COVID-19

Cases

DOH counts more than 17,000 new COVID-19 recoveries in the PH
The Department of Health (DOH) said that it recorded more than 17,000 new COVID-19 survivors that resulted in the nationwide recovery count to move upward to 293,075 on Sunday, Oct. 11.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer

No new Covid-19 deaths among overseas Filipinos
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Sunday reported no new recoveries and deaths from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) among Filipinos abroad.
Philippine News Agency

Department of Health

IATF/NTF COVID-19

COVID-19 vaccine funding needs approval in 2021 nat’l budget
The country has covered all bases in getting access to potential coronavirus vaccines but will need the approval of the proposed 2021 national budget for the funding allocation, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said.
Manila Bulletin

Gov’t to ease outbound travel restrictions on Filipinos wishing to reunite with foreign partners
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles disclosed Saturday that the government’s pandemic task force has approved in principle the easing of outbound travel restrictions on Filipinos wishing to reunite with their foreign partners.
Manila Bulletin

Regions

Luzon including NCR

Shorter curfew hours, staggered work shifts in Metro pushed
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the curfew hours in Metro Manila can be gradually eased but urged businessmen to allow workers to report in staggered shifts to avoid a “rush hour” that would violate physical distancing measures.
Manila Bulletin

9 more Tarlaqueños beat coronavirus
The number of Tarlaqueños who survived the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) continued to rise with nine new recoveries confirmed by the Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday.
Philippine News Agency

Baguio City explores AI technology in COVID-19 fight
The country’s Summer Capital is leaving no stone unturned in the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). On top of the established testing procedure topbilled by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), which is the gold standard for testing COVID-19, the city government is also exploring other emerging technologies on virus detection.
Manila Bulletin

Visayas

Lapu-Lapu records zero new COVID-19 cases for first time
The City of Lapu-Lapu in Cebu, for the first time, recorded zero new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, October 10. This is according to data released by the Department of Health Central Visayas.
Rappler

Close to 1.8K market vendors in Bacolod undergo swab test
A total of 1,786 vendors and occupants of three major public markets in this city underwent swab test for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) on Saturday.
Philippine News Agency

Mindanao

CDO’s COVID-19 cases breach 1,000-mark
Cagayan de Oro’s COVID-19 cases have breached the 1,000-mark after a 37-year old female patient and her husband tested positive, Dr. Joselito Retuya, chief of the City Health Office (CHO) said.
Mindanews

Public school teacher suspected to have died of COVID-19
Local health authorities here have launched contact-tracing on at least 16 people, who were exposed to a public school teacher who succumbed to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) last October 9.
Manila Bulletin

Diplomatic, Development and Private Sector 

Incidents and Violations

Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features

Virus that causes Covid-19 can survive up to 28 days on surfaces, scientists find
Australian scientists have found that the virus that causes Covid-19 can survive for up to 28 days on surfaces such as the glass on mobile phones, stainless steel, vinyl and paper banknotes.
The Guardian

Public must help curb COVID-19 misinformation as many still believe they cannot catch it: Task force
With the SARS-CoV-2 virus continuing to spread at an alarming rate, more and more public figures are contracting COVID-19, including United States President Donald Trump.
The Jakarta Post

COVID-19 coverage safety net has plenty of holes in US
COVID-19 can do more than torment patients physically. It also clobbers some financially. Even though many insurers and the U.S. government have offered to pick up or waive costs tied to the virus, holes remain for big bills to slip through and surprise patients.
ABC News

World

Trump: ‘I am immune’ from Covid-19
US President Donald Trump on Sunday declared himself immune from COVID-19 as he prepareD to return to the campaign trail in a fight to regain ground against surging White House rival Joe Biden.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Study finds 40 percent of homeless in greater Paris test positive for Covid-19
Homeless people in the Paris region have high rates of Covid-19 infection, according to a study published October 6, prompting the medical institute and NGOs behind the report to call on the government to provide more emergency shelter before winter arrives.
France24

Czech Republic goes from model Covid-19 response to brink of second lockdown
The Czech Republic could be set for a second lockdown following a dramatic rise in Covid-19 infections that has transformed it into Europe’s fastest growing outbreak just months after being hailed as one of the continent’s success stories in managing the pandemic.
The Guardian

Lebanon to lock down nearly 170 districts in virus fight
Almost 170 Lebanese villages and towns will go into lockdown for the next week, the government said on Sunday, as it grapples with record numbers of novel coronavirus cases.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

COVID-19: India’s infection count surpasses 7M
India’s coronavirus cases crossed the 7 million mark Sunday with more than 74,000 additional infections, according to the Health Ministry.
Anadolu Agency

French healthcare workers testing for Covid-19 are working overtime to meet demand
France’s strategy for curbing the spread of Covid-19 depends on people getting tested when they have virus symptoms or have been in contact with someone who tested positive. Nurses and scientists are working overtime to collect and analyse the tests as fast as possible.
France24

Cambodian farmers deploy scarecrows to ward off virus
Armed with a stick, a floral-shirted scarecrow with a plastic pot for a head stands guard in front of a rural Cambodian home — a sentry erected by superstitious farmers to ward off the coronavirus.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Duterte sincerity reason why ratings high, also he is not fake – Nograles
President Duterte is no Superman but has shown sincere leadership in addressing the challenges arising from coronavirus pandemic head-on, according to Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles.
Manila Bulletin

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Pulse Asia chief stands by integrity of surveys
Pulse Asia research Inc. President Ronald Holmes is standing by the integrity of a recent survey which showed that nine of 10 Filipinos approved the performance of President Rodrigo Duterte amid the prevailing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
Philippine News Agency

The sociology of opinion surveys
As a sociologist, I am sometimes asked what I think of the approval ratings politicians and government officials get in opinion surveys. The interest, typically, is in the plausible reasons for the “very high” or “very low” ratings that are reported (particularly when these appear to defy expectations), and not so much on the conditions that may have shaped these results.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

OVP to launch ‘simplified’ website showing COVID-19 status of LGUs
A new simplified website that will show how local government units (LGUs) are dealing with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) based on international standards will be launched by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Monday, Vice President Leni Robredo said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Virus test success measured by number of close contacts tested — Robredo
It may be easy to think that the country is already doing well in its fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic with millions of tests done, but for Vice President Leni Robredo, the yardstick should be on how many tests are being conducted on the close contacts of COVID-19 positive patients.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

VP Leni appeals to business owners on 13th month deferment idea
Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday appealed to business owners not to take advantage should the deferment of payouts of the 13th month bonus of their workers pushes through.
Manila Bulletin

Robredo to government, private companies: No Christmas parties for now
As the holiday season approaches amid a pandemic, Vice President Leni Robredo is asking government offices and private companies not to have Christmas parties and just save their money.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Leni: Modernization of jeepneys must ensure no driver will be left behind
The modernization of jeepneys will be “unfair” to drivers and operators who couldn’t yet afford to upgrade their vehicles due to the coronavirus pandemic, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Sunday, Oct. 11.
Manila Bulletin

ELECTION RELATED

Justice prejudged Marcos poll protest
The fate of the election protest of former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had already been decided by its ponente long before the case was assigned to him.
The Manila Times

DISASTER AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

SC harmonizes rules on notice of disallowance
The Supreme Court (SC) has harmonized its previous decisions and came up with a clear set of rules on the return of illegally disbursed public funds and the liability of those involved in the transactions.
Manila Bulletin

Encouraging reactions from SC, DOJ, and bar
Encouraging were the reactions to my last two columns on prosecutors and lawyers. On Oct. 4, I humbly proposed guidelines on how prosecutors could be deterred from “filing frivolous, reckless, malevolent, and politically-motivated charges.” Earlier, on Sept. 27, I wrote that the Supreme Court’s short shrift of facially baseless petitions would “differentiate shysters… from trustworthy lawyers…”
Philippine Daily Inquirer

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

COVID-19 response may be hampered by a possible reenacted budget, Sen. Lacson warns
Senator Panfilo Lacson on Sunday, Oct. 11, warned that the government’s response on the COVID-19 pandemic may be hampered if Congress fails to pass the proposed P4.5-trillion General Appropriations Act (GAA) on time.
Manila Bulletin

Drilon proposes holding of special session from Nov. 9 to 13
To guarantee the approval of the proposed PHP4.5 trillion national budget for 2021 on time, Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon proposed the holding of a special session from Nov. 9 to 13.
Philippine News Agency

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Angara pushes for survivorship benefits for members of NPS
Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara has filed a bill pushing for the grant of survivorship benefits to the members of the National Prosecution Service (NPS).
Manila Bulletin

House of Representatives

Velasco supporters planning to install him as Speaker Monday
Supporters of Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco are planning to install the congressman as Speaker of the House at 10 a.m. Monday.
Manila Bulletin

‘Politics later:’ Cayetano allies want no talk of leadership change in special session
Budget first. Politics later. This was the call of House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano’s allies as they pushed for a special session that is free from talks regarding the power struggle in the lower chamber, saying a leadership change would only disrupt the timely passage of the 2021 national budget.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

200 representatives back Lord Allan ahead of Speakership showdown — solons
At least two congressmen claimed over the weekend that Speakership aspirant, Marinduque lone district Rep. Lord Allan Velasco has secured enough votes to win the House’s top post, with one of them claiming that he has gained the backing of at least 200 House members.
Manila Bulletin

Atienza says Duterte call for Congress special session repudiates Alan Peter
Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza said the call of President Duterte on Congress to conduct a four-day special session starting Oct. 13 to ensure the immediate passage of the P4.506-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) is clearly the Chief Executive’s outright rejection of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano’s “highly irregular” cancellation of House sessions until Nov. 16.
Manila Bulletin

House won’t allow reenacted budget – Yap
Appropriations committee chairman ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Go Yap said Sunday that President Duterte’s rather grim warning to the House of Representatives regarding the impasse on the 2021 national budget need not come to pass.
Manila Bulletin

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Bill providing enhanced benefits for media workers filed
House Deputy Speaker Camarines Sur  Rep. Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte Jr. has filed a measure seeking to provide enhanced protection, security, and benefits for media workers. 
Manila Bulletin

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Solon calls out SSS over delayed pension of retirees
Quezon City Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo called out the Social Security System Sunday  over the delayed release of pension benefits of retirees and the confusion on the payment of pension benefits.
Manila Bulletin

Conflict of interest, unanswered questions prompt solons to suspend FDA vape and heated tobacco public consultation
Members of the House of Representatives moved to suspend the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) virtual public consultations on the guidelines for e-cigarettes and heated tobacco product (HTPs) as FDA admitted that it received funding from international anti-tobacco organizations raising questions on possible conflict of interest.
Manila Bulletin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Bilibid riot started by Sigue Sigue Sputnik gang members — report
So how did the riot inside the Maximum Security Compound of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) start? It was started by members of the Sigue Sigue Sputnik gang in retaliation for fellow members who got killed, a report provided by an insider to INQUIRER.net said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Philippine National Police

Facebook takes down three fake accounts that used Cascolan’s name for money-making activities
Three fake Facebook accounts using the name of Philippine National Police chief, Gen. Camilo Pancratius Cascolan, have been shut down for allegedly engaging in illegal money-making activities.
Manila Bulletin

PNP personnel to assist national ID registration
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan has ordered all police commanders to help secure the National ID System registration that will start in 32 provinces on Oct. 12, the Joint Task Force Covid Shield said on Sunday.
Philippine News Agency

BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION

VAPP forms now available online – BIR
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) announced the availability of forms for taxpayers applying for the Voluntary Assessment and Payment Program (VAPP).
Manila Bulletin

BUSINESS, ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS

Concreting of access road to Ganano Falls in Quirino completed
The concreting of the access road leading to the Ganano Falls in Diffun, Quirino has been completed,the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Sunday.
Manila Bulletin

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

West Philippine Sea

LABOR

OFWs sent back home now total 248,469
Nearly 250,000 overseas Filipino workers who have returned to the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic have been transported back to their respective provinces, the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said Sunday, Oct. 11.
Manila Bulletin

Proposal to allow deferment of 13th month pay illegal — Drilon
Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon on Sunday, Oct. 11, reiterated that the proposal to allow distressed companies to defer the payment of 13th month pay is illegal and consenting to such a plan could set a dangerous precedent.
Manila Bulletin

TRANSPORTATION

Allowing motorcycle taxis will save jobs: Recto
Government should allow motorcycle taxis back on the streets to expand the transport options of millions and restore the livelihood of tens of thousands, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said on Sunday.
Philippine News Agency

HEALTH

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Masbate solon says animal biotechnology key to PH food security
Masbate Rep. Elisa “Olga” Kho has cited the importance of animal biotechnology in improving the health and welfare of animals and in ensuring the country’s food security. 
Manila Bulletin

EDUCATION

TESDA face-to-face training, assessment in GCQ, MGCQ areas allowed
Face-to-face training and assessment by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) bound for abroad are now allowed in General Community Quarantine (GCQ) and Modified General Community Quarantine areas in the country. 
Manila Bulletin

WATER and ENERGY

Ipo Dam hits spilling levels, emergency water discharges done
The water in Ipo Dam has reached spilling levels, prompting authorities to conduct emergency water discharges at around 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11.
Manila Bulletin

POVERTY

SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

HOUSING and SETTLEMENT

BP2 resettlement to rise in Zambo Norte town
The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) announced over the weekend that a model of the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) resettlement area in Mindanao will soon rise in the middle of a forested area in the town of Kalawit, Zamboanga del Norte.
Philippine News Agency

TOURISM

DOT joins private sector in ‘Ingat Angat’
The Department of Tourism (DOT) is one with the private sector in supporting the Ingat Angat campaign to boost the country’s economic recovery, while keeping the health and well-being of Filipinos a priority.
Manila Bulletin

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

DENR: Gov’t programs, initiatives leaning toward declaration of climate emergency
Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu has assured that programs and initiatives prepared by the government are leaning toward the declaration of a climate emergency.
Manila Bulletin

Better rehab plan
On paper, the Manila Bay “beach nourishment project” looked environmentally correct: It is supposed to rehabilitate and protect the bay’s coastal resources and prevent flooding and erosion, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ FAQs.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY