COVID-19

Cases

PH records highest single-day recoveries of 807 cases — DOH
The Philippines today, July 11, posted its highest single-day tally of recoveries from coronavirus disease (COVID-19), while the number of cases crossed the 54,000-mark. 
Manila Bulletin, ABS-CBN News, GMA News, Rappler

1 new confirmed coronavirus case among Filipinos abroad; total at 8,804
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported one new confirmed case of coronavirus among Filipinos overseas on Saturday, July 11, bringing the total to 8,804.
Rappler

Department of Health

Crematoriums glutted, COVID-19 dead can now be buried —Vergeire
The remains of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) dead can now be buried provided that proper measures are in place, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Saturday.
GMA News

DOH acknowledges COVID-19 can be airborne 'in specific settings'
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Saturday said that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) could be airborne under "specific settings."
GMA News

DOH allows sale of FDA-approved rapid test kits in drug stores
The Department of Health on Saturday said it is allowing the selling of rapid antibody test kits in drug stores, as long as the products have the approval from the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Lacson blames DOH strategy for continued increase in COVID-19 cases
The mere fact that the infection rate continues to increase means that the strategy of the Department of Health (DOH) is full of holes, Senator Panfilo M. Lacson said today.
Manila Bulletin

DOST analysis finds malaria, HIV drugs not recommended as treatment for COVID-19
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has found that the drugs used in the treatment of malaria and HIV are ineffective against the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Manila Bulletin

IATF

Test, Trace, Treat strategy: Gov’t set up 4 mega swabbing centers – Dizon
As part of the Test, Trace, Treat strategy, four mega swabbing centers were put up last May. These include the Mall of Asia Arena, where thousands of residents are constantly tested daily.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Regions

Eastern Visayas records 11 new COVID-19 cases; infected now at 625
At least 11 people from Eastern Visayas have been found positive of the new coronavirus, bringing to 625 the total number of COVID-19 cases in Region 8.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Palawan records 4 more COVID-19 cases among returnees
The Palawan province’s new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tally has hit 52 after four more cases were recorded on the island municipality of Cuyo.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Quezon province logs 2 new COVID-19 cases, 2 recoveries
Two persons recovered from the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Quezon province but the locality also recorded the same number of new cases on Saturday, officials said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Romblon records 7th COVID-19 case
Romblon province recorded its seventh new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) case, local health officials reported Saturday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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

COVID-19 deaths in Cebu City still high even if under ECQ
In the past two days, deaths due to COVID-19 remained high in Cebu City despite its enhanced community quarantine status, the only area in the country still under the strictest quarantine measure.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Manila buys 3 COVID-19 machines capable of testing 16,800 residents a week
Manila City Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso on Saturday, July 11, announced that the local government has purchased three COVID-19 testing machines capable of testing 16,800 residents a week.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Mayor Sara: COVID-19 situation not yet under control
The COVID-19 situation in the city is not yet under control as the number of cases has continued to rise, Mayor Sara Duterte said.
Mindanews

Mayor Sara assures LGBTQ+ motorcycle back-riding couples allowed in Davao City 
Couples, who are members of the lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community, are assured that they will be allowed to go on motorcycle back-riding in the city.
Manila Bulletin

Diplomatic, Development and Private Sector 

Incidents and Violations

220K motorists apprehended since community quarantine, 52% given warning
The Joint Task Force COVID Shield on Saturday reported that it apprehended around 222,000 motorists in various violations on roads during the community quarantine. Of this number, however, 115,000 were let go and only given a warning.
GMA News

Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features

[OPINION] 100 days of COVID and Duterte
Like watching never-ending seasons of The Walking Dead, President Duterte has once again extended community quarantine. Life under quarantine and physical distancing has begun to integrate itself into the so-called “new normal.” I first encountered this term when Typhoon Ondoy hit Metro Manila; what once was a concept communicated by disaster experts for affected areas is now a global reality.
Rappler

How to fight the pandemic: Women mayors don’t sugarcoat how deadly the virus is
When the coronavirus pandemic reached the Philippines in late January 2020, the national government’s messaging was, “Everything is well.”
Rappler

Dance of survival
There are two approaches to take in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. An online article names these two approaches as the “hammer and dance.” The “hammer” is the period of lockdowns and quarantines (and in the Philippines, of checkpoints, instant arrests, and harsh punishments) meant to break the spread of the virus. 
Philippine Daily Inquirer

High blood sugar elevates COVID-19 mortality risk—study
Patients with abnormally high blood sugar levels are more than twice as likely to die from COVID-19, researchers in China said Saturday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

‘Strong evidence’ mothers can transmit virus to newborns
There is “strong evidence” that COVID-19- positive mothers can pass the virus on to their unborn infants, scientists said Thursday, in findings that could affect how pregnant women are shielded during the pandemic.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

World

WHO urges aggressive virus measures as flare-ups spark new closures
The World Health Organization on Friday, July 10, urged countries grappling with coronavirus to step up control measures, saying it is still possible to rein it in, as some countries clamped fresh restrictions on citizens.
Rappler

Coronavirus can still be brought under control—WHO
The World Health Organization said Friday that it is still possible to bring coronavirus outbreaks under control, even though case numbers have more than doubled in the past six weeks.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

U.S. records 63,643 new virus cases in 24 hours
The United States recorded 63,643 new coronavirus cases on Friday, July 10, according to a tracker maintained by Johns Hopkins University.
Rappler

India cases pass 800,000 with record daily jump
India’s coronavirus cases have passed 800,000 with the biggest spike of 27,114 cases in the past 24 hours, causing nearly a dozen states to impose a partial lockdown in high-risk areas.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

California to release 8,000 more prisoners over virus fears
The inmates could be eligible for early release by the end of August – joining 10,000 prisoners already freed in similar initiatives since the start of the virus crisis, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation says.
Rappler

Austria Greens minister gears up for new virus test after initial praise
Popular for keeping the pandemic at bay in Austria, Health Minister Rudolf Anschober is preparing for a "major challenge" in an anticipated second coronavirus wave in the autumn.
Rappler

Iraqi lawmaker dies of COVID-19 as cases jump 600%
Iraqi lawmaker Ghida Kambash died Friday after contracting the novel coronavirus, parliament announced, its first member to succumb to the virus as its spread ramps up across the country.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Brazil surpasses 70,000 coronavirus deaths
Brazil surpassed 70,000 coronavirus deaths on Friday, July 10, the health ministry said, though the number of daily fatalities appears to be stabilizing.
Rappler

COVID hits dozens of Latin leaders, including presidents
The COVID-19 pandemic is sweeping through the leadership of Latin America, with two more presidents and powerful officials testing positive this week for the new coronavirus, adding a destabilizing new element to the region’s public health and economic crises.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Emirates airline to cut up to 9,000 jobs – report
Emirates airline has cut a tenth of its workforce during the novel coronavirus pandemic in layoffs that could rise to 15%, or 9,000 jobs, its president said, according to a report on Saturday, July 11.
Rappler

Iran says cannot shut down economy despite worsening virus outbreak
Iran said on Saturday, July 11, that it cannot afford to shut down its sanctions-hit economy, even as the Middle East's deadliest coronavirus outbreak worsens with record-high death tolls and rising infections.
Rappler

Bangladeshi coronavirus sufferers shun hospitals
Thousands of beds for coronavirus patients in Bangladesh are lying empty despite the country struggling with a rising caseload as people are too scared to enter hospitals, officials and sufferers say.
Rappler

Panama hospitals on verge of collapse as virus cases surge
Hospitals in Panama are on the brink of collapse as coronavirus cases spike in the Central American country worst hit by the pandemic, where doctors are already exhausted. With a population of 4 million, Panama has gone from 200 cases a day to 1,100 over the last few weeks.
Rappler

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

[OPINION] Who needs enemies when you have a President like Duterte?
Last July 1 marked the 4th year in office of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. On July 27, he is set to deliver his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA). I venture to make my own assessment of Duterte’s performance, which Malacañang has touted as “great.”
Rappler

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

New routes for VP shuttle service in Cebu City
Vice President Leni Robredo said Saturday that starting this week, shuttle service being offered by her office and its private partners for health workers will open new routes in Cebu City.
Manila Bulletin

ELECTION RELATED

DISASTER

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

Alternative mining bill filed anew
Sen. Grace Poe has filed an alternative mining bill that seeks to regulate exploration and development of resources and ensure equitable sharing of benefits for all.
Philippine Star

Recto seeks review of barrier requirement between pillion riders
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Saturday appealed to the government to have experts review its requirement to install barriers between pillion-riding couples on motorcycles for safety reasons.
Manila Bulletin

House of Representatives

House of Representatives records 13th COVID-19 case
A security staffer of the House of Representatives has tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), House Secretary-General Jose Luis Montales revealed Saturday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

Gatchalian urges LGUs to hold dry runs of localized Learning Continuity Plan
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian today urged local government units (LGUs) to initiate dry runs of their localized versions of the Learning Continuity Plan (LCP) of the Department of Education (DepEd) before classes open on August 24. 
Manila Bulletin

App-based delivery service boosts income of Pasig City vendors, tricycle drivers
An app-based delivery service aimed towards helping market vendors and tricycle drivers affected by the coronavirus pandemic connect with consumers has generated P5 million in sales in Pasig City.
Manila Bulletin

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

DOJ wants to ramp up cybercrime units to check surge in online crimes
Cybercrime units should upgrade their technology and improve probing abilities as there has been a surge of cases of online crime during the coronavirus disease pandemic, the Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Saturday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Kadiwa retail store up in Camp Aguinaldo
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Department of Agriculture on Saturday inaugurated the first Kadiwa retail store at the AFP general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City to avert a potential food crisis in military camps amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

Philippine National Police

Police force of Cabugao and San Juan towns in Ilocos Sur sacked over death of 15-year old girl
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has filed a case of obstruction of justice against the chief of police of Cabugao, Ilocos Sur and two others including a barangay captain in connection with the death of a 15-year old girl who was gunned down after filing a sexual assault complaint against two policemen.
Manila Bulletin

PNPA cadet dies; Gamboa suspends all activities for plebes
A new female cadet of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) died inside the campus in Silang, Cavite on Saturday, the second death recorded from the roster of new members of the Cadet Corps of the Academy in just a span of three days.
Manila Bulletin, ABS-CBN News

Wife of retired cop in trouble for anomalous pension claim
Police are now hunting down the wife of a retired police sergeant for receiving more than P535,000 from the Philippine National Police (PNP) retirement system through an alleged anomalous pension claim.
Manila Bulletin

QC gov’t moves to protect residents vs. police abuse
Quezon City residents who experience police abuse may now file a complaint with the local government following Mayor Joy Belmonte’s move to protect her constituents against erring officials.
Manila Bulletin

BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION

BUSINESS, ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS


BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

38 Filipino students stuck in China ask for help for repatriation
Thirty-eight Filipino students are stuck in different cities in China after their study programs ended amid the coronavirus pandemic. The students were no longer receiving stipends since their programs ended.
Rappler

West Philippine Sea

LABOR

49 remains of OFWs repatriated from Saudi Arabia via PAL flight - airline spox
The Philippine Airlines said Saturday it has flown home some 49 bodies of Filipinos from two areas in Saudi Arabia, part of government efforts to bring home remains of overseas Filipino workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.  Of the 49 human remains, "around 19" were "COVID-19 related," said PAL Spokesperson Cielo Villaluna.
ABS-CBN News

TRANSPORTATION

LTFRB Main shut down as 5 office staff test positive for virus
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will suspend the operations of its Central Office in Quezon City beginning Monday after five of its employees tested positive for COVID-19.
Manila Bulletin, ABS-CBN News

MRT3 on limited operations starting July 13
The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 will resume on limited operations starting Monday, July 13. The MRT3 management on Saturday, July 11, said that the minimum required number of personnel needed for limited operations have been reached.
Rappler

HEALTH

Dengue cases in Eastern Visayas reach 4,131
The number of dengue cases in Region VIII or Eastern Visayas from January to date has reached 4,131, according to the Department of Health (DOH) - Region VIII. Nine of those cases led to death.
GMA News

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Additional funding to combat fall army worms in Region 10 sought
Bukidnon Rep. Manuel Zubiri has sought additional funding for Department of Agriculture operations to contain the infestation of fall army worms (FAW) that have threatened vast corn fields and other crops in Region 10.
Manila Bulletin

EDUCATION

January 24 declared International Day of Education
The House Committee on Basic Education and Culture and the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education jointly approved a bill declaring January 24 as “International Day of Education” in the entire country.
Manila Bulletin

Teachers’ participation in module-writing for blended learning ‘crucial’ – DepEd
The Department of Education (DepEd) maintained creating modules for blended learning a “collective effort” which requires participation from teachers who will be using these in the upcoming school year. 
Manila Bulletin

Parents’ orientation before school opening set
DepEd Undersecretary and spokesperson Nepomuceno Malaluan said that part of the school opening preparations of DepEd for school year (SY) 2020-2021 set to start on Aug. 24 is making sure that its stakeholders – including parents and learners – will understand the Basic Education -Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP).
Manila Bulletin

Flexible mode of learning for HEIs opening in August
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) clarified Saturday that it is not pushing the opening of regular classes in universities and colleges as higher education institutions (HEIs) resuming in August will be using flexible mode of learning.
Manila Bulletin

ENERGY

POVERTY

SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

DSWD eyes 80% payout in 2nd tranche of SAP
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Saturday that it is seeking to cover 80 percent of its targeted beneficiaries in the second tranche of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) by end of July.
Manila Bulletin, GMA News

DSWD sees faster, more efficient payout of 2nd tranche cash subsidy
The Department of Social Welfare and Development assured the public on Saturday that the distribution of the second tranche of cash aid for qualified beneficiaries will be faster and more efficient with the digital payout system.
GMA News

DSWD: SAP distribution in Central Visayas continues amid 18 staff testing positive for virus
Eighteen Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 7 (Central Visayas) personnel tested positive for COVID-19 but the second tranche distribution of emergency cash subsidies under the national government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP) in the area continues and remains unhampered, the DSWD said Saturday.
Manila Bulletin

DSWD giving cash assistance, food packs to LSIs —spokesperson
Department of Social Welfare and Development spokesperson Director Irene Dumlao said Saturday the agency is helping locally stranded individuals (LSIs), especially those in Metro Manila and neighboring areas.
GMA News

HOUSING and SETTLEMENT

TOURISM

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Environmental certificate for Tampakan project ‘restored’ by Office of the President
Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI), developer of the mammoth S5.9 billion Tampakan copper-gold project in South Cotabato, has “reacquired” its environmental compliance certificate (ECC), one of the requirements needed to proceed to the commercial production phase, a senior environment official said.
Mindanews

PH ratifies Minamata Convention on Mercury
The government has ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury on July 8, the first legally binding treaty to phase out mercury, which is a highly toxic substance that poses threats to the environment and human health.
Manila Bulletin

DENR urges Filipinos to switch to plant-based diet
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through its Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), is urging Filipinos to switch to a plant-based diet aiming to help reduce their ecological footprint and help fight climate change.
Manila Bulletin

Environment advocates ask gov’t to stop mining operations in N. Vizcaya
Local environmental activists on Saturday appealed to the Philippine government to reject the pending renewal of mining firm Oceanagold Corporation’s financial or technical assistance agreement (FTAA) that will allow the company to continue its mining operations in Didipio, Nueva Vizcaya.
Manila Bulletin

Owner, officials of thermal energy firm in Iloilo City oil spill charged
A criminal complaint has been filed against the owner and officials of the power barge that exploded in the waters off Barrio Obrero, Lapuz District, Iloilo City, causing a massive oil spill affecting several communities.
Manila Bulletin

DENR: Baguio council can impose moratorium on tree cutting
The city government has the power to impose a moratorium on tree-cutting activities, especially when pine trees are displaced by building constructions, according to a Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) official.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY