COVID-19

SWS: 72% of Filipinos say their families got financial aid from gov’t amid pandemic
Seventy-two percent of Filipinos said that their families received financial help from the national government amid the coronavirus pandemic, a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed Sunday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Cases

Philippines logs over 2,000 COVID-19 cases for 4th straight day
The Philippine coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tally jumped to 80,448 on Sunday after the Department of Health (DOH) announced 2,110 new cases, marking the fourth consecutive day over 2,000 new infections were reported.
GMA News, Philippine News Agency

Overseas Filipinos with coronavirus now 9,275
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported Sunday 36 more Filipinos abroad who were infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), which brings the total tally to 9,275. In its latest case bulletin, the DFA said the new cases were mostly from the Asia and the Pacific and Europe.
Philippine News Agency

PNP records 10th COVID-19 death
Another police officer has succumbed to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), bringing the number of deaths because of the coronavirus in the Philippine National Police (PNP) to 10.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News

503 frontline PCG personnel positive for COVID
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported Sunday that 503 frontline personnel tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). The PCG had 77 new cases, bringing the tally of active cases to 248. 
Manila Bulletin

PCOO reports 2 more COVID cases at main office; agency's total up to 25
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar announced Sunday afternoon that two more staff members have contracted coronavirus, bringing the total infections to 19 at their main office.
GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Department of Health

IATF

Regions

Baguio City COVID-19 watch: 14 more residents test positive
Fourteen residents tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019  (COVID-19) on Saturday, July 25, 2020, the largest number to be recorded in a single day in the summer capital.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

NegOr reports 10 new Covid-19 cases
The province of Negros Oriental has recorded 10 new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases as the numbers continued to rise over the past week.
Philippine News Agency

Oriental Mindoro’s provincial administrator tests positive for COVID-19
Oriental Mindoro provincial administrator Dr. Hubbert Christopher Dolor has tested positive for the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), his brother Governor Humerlito Dolor said in a post on social media at noon on Sunday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Pampanga vice mayor contracts COVID-19
City of San Fernando Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). He is the second elected official in Pampanga province to contract the virus.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

COVID-19 WATCH: 15 new cases in Soccsksargen, 3 recoveries
The Department of Health in the Soccsksargen region today reported 15 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total positive cases to 219. Four of the patients are from Gen. Santos City while 11 others are all from Sarangani province.
NDBC News

Covid-19 cases in Western Visayas surpass 1K mark
Total confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in Western Visayas already reached 1,036 with new 76 positive results released by four laboratory centers in the region.
Philippine News Agency

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Over 23,000 COVID-19 tests conducted in Taguig so far
The city government of Taguig has so far conducted more than 23,000 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) among its population as it continues its attempt to test 10 percent of its constituents by the end of the year.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

PCG ramps up transport of locally stranded individuals
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said that a vessel carrying three buses of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) has successfully landed at Sta. Clara Port in Barangay Jubasan, Allen town, Northern Samar on Sunday morning.
Manila Bulletin

Davao reg’l hospital running out of COVID-19 test cartridges
The Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) is running out of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cartridges for its two units of GeneXpert, which process specimens from three provinces of Davao Region and the entire Caraga Region, according to its chief of hospital Dr. Bryan O. Dalid.
Manila Bulletin

At least 5,000 LSIs from Manila expected to arrive in Mindanao
At least 5,000 Mindanawons stranded in Manila during the COVID-19 lockdowns are returning to Mindanao by boat and bus this weekend via the national government’s Hatid Tulong Program.
Mindanews

Quezon town addressing residents’ mental health issues amid pandemic 
Amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the local government of General Luna in Quezon has adopted a program to help families take care of loved ones with mental health problems.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Parts of Mandaluyong City Hall closed for disinfection
Some offices at the Mandaluyong City Hall will be closed for a week starting Monday, July 27, 2020 for disinfection amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Bulacan set to implement zoning strategy vs. Covid-19
Village chiefs in this province have been equipped with the necessary knowledge and information on how to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) at the community level.
Philippine News Agency

Baguio brings back checkpoints due to rise in Covid-19 cases
Mayor Benjamin Magalong ordered the reestablishment of checkpoints in the city’s 128 barangays following the “sharp” increase in the number of coronarivus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases.
Philippine News Agency

Jalajala implements ‘One Entry, One Exit’ policy to stem the spread of COVID-19
Although this town known as “Paraiso ng Rizal” has the lowest coronavirus cases among the 14 localities in Rizal province with only three confirmed cases, the local government here is implementing barangay border restrictions in all its villages as part of restrictive measures to stop the spread of the dreaded virus in this town.
Manila Bulletin

Diplomatic, Development and Private Sector 

‘Bounty’ feeds LSIs, IPs at Rizal Memorial stadium
As a simple means of extending help, Bounty Agro Ventures Inc. (BAVI), in coordination with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, on Sunday handed out free food to locally stranded individuals (LSIs) waiting for their turn to return to their home provinces.
Philippine News Agency

Incidents and Violations

Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features

Pandemic ushers in heightened rural repression in PH, Colombia
Attacks continue to siege rural communities with impunity, with data indicating an escalation of atrocities against farmers, indigenous peoples and their advocates amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bulatlat

ICRC keeps calm and carries on amid pandemic
IN June 2020, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) continued to support national authorities, healthcare facilities, places of detention and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Manila Times

World

Coronavirus updates: Global COVID-19 cases tops 16 million, was 15 million only 4 days ago
The novel coronavirus pandemic has now killed more than 644,500 people worldwide. Over 16 million people across the globe have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new respiratory virus, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
ABC News

North Korea declares emergency over suspected Covid-19 case
North Korea has declared an emergency and a lockdown in a border town after a person suspected of having coronavirus returned from South Korea after illegally crossing the border, state media has said.
The Guardian

Hong Kong sees spike of new COVID-19 cases
The novel coronavirus cases in Hong Kong hit another record over the past 24 hours, authorities said on Sunday. According to Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection, 133 more infections were recorded in Hong Kong, the highest daily figure since the outbreak in the city, raising the overall count to 2,506.
Anadolu Agency

Spain's toll 'only 60%' of overall deaths: COVID-19 daily bulletin
Spain's COVID-19 official death toll could be only 60 percent of the actual total, an investigation by Spanish newspaper El Pais has found. The figure only takes into account people who were diagnosed with the virus, not those who were suspected of having it but were never tested. 
CGTN

India's PM says the country's fight against Covid-19 has proven the world wrong
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has claimed that his country's response to the pandemic has defied global expectations.
CNN

Australia records 10 COVID-19 deaths on Sunday
Australia recorded 10 COVID-19 deaths on Sunday, when the country's total confirmed cases surpassed 14,000. All 10 deaths confirmed on Sunday were in the state of Victoria, with the victims aged between 40 and 80.
Xinhua

Over 5,700 COVID-19 cases recorded in Russia in the past day
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Russia rose by 5,765 in the past day to 812,485, the anti-coronavirus crisis center reported on Sunday. According to the crisis center, the daily growth rate in the past five days was estimated at nearly 0.7%.
Russian News Agency

A Big Unknown in Covid-19 Vaccine Development: How Long Will Protection Last?
If any of the most-advanced Covid-19 vaccines prove to work safely, they may protect people for months or years rather than the rest of their lives, according to emerging science and health experts.
The Wall Street Journal

Luck? Genetics? Italian island spared from COVID outbreak
Stranded on a tiny Italian island, a cancer researcher grew increasingly alarmed to hear that one, and then three more visitors had fallen ill with COVID-19. Paola Muti braced for a rapid spread of the coronavirus to the 800 closely-knit islanders, many of whom she knows well. Her mother was born on Giglio Island and she often stays at the family home with its charming view of the sea through the parlor’s windows.
Associated Press

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Palace highlights feat of Gov’t, private partnership vs COVID-19
The country has managed to stave off the “devastating” first phase of the coronavirus pandemic but must continue to work hard to limit the spread of the disease, according to a Malacañang official.
Manila Bulletin

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SONA to present programs addressing health, food, education — Andanar
Balancing government efforts to save lives and protect livelihoods will likely be part of President Duterte’s State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) on Monday as the country deals with the debilitating coronavirus pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

PCOO to hold Zoom viewing rooms for Duterte's SONA —Andanar
The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) has prepared Zoom viewing rooms for selected individuals who cannot be in the same room with President Rodrigo Duterte as he delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said.
GMA News

SONA to push through in Batasang Pambansa, for now — Cayetano
As of Sunday morning, President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) will push through at the House of Representatives—also known as Batasang Pambansa—in Quezon City, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News

Cayetano expects ‘message of hope’ from Duterte in SONA
House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said Sunday he is expecting President Duterte to deliver a “message of hope” in his fifth State-of-the-Nation Address at the Batasang Pambasan in Quezon City Monday.
Manila Bulletin

2 senators want Duterte to own up mistakes during SONA
Two opposition senators on Sunday said President Duterte should own up to the mistakes committed by his administration in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic when he delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Manila Bulletin

Recto wants to hear COVID battle plan at SONA
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Sunday said he is eager to hear President Duterte and his administration disclosing a realistic battle plan against the COVID-19 pandemic despite the lack of vaccine available for it in his fifth State-of- the-Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.
Manila Bulletin

Ditch SONA mass gatherings, help prevent COVID-19 spread, protester told
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Sunday appealed to the public to avoid mass gathering related to President Rodrigo Duterte’s penultimate State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, as it is the “fastest way” to spread the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Eleazar says COVID-19 'lone' security threat to Pres. Duterte's 5th SONA
Law-enforcement authorities will focus on the COVID-19 threat during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, Philippine National Police Deputy Chief for Operations Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar said Sunday.
GMA News

Mobile detention for ‘unruly’ protesters
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has readied 14 mobile detention in anticipation of any arrest from “unruly” protesters in the fifth State-of-the-Nation Address of President Duterte at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.
Manila Bulletin

KMU, Piston to converge at physical protest rally on SONA day
Labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno, and transport association Piston will hold a physical protest on the day President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.
GMA News

Bayan: COVID response failure, gag on dissent to highlight SONA protests
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes, Jr. on Sunday said the public outrage over the COVID-19 crisis, the resulting economic crisis, and the government’s penchant for suppressing dissent will be the highlight of the protests during President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address on Monday.
GMA News

Duterte should acknowledge shortcomings in COVID-19 efforts in SONA 2020 —IBON
President Rodrigo Duterte should acknowledge the government's shortcomings in addressing the coronavirus pandemic in his upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA), research group IBON Foundation said Sunday.
GMA News

SONA 2020: Pandemic tests, exposes ‘weaknesses’ in Duterte’s military-reliant leadership
President Rodrigo Duterte will deliver his penultimate State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday with his leadership severely put to test by a coronavirus pandemic that has infected more than 80,000 Filipinos with no signs of slowing down.
ABS-CBN News

Priest, prelates speak out on SONA
An official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has expressed hope that President Duterte’s State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) Monday  will be truthful.
Manila Bulletin

Diocese of Legazpi: Day of Prayer and Fasting on Duterte’s 5th SONA
The Diocese of Legazpi has declared a “Day of Prayer and Fasting” in all parishes in Albay on Monday, when President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to deliver his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

The state of COVID
Because of the uncertainty of the times (and possibly because a lot of people remain cooped up in their homes), more people can be expected to watch President Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address today.
Philippine Star

CWS: Duterte admin fails to protect Filipino workers amid pandemic
ON THE occasion of the fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Rodrigo Duterte Monday, July 27, 2020, the Church People-Workers Solidarity (CWS) said it is in unity with different sectors in denouncing the current administration's failure to address the miserable condition of the Filipino people amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Sunstar Bacolod

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

Robredo to attend Duterte’s SONA, virtually
On President Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Vice President Leni Robredo will not be physically present at Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.
Manila Bulletin, GMA News

Robredo wants to hear from SONA Duterte's plan on rising COVID cases
Vice President Leni Robredo wants to hear President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan in addressing the COVID-19 health and economic crisis during his 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA), amid the rising number of coronavirus infections.
GMA News

Alleged corruption in PhilHealth amid pandemic is alarming –Robredo
Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday expressed alarm over allegations of corruption in state insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
GMA News

ELECTION RELATED

DISASTER

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Cha-cha in the time of Covid
IF we are to amend or revise our Constitution, let us do it for the right reasons. If we have identified oligarchies as one of the destructive elements of Philippine society, then let us listen to proposals on provisions that address this issue. 
The Manila Times

JUDICIARY

BI main office closed on July 27-28 as 3 employees get COVID-19
The Bureau of Immigration’s (BI) main office in Intramuros, Manila will be closed on Monday and Tuesday for disinfection after three of its employees tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Solon lauds BJMP for decongesting jails
A House member advocating the release of inmates vulnerable to COVID-19 hailed on Sunday the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology for decongesting the country’s overcrowded jails.
Manila Bulletin

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

Tax incentives for doctors providing free services sought
Physicians providing free services deserve to be regonized through, among others, tax incentives, said Senator Grace Poe, who  filed Senate Bill No. 1715 or the “Physician Pro Bono Care Act” which seeks to give tax incentives to physicians rendering free services to indigent patients.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

Recto pushes better pay for State social workers
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said Sunday the government should consider giving social workers in public clinics and hospitals a salary equivalent to the pay given to nurses.
Manila Bulletin

House of Representatives

House to push for P250-B to P500-B financial war chest vs COVID-19 — Cayetano
As the second regular session of 18th Congress opens on Monday, the House of Representatives will push for a P250 billion to P500 billion financial war chest against COVID-19, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said on Sunday, July 26. 
Manila Bulletin

House enacted into law 5 SONA priority measures
A year after President Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address outlining his legislative priorities, Congress had responded by passing 10 bills and enacting five into law.
Manila Bulletin

CamSur solon pushes Senate OK of ‘new normal’ measures
House Deputy Speaker Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte Jr. urged  the Senate on Sunday to urgently pass three measures  approved by the House of Representatives that would help Filipinos adapt to the “better normal” amid the increasing COVID-19 cases in the country.
Manila Bulletin

Salceda pushes Senate OK of 5 bills approved by House
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said Sunday that he expects President Duterte to prod the Senate to immediately pass five bills approved by the House of Representatives during the first regular session of 18th Congress.
Manila Bulletin

Marinduque Rep. Velasco added to list of House delegates to SONA
House Speaker-in-waiting Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco is a late addition to the very exclusive list of House of Representatives personalities invited to attend President Duterte’s State-of-the-Nation Address at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City Monday.
Manila Bulletin

Women lawmakers to show support to local fashion industry
Women lawmakers have banded together to show their support to the local fashion industry by wearing the “Araw” brooch during the fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Duterte this Monday (July 26).
Manila Bulletin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Armed Forces of the Philippines

PH Air Force honors fallen airmen in Isabela chopper crash
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has rendered military honors to four of its personnel who perished in the tragic helicopter crash in Cauayan City, Isabela.
Manila Bulletin

Philippine National Police

BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION

BUSINESS, ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

DTI releases P5.4-B loan under P3 Program
A total of PHP5.42 billion worth of loans were released by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through its financing arm Small Business (SB) Corp., under its Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso or P3 Program as of June 2020.
Philippine News Agency

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION

Philhealth chief must ‘credibly refute’ corruption allegations or resign — Lacson
There is no other way but for Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) president Ricardo Morales to resign if he cannot refute allegations of corruption within the agency, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Sunday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Morales eyes leave while PhilHealth anomalies are probed
Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) President Ricardo Morales said Sunday that he is considering taking a leave of absence while alleged irregularities hounding the agency are being investigated.
Manila Bulletin, GMA News

COA to DND: Why spend P6.4 million for comfort rooms?
The Commission on Audit (COA) sought an explanation from the Department of National Defense (DND) over the P6.4-million cost of the renovation of its comfort rooms in 2019.
Rappler

COA: Negros Oriental gov't officials' service vehicles bought using disaster funds
The Commission on Audit (COA) found that the provincial government of Negros Oriental spent P5.67 million out of its Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF) to buy vehicles used by local politicians. 
Rappler

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

DFA: More than 100,000 stranded Filipinos abroad repatriated
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has repatriated a historic high of more than 100,000 stranded and displaced Filipinos from all over the world since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2020. 
Manila Bulletin

West Philippine Sea

LABOR

71 remains of OFWs to arrive Tuesday
From 57, there will now be 71 remains of overseas Filipino workers who died in Saudi Arabia that will be flown home on Tuesday, July 28.
Manila Bulletin

DOLE reports 106,200 OFWs back to their home provinces
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Sunday reported that 106,200 overseas Filipino workers have already been transported to their home provinces.
Manila Bulletin

TRANSPORTATION

HEALTH

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

EDUCATION

Dismissal of provisional teachers slammed
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers slammed public education agencies from various regions following the dismissal of provisional teachers and threats of displacement to some should they fail to meet a 100 percent enrollment turnout for school year 2020 to 2021. 
Manila Bulletin

ENERGY

POVERTY

PHL improves access to water, sanitation, hygiene facilities
THE Philippines made headway in providing adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities in 2019, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) Annual Poverty Indicators Survey (APIS).
Business World Online

SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

HOUSING and SETTLEMENT

TOURISM

4 Central Visayas guvs eye reopening of tourism sector
The governors of the four provinces in Central Visayas are eyeing a unified agreement to reopen the region’s tourism industry in their respective areas.
Philippine News Agency

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Include environment in COVID recovery plan, gov’t urged
Environmental advocates belonging to the EcoWaste Coalition urged the government to prioritize the environment in its coronavirus recovery plan through the adoption and implementation of key policies such as banning single-use plastics.
Manila Bulletin

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY