pattern of COVID-19
The Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) together with the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) will begin its study on the transmission pattern of COVID-19.
Manila Bulletin

DOH mulls shorter home quarantine for discharged COVID-19 patients
After it was recently found that COVID-19 patients were no longer infectious after 10 days, the Department of Health (DOH) was looking into shortening the additional 14-day home quarantine period before a discharged patient could be declared recovered.
GMA News

Health workers alliance demands Duque's resignation
The Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) representing health frontliners from different hospitals in Metro Manila on Saturday called for the resignation of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III due to his  "shortcomings" in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
GMA News

IATF

More public transportation as more businesses reopen — DILG
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) explained on Saturday that the revival of the country’s businesses and industries was considered in government’s decision to allow more public transportation to operate by next week.
Manila Bulletin

Gov’t vows safe return of 5,300 Filipinos trapped in Sabah
The national government has expressed readiness in repatriating around 5,300 Filipinos trapped in Sabah, Malaysia, due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

Why send environment secretary to handle a health issue — Zubiri
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri admitted on Saturday that he wondered why Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu — and not Health Secretary Francisco Duque III — was tasked to handle the COVID-19 situation in Cebu City.
Manila Bulletin

Don’t hope too much that quarantine protocols will be eased in Metro Manila
The public should not hope too much that the quarantine protocols in Metro Manila will be eased after the general community quarantine (GCQ) order ends on June 30.
Manila Bulletin

Regions

Bicol’s COVID-19 tally crosses 100 mark
The number of confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Bicol crossed the 100 mark as the region recorded eight new cases on Saturday, its highest day-on-day increase to date, according to the Department of Health.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

30-year-old woman latest COVID-19 positive in Sultan Kudarat; Region 12 now has 57
Another female patients from Sultan Kudarat province has been added to the number of COVID-19 positive in the Soccsksargen region, the Department of Health today said. 
NDBC News

Tacurong City records 3 new COVID-19 cases, two months after first case
Two returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and a locally stranded individual (LSI) with a recent travel from Manila tested  positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Tacurong City, two months after its first case recovered.
Mindanews

Cebu City Councilor and ex-solon Antonio Cuenco dies of COVID-19
Cebu City Councilor and former congressman Antonio Cuenco succumbed to the coronavirus disease on Saturday, his family confirmed. He was 84.
CNN Philippines

Masbate records first two cases of COVID-19
The province of Masbate recorded its first cases of COVID-19 Saturday, the Department of Health Bicol region confirmed.
CNN Philippines

Jaen village locked down due to recently discovered COVID-19 case
Nueva Ecija on Saturday implemented a preemptive lockdown in Jaen town's Barangay San Roque after a local vendor who recently died tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
GMA News

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

Cebu officials urged to disregard political differences to focus on COVID-19 response
Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu, who was sent to oversee the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) pandemic response in Cebu, seeks to address the inadequate coordination between barangay officials and city, municipal, and provincial officials amid a spike in coronavirus cases in the metropolis in the past few weeks.
Manila Bulletin

SAF, soldiers deployment prove effective vs spread of COVID 19 — Eleazar
The presence of the police’s elite Special Action Force (SAF) and soldiers has been proven effective in enforcing the quarantine rules to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Joint Task Force COVID Shield said on Saturday as more troopers were sent to Cebu City which was recently reverted back to the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).
Manila Bulletin

Keep GCQ in Metro Manila, other areas – senators
Senators on Saturday said the government should keep the general community quarantine (GCQ) status in Metro Manila and other areas in the country, saying that easing the quarantine policy further might worsen the country’s COVID-19 situation.
Manila Bulletin

Kidapawan’s treatment facility for COVID-19 patients ready by July 1
The government hospital located at the city’s commercial district here will start operations on July 1 as a treatment facility for COVID-19 patients, a local official said.
Mindanews

Pampanga's Pineda warns of return to GCQ or ECQ over COVID-19 cases
Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda warned of a possible return to a province-wide general community quarantine, or even an enhanced community quarantine, if COVID-19 cases continued to rise.
GMA News

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

Diplomatic, Development and Private Sector 

Red Cross inaugurates 'largest' COVID-19 testing lab; eyes 14,000 tests daily
The Philippine Red Cross has inaugurated what is now considered the largest COVID-19 testing laboratory in the country, with a capability to conduct 14,000 tests daily, Chairman and Senator Richard Gordon said Saturday.
CNN Philippines

From P20-donation drive, friends raise P4 million for coronavirus-hit communities
The initiative of two friends who wanted to help contribute to the fight against the coronavirus has gone a long way since they embarked on their call for P20-donations months ago.
Rappler

TESDA offers online course on COVID-19 prevention
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority is urging the public to take its new online course on COVID-19 prevention in the workplace that is accessible through the TESDA Online Program (TOP).
Manila Bulletin

Incidents and Violations

Chinese medical supplies worth millions seized in Parañaque
Chinese medical supplies worth millions were seized by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after it raided a makeshift warehouse in Parañaque City.
GMA News

Community doctors react to ‘doctor shaming’
A group of community doctors slammed Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia for berating the Cebu doctor, who expressed shock over the provincial government’s endorsement of “tuob” (steam inhalation) among provincial government workers in Cebu.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Facebook posts on Cimatu puts former gov’t official in hot water
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Saturday assailed the social media posts of a former Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) official alleging irregularity in Secretary Roy Cimatu’s recent trip to Cebu City.
Manila Bulletin

Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features

World

Global report: India Covid-19 cases pass 500,000 as Texas revives lockdown
India passed half a million coronavirus infections as experts advised the government to prioritise reducing mortality over containing the spread of Covid-19, while in the US surging infections prompted two of the biggest states to bring back coronavirus controls.
The Guardian

Brazil signs agreement to produce AstraZeneca's experimental COVID-19 vaccine
Brazil announced on Saturday that it had signed a $127 million agreement to start producing locally an experimental vaccine developed by AstraZeneca that has shown promise to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reuters

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Duterte cites urgent need for nat’l pandemic preparedness measure
President Duterte told his Southeast Asian counterparts that there was a need for a legislation that will prepare each country in the region in case an event such as the COVID-19 pandemic happens again in the future.
Manila Bulletin

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

Mass gatherings can still be prohibited after expiration of Bayanihan Law
Malacañang said the government can still prohibit mass gatherings and enforce curfews despite the expiration of the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act on June 25.
Manila Bulletin

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

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

Robredo looking at gov’t response vs COVID-19 as half-empty glass — Palace
Malacañang found it unfortunate that Vice President Leni Robredo was supposedly looking at the government’s response to the COVID-19 as a half-empty glass.
Manila Bulletin

Learn from nations led by women in addressing COVID-19 crisis — VP
The national government should not rely on its own capacity and can learn lessons from nations led by women in addressing the coronavirus crisis, Vice President Leni Robredo said.
Manila Bulletin

OVP starts building 2nd housing project for frontliners at Quirino Medical in QC
Vice President Leni Robredo’s office, in collaboration with a private partner, has started building its second housing project for medical frontliners at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City.
Manila Bulletin

ELECTION RELATED

DISASTER

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

De Lima: Move to rename NAIA is product of politics, stupidity
Senator Leila de Lima on Saturday said "politics" and "stupidity" were to blame for moves from the House Representatives to rename the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to the Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Pilipinas (PPP).
GMA News

House of Representatives

House to allocate funds for COVID-19 vaccine
The House of Representatives is adopting a very optimistic and refreshing view in the worldwide fight against the COVID 19 pandemic – it will set aside funds for the purchase of vaccines against the viral scourge.
Manila Bulletin

House committee needs to look into P5-B request of OWWA to replenish depleting trust fund — Rep. Daza
Northern Samar 1st district Rep. Paul Daza cited the need for the House Committee on Appropriations to look into the P5-billion funding request made by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to replenish its depleting trust fund for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Manila Bulletin

House panel asks IATF, CAAP to hasten repatriation of stranded OFWs
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts has asked the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to hasten the repatriation of at least 167,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) stranded abroad.
Manila Bulletin

Lawmakers thank gov’t for efforts to repatriate remains of 287 OFWs
Lawmakers thanked on Saturday, June 27, the Duterte government for its efforts to immediately repatriate the remains of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the oil-rich Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), including those who succumbed to COVID-19.
Manila Bulletin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

Legarda hopes flights to Antique start soon
Deputy Speaker and Antique lone district Rep. Loren Legarda expressed hope on Saturday, June 27, that Philippine Airlines (PAL) will have more flights to Antique to help rebuild her province’s local economy and tourism industry.
Manila Bulletin

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

NBI personnel tests negative for COVID-19
A National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) personnel has tested negative for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after initially being tested positive.
Manila Bulletin

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Philippine National Police

PNP reactivates pilot training courses for cops
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has reactivated its pilot training courses to prepare more personnel to fly the air assets that the organization recently acquired.
Manila Bulletin

BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION

COA flags Pangasinan’s solid waste project over health concerns
The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged Pangasinan’s Solid Waste Management program after discovering that “pathologic, hazardous, and infectious” wastes from various hospitals have not been “regularly disposed of” and may have posed a threat to the environment and public health.
Manila Bulletin

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

ASEAN leaders eye possible opening of business travel in region
At least three Southeast Asian leaders have raised the possibility of opening the region for business travel to weather the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

West Philippine Sea

ASEAN takes position vs China’s vast historical sea claims
Southeast Asian leaders said a 1982 U.N. oceans treaty should be the basis of sovereign rights and entitlements in the South China Sea, in one of their strongest remarks opposing China’s claim to virtually the entire disputed waters on historical grounds.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

LABOR

Repatriation is not all about funding; more factors must be considered – Bello
Funding is not the only thing that can ensure the repatriation of distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to the country, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Friday.
Manila Bulletin

TRANSPORTATION

980 UV Express units begin plying 47 routes Monday; traditional jeepneys next
A total of 980 UV Express units will start plying 47 routes in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces beginning Monday, June 29, to complement other modes of public transportation earlier allowed to operate under the “new normal.”
Manila Bulletin

Keeping jeepneys off the streets will keep drivers jobless – Binay
A government plan to phase out traditional jeepneys while the country is experiencing difficulties caused by the deadly coronavirus disease (COVID-19) comes at the wrong time.
Manila Bulletin

Putting the heat on jeepneys
Three months after losing their livelihoods, jeepney drivers and operators are still on tenterhooks waiting for the go-signal from authorities to let them ply their routes.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

HEALTH

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

DAR partners with jail bureau to source out food products from agrarian reform beneficiaries
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has partnered with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to source out agricultural products from agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) as regular food requirements for inmates in Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, and Zambales amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

EDUCATION

Briones orders review of DepEd’s readiness checklist policy
Education Secretary Leonor Briones has ordered a review of a Department of Education (DepEd) order mandating private schools to comply with its readiness assessment checklist for learning delivery modalities in the Learning Continuity Plan before they can operate this coming School Year (SY) 2020-2021.
Manila Bulletin

DepEd issues enrollment reminders; prepares to end remote, dropbox registration on June 30
The Department of Education (DepEd) on Saturday reminded parents, guardians, learners and all those who still intend to enroll in public schools to do so as it is about to wrap up its month-long enrollment period on June 30.
Manila Bulletin

Improve internet connectivity to support teachers in online classes — Gatchalian
Due to budget constraints, it might be “impossible” to give each public school teacher in the country laptops for their online classes in August, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said on Friday.
Manila Bulletin

ENERGY

Iloilo City, MORE Power vow to go after sellers of illegal power connections
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and MORE Electric and Power Corp vowed on Saturday to arrest and file cases against individuals who illegally sell power connections there.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

POVERTY

SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

HOUSING and SETTLEMENT

TOURISM

Sen. Binay opposes DOT plan to allow entry of tourists from countries without COVID-19
Senator Maria Lourdes “Nancy” S. Binay on Saturday objected to the plan of the Department of Tourism (DOT) to allow the entry of tourists from countries without a record of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection or with a very low infection rate.
Manila Bulletin

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY