COVID-19

Cases

PH now has 389,725 total COVID-19 infections; 32,773 active cases
The Philippines has logged 1,594 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, raising the total number of cases to 389,725.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

7 new recoveries, 30 Covid-19 infections reported among OFWs
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday said seven new recoveries and 30 new infections were reported among overseas Filipinos, raising the total recoveries and active cases to 7,364 and 3,218, respectively.
Philippine News Agency 

PNP coronavirus recoveries now 6.8K
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has reported that 76 more police officers have recovered from the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), bringing the total number of recoveries among its ranks to 6,862.
Philippine News Agency 

DFA tally: 30 COVID-19 cases, 7 recoveries among Filipinos abroad
The Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday reported 30 new confirmed cases and seven new recoveries due to COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) among Filipinos abroad.
Manila Bulletin

Department of Health

DOH pushes for online celebration of Christmas season amid COVID-19
The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday called on the public to make use of online activities for a safer celebration of the coming Christmas season due to the threat of COVID-19.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

IATF/NTF COVID-19

Covid-19 vaccination may start by May 2021: Galvez
The vaccination program for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) could start by mid-2021, National Policy Against Covid-19 chief implementer, Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr., said on Thursday.
Philippine News Agency 

Regions

Luzon including NCR

Pasay City to hire 150 tricycle drivers as food delivery riders
The Pasay City government has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Food Panda Philippines Inc. (FPPI) to provide an alternative income opportunity to drivers or operators of tricycles in the city who are adversely affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

Visayas

Visayas IATF chief helps Pagadian City fight Covid-19
The local Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has been advised to duplicate the strategies implemented in Cebu and Bacolod in addressing the dreaded virus.
Philippine News Agency 

Cebu prov’l gov't center to move to Balamban
To make public services accessible to her constituents in the southern and northern corridors of Cebu province, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia on Thursday announced that the provincial government center will move from this capital city to Balamban town.
Philippine News Agency 

35 market vendors in Bacolod City test positive for COVID-19
At least 35 of the 2,383 market vendors in this city tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Nurse’s coronavirus infection suspends full operations of Cadiz birthing home
A nurse of the city government’s birthing home in the City of Cadiz, Negros Occidental province had been infected with coronavirus, prompting the facility to suspend some services.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Mindanao

Frontliners overworked with surge in COVID cases in Davao Region – health official
Frontline healthcare workers have been “overburdened” with the surge in new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Davao Region cases following the easing of restrictions under a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), Dr. Cleo Fe Tabada, head of the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of Department of Health-Davao, said.
Mindanews 

DOH-Davao: Many “close contacts” breach home isolation protocols
Several persons who had close contact with COVID-positive patients have been breaking the 14-day self-isolation protocols by leaving the confines of their homes, DOH-Davao assistant regional director Lenny Joy Rivera said.
Mindanews

Mayor Sara extends Safe Davao QR code use to Nov. 23
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio announced on Thursday that the mandatory use of the Safe Davao Quick Response (QR) code is extended to November 23 in view of reports on the difficulties being encountered on its registration.
Manila Bulletin

DavNor town village depopulates ASF-infected hogs
The Braulio E. Dujali, Davao del Norte Municipal Agriculturist Office (MAGRO) started Wednesday night the depopulation of African swine fever-infected (ASF) hogs.
Philippine News Agency 
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1120839

World 

US sets new record for increase in COVID-19 cases day after election
The United States set a one-day record for new coronavirus cases on Wednesday with at least 102,591 new infections and as hospitals in several states reported a rising tide of patients, according to a Reuters tally.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Denmark to cull millions of minks over mutated coronavirus
Denmark, the world’s biggest producer of mink fur, said Wednesday it would cull all of the country’s minks after a mutated version of the new coronavirus was detected at mink farms and had spread to people.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Beijing Bars Arrivals from UK, Belgium over Virus Cases
China on Thursday defended a ban on non-Chinese arrivals from Britain, Belgium and the Philippines as "reasonable and fair" as it guards against a resurgence of the coronavirus.
Asharq Al-Awsat

Paris tightens screws on virus lockdown
Paris will order food shops to close at 10:00 p.m. and outlaw nighttime food deliveries and alcohol sales, officials said Thursday, hoping to prevent people gathering at some restaurants and grocery stores despite a new coronavirus lockdown.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Delhi battling dual crises of pollution and coronavirus
India’s capital is reeling from the double impact of the coronavirus and severe air pollution, New Delhi’s chief minister warned Thursday, as the megacity reported a record jump in cases and its worst smog in a year.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Diplomatic, Development and Private Sector 

PH has over 3,600 coronavirus cases per one million population — data company
The Philippines has more than 3,600 cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) per one million population as of November 3, a German market and consumer data company reported.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MVP Group to help government distribute, store COVID-19 vaccine
The MVP Group of tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan is in talks with the government for possible participation in the logistics and warehousing requirements of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Philippine Star

Incidents and Violations

Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Duterte sarcastically urges critics of his All Souls’ Day break to kill relatives so they do visits too
As President Rodrigo Duterte’s reason for not being in Metro Manila during Super Typhoon Rolly’s onslaught — visiting his parents tomb on All Souls’ Day — did not sit well with critics, he gave them a sarcastic advice: Kill one of your relatives so you can visit someone during the All Souls’ Day.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Typhoon-hit communities to benefit from anti-insurgency funds
Communities successively hit by Typhoons Quinta and Rolly will benefit from the PHP16.4-billion anti-insurgency fund of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), Malacañang said Thursday.
Philippine News Agency 

Duterte supports SOGIE bill, not same sex marriage
President Rodrigo Duterte supports a proposed legislation which seeks to ban discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE), but is not in favor of same-sex marriage, Malacañang said Thursday.
Philippine News Agency 

Palace welcomes report citing PH as 12th safest country
Malacañang on Wednesday welcomed the recognition of the Philippines as among the Top 50 safest countries in the world based on the 2020 Global Law and Order Report by international analytics firm Gallup.
Philippine News Agency 

Palace hopes quality of life of more Filipinos to improve
Malacañang is saddened by results of a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey which showed that four out of five Filipinos said their quality of life has worsened in the past 12 months.
Philippine News Agency 

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

Robredo slams fake news on river project
Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday debunked a fake news report that she “urges local governments to invest in flood control infrastructure.”
Manila Bulletin

AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION

NBI files corruption raps vs 86 Immigration officials over 'pastillas scam'
A unit of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed Thursday corruption complaints against 86 Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials allegedly linked to the "pastillas" scheme. 
ABS- CBN 

Duterte wants revival of probe vs corruption, including PNR’s divider-less toilets
President Rodrigo Duterte is looking at reopening investigations of past corruption scandals hounding the government — including an infamous toilet project where bowls were placed side by side without dividers.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DOJ manpower enough for gov't-wide corruption probe: Guevarra
Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Thursday said the additional workload as the lead body in the government-wide crackdown on corruption will not affect his agency's efficiency.
Philippine News Agency 

De Lima urges probe on BCDA deal with Malaysian firm on SEA Games facilities
Detained Senator Leila de Lima has urged Congress to probe the reported irregularities in the joint venture agreement entered into by the Bases and Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) with Malaysia construction firm MTD Capital Berhad for the construction of the P8.51-billion sports facilities project for the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. 
Manila Bulletin

Duterte tells corrupt DPWH personnel: Resign now and face charges
Resign now and face prosecution. This was President Rodrigo Duterte’s unsolicited advice to personnel of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) who are engaged in corrupt practices.
Philippine Daily Inquirer | Philippine News Agency 

Manila suffers from unliquidated cash advances, low collection of real property taxes — COA
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso inherited from previous city executives a ton of headaches that include nearly P200 million in unliquidated cash advances, inadequately protected lease contracts and under-assessed real property units that resulted in foregone realty taxes, the Commission on Audit (COA) has revealed.
Manila Bulletin

BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION

BUSINESS, ECONOMY AND INVESTMENT

PH inflation rate accelerates to 2.5% in October – PSA
The country’s inflation sped up to 2.5% in October, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Thursday.
Data released by the PSA showed an uptick in the rate of the price increases in the country driven by higher food and non-alcoholic beverage prices.
UNTV 

BSP starts database project for SMEs
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) this month will start collecting data for its three-year credit risk database (CRD) project that will make it easier for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to access financing from banks.
Manila Bulletin

[Podcast] Lifeline needed: Small businesses struggle amid lockdowns
Small businesses continue to reel from the effects of community quarantine measures on the domestic economy, which is mired in recession. While some businesses have adapted, for instance, through the wider use of online delivery services, a granular response is needed to address specific needs of sectors as low-income families and LGBT enterprises. 
Kodao Productions 

Philippine business groups sign pledge to reduce inequality
Some of the biggest business groups in the Philippines have signed a covenant committing to address economic and social inequalities in the country, which have been heightened by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Business World 

Aboitiz Power allots P24B for 2021 capex
Aboitiz Power Corp. is allocating P24 billion for its 2021 capital expenditures, including investments in coal, battery storage and floating solar, a top executive said Thursday.
Manila Standard 

UnionBank looks to acquire digital banking license
Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) is looking to secure a digital banking license from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). In a briefing on Wednesday night, UnionBank Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Jose Emmanuel Hilado told reporters that “[a]pplying for a license for a digital bank is one of the options open for UnionBank. And if we do pursue that, that will be most likely dedicated for financial inclusion.” He pointed out that the Aboitiz-led lender could be considered a digital bank because of the digital transformation it undertook in the past years. Hilado said UnionBank already addressed most of the “pain points” for clients that only digital banks can provide, such as opening an account, transferring money, depositing checks, and buying or selling foreign exchange, using a mobile phone application.
Manila Times 

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS

DPWH says nat’l roads in Albay, Camarines Sur now passable
All national roads in Albay and Camarines Sur are already passable, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported on Thursday.
Philippine News Agency 

DPWH to build PH’s first ever long distance mountain tunnel in Davao City
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will build the country’s first-ever long distance mountain tunnel with an approximate length of 2.3 kilometers as part of the first 10.7km segment of the Davao City Bypass Road Project.
Mindanews

GenSan preparing for P451-million traffic light, CCTV project
The city government is gearing up for the full implementation of its P451-million synchronized traffic signalization and city-wide closed-circuit television or CCTV camera system project.
Mindanews 

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

DISASTER AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE

[Editorial] More bloat?
The devastation wrought over the weekend by Supertyphoon “Rolly” on Southern Luzon, particularly the Bicol region, has revived once more the proposal to create a separate Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Army, PNP, LGUs, and GMA Kapuso Foundation distribute food packs to Typhoon Rolly victims in Bulacan and Bataan
The Army’s 48th Infantry Battalion (48IB) participated in relief distributions led by the GMA Kapuso Foundation together with Philippine National Police (PNP) and Local Government Units (LGU) of Bataan and Bulacan for the Typhoon Rolly affected residents on November 2, 2020.
Kalinaw News

DSWD provides P26.6-M aid to typhoon-hit areas
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it has so far provided some PHP26,659,839 worth of assistance to individuals affected by Super Typhoon ‘Rolly.’
Philippine News Agency 

DICT offers free internet, charging services in typhoon-hit areas
To help ease the suffering of those affected by the onslaught of Super Typhoon Rolly, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is providing free internet connectivity and charging devices to several typhoon-hit areas.
Philippine News Agency 

Relief goods to reach most remote areas in Bicol: OCD
Relief goods will be delivered even to the most remote areas affected by Super Typhoon Rolly, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol said on Thursday.
Philippine News Agency 

DSHUD to aid typhoon-hit families in Bicol, Calabarzon
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) said it is targeting to use its emergency housing assistance program fund to help families hit by Super Typhoon Rolly in the Bicol and Calabarzon regions.
Philippine News Agency 

House members to donate November salary for typhoon victims
Several lawmakers at the House of Representatives have pledged their full salary for the month of November to help victims of Typhoons Quinta and Rolly.
Philippine News Agency 

Aftershocks possible from magnitude 5.1 Surigao del Norte quake
Aftershocks are likely from the magnitude 5.1 quake that hit Surigao del Norte early Thursday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.
Philippine News Agency 

Agri, infra damage due to ‘Rolly’ hits over P11-B: NDRRMC
The damage to agriculture and infrastructure caused by Super Typhoon Rolly has climbed to more than PHP11 billion, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Thursday.
Philippine News Agency 

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

SC suspends lawyer for dishonesty in property sale deal
The Supreme Court (SC) ordered the suspension of a lawyer who failed to return the money he received from a party as partial payment in the sale of a property.
Philippine News Agency 

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Armed Forces of the Philippines

5ID troops on alert; ready for HADR in their AOR
The troops of 5th Infantry Division, Philippine Army is on-set for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response Operations in anticipation of the effects of natural calamities and disasters in their Area of Responsibility.
Kalinaw News

Gapay backs Navy's systems command innovations
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Gilbert Gapay had pledged to support innovations being pushed by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NSSC) following a visit to its units based in Cavite City on Wednesday.
Philippine News Agency 

Philippine National Police

Focus crimes down 46% from Sept.-Oct.: PNP
The number of focus crimes in the country significantly declined for September and October.
Data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) released on Thursday showed a total of 6,214 focus crimes were recorded for the past two months this year, a 46-percent drop from 11,447 incidents recorded in the same period last year.
Philippine News Agency 

PH as among 'safe countries' means anti-crime efforts paying off
The Philippines' inclusion on the list of countries with good peace and order situation proves that the government's aggressive anti-crime and illegal drugs campaign and strict enforcement of laws are paying off, a ranking police official said Thursday.
Philippine News Agency 

EDUCATION
 
DICT provides free Wi-Fi to 90 Zamboanga Peninsula schools
At least 90 schools across the Zamboanga Peninsula now have access to free internet through the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s (DICT) Free Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) in Public Areas and State Universities and Colleges (SUC) program.
Philippine News Agency 

Teacher’s group disputes Briones claim anew
A federation of teachers is exasperated over the repeated pronouncements of Education Secretary Leonor that the resumption of classes this school year is a “victory” amid the ongoing health crisis and economic recession.
Manila Bulletin

Tap NTF-ELCAC budget for students’ modules, says solon
ACT-Teachers Party-List Rep. France Castro said Thursday that the National Task Force to End Communist Armed Conflict’s (NTF-ELCAC) budget for next year would be better off used on students’ self-learning modules (SLMs).
Manila Bulletin

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY  
 
Globe aiming to connect remote areas to Internet
Globe Telecom Inc. is targeting to fast-track the construction of more cell sites to connect remote and mountain barangays in selected towns in Iloilo, Leyte, Palawan, Aklan, Maguindanao, Cotabato, Misamis Oriental, and Davao de Oro in the next few months.
Business Mirror

ELECTION RELATED

Poll protest vs. Manila congressman dismissed
The House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) has upheld the landslide victory of Manila 1st District Rep. Manuel Luis Lopez in the May 2019 elections.
Philippine News Agency 

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Lahar flow that killed 5 not caused by quarrying: Albay exec
After an aerial survey over Mayon Volcano, the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (Apsemo) has declared that quarry operations did not trigger the lahar flow that killed five people and submerged houses in volcanic debris in a Guinobatan town village at the height of Super Typhoon Rolly in Albay last Sunday.
Philippine News Agency 

[Podcast]  Law of Duterte Land: Where PH stands in fight for climate justice
The Philippine Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will soon release an exhaustive report on companies it has found to be morally liable for the ill-effects of climate change.
Rappler 

LABOR

OWWA owes 20 hotels some P241 M for OFWs’ quarantine accommodations
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) owed 20 hotels operating in Manila, Tagaytay, and Cebu a hundred million pesos worth of unpaid debts, thus adding to the financial problems of these establishments. 
Manila Bulletin

PH lauds Saudi removal of key restrictions on foreign workers
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) described as another milestone in the anti-Kafala campaign abroad the move of Saudi Arabia to remove key restrictions on its foreign workers, giving them the right to change jobs and leave the host country without employers' permission.
Philippine News Agency 

Over 6,000 distressed OFWs from Region 12 get financial aid from DOLE
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has already released a total of P63.5 million in financial assistance to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Region 12 who were affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Mindanews

LEGISLATIVE

House, Senate leaders unite for common legislative agenda
Leaders of the House of Representatives and the Senate on Thursday vowed to forge a harmonious working relationship to guarantee the passage of a common legislative agenda in the remaining 20 months of the 18th Congress.
Manila Bulletin

Senate of the Philippines

Senators air concerns on overlapping functions among virology institute, RITM, other research agencies
Some senators fear that some functions of the proposed Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines (VIP) may overlap with that of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and other research agencies.
Philippine Daily Inquirer | Manila Bulletin

House of Representatives

Solon wants bottom-up budgeting items in NTF-ELCAC fund retained
A House of Representative leader on Thursday said some PHP16 billion worth of projects classified under the budget of the National Task Force for Ending Communist Local Armed Conflict (NTF-ECLAC) should be kept with “some adjustment” toward areas hard-hit by recent typhoons.
Philippine News Agency 

Lawmaker calls for add’l calamity funds in 2021 budget
A lawmaker on Thursday called on Congress to consider augmenting the calamity funds in the proposed 2021 national budget with a significant part earmarked for relief and rehabilitation work in Bicol and other areas struck by Super Typhoon Rolly.
Philippine News Agency 

Romualdez endorses 5 anti-corruption bills
Majority Leader Martin Romualdez on Thursday endorsed five anti-corruption measures to Speaker Lord Allan Velasco for possible inclusion in the legislative agenda of the House of Representatives.
Philippine News Agency 

House panel approves bill banning drag racing
The House Committee on Transportation has approved House Bill No. 3391 or the proposed Drag Racing Ban Act banning races conducted in public roads between two or more vehicles.
Manila Bulletin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

Coastal LGUs told: Plan, prepare for tsunami
Tsunamis cannot be prevented, but their impact can be mitigated through community preparedness, timely warnings and proper action, according to the chief of the Philippine Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
Manila Times 


OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

EU provides P73-M aid for 'Rolly' victims
The European Union (EU) announced 1.3 million euro or around PHP73 million in rapid humanitarian aid funding to assist families affected by Super Typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni) which hit and devastated the Bicol Region last Sunday, killing 20 people and wounding several others.
Philippine News Agency 

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

AFP to abide by PRRD decision on VFA fate
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday said it will abide by President Rodrigo R. Duterte's guidance regarding the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States after its termination was put on hold.
Philippine News Agency 

West Philippine Sea

PH’s WPS claims in accordance with int’l law
The Philippine government is exercising its claims on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in accordance with international law. This, according to National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) Deputy Administrator Efren Carandang in an online press forum Wednesday.
Philippine News Agency 

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
 
South Cotabato to expand palay subsidy program next year
The provincial government of South Cotabato is planning to expand the implementation next year of its subsidized buying scheme for palay to accommodate more local farmers.
Mindanews

HOUSING and SETTLEMENT

POVERTY

SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

TRANSPORTATION

TOURISM

DoT, Nissan join hands for ‘Safe Trips’ campaign
Banking on tourism as a key economic driver, the Department of Tourism and Nissan Philippines have joined hands for “Safe Trips” – a road trip geared towards promoting safe and responsible land traveling to boost domestic tourism.
Manila Bulletin

DOT partners with education agencies to enhance tourism training
The Department of Tourism (DOT) has partnered with education agencies to help upgrade tourism education and skills training in the country.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

WATER and ENERGY

AboitizPower’s supercritical power plant in Bataan to go online in 2021
Aboitiz Power Corp. has scheduled the two units of a subsidiary’s 1,336-megawatt (MW) supercritical coal-fired power plant in Dinginin, Bataan to start operating commercially around the middle of next year.
Business World 

AboitizPower to expand RE, eyes gas venture
Aboitiz Power Corp. is looking into growing its renewable energy business and also venturing in gas projects in the next 10 years, its president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Rubio said.
Philippine News Agency| Philippine Daily Inquirer

Isabela towns warned vs. flooding as Magat Dam releases water
Downstream communities near the Magat Dam in Isabela are cautioned against flooding as it is likely to continue releasing water as severe Tropical Storm Siony is expected to dump more rains over Northern Luzon.
Philippine News Agency