COVID-19

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Philippines
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
World Health Organization

Cases

PH sets new single-day record for COVID-19 cases at 6,352
The Philippines recorded on Tuesday its highest single-day number of new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections at 6,352, raising the total number of cases to 112,593.
Manila Bulletin

10 more Filipinos abroad added to list of COVID-19 victims
Ten new confirmed COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) cases and 28 new recoveries among Filipinos abroad were recorded in the latest tally received by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. 
Manila Bulletin

Nat’l Printing Office closes after 32 workers became infected with coronavirus
The National Printing Office (NPO) went on two-week lockdown starting August 3 after 32 employees became infected with the new coronavirus disease.
Manila Bulletin

485 Coast Guard personnel recover from COVID-19
Close to 500 Coast Guard personnel have already recovered from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while more than 100 are under treatment, the Philippine Coast Guard said.
Manila Bulletin

Department of Health

Don’t blame everything on Duque – Gordon
The public shouldn’t lay all the blame on Health Secretary Francisco Duque III particularly relating to the ongoing health crisis, Senator Richard Gordon said on Tuesday.
Manila Bulletin

PH commits to get 3M vaccines worth P1.5B, says DOST
The country has reserved three million vaccines worth at least P1.5 billion through the Gavi COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) facility, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato dela Peña bared on Tuesday. 
Manila Bulletin

IATF

Palace releases MECQ guidelines for all, calls for strict implementation
Malacañang has directed government agencies and local government units to implement the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) guidelines in Metro Manila and four nearby provinces.
Manila Bulletin

Workers in essential businesses allowed to travel under MECQ
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday clarified that workers in essential businesses are allowed to travel to areas placed under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
Manila Bulletin

Gov’t allows back-riding for APOR, in private, not taxi motorcycles
The government has given the green light to back-riding in private motorcycles, not motorcycle taxis, for authorized persons outside residence (APOR) when traveling for work in areas under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
Manila Bulletin

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‘Stop using rapid antibody tests’, health experts urge, ‘as these may even contribute to COVID-19 spread’
Health experts on Tuesday, August 4, reiterated their opposition to the use of rapid antibody tests in the workplace as these do not accurately detect if a person is infected with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). 
Manila Bulletin

‘Shame and fame’ campaign proposed by Laguna solon
An official of the House of Representatives on Tuesday recommended to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) and the National Task Force (NTF) on COVID-19  the conduct of a “shame and fame campaign” as part of measures to fight the dreaded disease.
Manila Bulletin

More medical experts should be involved in COVID-19 response planning — Gordon
Senator Richard Gordon said on Tuesday the government should have more health experts participating in the government’s planning in response to the coronavirus disease (covid-19) pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

IATF asked to continue Hatid Tulong initiative
The Inter Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has been asked to allow the Hatid Tulong initiative to continue while Mega Manila is under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
Manila Bulletin

Regions

16 new coronavirus infections menace Baguio, prompts city hall access restriction
Public access to the Baguio City Hall has been restricted to essential personnel after 16 infection cases were recorded on Tuesday (Aug. 4), the highest yet in the summer capital for a single day.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

15 new cases bring to 997 total number downed by COVID-19 in Eastern Visayas
At least 15 new cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were registered in Eastern Visayas on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases in the region to 997.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

75-year-old is 7th COVID-19 death in CDO
A 75-year-old female resident from an uptown subdivision in Barangay Lumbia here died of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center Tuesday morning.
Mindanews, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Gov’t employee 24th on Digos’ COVID-19 list after returning from Davao
A government employee was listed as the city’s 24th COVID-19 patient. He is a 32-year-old resident of the city but who is deployed to Don Marcelino, a town in Davao Occidental province. He works for seven days in a week and takes a seven-day break after.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Nurse supervising Iligan City polio vaccine drive contracts coronavirus
A nurse who supervises polio vaccination in six villages here has contracted SARS Cov2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, and became 58th in the city’s tally of infection cases.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Iloilo City mayor bares contact with coronavirus carriers, goes on quarantine
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas will go on quarantine after being exposed to persons positive for SARS Cov2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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LIST: How much a COVID-19 PCR test costs in Metro Manila private facilities
Many Filipinos have already resorted to getting tested for the coronavirus using their own resources, while the government is yet to implement a massive testing program.
Rappler

Davao cops told to bring stick to enforce distancing
Police officers in Davao City have been directed to bring a one-meter stick to enforce the one-meter physical distancing in public areas by demonstrating to violators of this rule the recommended safe space that they must keep from each other to avoid contracting the highly contagious coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Mayor Sara Duterte said.
Mindanews

Davao City eyes 1,000-bed holding areas, COVID-19 lab for air passengers
The City Government of Davao plans to open more holding facilities with 1,000 beds at the Davao International Airport (DIA) and a separate laboratory equipped with a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), devoted solely for the testing of arriving air passengers, Mayor Sara Duterte said.
Mindanews

Remulla allows public transportation amid MECQ in Cavite
Governor Jonvic Remulla announced on Tuesday (Aug. 4), that public transportation will be allowed in the province amid the implementation of modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in Mega Manila.
Manila Bulletin

Diplomatic, Development and Private Sector 

UN, humanitarian partners launch P6-B coronavirus response plan to aid 5.4 M poorest Filipinos
The United Nations (UN) and humanitarian partners in the Philippines launched on Tuesday the largest international humanitarian response plan in the country since Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.
Manila Bulletin, United Nations

Bishop urges faithful to support medical frontliners by ‘staying at home’
How can the faithful show solidarity to medical frontliners who recently called for a “time out” amid the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the country? By staying at home.
Manila Bulletin

Incidents and Violations

Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features

We're thinking about Covid-19 the wrong way. It's not a 'wave' – it's a wildfire
We have no previous experience with a worldwide coronavirus pandemic, so when Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, began spreading, public health experts leaned on our experiences with influenza pandemics to inform their predictions. These pandemics are often described in terms of “waves” and “troughs”. We have now seen enough to replace the ocean analogy with a better one: wildfire.
The Guardian

1.5M Filipinos seen sliding back to poverty due to COVID-19
On top of an economic recession and temporary unemployment, the COVID-19 pandemic is seen inflicting a bigger damage on the Philippines’ goal to reduce poverty and become a middle-class society by 2040, the state-run think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Coronavirus gives PHL time to reexamine US ties
THE global coronavirus pandemic has given the US government much reprieve after Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte delayed the termination of a military agreement on troop deployment, which he finds to be a distraction to the world’s anti-COVID-19 efforts.
Business World Online

Financial rehabilitation as an alternative loss mitigating strategy amidst the COVID-19 pandemic
In light of the implementation of various community quarantine measures brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, many business establishments were either prevented from operating or permitted with limited operational capacity. 
Business World Online

Hospitality workers have to upskill during COVID-19, according to experts
The hospitality industry has to re-skill and upskill to weather the COVID-19 pandemic, said experts. 
Business World Online

World

UN says coronavirus has disrupted education of 1 billion
The United Nations chief Antonio Gutterres said the COVID-19 outbreak has led to the largest disruption of education in history, with schools closed in more than 160 countries in mid-July, affecting over 1 billion students.
Aljazeera

Responding to COVID-19 boosts Suriname’s health system
Suriname is preparing to come out stronger from COVID-19. As the pandemic highlights the gaps in the country’s health system, the Government is acting quickly to drive its response, engaging partners, reaching remote communities through primary health care and building a strong foundation for universal health coverage.  
World Health Organization

COVID-19: Why we must take the widescreen view of workforce uncertainty
The words “future of work” always bring to my mind an atmospheric science-fiction soundtrack. The unpredictable is going to happen! But then, those movies usually fall into two categories:
World Economic Forum

How To Accelerate Through The COVID-19 Point Of Inflection
Andy Grove defined a point of inflection as “an event that changes the way we think and act.” Given COVID-19’s impact, the only question is whether you’re going to lead with systemic changes in your organization, market, or industry, or follow others.
Forbes

Indonesia reports 1,922 newly-confirmed COVID-19 cases, 86 new deaths
The COVID-19 cases in Indonesia rose by 1,922 within one day to 115,056, with the death toll adding by 86 to 5,388, the health ministry said on Tuesday. According to the ministry, 1,813 more people were discharged from hospitals, bringing the total number of recovered patients to 72,050.
Xinhua

Iran records highest COVID-19 cases in over month
Iran confirmed Tuesday over 2,700 new COVID-19 infections, its highest single-day count in more than a month, as the health ministry called for those without masks to be fined.
Arab News

Belgium passes 70,000 COVID-19 cases
Coronavirus cases in Belgium, which unveiled new social distancing measures last week amid a surge in infections, have surpassed 70,000, health authorities said on Tuesday.
Anadolu Agency

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Arroyo hits critics of Duterte’s COVID-19 response: So easy to play Monday morning quarterback
Former President and Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo came to the defense of President Rodrigo Duterte amid the flak the government is getting for its COVID-19 response.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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‘Write letters to Pres. Duterte,’ Roque urges public to air complaints, concerns
The public may send letters to President Duterte if they have any complaints and other concerns, Malacañang said Tuesday.
Manila Bulletin

Gov’t will still use rapid antibody test for ‘screening’ but recognizes PCR testing as ‘gold standard’ — Roque
The government has no plan yet of halting the use of rapid antibody test kits to help screen people infected with the coronavirus disease.
Manila Bulletin

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‘Gov’t will replenish PhilHealth funds if depleted’, Roque assures
The government is prepared to pour additional funds to Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to ensure its survival if its reserve funds become depleted.
Manila Bulletin

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‘Enjoy TikTok’; no ban on app in PH, says Roque
Filipinos may still enjoy using TikTok after the government is not inclined to ban the popular short video application in the country.
Manila Bulletin

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

Robredo denies fake news on motorcycle barrier
Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday disowned a fake post about motorcycle barriers attributed to her that made rounds on social media. 
Manila Bulletin

ELECTION RELATED

DISASTER

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

Hontiveros says lawyers now looking into Twitter user’s request for her to be shot
Senator Risa Hontiveros said that her lawyers are already looking into a tweet from a netizen asking that she be shot, using a Quezon City official’s recent controversial statement.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

House of Representatives

House records 33rd COVID-19 case
The House of Representatives has recorded two new confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, bringing its number of cases to 33 so far.
Philippine Star

House leader says virtual hearings could slow down budget deliberations
The House of Representatives is expected to go full blast with its deliberations on the proposed 2021 national budget this month, but some of them expressed reservations video-based meetings could actually slow down the process.
Manila Bulletin

Albano savors chance to help pass late dad’s pet bill
Isabela 1st district Rep. Antonio “Tonypet” Albano ushered forward Tuesday what would have been his late father’s pet measure on the institutionalization of a regulatory framework for the safe operations of the local liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) industry.
Manila Bulletin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

DOJ to maintain skeleton workforce under MECQ
The Department of Justice (DOJ) compound in Manila will maintain a minimum number of employees while the National Capital Region (NCR) is under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
Manila Bulletin

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Philippine National Police

Gamboa orders health reassessment of PNP medical workers
Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), has ordered an evaluation of the health condition of medical workers within the police organization amid reports of exhaustion and stress among them. 
Manila Bulletin

BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION

BUSINESS, ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION

Philhealth Execom an ‘in-house mafia or syndicate’, claims resigned official 
The whole executive committee of the state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) constitutes an ‘’in-house mafia or syndicate.’’
Manila Bulletin

Morales denies being a coddler of PhilHealth syndicate members
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation president and chief executive officer Ricardo Morales denied on Tuesday that he was coddling an alleged syndicate which benefits from the irregularities in the agency.
Manila Bulletin

PhilHealth head admits ‘heated exchange’ over IT project in board meeting
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) president and chief executive officer Ricardo Morales on Tuesday retracted his denial that he was in the online meeting late last month that triggered new claims of corruption within the agency.
Manila Bulletin

PhilHealth could lose about P147B in 2021; actuarial life good only for one more year, says official 
The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) on Tuesday said the actuarial life of the state health insurer is now only good for one more year.
Manila Bulletin

Dela Rosa questions Morales about corruption at PhilHealth
‘’I know you as a straight officer who did not compromise his principles. But did you not fail the President (Duterte)?’    
Manila Bulletin

Senators grill PhilHealth president on questionable promotions, other irregularities
Senators on Tuesday quizzed Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) president and chief executive officer Ricardo Morales for promoting officials despite their involvement in previous anomalies in the agency.  
Manila Bulletin

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

Locsin against sale of gov’t properties abroad
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Tuesday said his department is against the sale of Philippine government properties abroad, amid speculations that certain groups are reportedly working behind the scene to sell government overseas assets to fund the campaign against COVID-19 (coronavirus pandemic 2019) pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

West Philippine Sea

PH won’t join drills in South China Sea — Lorenzana
The country will not participate in maritime drills with any country in the South China Sea (SCS) unless it is done within its 12-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has declared.
Manila Bulletin

Arbitration suit vs China: A colossal hoax
IT has been a colossal hoax pulled off with astonishing success by the pro-American Yellow Cult: that the award handed down by an arbitral panel in the suit brought by former president Benigno Aquino 3rd and his government upheld our rights to the Spratlys and ruled illegal China’s claims.
The Manila Times

LABOR

More than 120,000 OFWs brought home to provinces — OWWA
More than 120,000 repatriated overseas Filipino workers have already been transported to their respective provinces by the government.
Manila Bulletin

‘Applying Labor Laws during the Pandemic’
Among the many challenges that we face during this pandemic, how to handle or interpret labor laws that may affect our business, has become an important consideration.  We asked our resource person on labor relations law, Atty. Alvin Alburo, on what should be done to ensure that there is no misunderstanding, as we all adjust to the new normal.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

TRANSPORTATION

LTFRB urges private firms to rent PUVs as shuttle for employees
While all modes of mass transit are suspended during the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) urged private firms to rent public utility vehicles (PUVs) as shuttle service for their employees. 
Manila Bulletin

LTO fast-tracks opening of smoke emission testing centers
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is hastening the inspection of private motor vehicle inspection centers (PMVICs) to ensure their quick activation.
Manila Bulletin

LTFRB suspends walk-in transactions in Central, NCR offices
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has suspended the operations of walk-in transactions in its Central and National Capital Region (NCR) offices during the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) starting August 8 until August 14.
Manila Bulletin

HEALTH

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Food supply during MECQ assured
Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar assured the public on Tuesday there is enough food supply for the two-week modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) period.
Manila Bulletin

SouthCot tightens borders amidst African swine fever in neighboring area
Veterinary personnel in South Cotabato province have tightened its borders against the entry of pork products and live hogs from areas affected by the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak in North Cotabato and Davao Region.
Mindanews

Soccsksargen targeting to enter hog export market
Hog industry stakeholders in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) are targeting to finally enter the export market, with the ongoing development of additional international-standard abattoirs in the area.
Mindanews

EDUCATION

Nearly 24-million students to stop schooling due to COVID-19, UN warns
With COVID-19 now considered the “largest disruption of education systems” in history affecting nearly 1.6 billion students globally, the United Nations (UN) warned millions more may drop out of school next year. 
Manila Bulletin

DepEd to showcase public school ‘readiness’ for learning continuity plan
The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday reiterated its “readiness” for school opening announcing a series of showcases involving several schools, next week. 
Manila Bulletin

Teachers air problems on modular learning system
A teachers’ federation on Tuesday called the attention of the Department of Education (DepEd) on various issues raised by public school teachers in the field regarding the preparation for modular learning.
Manila Bulletin

Distance learning in the time of Covid-19
The Doctor Is In. How does COVID-19 affect children, and how can we manage their screen time as they virtually return to school this month?
CNN Philippines

WATER and ENERGY

Philippines Power Market May Set New Growth Story | Aboitiz Power, San Miguel, First Gen
HTF Market Intelligence released a new research report of 60 pages on title 'Philippines Power Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2019 - Market Trends, Regulations, and Competitive Landscape' with detailed analysis, forecast and strategies. The study covers key regions important players such as San Miguel Corporation, First Gen Corporation, Aboitiz Power Corporation, Philippine National Power Corporation.
OpenPR

POVERTY

SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

SAP 2 beneficiaries trimmed down to 14.1 million — DSWD
Not 17 million, but over 14.1 million beneficiaries have been identified to benefit from the second tranche of cash subsidies under the national government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Tuesday (August 4).
Manila Bulletin

DSWD ready to implement SAP 3 if there is a law mandating it
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is ready to implement a third wave of Social Amelioration Program (SAP) should there be a law providing for such, in the wake of President Duterte’s declaration of modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in certain areas.
Manila Bulletin

HOUSING and SETTLEMENT

TOURISM

Reimposition of MECQ in Metro Manila necessary – DOT
Despite possible effects on tourism, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said the transition of Mega Manila to stricter community quarantine levels following the pleas from healthcare workers is necessary.
Manila Bulletin

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY