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 should the public expect in terms of the economy and vaccine development?
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
South Korea hands additional COVID-19 aid to PH
Outgoing South Korean Ambassador Han Dong-man handed over the Korean government’s additional pandemic assistance to Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr on Wednesday, November 25.
Part of the donation includes P24 million ($500,000) worth of COVID-19 diagnostic kits, PCR and DNA extraction equipment, and personal protective equipment.
With the president of the United Korean Community Association, Han also turned over a monetary donation of P150,000 as well as P96,294 ($2,000) worth of medical kits to the International Bazaar Foundation.
DFA Secretary @teddyboylocsin received a Korean government donation of COVID-19 diagnostic kits, PCR and DNA extraction equipment and PPEs from outgoing Ambassador Han Dong-man. The donations are valued at US$500,000. pic.twitter.com/hlyaMkM4sV
— DFA Philippines 🇵🇭 (@DFAPHL) November 25, 2020
PH coronavirus cases now at 422,915
The Philippines now has 422,915 confirmed COVID-19 cases after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,202 additional cases on Wednesday, November 25.
The DOH reported 31 new deaths due to the coronavirus disease, bringing the death toll to 8,215 while recoveries are up by 183, raising total recoveries to 386,955.
Of the total cases, 27,745 are active.
PH coronavirus cases now at 421,722
The Philippines now has 421,722 confirmed COVID-19 cases after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,118 additional cases on Tuesday, November 24.
The DOH reported 12 new deaths due to the coronavirus disease, bringing the death toll to 8,185 while recoveries are up by 196, raising total recoveries to 386,792
Of the total cases, 26,745 are active.
House leaders file Bayanihan 3 bill setting P247-billion spending package vs pandemic
Ranking members of the House filed a bill that would set a P247-billion fund for emergency response and economic recovery programs during the coronavirus pandemic.
On Monday, November 23, House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, House committee on ways and means chair Joey Salceda, and AAMBIS-OWA Representative Sharon Garin filed House Bill (HB) No. 8059 or the Bayanihan to Rebuild as One Act as another stimulus bill aimed to combat the effects of the COVID-19 crisis.
The proposed Bayanihan 3 bill proposes to set aside funds for the following:
P20 billion: Procurement of COVID-19 vaccines
P40 billion: Local government support fund for calamity response
P100 billion: Health and resiliency related infrastructure programs
P10 billion: Assistance programs for agriculture and fisheries
P7 billion: Rent refinancing
P10 billion: Companies to borrow for paying 13th month benefits of employees
P10 billion for Tulong Para sa Displaced Workers program
P10 billion for the COVID-19 Assistance Measures Program
P10 billion for Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program
P10 billion for the Medical Assistance for Indigents Program
P5 billion each for TESDA and CHED
P10 billion for DepEd
Economist turned Marikina 2nd District Representative Stella Quimbo earlier filed her own version of the Bayanihan 3 bill, which would set a P400-billion spending package to augment the government’s efforts to save the economy from the COVID-19 pandemic.
PH coronavirus cases ‘plateauing’ – DOH
This is how the Department of Health would describe the general situation of COVID-19 cases in the country nearly 9 months since the pandemic started. Average new cases reported in a single day over the past few weeks have hovered below 2,000.
“In general terms for the whole country, the trend is plateauing and critical care is at moderate risk,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vegeire said in a press briefing.
Zooming into some areas, however, Vergeire said officials were monitoring recent increase in cases in areas including Davao City and Cebu City.
PH coronavirus cases top 420,000
The Philippines now has 420,614 confirmed COVID-19 cases after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,799 additional cases on Monday, November 23.
The DOH reported 50 new deaths due to the coronavirus disease, bringing the death toll to 8,173, while recoveries are up by 135, raising total recoveries to 386,604.
Of the total cases, 25,837 are active.
Mayor won’t reopen Cebu City night market due to pandemic
Mayor Edgar Labella said he would not reopen the Cebu City night market in the downtown area due to the COVID-19 risk.
“I will deny the request [to reopen] the night market,” Labella told reporters on Monday, November 23.
The night market, which has been closed since the coronavirus outbreak began, is a popular place for residents to go Christmas shopping. But the mayor is concerned that the market would get too crowded and it would be “impossible” to enforce physical distancing.