COVID-19

DOH reports 707 COVID-19 cases
The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country climbed to more than 700.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine Star

DFA records 1 more Filipino death in Europe due to COVID-19
One more Filipino fatality was recorded in Europe due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported Thursday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

San Juan Medical Center doctor has COVID-19; in stable condition
A doctor at the San Juan Medical Center (SJMC) has tested positive for COVID-19, probably the latest among frontline health workers who have acquired the highly-infectious respiratory illness while performing their duties in the battle against the pandemic.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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‘Limit health workers’ duty hours’ — DOH
The Department of Health (DOH) has called on hospitals to limit the duty hours of their health workers to allow them to recover from fatigue and renew their vitality at work amid the surge of COVID-19 patients.
Manila Bulletin

DOH disapproves Marikina COVID-19 test center
The Department of Health (DOH) has thumbed down the COVID-19 testing center proposed to be established by the Marikina City government.
Manila Bulletin

EXPLAINER: Biosafety protocols for labs testing COVID-19 specimens
As the number of cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue to increase in the country, the Philippine government imposed strict measures such as an enhanced community quarantine in Luzon to reduce the risk of human-to-human transmission.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Duque: Gov’t will provide P1-million assistance to families of health workers who pass away from battling COVID-19
The Department of Health (DOH) said that P1 million assistance will be given to families of health workers who will succumb to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Manila Bulletin

COVID-19 referral center to open at PGH
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) referral center of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) is set to open on Monday, March 30.
Manila Bulletin

PhilHealth commits to shoulder expenses of all COVID-19 patients
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) assured that it will shoulder the medical expenses of all coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in the country.
Manila Bulletin

IATF: We’re managing as best as we can
The national government reassured the public that it is doing its best to fight the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) but reiterated its call to everyone to cooperate and follow the guidelines issued by the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Manila Bulletin

Middle-income families to get non-cash assistance from gov’t – Nograles
Middle-income families may still receive assistance from the government but not necessarily in terms of food and cash subsidies, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said last Wednesday.
Manila Bulletin

DPWH sets up disinfectant tents, equipment to wash off virus from vehicles on national highways
Close to 300 sanitation tents have been set up on major highways in the country to disinfect vehicles plying the roads to counter the further spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Thursday.
Manila Bulletin

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COVID-19 cases in QC rise to 97
There are now 97 confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Quezon City, the local government announced Thursday. The number of cases rose to 10, as it was previously recorded that there were 87 confirmed COVID-19 positive cases.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Jala-jala, Rizal vice mayor tests positive for COVID-19
The vice mayor of Jala-Jala, Rizal has tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). According to a 24 Oras report by Emil Sumangil on Thursday, Vice Mayor Jolet Delos Santos attended the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) prior to falling ill.
GMA News

First COVID-19 case in Los Baños, Laguna dies
The municipal government of Los Baños, Laguna confirmed the town’s first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) died on March 21.
GMA News

Manila posts 4 new COVID-19 cases; 1 fatality
Four more residents of the city of Manila have been found positive for COVID-19, the local government said Thursday, increasing the total count of cases to 36.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Pampanga’s COVID-19 cases now at 4
An elderly patient confined at the Angeles University Foundation Medical Center was tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the hospital said in an advisory on Thursday night.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DOH list in Cebu: 7 more suspected COVID-19 cases awaiting definitive test results
The Department of Health (DOH) in Central Visayas confirmed seven new cases that regional health officials, coining a new term, described as “presumptive positive” COVID-19 in the province of Cebu.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

9 PUIs test negative of virus in Surigao
Nine Persons Under Investigation for Covid-19 in the two Surigao provinces tested negative of the illness based on the results of tests done at the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City.
Mindanews

Border closure spreads like virus outside Luzon to Negros Occidental, Northern Samar town
Border closures are spreading like virus outside Luzon as two more Visayas areas—a town and a province—declared enhanced community quarantine, the term that President Rodrigo Duterte used to stop people from moving around freely in the hope of stopping COVID-19 transmission.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Davao Region’s frontline health workers “highly motivated” in fight vs Covid-19
Health workers in Davao Region’s two government hospitals are “highly motivated” to put their best foot forward in the battle against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) despite the Herculean task of saving the growing number of infected patients.
Mindanews

In Negros Occidental, health workers get harassment, dread in return for risking their lives vs COVID-19
A ranking official of Negros Occidental appealed to people to stop treating hospital workers like the dreaded COVID-19 disease from which they are trying to save lives at the risk of their own.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Vico Sotto: Pasig City’s 18,500 PUV drivers to get P3,000-aid each
Pasig City has earmarked a total of P55.5 million to fund its financial assistance for the locality’s 18,500 public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers who are affected by the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Cebu imposes enhanced community quarantine amid COVID-19 threat
The province of Cebu has been placed under enhanced community quarantine to allow for more stringent measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
GMA News

Over 300 Boholanos stranded in Cebu: We just want to go home
More than 300 Boholanos, who are stranded in Cebu, are appealing to be brought back home after both provinces have implemented lockdowns to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

GenSan under stricter quarantine after death of Region 12’s 5th COVID-19 patient
Local authorities have undertaken stricter community quarantine in the entire city following the death of a patient under investigation (PUI) for possible infection of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Manila Bulletin

DSWD-12 readies food packs for quarantine-affected families
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) has prepared relief packages for residents that will be severely affected by the heightened community quarantine measures in parts of the region.
Philippine News Agency

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UP president expresses gratitude to PGH community amid COVID-19 pandemic
University of the Philippines (UP) President Danilo Concepcion expressed gratitude on March 26 to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) staff and administration for their outstanding service amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

San Miguel to donate 560,000 kilos of rice to families affected by quarantine
San Miguel Corporation (SMC) announced Thursday its plan to donate 560,000 kilos of rice to help families affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

No PPEs? Navy takes matters into its own hands, produces face shields vs COVID-19
The Philippine Navy knew protective equipment against COVID-19 are nearly impossible to find so it decided to make its own for Navy men who would be on the frontlines in the fight against the rapidly spreading disease.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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TIMELINE: Koko Pimentel repeatedly broke quarantine despite symptoms, COVID-19 test
Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III has been under fire for visiting a Makati hospital despite being a person under investigation for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
GMA News

Duque denies calling Makati Med to intervene for Koko, wife
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III denied on Thursday rumors circulating on social media that he allegedly called the Makati Medical Center (MMC) to intervene on behalf of Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and his wife who was due to give birth.
GMA News

Duque agrees Pimentel’s Makati Med visit breached quarantine protocols
The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday agreed that Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III breached quarantine protocols when he accompanied his wife to a hospital in Makati City.
Manila Bulletin

Koko Pimentel may have broken law with trip to Makati Med, legal experts say
Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III announced on Wednesday he had tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
GMA News

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Recklessness and entitlement
In many disaster movies, and not just the ones featuring zombies, there is a stock character who serves as an object lesson on the entitlement of the privileged, the ill effects of class differences, and the consequences of stupidity.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Of sheep and goats
We’ve heard it said that disasters and crises have a way of bringing out the best in people. But there’s another side to it as well: It can also bring out the worst in others. 
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Give marginalized, vulnerable sectors priority in COVID-19 fight
IBON Foundation estimates that the Luzon-wide lockdown due to COVID-19 could affect 11 million workers and informal sector earners, mostly from jobs related to construction, wholesale and retail trade, transportation and storage, accommodation and food service, and other service jobs. 
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Philippines lags behind Southeast Asian peers in COVID-19 tests done
The Philippines lags behind its neighbors in Southeast Asia in terms of the number of COVID-19 tests conducted. Data from the Department of Health’s COVID-19 trackers showed the Philippines has so far conducted 2,147 tests as of March 26, 2020.
GMA News

LIST: Groups help vulnerable sectors affected coronavirus lockdown
Organizations are bringing various forms of assistance to vulnerable sectors amid the rising cases of novel coronavirus infections in the Philippines, even as the entire island of Luzon and some provinces and cities outside Metro Manila remained on lockdown.
Rappler

Already neglected groups will suffer more in COVID-19 pandemic —Doctors Without Borders official
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic will hit already neglected groups harder and expose existing inequalities in the world's health systems, an official of international humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) / Doctors Without Borders said Thursday.
GMA News

Worsening spread of COVID-19: How should Metro Manila handle it?
A surge of COVID-19 cases is expected to hit Metro Manila in the coming weeks and the city is grossly unprepared. Home to nearly 13 million, Metro Manila is the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country. 
Interaksyon

Adding fuel to the COVID-19 inferno
It’s hard not to envy the Singaporeans. Through a televised address on March 12, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong laid out in a mere 11-and-a-half minutes the state of his country amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and his government’s plan of action. 
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Taking full responsibility to solve crisis
President Duterte initially belittled the COVID-19 threat, dismissively saying “it will just die a natural death.” The President compounded this by refusing to ban travelers from China where the virus originated, saying such a ban would be “xenophobia.” 
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Strong states – yes, authoritarian states – save lives
IF there’s anything the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic has demonstrated, incontrovertibly, I think, it is that at the end of the day, people and even our entire human species have to rely on strong — yes, even authoritarian states — for their survival.
The Manila Times

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PNP files charges vs 4 alleged COVID-19 fake news purveyors
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday filed criminal charges against four suspects for allegedly spreading fake news and information about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
GMA News

Overpriced thermal scanner sellers arrested
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Eric Distor announced on Thursday, March 26 the arrest of three persons for allegedly selling overpriced thermal scanners.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Pandemic to impact tourism, BPO, says Davao biz leader
The coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, which has already shut down several businesses across all six regions of Mindanao, will create a major dent on the growth of the tourism and business process outsourcing (BPO) sectors, Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. president John Carlo Tria said.
Mindanews

Max’s restaurant in PH temporarily closes amid COVID-19 threat
Max’s restaurant announced on Thursday that Max’s Restaurant and other Max’s Group brands in the Philippines will temporarily closed amid coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) threat. In an advisory, the restaurant chain said it will temporarily pause operations starting on March 26 at 8 a.m. until further notice.
Manila Bulletin

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Planting healthA sustainable global economy must arise once COVID-19 pandemic is reversed, UN chief tells G-20 summit
World leaders at the G-20 virtual summit held on Thursday committed to inject over $5 trillion into the global economy to counteract the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
United Nations

Life-saving vaccinations must not ‘fall victim’ to COVID-19 pandemic – UNICEF chief
Around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic is overstretching health services, medical goods are in short supply, and transport disruptions have left supply chains facing “historic strain”, according to the head of the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF.
United Nations

Half a million infected globally: Coronavirus updates
More than 510,000 people around the world have been diagnosed with COVID-19, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University. Over 120,000 have recovered, while more than 22,000 people have died.
Aljazeera

Live updates: Coronavirus death toll in U.S. reaches 1,000; more than 500,000 confirmed cases worldwide
The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus has hit 1,000, according to tracking by The Washington Post, a toll that is increasing at an alarming rate. New patterns have emerged in the spread of the virus, according to analysis by The Washington Post of every known U.S. death.
The Washington Post

Coronavirus pandemic changes way of life
3.3 million unemployment claims were filed in the US — the highest number of initial jobless claims in history. Nearly a third of the world’s population are living under coronavirus-related restrictions.
CNN

Government of Brunei bars travel entry of foreign nationals
Beginning March 24, 2020, the Government of Brunei Darussalam has already imposed a temporary travel ban on the entry of all foreign nationals to Brunei as part of measures to contain and prevent the further spread of the COVID-19, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday, March 26.
Manila Bulletin

Germany says widespread testing keeping COVID-19 deaths low
Germany is testing up to 500,000 people a week for the new coronavirus, a virologist said Thursday, adding that early detection has been key in keeping the country's death rate relatively low.
GMA News

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Duterte names Galvez chief implementer of COVID-19 policies
President Duterte has named Peace Process Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. the chief implementer of the Philippines’ declared national policy against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Manila Bulletin, Philippine Star

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‘Set example in observing COVID-19 protocols’ — Palace
Government officials must “set an example” to the public by strictly observing quarantine protocols to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, Malacañang said Thursday.
Manila Bulletin

PSG may charge solon for breaching Palace COVID-19 protocols — Durante
The Presidential Security Group (PSG) said it may file a case against ACT-CIS party-list representative Eric Go Yap for “endangering” a lot of people by breaching Malacañang’s protocol when he attended a meeting in the Palace Saturday.
Manila Bulletin

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

VP Leni thanks donors for helping health workers
Vice President Leni Robredo on March 26, Thursday, expressed her sincerest gratitude to the people who donated cash to protect health workers from COVID-19.
Manila Bulletin

Robredo’s office opens a free dorm for COVID-19 frontliners
Are you a health worker who works in a hospital far from your home? Frontline health workers may stay in a free dormitory provided by the office of Vice President Leni Robredo amid the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.
Manila Bulletin

ELECTION RELATED

COMELEC official now a PUI
Commission on Elections Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said she is now a person under investigation (PUI) for possible COVID-19 infection.
Manila Bulletin

DISASTER

Magnitude 6.0 earthquake strikes Sarangani
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Sarangani Thursday night, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said. The quake struck at 11:38 p.m. at 22 kilometers southeast of Maasim town.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

SC employee tests positive for COVID-19
A Supreme Court (SC) employee has tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). SC’s public information office (PIO) chief Atty. Brian Keith F. Hosaka confirmed that the employee is working at the office of Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro Javier.
Manila Bulletin

LEGISLATIVE

Two coronavirus-positive lawmakers face raps over breach of protocol
A senator and a congressman, who had tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), are facing charges for breach of quarantine protocol.
Manila Bulletin

Senate of the Philippines

Angara is 3rd senator to test positive for COVID-19
Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara has tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease or COVID-19, making him the third member of the Upper Chamber who contracted the disease.
Manila Bulletin

COVID-19 funds prepared for immediate use
Preparations were made to facilitate the availability and release of funds urgently needed to ensure the effectiveness of the government’s all-out efforts to contain and mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

Sotto open to take another COVID-19 test after encounter with infected solon
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he would be open to taking another rapid coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test after attending a meeting with a House lawmaker who recently confirmed that he contracted the virus.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Senate staffer COVID-19 positive
A staff member in the office of Senator Pia Cayetano has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, bringing the number of COVID-19 positive cases in the Senate to four.
Manila Bulletin

Senators support COVID-19 positive colleagues
Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III and members of the Senate are very supportive and are boosting the morale of their three colleagues who have tested for COVID-19 infection.
Manila Bulletin

Bong Go urges DOH to capacitate hospitals nationwide
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go yesterday urged the Department of Health (DOH) to immediately equip and capacitate hospitals and designate testing centers in areas outside Luzon so they could immediately detect cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in their respective regions.
Manila Bulletin

Bong Go asks banks, financial facilities not to increase loan interest rates
Senator Christopher Lawrence ‘’Bong’’ Go appealed Thursday to all government- and privately-owned banks, quasi-banks, credit and lending facilities, and financial institutions to refrain from increasing interest rates for consumer and commercial loans while the country is still under enhanced community quarantine.
Manila Bulletin

Tolentino to Tugade: Use ships docked at ports as hospitals, health facilities
Senator Francis Tolentino urged on March 26, Thursday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to use vacant ships as hospitals to address the overcrowding of the country’s health facilities due to COVID-19.
Manila Bulletin

Pangilinan finishes self-quarantine, says he’s OK
Opposition Senator Francis N. Pangilinan said on Thursday he has not shown any flu-like symptoms after completing his 14-day self-quarantine two days ago.
Manila Bulletin

House of Representatives

Speaker, congressmen on home quarantine
Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and over two dozen congressmen and House of Representatives staff who may have had recent close contact with Rep. Eric Go Yap of ACC-CIS Partylist have started taking precautionary measures such as home quarantine to spare other people from possible infection.
Manila Bulletin

Decongest prisons now to avert COVID-19 disaster—Zarate
Bayan Muna Party-List Rep. Carlos Zarate calls for the release of prisoners who are old and sick, as well as so-called low-level offenders. “Our jail system is a disaster waiting to happen [if] just one catches COVID-19,” said House Deputy Minority leader Zarate last Thursday, March 26.
Manila Bulletin

Curb non-essential expenses to strengthen anti-COVID-19 campaign
Rep. Michael Defensor of Anakalusugan party list today urged President Duterte to limit and reduce travel, seminar and other non-essential expenses of government employes and officials by imposing mandatory savings of at least 20 percent by each department and agency.
                                 
Bulacan solon is third bar topnotcher to test positive for COVID-19
Bulacan Rep. Henry Villarica has become the third Philippine Bar topnotcher to test positive for COVID-19, the House of Representatives announced Thursday night.
Manila Bulletin

Manila Teachers party-list solon tests negative for COVID-19
Manila Teachers Party-list Representative Virgilio Lacson has tested negative for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), House Secretary General Jose Luis Montales said.
GMA News

Govt told to prioritize health workers’ well-being via emergency powers
Now with special powers in tow, Deputy Speaker and Antique Rep. Loren Legarda said government ought to prioritize the health and wellbeing of frontline medical workers, as some are succumbing to the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Manila Bulletin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

DOJ: ’No substantial distinction’ between politicians, ordinary people 
The Department of Justice (DOJ) assured on March 26, Thursday, that everyone is equal in the eyes of the law.
Manila Bulletin

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Philippine National Police

8,000 cops on standby for COVID-19 deployment
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has placed on standby at least 8,000 policemen for any eventuality relating to the government’s response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Manila Bulletin

BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION

‘No added port charges’ — PPA
Imposing of additional port fees and other miscellaneous charges during the enhanced community quarantine over Luzon is prohibited, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said.
Manila Bulletin

Customs assures faster release of essential medical devices 
Medical supplies for fighting the COVID-19 epidemic shall be promptly released from the Bureau of Customs for faster distribution.
Manila Bulletin

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

Covid-19 has exposed the fragility of our economies
THE human dimensions of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic reach far beyond the critical health response. All aspects of our future will be affected — economic, social and developmental. Our response must be urgent, coordinated and on a global scale, and should immediately deliver help to those most in need.
The Manila Times

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

Philippines to stop airport transport arrangements for stranded foreigners on March 28
Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said the Philippine government will stop helping foreign governments transport their citizens through quarantine checkpoints to Manila’s international airport by Saturday.
GMA News

West Philippine Sea

LABOR

Over 200 OFWs from Kuwait arrive safely in the Philippines
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III thanked the Government of Kuwait last Thursday, March 26, for facilitating the repatriation of the more than 200 distressed overseas Filipino workers.
Manila Bulletin

OWWA reminds OFWs: airport transfer service free
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration on Thursday informed the public that their “Hatid-Sundo sa Stranded OFWs” transport service is for free.
Manila Bulletin

TRANSPORTATION

MIAA: Only NAIA 1 to remain open during ECQ; fewer airlines operating
The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has announced that it is streamlining its operations and concentrating remaining flights in just one terminal due to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Manila Bulletin

LTFRB: PUVs offering free rides to frontliners covered by insurance
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) assured that all public utility vehicles (PUVs) offering free rides to frontliners are still covered by insurance.
Manila Bulletin

HEALTH

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Threat of hunger as real as COVID-19, says Agri chief
Agriculture Secretary William Dar on Thursday said a tighter rice supply is at hand as exporting countries are seen to hold shipments of the staple to ensure food security amid the prevailing COVID-19 situation.
GMA News

Metro Manila rice stocks replenished
Thirty trailer trucks loaded with 30,000 bags of rice have arrived at the National Food Authority (NFA) North District Office in Valenzuela City to replenish the government rice stocks in Metro Manila.
Manila Bulletin

Bulacan farmers are selling their produce online
Militant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) on March 26 revealed that farmers from Norzagaray and San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan have sold their farm products online with the lockdown in the National Capital Region (NCR) and entire Luzon as the government had imposed strictly the enhanced community quarantine.
Manila Bulletin

EDUCATION

Briones thanks DepEd frontliners
Education Secretary Leonor Briones extended her gratitude to all frontliners, including her department’s skeleton crew, who are risking their own lives to help manage and curb the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.
Manila Bulletin

DepEd official tests positive for COVID-19
The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday confirmed that an official from the Schools Division Office in Mandaluyong City has tested positive for COVID-19.
Manila Bulletin

Report the use of public school facilities as isolation centers — DepEd
The Department of Education (DepEd) has instructed all school officials, teachers, and other personnel in the region and division levels to report the use of any public school facility in their respective areas as coronavirus disease (COVID-19) isolation centers.
Manila Bulletin

Youth group seeks suspension of online classes, revocation of tuition fee increases
A youth group has urged the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as well as school owners to alleviate the plight of students and their parents who are gravely affected by the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak by suspending online classes and revoking all approved tuition fee increases.
Manila Bulletin

Private schools appeal to DepEd to ‘expedite’ process of releasing subsidies to learners, teachers
While it supports the call to extend leniency on payment of tuition and other school fees, private schools appealed to the Department of Education (DepEd) to speed up the processing and releasing of various subsidies for learners and teachers amid the escalating coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation in the country.
Manila Bulletin

ENERGY

POVERTY

SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

HOUSING

TOURISM

Trapped by COVID-19 quarantine: 700 foreigners, including 500 in Boracay, sent home
Nearly 700 foreign tourists, including 500 in Boracay, trapped by COVID-19 travel restrictions in Western Visayas had been extracted and flown to Manila and Cebu to return to their countries.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Water concessionaires told to submit action plan to ensure uninterrupted water supply
The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) has ordered all water service providers to submit their action plans to ensure the uninterrupted supply of safe water during the public health emergency.
Manila Bulletin

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY