Philippines

Notwithstanding predictions of slower domestic growth in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic is taking its toll on the global economy, there is no stopping this year’s Philippines from rising to upper middle-income country status, the country’s lead economist said. Pernia, who heads the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) state planning agency, said an realistic 3-4 percent increase in gross …

On Saturday the Department of Health (DOH) announced two more deaths from the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), raising the death count to eight. The DOH said in its statement the two additional COVID-19 deaths were on top of the one that was confirmed earlier in the day. As of this writing, no other specifics are yet available on the two …

Metro Manila city magistrates released a resolution calling for a temporary closure of shopping malls, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Saturday. MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said at a press conference that the Metro Manila Council released a resolution asking all local governments in the National Capital Region (NCR) to issue temporary shutdown orders for malls and other …

As part of community quarantine steps to curb the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will enforce a curfew within the National Capital Area. MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia announced at a press conference on Saturday that all Metro Manila mayors agreed to issue a resolution to impose a curfew from 8 p.m. At 5 a.m., …

Our healthcare workers feel the love! The St. Luke’s Medical Center’s ER staff in Bonifacio Global City expressed their gratitude for receiving food from the Rue Bourbon Restaurant. Their heartfelt thanks go to restaurant Rue Bourbon for sending food to their ER employees. This small act of kindness gives their health-care staff a great deal. This gesture reflects how they …

The government has recommended employers release the 13th month salary of employees who would be affected by Metro Manila’s one-month community quarantine. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, likewise, said it will compensate for the one month they won’t be able to return to work paying out workers ‘ 13th month salary. In addition to granting workers their 13th month salary, Año …

A Chinese government campaign to cast doubt on the origin of the coronavirus pandemic is fuelling a row with the United States, with a Beijing official promoting conspiracy theories and Washington calling it the “Wuhan virus”. The spat comes as China tries to deflect blame for the contagion and reframe itself as a country that took decisive steps to buy …

The Public Health Ministry on Thursday insisted that the country has yet to enter Stage 3 of the coronavirus outbreak, despite the discovery of a new cluster of infections which brought the total number of cases in Thailand to 70. The permanent secretary for public health, Sukhum Kanchanaphimai, made the remark after 11 people tested positive following a night out …

The test kit for UP-developed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is ready for field trials, just as the epidemic was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on Wednesday. Advertisement Thousands of the kits will be sent for validation testing to many hospitals to decide if they are viable enough to be commercially available. In comparison to over – the-counter …

As a precautionary measure against the 2019 coronavirus disease or COVID-19, Health Secretary Francisco Duque has called for a ban on attending masses in churches and going to cinemas. In an interview on Friday over Radyo Inquirer, Duque said attending Mass in Church, which is normally packed with the faithful, is like a COVID-19 “petri dish.” In a separate interview …