COVID-19

DOH: 803 people in PH now COVID-19 positive; death toll at 54
A total of 803 people in the county are now infected with COVID-19 as the Department of Health (DOH) recorded 93 new cases on Friday, the highest uptick in a single day so far.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Number of Filipinos infected by COVID-19 abroad rise to 245
The total number of Filipinos who had tested positive with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outside the Philippines has jumped to 245 as of March 27, 2020, according to the latest infographics released by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday.
Manila Bulletin

WATCH: Lawyer discusses being COVID-19 Patient 4
Lawyer Carlos Llanes Navarro made a history of sorts when he became the first Filipino to have been stricken by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) following a trip to Japan in February.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DOH official tests positive for COVID-19
An undersecretary of the Department of Health (DOH) has tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This was confirmed by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday but he did not disclose the identity of the official.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

RITM says Yap negative for COVID-19, apologizes for error
ACT-CIS party-list Representative Eric Go Yap is negative for COVID-19 after all, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine said on Friday.
GMA News

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TIMELINE: What has happened since the Luzon-wide quarantine was enforced
It has been nearly two weeks since Luzon was placed under enhanced community quarantine as a part of the government’s efforts to block the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which has infected 707 people in the country as of Thursday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Nearly entire COVID-19 task force goes on quarantine after contact with carriers
Health protocol is forcing nearly the entire leadership of a national task force against COVID-19 to direct the battle against the highly contagious disease from the safety of their homes or offices, where top officials and generals will self-isolate after exposure to carriers.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Philippines tested 11,000 samples for COVID-19
The number of samples tested for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had reached more than 11,000 as of Friday-March 27, 2020, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
GMA News

RITM vows to finish COVID-19 testing backlog in 2 to 3 days
The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) has vowed to address the backlogs in the release of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) test results in the coming days, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DOH releases 25,000 COVID-19 test kits to 5 subnational laboratories
A total of 25,000 test kits for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been distributed to five subnational laboratories in Luzon and Visayas, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DOH: Recovered COVID-19 patients asked to undergo 14 days home-quarantine
Even as there’s no clear evidence yet that COVID-19 reinfection is possible, the Department of Health (DOH) has been instructing discharged coronavirus patients to continue their self-isolation for another 14 days inside their homes.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DOH to pay P500 daily to volunteer doctors, nurses amid COVID-19 emergency
Medical professionals who would volunteer to be frontliners at referral hospitals for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) would be compensated with P500 daily, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
GMA News

Quezon Institute set to open facility for COVID-19 patients next week
A community quarantine facility in Quezon Institute in Quezon City is set to open next week. This will house individuals who tested positive for the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) or persons under investigation (PUIs) showing mild to no symptoms.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

PhilHealth to shell out P931M for health facilities in Bicol
The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) in Bicol said on Friday it was spending P931 million worth of financial assistance to health facilities in the region to ensure a better response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Año joins rising number of gov’t execs on self-isolation amid COVID-19 spread
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año placed himself under self-quarantine since Thursday night as he was among those in the March 21 meeting in Malacañang with ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Yap, who learned he was COVID-19 positive on Wednesday night.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

NCRPO: Barangay quarantine pass not a national policy; not honored at checkpoints
Quarantine passes issued by village officials are only applicable within the barangay and will not be honored at checkpoints established by the national government.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Galvez: Gov’t will do everything possible to mitigate impact of COVID-19
Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez Jr, who was named as the Chief Implementer of the National Action Plan (NAP) against COVID-19, assured the Filipino people that the government is carrying out all necessary measures to address and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in the country.
Manila Standard, Manila Bulletin

LGUs, GOCCs told to identify facilities that may be used for quarantine
Local government units on Friday were directed to identify government facilities which may be temporarily used for quarantine purposes amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
GMA News

IATF to hospitals: Ask consent of COVID-19 patients before disclosing names
Hospitals and other health facilities have been directed to ask consent of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients admitted in their facilities before disclosing their identities.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Mindanao as of March 25: 18 confirmed cases, 853 PUIs, 43,160 PUMs  
Mindanao’s six regions have recorded 18 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as of March 25, from nine on March 23, two of them dead and while one recovered,  853 Persons Under Investigation (PUIs) with 10 deaths awaiting confirmatory results, and 43,160 Persons Under Monitoring (PUMs).
Mindanews

1 year-old is first COVID-19 patient in Oriental Mindoro
A one-year-old girl is the first confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient in Oriental Mindoro, Governor Humerlito Dolor announced Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

San Juan City now has 69 COVID-19 cases, 10 deaths
Sixty-nine residents of San Juan City are now afflicted with the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) with 10 fatalities, Mayor Francis Zamora said Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

COVID-19 cases in Calabarzon now 95, death toll hits 14
Confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Calabarzon region has gone up to 95, with 14 deaths. The regional Department of Health on Friday said that as of March 26, Rizal had the highest number of cases at 37, as well as in terms of mortality with six.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Tarlac COVID cases rise to 4
The Research Institute on Tropical Medicine on Friday (March 27) confirmed two more patients infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), raising the number of cases in Tarlac province to four.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

6 more COVID-19 patients hike Cagayan Valley cases to 11
Six more people tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), raising the number of cases in the Cagayan Valley to 11, the Department of Health said on Friday (March 27).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Deceased man is 1st COVID-19 case of Occidental Mindoro
The municipal health officer in Sablayan announced via live Facebook streaming on Friday afternoon that a patient in the town has become the first coronavirus disease (COVID-19) case in Occidental Mindoro.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Caloocan City COVID-19 watch: 10 confirmed cases, 139 PUIs, 319 PUMs
Ten residents of Caloocan City have so far tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) the city government announced Friday. The confirmed COVID-19 cases are from barangays 94, 27, 53, 176, 178, 22, 172, 131, 174 and 126.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

COVID-19 cases in Valenzuela City rise to 4
A 79-year-old male resident of Valenzuela City has tested positive of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), making him the city’s 4th confirmed case of the respiratory disease.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Pampanga now under stricter quarantine due to curfew violations
The Pampanga Police enforced a “total lockdown,” beginning on Thursday (March 26), to stop the flagrant violation of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine imposed by President Duterte on March 17.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Camarines Norte town marks PUMs with indelible ink
The local government of Jose Panganiban town in Camarines Norte province has required all persons under monitoring (PUMs) for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to have indelible ink marked on their forefingers to strictly enforce the mandatory 14-day home quarantine.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Poor Cebuanos worry for their survival when quarantine is enforced
Street vendor Jaqueline Petalcorin is in a quandary: She does not know where to get food once her supply runs out in five days.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Naga suspends rent for bus terminal, public market during quarantine
The city government of Naga suspended Friday the collection of rent, taxes, loan payments, and housing amortization due to them for the duration of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

QC tricycle drivers tapped to deliver food packs
Tricycle drivers in Quezon City are tasked to deliver food packs for families living in different barangays in the city for the duration of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, the city government said Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Bukidnon gov lifts ‘hoard’ order; secures 60,000 bags for buffer
Just hours after stopping the sale of rice outside of his province, Bukidnon Governor Jose Maria Zubiri Jr. reversed course and lifted the ban. Zubiri admitted that the ban was instituted so that the provincial government would meet its target buffer of 100,000 bags of rice for free distribution to constituents for the duration of the health crisis spawned by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Amid lockdown, Bukidnon imposes, lifts ban on rice export on the same day
Bukidnon Governor Jose Maria Zubiri imposed, and then lifted, a ban on rice exports on the same day amid the coronavirus-related lockdown in the province.
Rappler

P1,000 given to poor families affected by quarantine in Ligao
The city government of Ligao released cash assistance to very poor families affected by Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine on Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Taguig City offers residents online medical consultation during Luzon quarantine
Taguig City residents can now get medical consultation online or by text messages through the city government’s “Telemedicine” program.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Health care workers in Zambales appeal for protective gear
Health workers in Zambales have asked for medical safety gear like personal protective equipment (PPE) now that the province has recorded its first coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patient.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Pasig City govt to give public school students food coupons
The Pasig City government will be giving food coupons to the city’s public school students to boost their nutrition given the limited access to food and other basic goods during the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) being enforced.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

QC imposes liquor ban until end of Luzon-wide quarantine
Quezon City imposed a liquor ban for the duration of the enhanced community quarantine due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

South Cotabato tightens lockdown; frontliners not exempted
Except those bringing food and essential consumer supplies, South Cotabato started banning the entry even of medical frontliners and residents unless they would agree to a mandatory 14-day home quarantine, Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. said Friday.
Mindanews

With confirmed COVID-19 case, Sultan Kudarat to impose lockdown, curfew
Sultan Kudarat province will impose a lockdown and a 10-hour curfew from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. effective March 28 to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Gov. Suharto Mangudadatu said.
Mindanews

137K Zambo Sur families to get rice subsidy amid Covid-19 threat
The provincial government has linked up with the National Food Authority (NFA) for the purchase of PHP86 million worth of rice to be given to poor families greatly affected by the enhanced community quarantine.
Philippine News Agency

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PNP-ACG files raps against four fake news peddlers
The Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Unit (ACG) has filed criminal complaints against four alleged spreader of fake news about the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Sinas: Seized overpriced face masks, medical items are evidence, can’t be used
Overpriced face masks and thermal scanners seized in police raids cannot be released for use as these are inventoried pieces of evidence needed in the filing of court cases against suspects, the director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

8 nabbed in Siargao for partying in resort
Three foreigners and five locals were arrested Wednesday night for holding a party inside a resort in this surfing capital.
Mindanews

More than 600 broke curfew during Cordillera quarantine
More than 600 people broke Cordillera quarantine rules that were imposed to spare upland residents from being infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), said Police Brig. General R’win Pagkalinawan, Cordillera police director, in a statement on Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

272 quarantine violators nabbed in Bicol
Some 272 people in Bicol were arrested for violating the enhanced community quarantine protocols to ward off the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

14 persons under watch for COVID-19 nabbed while loitering, drinking in Eastern Visayas
At least 14 persons under monitoring (PUM) have been arrested in Eastern Visayas since the start of the quarantine checkpoints as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Philippines gets 650k face masks, other supplies from Jack Ma, Villar and Lucio Tan firms, D&L
The Philippines is expected to receive 450,000 face masks in the following days from Chinese billionaire and Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma amid a shortage of medical supplies in the country.
GMA News

Jack Ma donates 57,000 COVID-19 test kits to PH
Some 57,000 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) test kits worth P400 million donated by Chinese billionaire and Alibaba founder Jack Ma were turned over by the foundation of Senator Manny Pacquiao to the Department of Health (DOH) on Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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‘LIKE WARTIME’: Philippine doctors overwhelmed by coronavirus deluge
Private hospitals in the Philippines have stopped accepting coronavirus patients in the face of surging numbers of sufferers and people seeking tests, the hospitals said.
GMA News

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Coronavirus: More than 900 deaths in a day in Italy
It means 9,134 people have now died from the virus in the country. Earlier World Health Organization chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said a "chronic global shortage" of protective equipment was one of the "most urgent threats" to the ability to save lives.
BBC News

US tops world in virus cases, overtaking China and Italy
The United States on Thursday took the grim title of the country with the most coronavirus infections and reported a record surge in unemployment as world leaders vowed $5 trillion to stave off global economic collapse.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Canada urges US not to put troops at border during pandemic
Canada has told the Trump administration that a proposal to put troops at the U.S.-Canada border amid the pandemic is entirely unnecessary and would damage relations between the two longtime allies.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Thinking it is cure for COVID-19, methanol kills hundreds in Iran
Standing over the still body of an intubated 5-year-old boy wearing nothing but a plastic diaper, an Iranian health care worker in a hazmat suit and mask begged the public for just one thing: Stop drinking industrial alcohol over fears about the new coronavirus.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Half-million infected worldwide as economic toll rises
The human and economic toll of the lockdowns against the coronavirus mounted Thursday as India struggled to feed the multitudes, Italy shut down most of its industry, and a record-shattering 3.3 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits in a single week.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Duterte advised to undergo self-quarantine
President Rodrigo Duterte has been advised by his doctor and the Presidential Security Group (PSG) to undergo self-quarantine, Malacañang confirmed Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News

Birthday bind: Will Duterte spend it in Davao City or ‘dangerously’ in Manila?
President Rodrigo Duterte is in a “dilemma” on whether to spend his birthday with his grandchildren in his hometown Davao City or spend it “dangerously” in Manila as the government addresses the threats of COVID-19, Malacañang said Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Leading fight against COVID-19 remains Duterte’s top priority as he marks 75th birthday
Good health and long life are the two birthday wishes of Malacañang to President Duterte as he leads the country during these perilous times.
Manila Bulletin

Duterte to spend 75th birthday in Manila
President Rodrigo Duterte will spend his 75th birthday in Manila on Saturday, a departure from his tradition of celebrating it in the comfort of his home in Davao City.
GMA News

Birthday message for Duterte: Panelo says Philippines ‘on the precipice of annihilation’ due to COVID-19
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Friday offered a grim picture of the Philippines as it battles to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
GMA News

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Bayan Muna to Duterte: Why let military men lead public health crisis?
Why appoint military officials, not health experts, to lead the government’s fight against the public health menace COVID-19?
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Palace defends appointment of ex-AFP men in war vs coronavirus
Saying the country is in a “state of war,” Malacañang on Friday defended the designation of former top military men as commanders of the government’s campaign to stamp out coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Palace to RITM: Ensure accuracy of COVID-19 test results
Malacañang on Friday urged the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) to ensure accuracy of COVID-19 test results before releasing them to concerned parties.
GMA News

Malacañang quarantine for all PSG personnel until April 10
All Presidential Security Group (PSG) personnel were advised to place themselves under self-quarantine until April 10, its commander Col. Jesus Durante III said Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

PSG probe of Yap to proceed even after solon found negative for COVID-19
The Presidential Security Group (PSG) will continue its investigation of ACT-CIS party-list Representative Eric Go Yap for allegedly breaking the protocol set by Malacañang amid the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
GMA News

Palace media told to shift to virtual coverage amid COVID-19 spread
Media personnel are no longer allowed to enter Malacañang’s press briefing room while the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine is in place, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

ELECTION RELATED

Comelec extends suspension of voter registration nationwide
Voter registration will remain suspended nationwide until April 30, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced Friday. Comelec said the extended suspension of voter registration was still due to the threats posed by the highly-infectious respiratory illness, COVID-19.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News

Comelec commissioner Guanzon listed as PUI
Commissioner Rowena Guanzon of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has been classified as person under investigation after she came in contact with an official who was COVID-19 positive and had exhibited symptoms of the disease.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DISASTER

NDRRMC’s Jalad undergoes self-quarantine
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Ricardo Jalad decided to undergo self-quarantine after being in contact with Armed Forces chief General Felimon Santos who has tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
GMA News

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

Lacson warns COVID-19 to spread faster if mass testing not done ASAP
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak is bound to spread faster and affect more people in the Philippines if the Department of Health (DOH) does not change its strategy insofar as testing is concerned, Senator Panfilo Lacson warns on Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Gordon defends Pimentel: ‘Wag naman natin pagpiyestahan’
Senator Richard Gordon on Friday came to the defense of Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III who recently came under fire for breaching quarantine protocols.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Zubiri extends self-quarantine to 21 days
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri on Friday said he is extending his observance of self-quarantine to 21 days. Zubiri, who was the first senator to test positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has been in self-quarantine since March 11.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Dasmariñas Village tells Pacquiao, household to undergo self-quarantine
The exclusive Dasmariñas Village in Makati city Friday strongly advised boxing icon Senator Emmanuel ‘’Manny’’ D. Pacquiao and members of his household to stay under self-quarantine.
Manila Bulletin

House of Representatives

Cayetano goes into self-quarantine
Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has placed himself under self-quarantine following a special session attended by a lawmaker who tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Cayetano suggests house-to-house distribution for lockdown cash aid
Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday proposed a house-to-house distribution of the government’s cash assistance of P5,000 to P8,000 for Filipino families most adversely affected by the current lockdown.
Manila Bulletin

Lagman: Measures vs COVID-19 should not violate Constitution
Measures to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country should not violate the Constitution, a lawmaker said Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Paolo Duterte says sorry after son reportedly skips health check at Davao mart
House Deputy Speaker Paolo Duterte has apologized after his son, Omar, reportedly bypassed a health check at the entrance of a membership shopping store in Davao City.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Yap accepts RITM’s apology for COVID-19 test result ‘clerical error’
For two days since Wednesday, ACT –CIS Party-list Rep. Eric Go Yap could not sleep as he worried about the state of his health and was bothered by guilt at the grim thought of infecting the country’s top political leaders, President Duterte included, with the COVID-19 virus.
Manila Bulletin

Salceda calls for mandatory testing of all coronavirus PUIs
With less than a month to go before government lifts the Luzon-wide lockdown, government by now should be able to conduct coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tests for at least 10,000 citizens daily.
Manila Bulletin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

Arrest, charge politicking barangay officials — Año
Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año warned that he will have not hesitate to order the arrest and filing of charges against erring barangay officials after receiving reports of numerous malpractices in the distribution of relief goods.
Manila Bulletin

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Balikatan 2020 canceled due to COVID-19
The Balikatan exercises scheduled for May 4 to 15 this year has been canceled due to health and safety concerns of the participating forces amid the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Armed Forces of the Philippines

AFP chief tests positive for COVID-19
Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. has tested positive for coronavirus, Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana said Friday. Lorenzana himself is now under quarantine after he found out Friday morning about Santos’ test results.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Philippine National Police

Cops under investigation for coronavirus now 76
The number of patients under investigation (PUIs) for coronavirus disease in the ranks of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has gone up to 76, while cops considered persons under monitoring (PUMs) increased to 905, the PNP said yesterday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Sinas to cops: Respect human rights in enforcing enhanced quarantine
Metro Manila police chief Major Gen. Debold Sinas on Friday reminded his policemen to respect the human rights of residents while enforcing the enhanced community quarantine.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, CNN Philippines

BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

Locsin orders consular offices to assist stranded foreigners to evacuate the country
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. ordered all consular offices nationwide on Friday to personally assist stranded foreign tourists to evacuate out of the country amid the enforcement of the Luzon-wide Expanded Community Quarantine (ECQ). 
Manila Bulletin

West Philippine Sea

LABOR

TRANSPORTATION

DOTr increases free bus ride routes for health workers from 3 to 18; 80 buses deployed
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced Thursday (March 26) that it has increased its routes for the Free Ride for Health Workers Program to 18 from the three initial routes on its first day of operations.
Manila Bulletin

DOTr: Backriders not allowed on motorcycles, no exemptions
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) reiterated that back riders are not allowed on motorcycles during the entire lockdown period, adding that there are no exemptions on its social distancing policy on private vehicles even frontline workers.
Manila Bulletin

SMC waives toll fee on all its expressways for health workers
San Miguel Corporation (SMC) announced on Friday that all toll fees will be waived on all its expressways for health workers amid coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. SMC said these include STAR Tollway, South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), Skyway, NAIAX, and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX).
Manila Bulletin

HEALTH

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Banana exporters want uniform guidelines on cargos amid lockdowns
Local governments in Mindanao need to issue uniform guidelines concerning cargos amid the enforcement of lockdowns across the island so as not to hamper the shipment of export Cavendish bananas, Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) executive director Stephen Antig said.
Mindanews

EDUCATION

DepEd to LGUs: You can use public schools as quarantine facilities but…
Local government units (LGUs) should first coordinate with the Department of Education (DepEd) if they intend to turn public schools in their respective areas as quarantine facilities for patients with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DepEd allows schools to decide on graduation rites amid COVID-19 crisis
The Department of Education (DepEd) said Friday it will be allowing schools to decide whether or not to hold graduation rites and moving-up ceremonies amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis now gripping the country.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

UPLB requests in-kind donation for stranded students
The University of the Philippines – Los Baños (UPLB) is seeking help for its students who remain stranded in campus following the announcement of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine to contain the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

ENERGY

Saving the National Power Corporation
R.A. No. 7648 or the Emergency Power Act given to then President Ramos was approved on April 5, 1993 was intended to save Napocor. The objective of the Private Sector Assets and Liabilities Management was restated in Section 5 of the EPIRA Law (R.A. No. 9136), approved on June 8. 2001, was to liquidate the debt of Napocor, sell and dispose its assets including the IPP contracts it entered into, as well as some of the real estate properties it owns.
Manila Standard

POVERTY

SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

HOUSING

TOURISM

Puyat to undergo self-quarantine after exposure to AFP chief
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat will go on self-quarantine after coming in close contact with Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Felimon Santos Jr., who tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY