COVID-19

SWS: Around 3.5M adult Filipinos got stranded in July due to quarantine
An estimated 3.5 million adult Filipinos got stranded by community quarantine rules due to the coronavirus disease pandemic, according to the latest survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS).
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

Philippines posts record daily rise in coronavirus cases, could become Southeast Asia’s new epicenter
The Philippines could soon become the new epicenter for the coronavirus pandemic in Southeast Asia, as it reported another record single-day jump in infections on Tuesday (Aug 4).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Cases

PH’s confirmed COVID-19 cases near 116,000 mark
The country’s total of confirmed COVID-19 cases is nearing the 116,000 mark as the Department of Health (DOH) reported on Wednesday 3,462 additional cases.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News

Over 10K gov't workers contract Covid-19: CSC
Some 10,344 government employees tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) as of August 5, the Civil Service Commission reported.
Philippine News Agency

PNP records 33 new COVID-19 cases; total now at 2,437
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday recorded 33 new cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among its personnel, raising the total number to 2,347.
GMA News

Active coronavirus cases at PCOO, attached agencies now at 66
The Presidential Communications Operations Office and its attached agencies have at least 66 active cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as of Wednesday night, the executive office said.
ABS-CBN News

49 more overseas Filipinos recover from Covid-19: DFA
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday reported 49 new recoveries among Filipinos with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East/Africa, raising the total to 5,730.
Philippine News Agency

1st Filipino coronavirus death in Libya recorded
A Filipino infected with coronavirus disease (Covid-19) died in Libya, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Brigido Dulay confirmed Wednesday.
Philippine News Agency

Department of Health

DOH admits: ‘A lot of gaps’ in COVID-19 response
The Department of Health admitted on Wednesday that there have been “a lot of gaps” in its handling of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis, but added that these blunders are not just about Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DOH, LGUs to go house-to-house in select brgys to identify those with COVID-19 symptoms
The Department of Health and personnel of local government units will go house-to-house in select barangays to identify individuals who are showing symptoms of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DOH eyes swab test for all those with COVID-19 symptoms in MECQ areas
Persons showing symptoms of COVID-19 will undergo swab test, and not rapid test, in areas under modified enhanced community quarantine, Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said Wednesday.
GMA News

DOH to release guidelines on use of Covid-19 test kits
With pooled testing kicking off soon in Metro Manila, what's the best move for the private sector in testing?
CNN Philippines

DOH eyes substitution team to help health workers amid rising COVID-19 cases
The Department of Health is forming a team to prevent health workers from being overwhelmed by rising coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. This report tells us, only one province in the country has no COVID-19 case. 
ABS-CBN News

Covid-19 testing covered by PhilHealth: DOH
The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday reiterated that coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) testing should be covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) based on its circular issued last April, which outlined the benefit package for the testing of the infectious disease.
Philippine News Agency

PH now has 99 certified Covid-19 test labs
The Philippines now has 99 certified laboratories capable of testing specimens from coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients.
Philippine News Agency

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Protesting JRMMC health workers cry neglect; hospital explains side
A group of health workers on Wednesday slammed the government, particularly the Department of Health (DOH), for alleged lack of concern for health workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic and to decry the death of a colleague due to the virus.
GMA News

Lacson presses Duque to quit out of ‘delicadeza’
Health  Secretary Francisco Duque III should just quit his post out of “delicadeza,” (sense of being proper)  Senator Panfilo Lacson said on Wednesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Curb over-pricing of face masks, PPE — Hontiveros
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday urged the Departments of Health (DOH), Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to form an anti-overpricing committee to ensure that prices of face masks, personal protective equipment (PPE) and other products needed to fight the COVID-19 pandemic remain stable.
Manila Bulletin

Ex-DOH chief Dayrit shares tips on how to improve gov't response to COVID-19 pandemic
Former Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit on Wednesday gave his two cents on why the number of COVID-19 cases in the country continues to increase despite intensified government efforts.
GMA News

IATF

Gov’t hires over 73K contact tracers, but still 9K short of target
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has already hired over 73,000 contact tracers as part of the government’s effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News

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Gordon sees need for Covid-19 command center
Senator Richard Gordon, chairman and CEO of the Philippine Red Cross, has proposed putting up a command and control center to manage the rising number of positive coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases and prevent further overwhelming the country’s healthcare system.
Philippine News Agency

Gov’t to promote local production of face shields
The government is planning to promote the local production of face shields that will provide people with an extra layer of protection from the coronavirus infection.
Manila Bulletin

Garin: Let’s co-exist with COVID
Iloilo 1st district Rep. and ARK-PCR Private Sector Chief Implementer Janette Garin called on the government Wednesday (August 5) to ramp up its mass testing and to provide social amelioration aid to the families of asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic COVID-19 patients.
Manila Bulletin

PH may learn from Pakistan in Covid-19 fight
A business risk consultancy firm said the Philippines may look at the efforts done by Pakistan in its fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) that become successful in improving the pandemic situation.
Philippine News Agency

Regions

Luzon including NCR

Bataan records 23 new Covid-19 cases, 1 death
Twenty-three new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) and one death were recorded in this province based on the latest report of the Provincial Health Office (PHO).
Philippine News Agency

Bicol reports 23 new coronavirus cases  
The total number of laboratory-confirmed coronavirus diseases (Covid-19) cases in Bicol is now at 512 after 23 new active cases were recorded on Tuesday, the Department of Health-Center for Health Development in Bicol said.
Philippine News Agency

10 Quezon villages on lockdown due to COVID-19
Ten barangays in the town of Mauban in Quezon province have been placed under temporary lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the municipality.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Police patrol, visibility beefed up in MECQ areas
Police commanders in Metro Manila and four adjacent provinces were instructed to beef up their visibility and patrol activities in public markets and other places of convergence for the enforcement of stricter quarantine rules under the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ), the Joint Task Force COVID Shield said Wednesday.
Manila Bulletin

10K Makati residents to take part in pooled RT-PCR testing
The Makati City government will roll out RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) pooled testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) for 10,000 residents starting August 15 amid the raging pandemic.
Philippine News Agency

Manila hires more medical workers as Covid-19 rages on
The city government of Manila has hired about a thousand more medical personnel since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic in the country to augment the current health care workers in its six public hospitals.
Philippine News Agency

Remulla apologizes, says Cavite to have no public transpo under MECQ
Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla on Wednesday apologized to his constituents and said the provincial government has no choice but to disallow public transportation.
GMA News

Baguio's risk-based random mass testing reaches 25K
The city government was able to subject more than 25,000 residents to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, Mayor Benjamin Magalong said on Tuesday.
Philippine News Agency

Magalong cautions public on increase of Covid cases
Mayor Benjamin Magalong is calling on residents here to be careful but not afraid as cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) continue to increase.
Philippine News Agency

Visayas

Eastern Visayas Covid-19 cases surpass 1K-mark
Eastern Visayas has breached the 1,000-mark in coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases, doubling the figure in just five weeks, the Department of Health (DOH) reported on Tuesday night.
Philippine News Agency

2 DOH hospital personnel in Bacolod test positive for Covid-19
Two personnel of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) here tested positive for coronavirus disease (Covid-19), the hospital management said on Wednesday.
Philippine News Agency

Antique records 2 more Covid-19 cases
The province has logged two additional confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) on Wednesday.
Philippine News Agency

14-year-old girl in Samar succumbs to Covid-19
A 14-year-old girl from Calbayog City, Samar has died just hours before health authorities found that she is a confirmed carrier of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) on Monday.
Philippine News Agency

Eastern Visayas to send 20-man medical team to NCR
The Department of Health (DOH) in Eastern Visayas will form a team of health care professionals to be deployed for hospitals in the National Capital Region (NCR) amid the rising threat of coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Philippine News Agency

Rising cases in Cebu province not yet alarming but still a ‘wake-up call’ – Cimatu
The overseer of the government's coronavirus fight in Cebu City said that while the rising cases in Cebu province is not yet a cause for alarm, it is a "wake-up call" for the national government to help the local government.
Rappler

DOH-7 reports lower bed utilization, Covid-19 positivity rate
As most localities in the Central Visayas region eases to general community quarantine (GCQ), health authorities here reported the gains of placing strict interventions in high-risk villages as translated in lower bed utilization rate in hospitals and positivity rate of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases.
Philippine News Agency

C. Visayas reservists ready to serve at front line vs. Covid-19
Reservists in Central Visayas are ready to answer the call of President Rodrigo Duterte to serve in the front line in the battle against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), the highest-ranked Army reservist in the region on Tuesday said.
Philippine News Agency

Cebu City prepares budget for ‘future COVID-19 vaccine’
Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said the city is preparing funds for a vaccine against the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) once it becomes available.
Cebu Daily News

Police going after those selling plasma to COVID-19 patients
Police in Central Visayas are going after those who are selling good plasma that can help treat those who are suffering from severe cases of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Cebu Daily News

Expansion of Noah complex starts
EXPANSION of the Normal Oasis for Adaptation and a Home (Noah) isolation facility at the South Road Properties (SRP) has started with the arrival of 25 donated tents.
Sunstar Cebu

Cebu to mark 451st founding anniversary in simple rites
The 451st founding anniversary of Cebu province will be commemorated in simple rites on Thursday due to the prevailing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis.
Philippine News Agency

Iloilo appeals for more organized transport of LSIs
San Enrique Mayor Mediatrix Fernandez has appealed to the national government through the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) for a systematic and organized transport of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) to the province.
Philippine News Agency

More COVID-19 cases extend lockdown of Iloilo City fish port
The strict lockdown at the Iloilo City Fish Port has been extended after 26 other persons were infected with coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Manila Bulletin

25 W. Visayas villages report clustering of Covid-19 cases
Twenty-five barangays in Western Visayas have been identified to have clustering of cases from July 20 to August 3, the Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD 6) said.
Philippine News Agency

Mindanao

GenSan Covid-19 patient still positive after 7 repeat tests
Health authorities here allayed concerns on Wednesday over the case of a confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patient who has yet to fully recover after nearly two months in isolation.
Philippine News Agency

Davao rolls out online wellness program for ‘new normal’
The city government launched Wednesday the "Aktibo Dabawenyo", an online health and wellness program for Dabawenyos to remain fit while staying at home.
Philippine News Agency

NCCC Mall VP’s ‘The Dome’ now ready as reserve COVID-19 center
The Lim family, who owns the New City Commercial Corporation group of malls, turned over the 1,250-square meter “The Dome” of NCCC Mall VP to the city government of Davao to be used as a reserve coronavirus disease (COVID-19) quarantine facility.
Mindanews

Caraga posts 57% recovery rate from Covid-19
The Department of Health in the Caraga Region (DOH-13) reported a 57-percent recovery rate from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases.
Philippine News Agency

Diplomatic, Development and Private Sector 

COVID-19 response
The Aboitiz Group turns over thousands of personal protective equipment kits to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center as part of the group’s initiatives to assist Cebu’s frontliners as the city continues its fight against COVID-19. The turnover is led by Aboitiz Power Distribution Utilities senior vice president and chief operating officer Anton Mari Perdices.
Manila Standard

Prelate urges support for frontliners’ call, presses medical solutions for pandemic
A Catholic prelate believes the country’s response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic will be more effective if addressed “with medical solutions.”  
Manila Bulletin

Incidents and Violations

3K violators apprehended on first day of MECQ: task force
A total of 3,275 persons were apprehended for various violations at the start of the 15-day modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in Metro Manila and nearby areas, the Joint Task Force Covid Shield said Wednesday.
Philippine News Agency

Hontiveros wants QC official sacked for ‘shoot-to-kill’ post
Senator Risa Hontiveros wants the head of a Quezon City task force sacked over his “shoot-to-kill” post online, saying this wasn’t the first time such abuses had been committed.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features

[OPINION | Just Saying] A rudderless government
To many, the government, during this pandemic, revealed its lack of foresight, unpreparedness, and inability to provide a clear plan in combating COVID-19. It is troubling.
Rappler

[OPINION] Callous leaders, helpless Filipinos
Let’s face it. We’re on our own. This government has mastered the art of blaming Filipinos. It abhors any criticism and yet it is quick to attack every enemy it can think of.
Rappler

COVID-19 road map
Right after President Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address, people in social media started asking about his COVID-19 road map. In fairness to the government, there was an action program developed and approved by the President that was implemented by the Inter Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases when the pandemic started.
Manila Standard

Lessons from COVID-19: Learn from other countries, help one another
There are many lessons the COVID-19 pandemic is teaching us. Social media is replete with messages and memes of all these lessons. But among them, there are two lessons that are very relevant to us Filipinos.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Are Hiccups A Sign Of Covid-19 Coronavirus? Here Is What Happened In This Case
Think you can rely on just symptoms to diagnose a Covid-19 coronavrius infection? Well, here’s yet another hiccup in that plan. Or rather a bunch of hiccups. A case report recently published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine suggests that persistent hiccups, otherwise known as hiccoughs, could actually be a symptom of Covid-19.
Forbes

These 4 skills can make the world better after COVID-19
The pandemic is first and foremost a human tragedy, but it is also shaking the pillars on which our society is based.
World Economic Forum

World

Concerns grow as New Zealand, Taiwan record new COVID-19 cases from Philippine travelers
Filipinos aired their fears and concerns on the potential repercussions of reports that New Zealand has recorded two new cases of COVID-19 from the Philippines after more than three months since its last case was acquired locally.
Interaksyon

Proportion of youth with COVID-19 triples in five months: WHO
Young people who are hitting nightclubs and beaches are leading a rise in fresh coronavirus cases across the world, with the proportion of those aged 15 to 24 who are infected rising three-fold in about five months, the World Health Organization said.
The Jakarta Post

Inside the Epicenter of Vietnam’s COVID-19 Resurgence
“A woman tested positive for COVID-19 in the street next to mine and now they have locked down my street and I can only leave my street for one hour to get out to get food or medicine,” my Vietnamese friend Theo Khanh, an architect in Da Nang, tells me over the phone.
The Diplomat

COVID-19: Fight far from over as virus accelerates in Africa
"It took Africa nearly five months to hit 500,000 COVID-19 cases, but about a month to double that number. Most of these cases are in South Africa, but around the continent we are seeing the virus spread beyond capital cities and into new areas. If measures against the virus are not followed, we fear that health care systems already weakened by conflict and violence could be overwhelmed by COVID-19."
International Committee of the Red Cross

COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia top 300,000
The number of coronavirus cases in Southeast Asian countries reached 300,901 on Wednesday, including 7,802 fatalities and 200,498 recoveries.
Anadolu Agency

Spain sets post-lockdown record as coronavirus cases surge
Spain has reported 1,772 new coronavirus infections, marking the biggest jump since a national lockdown was lifted in June and beating the previous day's record rise.
Aljazeera

Over 10M Afghans infected with COVID-19
At least 10 million Afghans have been infected with the novel coronavirus, a recent survey by the country's Health Ministry said on Wednesday.
Anadolu Agency

Doctors say Turkish COVID-19 outbreak worse than reported as hospitalizations swell
Doctors in Turkey’s coronavirus hotspots say hospitals are filling up with more cases than are reflected in the official nationwide count, which resurged above 1,000 this week.
Arab News

'Asleep at the wheel': families of Covid-19 victims lament UK response
An MP was brought to the brink of tears by bereaved relatives who described their harrowing experiences losing loved ones to Covid-19 and demanded an urgent statutory public inquiry into the government’s handling of the pandemic.
The Guardian

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Duterte extends CHED commissioner Adamat’s term until 2024
President Rodrigo Duterte has reappointed Ronald Adamat as Commission on High Education (CHED) Commissioner, extending his term until July 2024.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rappler

Franchises of 2 broadcast firms renewed
Two broadcasting companies had their franchises renewed for 25 years based on the new laws signed by President Duterte.
Manila Bulletin

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Palace: Duterte’s trust in PhilHealth chief depends on evidence over corruption issue
President Rodrigo Duterte’s trust and confidence in Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) president Ricardo Morales would depend on evidence against him over corruption allegations within the agency, Malacañang said Wednesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Morales failed in his job to rid PhilHealth of corruption — Roque
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) president and chief executive officer Ricardo Morales has failed in his job to rid the agency of corruption, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said on Wednesday.
Manila Bulletin

‘Convincing, accurate,’ Roque says of ex-PhilHealth exec’s P15B fraud claims
Former Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) anti-fraud legal officer Thorrsson Montes Keith’s claim that the state insurer lost P15 billion due to a “syndicate” within the agency was “convincing,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Wednesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Palace: Spike in COVID-19 cases a ‘reality’ that should be faced
As the Philippines continues to experience daily record-breaking increases in the number of COVID-19 cases, Malacañang found solace in the report that 70 percent of all the countries in the world are experiencing the same and it is a reality that everyone needs to face.
Manila Bulletin, GMA News

‘Not accurate’ to say gov’t employing militaristic approach in COVID fight — Nograles
To say that the government’s COVID-19 response is a militaristic approach is not accurate as medical experts are consistently consulted in steps being taken by the government’s pandemic task force, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Wednesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News

Palace: Police personnel to be tapped as COVID-19 contact tracers
Police personnel will be tapped to trace persons who were possibly exposed to confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, Malacañang said Wednesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

Medical community representatives now part of a gov’t-led panel on COVID containment — Nograles
Representatives from different medical societies will now be part of a government-led technical panel on efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles disclosed on Wednesday.
Manila Bulletin

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PH expresses solidarity with Lebanon after massive blast
Malacañang on Wednesday expressed solidary with Lebanon after a massive explosion rocked its capital Beirut and killed at least 100 people and injured more than 4,000 others.
Philippine News Agency

PH to continue repatriation of Pinoys in Lebanon following twin blasts
Malacañang said the Philippine government will continue repatriating Filipinos in Lebanon after the deadly blasts in Beirut, Lebanon on Tuesday that left at least 70 people dead and thousands injured.
Manila Bulletin

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

VP Robredo urges employers to fight COVID-19 with technology
While science has yet to find a way to stop the coronavirus pandemic, Vice President Leni Robredo called on employers to help in the fight against COVID-19 by using technology.
Manila Bulletin

ELECTION RELATED

Comelec offices closed in areas under MECQ
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday said its offices under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) are closed.
Philippine News Agency

DISASTER

1 dead, hundreds flee from Mindanao floods
Heavy rains triggered floods in several areas in Mindanao on Tuesday, affecting thousands of residents in Davao City and the provinces of Zamboanga del Sur and Cotabato, local disaster response officials said on Wednesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

House of Representatives

House OKs proposed Bayanihan 2 on 2nd reading
The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on second reading the proposed Bayanihan to Recover As One Act, outlining P162 billion worth of response interventions to help the country recover from the COVID-19 crisis and boost the economy.
GMA News

2 more House employees test positive for COVID-19; cases now 36
Two more employees of the House of Representatives have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in the chamber to 36.
GMA News

After Duterte push, House tackles death penalty bills amid pandemic
Following the call of President Rodrigo Duterte, the House Committee on Justice on Wednesday began tackling bills pushing for the revival of the death penalty for some heinous crimes even as the country struggles against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Tackling death penalty bill an ‘unnecessary distraction’ amid pandemic — solon
Muntinlupa City Rep. Ruffy Biazon on Wednesday asked the House committee on justice to exclude his death penalty bill from the hearing agenda, saying the revival of the discussion on the matter is an “unnecessary distraction” while the country faces a public health crisis.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

House Speaker bats for swift approval of bill creating Department of Disaster Resiliency
The leadership of the House of Representatives is ready to crack the whip in pushing for the swift passage of the bill creating the Department of Disaster Resilience.
Manila Bulletin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

All pending telco, tower applications approved after 7 days: ARTA
Following the signing of a joint memorandum circular (JMC) that streamlined the processing of requirements for common towers, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) said other applications filed by telecommunications companies (telcos) and tower companies with the government shall be automatically approved after seven days.
Philippine News Agency

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Guevarra asks NBI to secure explosives in its custody
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to secure any explosives that it may have in its custody.
Philippine News Agency

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Coast Guard set to open quarantine facility by September
The Philippine Coast Guard is set to open its own quarantine facility for its personnel amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
GMA News

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Army chief's office gets ‘proficient’ status medal
The Army Governance Pathway (AGP) Proficient Status was awarded to the Office of the Commanding General of the Philippine Army (OCG, PA) on Tuesday.
Philippine News Agency

Philippine National Police

BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION

Covid-19 war chest from loans, grants now at $8.131 billion–DOF
THE Department of Finance (DOF) has already secured a total of $8.131 billion or roughly P398.7 billion in loans and grants from foreign lenders while the country is still fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.
Business Mirror

Customs surpasses July collection goal despite pandemic
The Bureau of Customs announced it surpassed its collection target for the month of July, posting P50.072-billion in revenue collection.
Manila Bulletin

BUSINESS, ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

Peso resumes appreciation, carves fresh three-year high
The Philippine peso again marked a fresh three-year high on Wednesday, following the release of local economic data.
GMA News

Inflation quickens on higher transport fares
The rate of increase in consumer prices picked up for the second straight month in July as the economy gradually reopens amid easing quarantine protocols.
Manila Bulletin

Factory output shows signs of recovery—NEDA
Factory output begun showing signs of recovery after registering slight improvements in June this year, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said yesterday. 
Manila Bulletin

Philippine trade continues to contract in June 2020
Philippine merchandise trade continued to contract in June, but at a slower rate, as the economy began to reopen after hard lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Rappler

Philippines' economic slump in Q1 2020 worse than thought
The Philippine economy contracted deeper than initially announced amid the coronavirus crisis. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Wednesday, August 5, revised the country's gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the 1st quarter of 2020 to -0.7% from the initially reported -0.2%.
Rappler

Jollibee suffers P12-B H1 loss in, sees better H2
Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) reported an attributable net loss of P11.96 billion in the first half of 2020—a 578 percent fall from the net income of P2.5 billion in the same period last year.
Manila Bulletin

SMIC posts P7.1-B net profit in H1, down 69%
SM Investments Corporation (SMIC) reported a 69 percent decline in consolidated net income to P7.1 billion in the first half of 2020 from P23.0 billion in the same period last year.
Manila Bulletin

SMFB posts P122.8-B revenues, P7.34-B net income in H1; anticipates recovery
San Miguel Food and Beverage, Inc. (SMFB) reported a 50 percent drop in net income to P7.34 billion in the first semester of 2020 from P14.7 billion in the same period last year.
Manila Bulletin

MPIC income falls 38% to P5.3 B in H1
Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) reported a 38 percent drop in consolidated core net income to P5.3 billion in the first half of 2020 from the P8.7 billion earned in the same period last year.
Manila Bulletin

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION

PhilHealth witness backs out of probe due to safety concern, says Lacson
One of the witnesses of the Senate set to testify against alleged anomalies within the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) backed out on last minute due to security reasons, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Wednesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Rappler

PhilHealth’s P45-B projection for COVID-19 claims questioned
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) P45-billion projection for claims related to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) was questioned Tuesday over possible overestimation.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News

PACC links 36 PhilHealth execs to alleged overpayments
The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) on Wednesday linked at least 36 officials of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to overpayments allegedly made to hospitals.
GMA News

Senators dismayed with ‘spineless, lax leadership’ of PhilHealth officials
Senators were dismayed with the officials of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) following their hearing Tuesday on the alleged irregularities within the agency.
Manila Bulletin

Top-level posts in PhilHealth need cleansing to stem corruption — Sotto
Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday said the top-level positions in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation must be thoroughly cleansed to put an end to corruption issues within the agency.
GMA News

Senate to look for evidence, submit report on PhilHealth 'corruption' to Duterte —Sotto
Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday said the Senate will furnish the Palace with its findings on the alleged irregularities in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
GMA News

Angara wants COA, GCG present in next Senate hearing on PhilHealth anomalies
The Senate should call for the presence of the Commission on Audit (COA), the Governance Commission on GOCCs (GCG), and the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement Service (PHILGEPS) in the next hearing to shed light on the various reports of losses and anomalies within the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said on Wednesday.
Manila Bulletin

House panel wants PhilHealth case rate policy stopped for being ‘root of corruption’
A House panel on Wednesday called for the abolition of the case rate policy in the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), citing it as the “root of corruption” in the agency.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rappler

Defensor: PhilHealth loss to overpayment, fraud at P153.7-B from 2013 to 2018
Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) lost an estimated P153.7 billion from 2013 to 2018 due to overpayment and fraud, Anakalusugan Partylist Rep. Mike Defensor said Tuesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

‘PhilHealth officials must resign due to anomalies’, farmers demand
A farmers’ group on Wednesday called for the resignation of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) officials over corruption allegations within the agency.
Manila Bulletin

From military to PhilHealth: Who is Ricardo Morales?
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is once again embroiled in a scandal involving allegations of massive corruption even as the country faces a raging pandemic. 
Rappler

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COA orders three LRTA supervisors to return P930,000 worth of gift certificates given to board of directors
The Commission on Audit (COA) has ordered three supervisors of the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) to return P930,000 in disbursements made for the purchase of bank gift certificates distributed to members of the state-run firm’s board of directors in 2013.
Manila Bulletin

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

‘Grabe 2020’: Huge Beirut blast sends netizens to the edge
Following a series of unfortunate events including the blast in Beirut that killed at least 40 people and wounded 4,000 others on Wednesday had netizens tweeting “Grabe 2020” out of frustration.
Manila Bulletin

More Filipino casualties reported in Beirut twin explosions
The number of Filipinos injured in the twin explosions in Beirut has increased to eight, with 11 others still missing, the Department of Foreign Affairs said in an updated report on Wednesday.
Manila Bulletin

OFW who survived Beirut blast: ‘I was shaking in fear’
“Nangangatog ako sa nerbiyos (I was shaking in fear),” was how Ursula Guila, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) described how she felt after Beirut, Lebanon was rocked by two enormous blasts on Tuesday.
Manila Bulletin

10 of 11 missing seafarers in Beirut found safe
Ten of the 11 Filipino missing seafarers have been found "safe and accounted for" following the deadly explosion that struck the Lebanese capital of Beirut on August 4.
Philippine News Agency

FAST FACTS: Overseas Filipino workers in Lebanon
A devastating blast in Beirut, Lebanon on the evening of Tuesday, August 4, sent literal and figurative shock waves as at least 73 were killed and thousands were injured. 
Rappler

Independent foreign policy by going ‘rogue’
In two previous articles, I discussed ways to achieve an independent foreign policy: by (a) neutrality, or (b) within the Western Alliance (PDI 03/04/20 and 07/22/20 ). The third way to pursue such a policy is through “rogue state diplomacy.”
Philippine Daily Inquirer

West Philippine Sea

Balancing or capitulation? Duterte ban on West PH Sea drills leaves gap in global move to curb China
President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to ban the Philippines from participating in West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) naval drills drew some mixed reactions, but experts agree it leaves a gap that will affect a global move to curb China. 
Rappler

LABOR

DOLE vows quick repatriation of 2 Pinoys killed in Lebanon blast
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Wednesday vowed to expedite the repatriation of the remains of the two Filipinos who are among the casualties in the explosion that rocked Lebanon's capital Beirut.
Philippine News Agency

DOLE suspends issuance of WCP
The Department of Labor and Employment National Capital Region (DoLE-NCR) has deferred the application and issuance of a working child permit (WCP).
Manila Bulletin

TRANSPORTATION

Public transport passengers required to wear face shields starting August 15
All passengers in areas where public transportation is allowed will be required to wear face shields starting August 15.
Manila Bulletin, GMA News

Free rides for health workers still on – DOTR
As all modes of public transport have been suspended under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), the Department of Transportation (DOTr) reminded its free ride program for health workers remains in effect.
Manila Bulletin

HEALTH

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Agriculture surprises with 0.5% growth in Q2 2020
Despite problems brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, Philippine agricultural production managed to grow by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter of 2020, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Rappler

Development of more Class ‘AA’ abattoirs in Region 12 pushed
The National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) is pushing for the development of more “double-A” or Class “AA” slaughterhouses in partnership with local government units (LGU).
Mindanews

DA-7 cites growth in urban agriculture under 'new normal'
Urban agriculture is gaining ground under the "new normal" as a result of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) crisis that has pushed many city dwellers to find ways to produce their own food amid the community quarantine.
Philippine News Agency

EDUCATION

22.6M learners enrolled for incoming school year: DepEd
The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday reported that 22,663,065 learners have enrolled in public and private schools nationwide for the academic year 2020-2021.
Philippine News Agency

P9 B downloaded for reproduction of self-learning modules
The Department of Education (DepEd) has downloaded  P9 billion to its local offices nationwide to help ensure the availability of self-learning modules when classes start on Aug.  24.
Manila Bulletin

Retrofitted classrooms in MGCQ areas may pave way for face-to-face learning in 2nd sem —CHED
Re-engineered classrooms could make face-to-face classes possible among higher education students at low-risk areas in the second semester, according to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on Wednesday.
GMA News

Some teachers fear getting COVID-19 from students' school work
Some teachers have expressed concern over the resumption of classes through the modular learning system of the Department of Education amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
GMA News

WATER and ENERGY

House ‘power bloc’ files ‘Three-Gives Law’
The so-called “power bloc” of the House of Representatives has batted for the passage of a bill seeking to institutionalize a three-installments payment scheme on basic utility bills during calamities.
Manila Bulletin

More comprehensive technical study pushed for Malampaya’s life extension
The country’s lawmakers as well as state-run Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC) are pushing for a more comprehensive technical study to assess the scale of extractable gas resources that shall underpin life cycle extension for the Malampaya gas field.
Manila Bulletin

Nuclear energy and PSA death statistics
Despite the incoherent rants against the country’s water, telecom, and electricity companies by President Rodrigo Duterte in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2020 last week, one good thing in his speech was the absence of reference to climate alarm and the need for more mandates, more subsidies to renewables which would mean more expensive electricity.
Business World Online

Gatchalian warns Meralco, distribution utilities against surge in electricity bills during MECQ
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday warned the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and other distribution utilities (DUs) against replicating the unexplained surge in the monthly electricity bills of energy consumers now that the government imposed another modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in Metro Manila and other provinces which are considered COVID-19 hotspots.
Manila Bulletin

POVERTY

SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

DSWD named most responsive gov’t agency
The  Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)  was recently recognized as the most responsive agency by the state-run People’s Television Network’s  “Digong 8888 Hotline” program.
Manila Bulletin

DSWD says it has distributed P63.2B under social amelioration 2nd tranche
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has distributed around P63.2 billion under the second tranche of the government’s Social Amelioration Program amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
GMA News

Over P153-M aid released to 21K indigent patients in July: PCSO
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has released over PHP153 million in medical assistance to a total of 21,240 indigent beneficiaries nationwide for July.
Philippine News Agency

DSWD-12 expands rollout of digital distribution system for SAP
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) has expanded the rollout of its digital distribution system to cover more waitlisted beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) situated in remote areas.
Mindanews

9K waitlisted families in E. Visayas receive cash aid
Some 8,957 waitlisted families in Eastern Visayas have received the PHP5,000 cash aid under the social amelioration program (SAP) of the national government, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Wednesday.
Philippine News Agency

HOUSING and SETTLEMENT

TOURISM

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY