COVID-19

Cases

DOH reports 3,379 new COVID-19 cases; total now 122,754
The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed another 3,379 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines on Friday, August 7. 
Manila Bulletin, CNN Philippines

DFA reports 18 new COVID-19 cases among Filipinos abroad
The Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday reported 18 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, one new death and 19 new recoveries among Filipinos abroad, bringing the total number of cases among Filipinos worldwide to 9,710. 
Manila Bulletin

PH with highest COVID-19 cases in SE Asia? DOH cites different ‘settings’
Comparing the number of coronavirus disease 2019 cases in the Philippines with those of other countries should be made with caution as there are different factors that should be considered in making such a comparison, the Department of Health said Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Not true PH surpassed Indonesia in COVID cases — Palace
It is “not true and conclusive” the Philippines has surpassed Indonesia in having the most coronavirus cases since the country is simply testing three times more than its neighbor, Malacañang said Friday.
Manila Bulletin, Rappler, Philippine Star

Department of Health

DOH: Pooled testing only efficient in low-prevalence areas
The use of pooled testing in screening individuals for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) will only be efficient in low-prevalence areas, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Clinical trials in PH for Japan’s antiviral drug to start on August 10 — DOH
The clinical trials in the Philippines for the Japanese antiviral flu drug Avigan will start on August 10, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

Gov’t assures proper health care for all despite current high occupancy of Metro hospitals 
The country would not reach the scenario wherein the medical workers would be forced to make a difficult decision of who lives or dies among coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients, the Department of Health (DOH) assured on Friday, August 7.
Manila Bulletin

DOH to start door-to-door visits of high-risk areas in Metro, Calabarzon
If you live in a coronavirus high-risk area in Metro Manila or Calabarzon, expect a visit from the Department of Health (DOH) in the next two weeks as the agency kicks off with the Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (CODE) protocol to check for COVID-19 cases.
Rappler

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Doctors, nurses in rural areas oppose government’s plan for them to substitute for NCR medical workers
Doctors and nurses in the rural areas of the country are opposing the government’s plan to pull them out of their communities and substitute for medical workers in the National Capital Region (NCR) saying this will put geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) at risk of COVID-19.
Manila Bulletin

Use Facebook, other social media platforms for contact tracing, DOH told
The Department of Health (DOH) should take advantage of social media in contact tracing people infected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and those they had close interaction with, Anakalusugan Partylist Rep. Mike Defensor said Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

IATF

Lack of health workers in hospitals, labs is ‘biggest challenge’ in COVID-19 response — testing czar
The Philippines’ may have the highest COVID-19 testing capacity in Southeast Asia, but even the country’s testing czar would admit that it is still not enough to isolate and trace infected individuals nationwide.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Año: No country can claim success in addressing COVID-19
No country has claimed success in addressing the coronavirus disease pandemic, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Año ‘optimistic’ 15-day MECQ will slash number of COVID-19 infections
Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año on Friday said he is optimistic that the stricter lockdown in Metro Manila and in nearby areas will slow down the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

IATF allows limited movement of SAP beneficiaries to avail subsidy
Limited movement of beneficiaries of the social amelioration program (SAP) have been allowed to enable the unimpeded distribution of cash subsidies despite the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) placed over several areas.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

Año stands by motorbike barrier rule: ‘COVID infection will change critics’ perspective’
Wait until you get infected with COVID-19 and then comment and criticize the mandatory use of barriers  for motorcycle pillion riding (back-riding),  Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Friday amid sustained criticism.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Stricter protocols for businesses due once lockdown measure are lifted
A new set of protocols for workplaces will be imposed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) once stricter lockdown measures are lifted in economic hubs to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

‘Donor fatigue’ sets in among companies – Concepcion
Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion yesterday said “donor fatigue” has started to set in the Philippine corporate world as Go Negosyo mounts a much bigger project – PCR Pooled Testing – that calls for another round of donations from the private sector. 
Manila Bulletin

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‘Frustrating,’ Magalong says of patchy contact tracing efforts of some LGUs
Some local government units have only traced around four to five close contacts of patients confirmed to have the coronavirus disease, COVID-19 contact tracing czar and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Regions

Luzon including NCR

COVID-19 infects 8 more Tarlac cops
Eight more cops of Bamban town in Tarlac province tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Friday (August 7) after being exposed to their fellow police.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Ex-Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim contracts COVID-19
Former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim is confined at a hospital after contracting the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).
Manila Bulletin

Stricter quarantine imposed on 4 Ilocos Sur areas
The cities of Vigan and Candon and the towns of Magsingal and Caoayan in Ilocos Sur were placed under stricter quarantine from Aug. 7-21.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Caceres bishop suspends traditional visit to image of Our Lady of Penafrancia after 2 priests get COVID-infected
Caceres Archbishop Rolando Tirona has suspended the traditional “Pagsungko ni Ina” (the visitation of the image of Our Lady of Penafrancia) in all parishes in his archdiocese after two of their priests tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Manila Bulletin

About 1 in 10 Baguio City resident has been tested for coronavirus
A silver lining in the heightened number of positive COVID-19 cases in Baguio is that the city has already tested almost a tenth of its residents.
Rappler

Visayas

Bacolod city gov’t employee succumbs to Covid-19
Mayor Evelio Leonardia has expressed appreciation to the service rendered by a city government employee who died of pneumonia due to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) on Thursday.
Philippine News Agency

Labella: Drop in COVID-19 cases resulted from Cebuanos show of discipline
Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella credited the Cebuanos show of discipline for the massive drop in new cases of the coronavirus disease in the past days.
Cebu Daily News

Garganera: EOC is working with DOH-7 to harmonize ‘conflicting’ COVID-19 data
More than four months have passed since cases of the coronavirus disease were first reported in Cebu City. But to date, there is still conflicting data on the number of cases reported in the city based on the monitoring of the Cebu City government and the Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7).
Cebu Daily News

Bohol gov places village on lockdown due to death of resident with COVID-19
A resident of Bien Unido town in Bohol succumbed to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the fifth in the province since the pandemic started.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Mindanao

DAPECOL employee tests positive of Covid-19
Health authorities in Davao Region are now tracing who had come in close contact with an employee from Davao Penal Colony (DAPECOL) of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCOR) who recently tested positive of Covid-19.
Mindanews

Diplomatic, Development and Private Sector 

PH assured of priority in COVID vaccine
The Chinese government on Friday assured  the Philippines that it  will be considered as a priority in getting the vaccine against COVID-19.
Manila Bulletin

Russia offers to share with PH its newly developed COVID-19 vaccine
The Philippine government on Friday welcomed the offer of Russia to supply the Philippines with a potential COVID-19 vaccine and to help the country in its fight against the pandemic. 
Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer

1,000 Angkas drivers to provide free rides for health frontliners in Metro Manila
Motorcycle ride-hailing service Angkas has assigned its 1,000 riders to transport medical frontliners in Metro Manila to their workplaces and on their way home for free, amid the suspension of mass transport in Metro Manila and nearby provinces under the modified enhanced community quarantine.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

Incidents and Violations

UN reports sharp increase in cybercrime during pandemic
A 350% increase in phishing websites was reported in the first quarter of the year, many targeting hospitals and health care systems and hindering their work responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.N. counterterrorism chief said Thursday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features

Asymptomatic coronavirus carriers have high viral loads — study
People who are infected with the coronavirus carry similar levels of the pathogen in their nose, throat, and lungs whether they have symptoms or not, a new study from South Korea showed Thursday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Bloodlust
As if Filipinos were not afraid enough of dying from COVID-19, a few days ago a factotum of the Quezon City government threatened those who would violate guidelines of the modified enhanced community quarantine that they would be subjected to “shoot-to-kill” orders.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

World

COVID-19: Lift sanctions ‘bringing suffering and death’, urge UN rights experts
A group of UN independent human rights experts have called on countries to lift – or at the very least, ease – sanctions to allow affected nations and communities access to vital supplies to fight against the global coronavirus pandemic.
United Nations

More COVID-19 cases reported in Asia-Pacific as India's total infections cross 2-million mark
Asia-Pacific countries reported more confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday as India became the third country in the world with over 2 million cases.
Xinhua

Focus Friday: Top COVID-19 (coronavirus) news this week
This week, public health experts discuss the risks of obesity while fighting COVID-19 and the impact of the pandemic on essential health services for women and children.  Meanwhile, as coronavirus infections continue to rise in India, one state has established an effective procurement model for medical supplies.
The World Bank Group

'We're still so tired': Europe's doctors brace for second Covid-19 wave
During the initial peak of Spain’s Covid-19 pandemic in the spring, the virus displayed an unexpected mercy. In its spread, ferocity and awful novelty, it left health workers too tired and overwhelmed to look beyond the next few hours.
The Guardian

Facebook’s dilemma: How to police claims about unproven COVID-19 vaccines
Since the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus an international health emergency in January, Facebook Inc has removed more than 7 million pieces of content with false claims about the virus that could pose an immediate health risk to people who believe them.
The Jakarta Post

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Duterte to deliver next speech from Davao City on Monday
President Rodrigo Duterte is set to deliver his next public address from Davao City on Monday, Malacañang said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Duterte creates task force to probe PhilHealth irregularities
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) to create a task force that would look into the alleged irregularities hounding the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

PhilHealth is hopeless, scrap it and establish a new firm –Roque
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque is still in favor of the proposed abolition of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in the wake of allegations of corruption hounding the state firm.
Manila Bulletin

‘Tapos na ang maliligayang araw niyo,’ Roque tells ‘buwayas’ in PhilHealth
Good riddance. This was how presidential spokesperson Harry Roque summed up the message behind President Duterte’s creation of a high-level task force to probe alleged corruption within the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Palace on Cardema return in NYC: No one can question President’s prerogative
No one can question the President’s prerogative to appoint individuals to certain government positions, Malacañang said Friday as it defended the return of Ronald Cardema at the National Youth Commission (NYC).
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

ELECTION RELATED

DISASTER

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

Kiko wants tax breaks for Filipino makers of essential medical supplies
Senator Francis Pangilinan has filed a bill seeking to grant tax exemptions to Filipino manufacturers of medical products to ensure sufficient supply during the coronavirus pandemic and similar health emergencies in the future.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

Expedite SAP 2 to help poor Filipinos cope with recession, gov’t urged
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said the government should release the second tranche of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) to help families severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic cope with the economic recession.
Manila Bulletin

De Lima confident gov’t can balance the need to address recession and stop COVID-19
Opposition Senator Leila de Lima on Friday expressed confidence that the government can strike a balance between successfully battling the COVID-19 pandemic and reviving the economy.
Manila Bulletin

Poe pushes bill seeking additional protection, aid for OFWs
Sen. Grace Poe has urged .the immediate passage of her proposal that seeks to provide more protection and assistance for overseas Filipino workers who have unjustly or prematurely lost their jobs, especially amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Manila Bulletin

House of Representatives

Magna Carta bill for PDEA agents moves forward
A measure that seeks to institutionalize a Magna Carta of benefits for the officers and personnel of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has moved forward in the House of Representatives.
Manila Bulletin

Solon seeks doubling of senior citizens’ stipend
Another measure has been filed in the 18th Congress for the purpose of helping senior citizens endure the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

Rep. Romulo to DepEd: Postpone class opening if you’re not ready
Amid persisting doubts on the Department of Education’s ability to carry out the upcoming school year, a House panel on Thursday nudged the agency to consider postponing the scheduled August 24 opening of classes in the country.
Manila Bulletin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

NBI seeks documents to determine alleged death of ex-Wirecard exec
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has summoned City Health Officer and the Civil Registrar of Parañaque City to submit the death certificate and other relevant documents related to the reported death of a certain Christopher Reinhard Bauer who, according to reports, was the businessman linked to the Wirecard scandal involving over €1-billion.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Philippine National Police

PNP records 27 new COVID-19 cases
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday recorded 27 new cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among its employees, bringing the total number to 2,434.
GMA News

BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION

BIR assigns single RDO office for medicine traders’ tax dealings
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has instructed manufacturers, importers and dealers of selected prescription drugs and medicines exempted from value-added tax (VAT)  to get the Authority to Import Goods (ATRIG) from the revenue district office (RDO) having jurisdiction over the port of entry.
Manila Bulletin

SBMA: Ammonium nitrate stored safely at Subic port
After the Beirut explosion, officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) were quick to assure the public that the ammonium nitrate kept inside the Subic Bay Freeport is properly stored and monitored.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

BUSINESS, ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

MECQ hopefully for 2 weeks only — DTI chief
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez on Friday expressed hope that the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) imposed in Metro Manila will only be for two weeks so as not to further affect small businesses.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

How To Have Better Customer Conversations During The Covid-19 Crisis
The Covid-19 crisis has caused so much disruption and uncertainty for everyone in all aspects of work and life. When talking to customers, it can be hard to know how to strike the right balance between acknowledging the crisis and focusing on business. 
Forbes

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION

‘Drastic reforms needed to cleanse Philhealth of systemic corruption’ — Lacson
Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Friday reiterated his call for the government to pursue drastic measures in cleansing the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) of systemic corruption as members of the state health insurance agency are now starting to lose interest in paying their insurance premiums.
Manila Bulletin

Morales declines to resign from PhilHealth
Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) President Ricardo Morales said that he would not step down from his post as he has yet to curb the irregularities in the agency. 
Manila Bulletin

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

West Philippine Sea

Locsin, Pompeo talk about maritime cooperation, South China Sea
US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. spoke over the phone on Thursday, August 6, concerning the recent change in the policy of the United States on maritime claims in the South China Sea.
Manila Bulletin

‘Westerners don’t think much of prospects in South China Sea,’ says Locsin
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Friday said Westerners have “very little interest” in conducting marine surveys of the South China Sea in reaction to the reported presence of a Chinese survey vessel in the Reed Banks located within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). 
Manila Bulletin

Locsin cautions China foreign ministry official ‘not to read too much’ in PH not joining maritime drills in South China Sea
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has cautioned a Chinese foreign ministry official from “reading too much” into a simple directive of President Duterte for the Philippines not to join the navies of other countries in maritime drills in the South China Sea.
Manila Bulletin

How COVID-19 Complicates Vietnam’s South China Sea Efforts
2020 is a crucial year for Vietnam’s diplomatic success — and once looked to be a promising one, with Hanoi holding the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). However, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the game.
The Diplomat

LABOR

Two more Filipino fatalities, 31 injured reported in Beirut twin blasts
The number of Filipino fatalities from the Beirut twin explosions has increased to four, while the number of injured reached 31, the Department fo Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported on Friday.
Manila Bulletin

OFWs in Beirut call for help, assure families after twin blasts
Of 135 dead and thousands injured, 4 Filipinos were killed and 31 more injured after 2 enormous explosions rocked the city of Beirut last Tuesday, August 4. 
Rappler

TRANSPORTATION

DOTr exec tests positive for coronavirus
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran, also the department’s spokesperson, on Friday revealed she tested positive for the coronavirus.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

TV host gives P5 M to jeepney drivers, kin of OFWs killed in Lebanon blast 
GMA host Willie Revillame on Friday donated P5 million to assist the jeepney drivers who were displaced by the COVID-19 quarantine, and a separate check to the families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who died in the blast in Beirut, Lebanon this week.
Manila Bulletin

HEALTH

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Group says farmers lost P75B due to rice liberalization law
The rice price watch group Bantay Bigas estimated that rice farmers lost about P75 billion in income in most parts of 2019.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

EDUCATION

Lack of resources ‘biggest challenge’ for parents, students, teachers
The lack of resources amid the ongoing public health situation caused by COVID-19 is the “biggest challenge” for many parents, students, and teachers as they prepare for the opening of a new school year.
Manila Bulletin

Education stakeholders warn of ‘chaotic’ school opening
Education stakeholders on Friday warned the school opening scheduled two weeks from now will be “chaotic” with the failure of the Duterte government and the Department of Education (DepEd) to address a number of concerns including the safety of students and teachers.
Manila Bulletin

EducationUSA holds 1st virtual pre-departure orientation for 78 US-bound Filipino students
EducationUSA Philippines, one of the US State Department’s vast networks of advising centers for international students, has conducted its first-ever virtual pre-departure orientation for 78 Filipino students who are slated to continue their higher education in the United States. 
Manila Bulletin

WATER and ENERGY

DoE targets national position on nuclear energy by year’s end
THE DEPARTMENT of Energy (DoE) hopes the government can soon adopt a position on including nuclear power in the generation mix. Executive Order No. 116 signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on July 24 authorized a study on the viability of nuclear energy as a power source.
Business World Online

Energy chief says Palawan ‘open to hosting’ nuke plant
The Palawan local government has joined a short list of areas that are “open to hosting” a nuclear power plant, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said, even as the Philippines is practically still approaching square one toward the use of the socially sensitive technology.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

POVERTY

SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

SAP aid should be given to 18 million beneficiaries, says Roque
Malacañang said that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) should give the second tranche of the cash aid to all 18 million beneficiaries as it is mandated to do so by the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act.
Manila Bulletin

HOUSING and SETTLEMENT

TOURISM

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Denied access to ostriches, DENR mulls legal action
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is mulling to take legal action if its personnel will continue to be denied access to the ostriches that were seen running loose in a Quezon City village.
Manila Bulletin

Lockdown emissions fall will have 'no effect' on climate
The unprecedented fall in greenhouse gas emissions from lockdowns during the pandemic will do "nothing" to slow climate change without a lasting switch from fossil fuels, an international team of researchers said Friday, August 7.
Rappler

Right to life is highest human right – lawyer
“The highest human right is the right to life.” These are the words of lawyer Antonio Oposa, Jr., one of the foremost environmental lawyers in the world. Integral to upholding this right is accounting for what he calls “the law of life”: the land, air, and water that make human life possible. When the environment is violated, so is the right of any person to a healthy environment.
The Manila Times

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY  

DICT backs 'e-Gov' bill to improve public service amid Covid-19
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is supporting the passage of Senate Bill 1738 or the “E-Governance Act of 2020” that aims to transform the delivery of public service into the digital space.
Philippine News Agency