News Roundup 01 June 2020
Jun 01, 2020 • 2 min Read
COVID-19 cases hit 18,638 as Philippines eases virus lockdown | PHILSTAR.COM – The Philippines said its caseload of novel coronavirus infections reached 18,638 Monday as Metro Manila and other areas at high-risk of virus transmission shifted to a more relaxed community quarantine that allowed more businesses to reopen and workers to return to their jobs. The Department of Health reported 552 new cases. Of the additional cases, 119 were classified “fresh” or test results that were released to patients in the last three days, while 433 were “late” cases from the agency’s testing backlog. The total number of patients who have survived COVID-19 increased to 3,979 with the recovery of 70 more patients. But fatalities related to COVID-19 also rose to 960 after three fatalities were added to the toll.
Duterte certifies as urgent anti-terror bill | INQUIRER.NET – President Rodrigo Duterte has certified a measure seen to toughen up the government’s anti-terrorism policies. In a letter to Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano Monday, Duterte certified as urgent House Bill No. 6875 which amends the Human Security Act of 2007. Duterte in his letter said the passage of the measure is to “address the urgent need to strengthen the law on anti-terrorism in order to adequately and effectively contain the menace of terrorist acts for the preservation of national security and the promotion of general welfare.”
Gov’t borrows ₱230 B from dev’t partners | Manila Bulletin – The Duterte administration has so far borrowed nearly ₱230 billion from foreign development partners and creditors to help support its emergency spending amid the coronavirus pandemic. According to the Department of Finance (DOF), a total of $4.55 billion in newly contracted foreign loans from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank, and offshore commercial lenders were sealed by the Philippines as of mid-May. DOF said that its newly borrowed funds are currently being used for the government’s ongoing efforts to suppress the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and provide relief to the most affected sec-tors. Of the total, $1.7 billion, or around ₱89.2 billion, came from the ADB, $500 million, or ₱25.7 billion, was from the World Bank, and another $2.35 billion, or ₱118.5 billion, was raised from the dual-tranche issuance of the Philippines’ global bonds. The World Bank also accelerated its disbursement of the $200- million additional financing for the ongoing Social Welfare Development and Reform Project II, bringing the Philippines’ total borrowings from the bank to $4.75 billion.
Firms to adjust pump prices | The Manila Times – Oil companies will implement a slight adjustment in the prices of petroleum products on Tuesday, a week after a big-time increase in fuel prices. In separate advisories, oil firms said that the cost of gasoline will drop by 20 centavos per liter, but the prices of diesel and kerosene will rise by 25 centavos per liter and 80 centavos per liter, respectively. Petro Gazz, Pilipinas Shell, and Seaoil announced the looming price adjustments.
