COVID-19

Cases

PH total Covid-19 cases now 545,300; new cases top 2,000-mark
The country’s total Covid-19 cases climbed to 545,300 on Friday after the Department of Health (DOH) recorded 2,022 new cases of infection.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DOH reports 19 new cases of UK COVID-19 variant
The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday, February 12, reported 19 new cases of the more infectious United Kingdom (UK) COVID-19 variant, bringing the total cases in the country to 44. 
Rappler

Department of Health

PDRF, DOH partner in Covid-19, vaccine info drive
The Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) and the Department of Health (DOH), along with various private groups, will actively promote the “Ingat Angat” campaign aimed at promoting accurate information about the pandemic and vaccines while pushing for economic recovery.
Philippine News Agency 

IATF/NTF COVID-19

Just one week, Galvez says of delayed vaccine arrival
The delay in the arrival of the coronavirus vaccines from the World Health Organization-led COVAX Facility will take only one week, National Policy Against Covid-19 chief implementer, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., assured on Friday.
Philippine News Agency 

COVID-19 task force OKs 50% capacity in churches in GCQ areas
The country's COVID-19 task force has relaxed restrictions in places of worship in areas under general community quarantine, allowing them to fill up churches from 30% to 50% of their capacity.
CNN Philippines

Half of PSG’s Covid-19 vaccines from Sinopharm allocated to their wives
Half of the 10,000 Covid-19 vaccines from China’s state-owned pharmaceutical company Sinopharm will be allocated to the wives of members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Regions

Luzon including NCR

OFW brought to QC by agency tests negative for Covid-19
The overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who earlier contracted the coronavirus UK variant has already yielded negative results for Covid-19.
Philippine News Agency 

Almost 115K Manila children get measles-rubella vaccines
The Manila City government on Friday said around 114,936 children in the city have already received supplemental measles-rubella vaccines, or 81.6 percent of total target population.
Philippine News Agency 

Visayas

DOH to set up pre-, post-care medical teams for vaccine patients
Central Visayas residents are assured of pre-inoculation and aftercare monitoring as part of the overall vaccine deployment plan.
Philippine News Agency 

Mindanao

Zambo City tallies 93% Covid-19 recovery
This city's coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) recovery rate has risen to 93 percent following the recent recovery of 39 patients, according to the Zamboanga City Covid-19 tracker released Saturday.
Philippine News Agency 

DOH lauds Davao City’s Covid-19 vaccination preparedness
The Department of Health in Davao Region (DOH-11) has lauded the city government for its preparedness on the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination program.
Philippine News Agency 

Listing for free COVID-19 vaccination starts in Davao
The city has opened the registration of individuals, aged 18 years old and above, who wish to enlist for the free coronavirus disease (COVID-19) immunization of the government.
MindaNews 

World 

Diplomatic, Development and Private Sector 

Incidents and Violations

FDA checking on alleged arrival of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine in PH
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Friday it is checking on reports that Covid-19 vaccines from Moderna have allegedly arrived in the country, as it disclosed that the United States drugmaker may apply for an emergency use authorization (EUA) of its coronavirus inoculation shots next week.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features

[Opinion] How South Korea's 'CLOY' can help Filipinos create a better future
The Philippines has turned itself into nation of followers, not pioneers. When the Philippines' Smart Communications chose South Korean actor Hyun Bin to endorse its products in May last year, the advertising matrix went through the roof.
Nikkei Asia

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Duterte confident AFP modernization program ‘already paying off’
President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday expressed confidence that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program is “already paying off,” considering the significant gains achieved by the military to maintain peace and order in the country.
Philippine News Agency 

PRRD admits being on a 'tightrope', avoiding conflict with China
President Rodrigo Duterte admitted on Friday that he is on a “tightrope” as he could not afford to provoke China, which he considers as a “friend”.
Philippine News Agency 

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION

BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION

New antimoney-laundering rules to focus on riskier institutions
A new money laundering risk assessment framework is expected to improve the Philippines’ defenses against the traffic of illicitly acquired cash and ensure the country’s compliance with international laws, according to the central bank.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Landbank’s add’l equity to go to MSME loan programs
The additional P27.5-billion equity infused into state-run Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) will be injected into existing and upcoming loan programs for small businesses badly hit by the pandemic-induced recession, an official said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Tax court reiterates need to file raps promptly
The Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) reiterated that criminal charges for some tax law violations must reach the court promptly or they will be dismissed on the ground of prescription.
Philippine News Agency 

BUSINESS, ECONOMY AND INVESTMENT

Paving the road to recovery
Colliers Philippines presented its Q4 2020 property market presentation on Feb. 9. We highlighted our data-supported insights and recommendations and answered questions from webinar participants, which peaked at 572—our largest so far
Philippine Daily Inquirer

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS

PNR Clark Phase 2 now 27.79% complete
The second phase of the massive North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project, also known as the Malolos-Clark extension of the NSCR, is now 27.79 percent complete according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
Philippine News Agency 

Davao City Coastal Road opens this month
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is set to open this month the first phase of the 18.50-kilometer Davao City Coastal Road to motorists and bikers.
MindaNews 

Farm-to-market road improves lives in Sultan Kudarat town
Farmers and local officials of two upland farming communities in Sultan Kudarat province lauded Friday the government for providing them a 7.48-kilometer farm-to-market road (FMR) through the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
Philippine News Agency 

Piñol: Railway design 'not what Mindanawans asked for'
THE single-track design for the first phase of the Mindanao Railway Project (MRP) is "not what the Mindanawans were asking for," Mindanao Development Authority (Minda) Chairman Emmanuel Piñol said in a recent forum.
Sunstar Davao

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Business analyst: Time to amend charter’s economic provisions
Fears that politicians will “hijack” proposals to amend the 34-year-old Constitution for self-serving purposes should not deter efforts to address its restrictive economic provisions. This, according to business analyst and Wallace Forum founder Peter Wallace, who lamented that this fear “has been with us through four presidencies; time and time again, constitutional change has been deferred because of this fear.”
Manila Times

DISASTER AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

CA: Womanizers psychologically incapable of marriage
Old habits die hard.A ruling by the Court of Appeals (CA) reversed a lower court decision and granted the annulment of the marriage sought by the wife of an admitted serial womanizer.
Philippine News Agency 

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Lorenzana denies downplaying effect of new China coast guard law
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Friday took exception to claims that he is downplaying the effects of China's new coast guard law on Filipino fishermen.
Philippine News Agency 

Military chief lauds Army commander
Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana has lauded the appointment of Lt. Gen. Jose Faustino as the new acting commander of the Philippine Army. “Well (he served in) Sulu and now he is the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) commander so as far as the experience is concerned he has a high level of expertise in peace and security efforts,” Sobejana told reporters Friday.
Manila Standard

Philippine National Police

EDUCATION
 
Youth group: Vaccines for students first before resuming face-to-face classes
Students from colleges and programs that would be allowed to attend face-to-face classes should be vaccinated first, a youth group told the government and school officials.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY  
 
Remote Mindanao islands to get free Wi-Fi: DICT
Residents of some remote islands in Mindanao will soon be able to connect to the internet for free after the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) completes its installation of free wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) terminals.
Philippine News Agency 

Globe, Converge battle crooks preying on children online
Internet services providers are doubling down on efforts to combat the online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

ELECTION RELATED

4 registration hubs to accept OFW voter application: Comelec
Four overseas voting registration centers in Metro Manila will be open starting next week to accept applications for registration in connection with the May 2022 national and local elections.
Philippine News Agency 

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

S. Kudarat locals get aid for turtle hatchlings rescue
The local government of Lebak and the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) lauded on Friday the locals for helping save marine wildlife.
Philippine News Agency 

Firms urged to mitigate environmental risks
Environmental experts have called on businesses to adopt more comprehensive risk-management plans and check environmental risks in their place of business to avoid disasters in the future.
Manila Times

LABOR

3,000 OFWs in Hong Kong push for refund of ‘unnecessary’ training fees
Overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong have called on the Philippine government through its consulate there to look into the training fees collected by recruitment agencies, and how OFWS are being harassed for demanding refund.
Bulatlat

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

Senators willing to get Covid-19 shots to boost public confidence
Several senators have expressed willingness to be vaccinated in order to boost public confidence in the government’s Covid-19 inoculation program, with majority of them saying they would be willing to do so in public.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

House of Representatives

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

Call out Biden government for aligning with AFP and Duterte tyranny
In a phone call by newly-appointed US Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin with Philippine Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana, the US official reportedly reaffirmed its “military alliance” with the Philippines. The clear aim of Sec. Austin is to secure its military agreements with the Philippines which make the country a strategic outpost for overseas US military forces in the Asia-Pacific. This is in line with preparations being made by the US military for possible mobilization to secure American economic and geopolitical interests in the face of heightening conflict with rival imperialist China.
Communist Party of the Philippines 

Philippines to remain neutral amid heightened geo-political tension, says President Duterte
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said Friday he is in a tight balancing act insisting, however, that his government will remain neutral and his allegiance will be for the Filipino people in the midst of the tense geo-political environment in the Asia-Pacific region.
Philippine Information Agency

Duterte to US: 'You want VFA done? You have to pay'
Two months after dangling the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) in exchange for coronavirus vaccines, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said the United States would "have to pay" if it wants the precarious agreement to continue.
Rappler

West Philippine Sea

DFA: China has responded to 48 out of 60 diplomatic protests under Duterte administration
The Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday maintained the government has been taking action on Chinese "incursions" in the West Philippine Sea, as it gave a rundown of the diplomatic protests filed by the Duterte administration against China.
CNN Philippines

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
 
Rice production trainers to help farmers become competitive
Twenty nine rice production trainers in Central Luzon are now equipped with knowledge and skills to help farmers become more competitive.
Philippine News Agency 

Importing more meat products will kill local hog, poultry sectors – Rep. Zarate
The plan of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to import more meat products will “push the agricultural industry, especially the hog and poultry raising sectors, to its eventual death,” House Deputy Minority leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said in a statement Tuesday.
MindaNews 

HOUSING and SETTLEMENT

POVERTY

SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

TRANSPORTATION

Emission test or motor inspection clearance still needed: Palace
Motorists still need to secure either a certificate from emission testing centers or private motor vehicle inspection centers (PMVICs) for vehicle registration, Malacañang said on Friday.
Philippine News Agency 

TOURISM

Travelers entering PH may face arrest for protocol violation
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday reminded all foreign nationals who have secured entry visas from Philippine Embassies abroad, as well as returning overseas Filipinos, to strictly follow local health and quarantine protocols once they arrive in the country.
Philippine News Agency 

DOT hopes gradual reopening of economy in GCQ areas would help tourism industry
The Department of Tourism (DOT) has expressed hope that the gradual reopening of several establishments now allowed to operate in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) would help the tourism industry recover from its slump.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

WATER and ENERGY

EDC taps French firm to transform plastic wastes into housing materials
Geothermal power producer Energy Development Corp. said Friday it teamed up with Plastic Flamingo of France for its plastic-to-shelter project as part of its mission to achieve a regenerative and decarbonized future. “We knew that there’s always a way to do more, to have less waste, to have better environmental impact—which led to our desire to have zero waste in EDC. Our bigger hurdle came last year when we started working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic and realized that all those food and grocery deliveries and items ordered online that came in layers of bubble wrap have resulted in accumulation of plastic waste in our employees’ respective houses,” said EDC corporate support functions head and assistant vice president Regina Victoria Pascual.
Manila Standard