WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
How many people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the Philippines? How many have recovered, and how many have died? What is President Rodrigo Duterte doing about it?
What are the latest updates from the World Health Organization regarding the vaccines? How is the Department of Health addressing the variants? What should the public expect in terms of the economy, quarantine classifications, and the vaccine rollout?
Bookmark and refresh this page for the latest news updates, opinion articles, and analysis pieces about the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines.
LATEST UPDATES
Over 80% of San Miguel employees vaccinated
More than 56,000 employees of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) are either fully vaccinated or have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, the conglomerate announced on Wednesday, August 25.
This is equivalent to 80% of SMC’s workforce of 70,000.
“We’re almost there…. We still have a number of employees to vaccinate in various areas, but we anticipate to complete our vaccinations by end of August,” said SMC president Ramon Ang.
The conglomerate bought AstraZeneca doses for its employees. Before these doses arrived, SMC said, thousands of its employees were also vaccinated through their respective local government units.
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20,000 more healthcare workers to receive their COVID-19 hazard pay
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Wednesday, August 25, released to the Department of Health (DOH) P311 million to cover the special risk allowance (SRA) of 20,156 healthcare workers.
“We were able to finance the SRA for the 20,000 healthcare workers whose claims have not been paid under Bayanihan 2 law, and we released it today, and DOH will be downloading it, I would assume, starting this afternoon,” DBM Officer-in-charge Tina Canda said during a hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee on Wednesday.
Read more here.
Nancy Binay under quarantine after mom Elenita gets COVID-19
Senator Nancy Binay is currently under quarantine after her mother, former Makati City mayor Elenita Sombillo-Binay, tested positive for the coronavirus. Her mother is a mild case.
Nancy Binay herself is still waiting for test results. Her father, former vice president Jejomar Binay, already tested negative for COVID-19.
The senator said the Binay family and their close contacts will follow the necessary protocols and will undergo re-swabbing procedures.
“Although my mom is experiencing mild symptoms, my family and I are asking for your continued prayers for her full recovery – and as always, prayer is our first line of defense,” Nancy Binay said.
US military donates P83,000 worth of ICU beds to Cagayan hospital
The United States embassy in Manila said on Wednesday, August 25, that the US military donated P83,000 worth of intensive care unit beds to the Cagayan Valley Medical Center in Tuguegarao City on August 18.
The donation was provided by the US Indo-Pacific Command, which operates in at least 26 nations in the Asia-Pacific, including the Philippines.
According to the US embassy, the US government has already donated at least P1.38 billion worth of aid to the Philippines since the pandemic began in 2020.
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno recovers from COVID-19, leaves hospital
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno was discharged from the Sta. Ana Hospital on Wednesday, August 25, more than a week after he was admitted to the facility due to COVID-19.
Julius Leonen, Manila Public Information Office chief, said Moreno left the hospital around 9 am on Wednesday, after the facility tagged him as a recovered patient.
Robredo under quarantine after ‘very close contact’ with COVID-19 case
Vice President Leni Robredo is under self-quarantine after one of her “very close” contacts tested positive for the coronavirus.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, August 25, the Philippine opposition leader said she started her quarantine a day earlier after one of her employees at the Office of the Vice President (OVP) started showing COVID-19 symptoms.
Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan contracts COVID-19
The 66-year-old mayor urges his close contacts to self-isolate and avail of the city government’s free COVID-19 testing.
Read more.
PH signs purchase order for 10 million Sinovac doses
The Philippine government signed a purchase order with Chinese vaccine developer Sinovac for 10 million more doses, said vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. on Tuesday, August 24, during a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte.
Galvez said the government is ordering more jabs because it has already “finished” the 26 million Sinovac doses that had arrived.
Some Metro Manila LGUs begin accepting non-residents seeking COVID-19 jab
Metro Manila residents who cannot secure a COVID-19 vaccination appointment with their local government unit can now try to get a slot in other LGUs of the capital region which have a near-completion rate in inoculations.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Benhur Abalos said Pateros and Mandaluyong City have begun implementing the We Vax as One project, which seeks to accommodate vaccine applicants from other LGUs of the National Capital Region.