COVID-19

Cases

Philippines’ COVID-19 cases exceed 182,000 with 4,786 new infections
The number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the country rose to 182,365 on Friday after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 4,786 new infections.
GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer

PNP records 15th COVID-19 fatality
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded its 15th Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) fatality following the death of a 52-year old male cop assigned in Mindanao.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine Star

Two more Filipinos overseas infected by COVID-19
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported Friday two new cases of coronavirus infection among Filipinos abroad. With the new cases, the total number of COVID-19 cases among Filipinos abroad has now reached 9,975, the DFA said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Department of Health

DOH to verify Ateneo study on almost 3 million unreported COVID-19 cases
Heath Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday said they will look into the study conducted by the Ateneo de Manila University-Department of Economics stating that around 3 million COVID-19 cases were unreported in the country from April to June.
GMA News

3 million unreported COVID-19 cases a 'stretch,' says UP prof
The estimation that three million Filipinos with COVID-19 remained under the radar from April to June was rather unlikely, Professor Guido David from the University of the Philippines' Institute of Mathematics said Friday.
GMA News

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COVID-19 accelerated Universal Health Care Law implementation –Duque
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Friday that the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted parts of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law that need to be "accelerated."
GMA News, CNN Philippines

Duque urges healthcare workers to be selfless, patriotic amid pandemic
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday urged healthcare workers to be "selfless" and patriotic amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
GMA News

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Health workers among those to get first shots of COVID-19 vaccine under clinical trial, says expert
Health workers will be among those who will be prioritized to join the clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines, Philippine Foundation for Vaccination president Dr. Liza Gonzales said Friday.
GMA News

FDA: No one has applied for COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials
As the world races to develop a vaccine for the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday (Aug. 21) has yet to receive any application for clinical trials in the Philippines, said FDA-Center for Drug Regulation and Research director Dr. Jesusa Cirunay in an online forum.
Manila Bulletin, GMA News

IATF/NTF COVID-19

Wearing of face shield inside commercial establishments now mandatory, says Palace
The wearing of face shields inside enclosed spaces, including malls, is now mandatory, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Friday.
GMA News

IATF approves guidelines on vaccine development
he Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases approved on Thursday the recommendations of the sub-technical working group on COVID-19 vaccine development.
Manila Bulletin

Number of COVID testing facilities now at 97, NTF spox says
The number of accredited COVID-19 testing facilities in the Philippines has increased to 97, according to National Task Force against COVID-19 spokesman retired Major General Restituto Padilla on Friday.
GMA News

Roque: PCCI welcome to join IATF as resource persons
Members of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) can serve as resource persons of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and therefore can participate in IATF meetings, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said Friday.
GMA News

P5-B additional appropriation under Bayanihan 2 will be used for contact tracing — DILG
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Friday said the P5-billion additional appropriation of the Senate and the House of Representatives under Bayanihan 2 will boost the country’s contact tracing efforts as the country continues its battle against COVID-19.
Manila Bulletin, GMA News

Regions

Luzon including NCR

Quezon City’s COVID-19 cases surge to 9,540 or 5.23 percent of national tally
The 9,540 coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) cases in Quezon City as of August 21 is 5.23 percent of the national tally of 182,365.
Manila Bulletin

17 workers at Masinloc Power Plant test positive for COVID-19
Seventeen workers of a power plant in Masinloc town of this province have been infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which broke out after one of them was first exposed to the virus.
Rappler

Pampanga records 41 new coronavirus cases, highest single-day increase
Pampanga province recorded its highest number of new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus on Thursday, August 20.
Rappler

Remote island town in Quezon records first 2 COVID-19 cases
The island town of Jomalig in Quezon province recorded its first two coronavirus disease (COVID-19) case since the pandemic broke out, local health authorities reported on Thursday (Aug. 20).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

NCR's pandemic trend decreased after two-week MECQ, says expert
The transmission of COVID-19 in Metro Manila has decreased due to the implementation of the modified enhanced community quarantine, University of the Philippines mathematics professor Guido David said Friday.
GMA News

Quarantine pass needed to enter QC establishments, shopping malls
The Quezon City government will still require residents to present their quarantine passes when entering establishments even as Metro Manila eased into the less restrictive general community quarantine (GCQ).
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

Visayas

Cebu City gov’t eyes random COVID-19 testing in establishments
The Cebu City government plans to conduct random testing in the workplaces amid reports that the community transmission has shifted to the establishments.
Cebu Daily News

Eastern Visayas hospital helps test swab samples from Bicol for COVID-19
Swab samples from Bicol have been sent to the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) here starting Tuesday for testing.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Mindanao

Region 11 COVID-19 facility utilization reach warning stage
The Department of Health (DOH) in Region 11 disclosed that the utilization capacity of COVID-19 facilities in the region has reached warning stage due to increasing number of COVID-19 cases.
PTV News

Over one-third of COVID-19 cases in Davao Region are returning residents
Close to 35 percent or 639 of the coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Davao Region were returning residents who arrived from May 16 until August 19, an official of the Department of Health (DOH) regional office said.
Mindanews

Most residents of Davao’s congested areas don’t follow anti-COVID measures
Residents in congested areas of Davao City hardly followed basic health requirements to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), resulting in more local transmissions, an official of the Department of Health (DOH)-Davao said.
Mindanews

Cagayan de Oro welcomes Iligan LSIs
This “City of Golden Friendship” is helping neighboring Iligan City in its fight against COVID-19. A team from the Cagayan de Oro Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office on Thursday fetched at least 19 returning Iligan residents at the Laguindingan airport in Misamis Oriental and brought them to a hotel here for a mandatory 14-day quarantine.
Mindanews

Diplomatic, Development and Private Sector 

New Zealand extends P64.2-M assistance to PH COVID response
New Zealand has extended more than P64.2 million in COVID-19 assistance to vulnerable communities in the country, especially in Mindanao, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Friday.
Manila Bulletin

Incidents and Violations

Hundreds of used rapid test kits dumped on Abuyog, Leyte roadside
Hundreds of used rapid test kits were merely dumped on the side of a highway in Abuyog, Leyte. According to John Consulta’s report on “24 Oras” on Friday, the local government said the test kits came from a private clinic in another district.
GMA News

Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features

Increase in COVID-19 cases due to 'genuine' surge, not PH's testing capabilities
The increase in the COVID-19 cases is due to "genuine surge" and not because of the government's testing capabilities, said former Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral and University of the Philippines OCTA Research Fellow Guido David.
CNN Philippines

[ANALYSIS] Bayanihan 2 is here, yet it’s too small, too late
After grueling debates, on Thursday, August 20, Congress finally harmonized its two versions of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (aka Bayanihan 2).
Rappler

Unhealthy lockdown lifestyles could put young people at higher COVID-19 risk – expert
Young people who are not considered vulnerable to diseases might be putting themselves at risk to the coronavirus with unhealthy lockdown lifestyles, a former health adviser to the government said.
Rappler

How to Get Employees to Report Their Covid-19 Risk
As the economy reopens, employers are striving to adopt policies and practices that protect their employees from contracting Covid-19. It’s an especially pressing concern, given that infections continue to surge in many states.
Harvard Business Review

Natural resource consumption fell amid COVID-19
Human consumption of natural resources dropped sharply in 2020 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, British daily The Guardian reported Friday, citing a new study. 
Anadolu Agency

World

Focus Friday: Top COVID-19 (coronavirus) news this week
In addition to the devastating health impacts of COVID-19, countries are also facing collateral damage to public health from disrupted health services and limited disaster preparedness response systems.  
Worldbank Blog

Africa's confirmed COVID-19 cases near 1.16 mln amid call for strong mitigation efforts
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa surged to 1,158,217 as the death toll from the pandemic rose to 26,968, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said on Friday.
Xinhua

African Union launches continental campaign to mitigate COVID-19 impact
The African Union (AU) Commission on Thursday launched a flagship campaign to intensify the continental fight against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic toward protecting African economies and livelihoods amid the easing of lockdowns.
CGTN

S.Korea reports highest COVID-19 cases since March
South Korea on Friday reported another daily record high in novel coronavirus cases following a fresh wave of the outbreak in the country, local media said.
Anadolu Agency

Wearable Tech: COVID-19 Early Warning System?
In recent years, smart technology has improved our lives for the better. ‘SMART’ refers to “self-monitoring, analysis, and reporting technology.” It is a technology that uses artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and big data analysis to provide cognitive awareness to inanimate objects.
The ASEAN Post

UK's cheap food could fuel Covid-19 spread, says WHO envoy
Britain’s demand for cheap food could be fuelling the spread of the coronavirus in factories, a leading health expert has warned, as analysis shows nearly 1,500 cases across the UK.
The Guardian

LIVE: Coronavirus stabilising in Brazil, WHO says
The coronavirus pandemic is stabilising in Brazil and any reversal of its rampant spread in the vast country would be "a success for the world", the World Health Organization said on Friday.
Aljazeera

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Duterte: Emulate Ninoy’s courage, patriotism; be heroes through discipline
President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday urged Filipinos to emulate the “courage and patriotism” of the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino in this time of pandemic as the nation commemorates his 37th death anniversary.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Rappler

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Duterte not qualified to try COVID-19 vaccine, says ex-DOH chief
President Rodrigo Duterte, despite his enthusiasm to get the first shot of Russia's COVID-19 vaccine, will not qualify to participate in the Phase 3 trials, former Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral said Friday.
GMA News

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[OPINION | Just Saying] Why I want to interview President Duterte
On August 13, 2014, I  interviewed President Benigno Aquino III. His accommodation came to me as a surprise. A year before, I  released a book entitled Read My Mind, about current affairs and politics containing a number of segments describing the ineptness of the Aquino Administration.  
Rappler

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

As we endure another dark night, we draw inspiration from Ninoy’s story — VP Leni
Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday cited the inspiring life and struggles of former Sen, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino who was assassinated at the then Manila International Airport 37 years ago.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, GMA News

ELECTION RELATED

DISASTER

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

LEGISLATIVE

COVID-19 ‘survival’ kit: What’s inside the ‘Bayanihan 2’ bill?
After a total of five bicameral panel meetings, 40 hours of deliberations and “hundreds of messages in group chats, dozens of phone calls and Zoom video conference discussions,” Congress finally came out with the final version of the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One Act.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Bayanihan 2 obligates Duterte to submit monthly report to Congress, COA
President Rodrigo Duterte will be required to submit to both Congress and the Commission on Audit (COA) a monthly report on the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic under the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or the Bayanihan 2 bill.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

POGO taxes eyed as fund source for COVID-19 response
Taxes collected from Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) may be  source of funds to to beef up the country’s response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic under the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or “Bayanihan 2”, said Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Senate of the Philippines

Drilon hits House proposal for ‘kubeta, kalsada’ under P10-B tourism aid
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Friday took a swipe at some members of the House of Representatives  for wanting to allocate the P10-billion aid for the tourism sector under the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One Act supposedly for the construction of toilets and roads.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Lacson vents ire vs. beauty company
Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, chairman of the Senate national defense and security committee, is all riled up — and blame it on a Chinese beauty product company.
Manila Bulletin

‘Radically different’ 2021 budget expected, says Angara
There will be significant changes in the priorities under the national budget for 2021 but not much increase can be expected given the economic downturn due to COVID-19, according to Senator Sonny Angara on Friday.
GMA News

2 opposition senators remember Ninoy
Two opposition senators urged Filipinos Friday to remember the heroism, indomitable spirit, and the love for country that former Sen. Ninoy Aquino exhibited during his lifetime before his tragic death in 1983.
Manila Bulletin

House of Representatives

House of Representatives reports 50th COVID-19 case
The number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the House of Representatives increased to 50 on Friday after another congressional staffer tested positive for the illness.
GMA News

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Bicam cited for House initiatives for MSMEs
The leadership of the House of Representatives lauded Friday the bicameral conference committee on the Bayanihan to Recover as One Bill or Bayanihan 2 for adopting the initiatives of the chamber to support the swift recovery of distressed micro, small, and medium enterprises that absorbed the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

Ang Probinsyano solon seeks trans-fat free PH; wants to stop sale of PHOs, food high in TFA
Ang Probinsyano partylist Rep. Ronnie Ong wants to prohibit and penalize the manufacturing, importation, distribution, and sale of partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) and fats, as well as prepackaged food with PHOs and high trans-fatty acids (TFA) content.
Manila Bulletin

House panel OKs bill creating the Bataan Rice Research and Development Center
The House Committee on Agriculture and Food has passed a bill seeking the creation of the Bataan Rice Research and Development Center, which seeks to assist rice farmers in producing and marketing rice-based products.
Manila Bulletin

House leader says 'sourgraping' Drilon used to push for budget for tourism infra, too
Deputy Speaker LRay Villafuerte shot back at Senate Minority Franklin Drilon for apparently insinuating that the House contingent’s push for a P10 billion funding for tourism infrastructure under the Bayanihan 2 law is for personal gain, saying that Senate leader used to do the same thing.
GMA News

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

LGUs should allow entry of returning residents amid COVID-19 —Palace
Local government units (LGUs) should allow entry to returning residents in their respective jurisdictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Friday. 
GMA News

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Isko asks NBI to investigate store in ‘Province of China’ issue
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the beauty store Elegant Fumes Beauty Products Inc.(EFBPI)  in Binondo which listed its address in one of its products as Manila, Province of China.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

NBI probes Binondo firm on ‘Manila Province, PR China’ labels
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has begun investigating a Binondo-based establishment which was discovered selling products with labels that indicated that Manila is a province of China.
Manila Bulletin

DOJ chief: Maker, distributor of beauty product tagging Manila as China province may be liable
The manufacturer and distributor of the beauty product whose label tagged Manila as a province of China may be liable for mislabelling, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Friday.
GMA News

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Philippine National Police

17 recovered police trainees donate plasma for critically-ill COVID patients
Seventeen police trainees who recovered from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have donated convalescent plasma to help the healing process of patients who are having difficulty dealing with the disease.
Manila Bulletin

BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION

BUSINESS, ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

Economic indicators ‘truly disturbing’ – PCCI
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country’s largest business organization, has warned that the country’s economic indicators are “truly disturbing” and called on the government to come up with a holistic approach to prevent the “continued downward spiral of the economy.”
Manila Bulletin

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION

COA: P1.83M meal expenses of PCOO bureau lacked documentation
The Commission on Audit (COA) has found that P1.83-million worth of meals served by the Bureau of Broadcast Services (BBS) – an agency under the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) – during meetings are not covered by complete documentation.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

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NBI watching PhilHealth offices to prevent destruction of documents related to anti-corruption probe
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has began watching all of the offices of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) nationwide against the possible destruction of documentary evidence concerning corrupt activities.
Manila Bulletin

Lacson, Go suspect something fishy over PhilHealth regional office's 'roof leak'
More senators expressed doubts on Friday over the roof leak that compromised some documents and computers in PhilHealth Region 1's office, hinting possible sabotage of ongoing investigations.
GMA News

Zubiri: PhilHealth 'roof leak' possibly deliberate to obstruct probe
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri on Friday said he has a hunch that the "roof leak" which destroyed several documents and computers in PhilHealth Region 1's office may have been done to hamper ongoing investigations.
GMA News

Lacson: ‘Soul-searching’ not for Duque, ‘soul-less people’ at PhilHealth
“Soul-searching is only for people who have souls.” Senator Panfilo Lacson had this to say to the “soul-less” officials from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) who he said took advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News

Corrupt officials at PhilHealth worse than COVID — Lacson
Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Friday that having corrupt officials at the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is worse than dealing with the deadly coronavirus disease.
Manila Bulletin

No to privatization, just jail corrupt PhilHealth officials — Pacquiao
Boxing icon Senator Emmanuel D. Pacquaio has thumbed down calls to privatize the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) saying doing so will go against the very purpose of providing socialized health care for all Filipinos, especially the poor.  
Manila Bulletin

Solon alleges fraud in upcasing of hospital admissions to COVID-19
Some patients may have been confined in hospitals and tagged as probable coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases as part of an upcasing scheme to get larger reimbursements from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), House Deputy Minority Leader Stella Quimbo alleged on Friday.
GMA News

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

DFA seeks Congress backing on 3rd generation shift of e-passport system
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has sought Congress’ backing to its bid to shift the country’s e-passport system to third generation wherein those who renew their passports will no longer be required to appear at the consular offices.
Manila Bulletin

West Philippine Sea

Diplomatic protest over seized ‘payaos’ won’t affect PH-China ties, says Palace
Malacañang said Friday that the diplomatic protest the Philippines filed against China will not affect the relationship between the two Asian countries.
Manila Bulletin, GMA News

LABOR

600 to 900 nurses with complete documents allowed to leave PH –DOLE
Around 600 to 900 registered nurses, who are exempted from the government’s overseas deployment ban on health workers, were allowed to leave the country, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Bello asks hospitals to increase compensation for nurses, health workers
Labor chief Silvestre Bello III on Friday appealed to private hospitals to give their nurses and health workers higher compensation amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

BI sends home nearly 10,000 foreign seafarers
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has already sent back to their home countries nearly 10,000 foreign seafarers who were stranded for many weeks aboard cruise ships that were anchored at the Manila Bay since April due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

DOLE to handle P3-B aid for displaced tourism workers —Angara
The proposed P3 billion assistance to displaced tourism workers under the Bayanihan to Recover as One bill or Bayanihan 2 will be handled by the Department of Labor and Employment, Senator Sonny Angara said Friday.
GMA News

TRANSPORTATION

HEALTH

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Pilmico, DAR join hands to help farmers
Pilmico Foods Corporation, the integrated agribusiness and food company of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc., has partnered with the Department of Agrarian Reform to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities to 1,200 farmers amid the current health crisis.
Manila Standard

EDUCATION

Teachers call for supplemental budget to ensure Oct. 5 school opening
A federation of teachers on Friday underscored the need for a supplemental budget to help ensure school opening – which was postponed twice already – will push through on Oct. 5.
Manila Bulletin

Group raising funds for continued education of marginalized students amid pandemic
A child rights group on Friday urged donors to support a fund-raising initiative to help children from low income families as well as those living in marginalized areas to continue their education through online and modular learning during the pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

Are there safeguards vs online sexual exploitation as children shift to distance learning?
A chorus of criticism may have forced the Department of Education (DepEd) to delay the start of school year, but advocacy groups are concerned about what they called “major failings” in the government’s approach to protecting students from sexual exploitation as they shift to online learning. 
Rappler

The Pandora’s box of pandemic-era DepEd
In teaching the myth of Pandora’s box, the discussion is often concluded with Hope, one of the many things Pandora would unleash, as a consolation.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

WATER and ENERGY

Group wants relief from power bills; Meralco asks users to consider supply chain
A consumer group has urged the government to impose a moratorium on Manila Electric Corporation (Meralco) bills until the quarantine periods due to the COVID-19 pandemic are lifted.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

‘Resolve More Power vs. PECO case,’ Iloilo City consumers urge SC 
About 65,000 electricity consumers in Iloilo City have asked the Supreme Court (SC) to settle immediately the legal issues between two distribution utilities – franchise holder More Electric and Power Corp. (More Power) and the Panay Electric Co. (PECO).
Manila Bulletin

POVERTY

SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

DSWD urges LGUs to complete uploading of SAC forms of 119,411 SAP 2 beneficiaries, validation of 167,537 recipients
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Friday that more than 119,000 Social Amelioration Card (SAC) forms of beneficiaries in the second tranche distribution of emergency cash subsidies under the national government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP) have yet to be uploaded by the local government units (LGUs), while over 167,000 names of SAP 2 beneficiaries have yet to be validated.
Manila Bulletin

DSWD’s ‘Listahanan’ now a critical gov’t service
Malacañang said the  National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) or the “Listahanan” of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has been recognized as a critical government service of the government’s pandemic task force.
Manila Bulletin

DSWD extends assistance to Masbate earthquake victims
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Friday (August 21) that assistance has been extended to the families affected by the magnitude 6.6 earthquake that struck Masbate province on August 18.
Manila Bulletin

HOUSING and SETTLEMENT

TOURISM

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY