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MANILA, Philippines --- A second lieutenant of the Philippine Army who was suspected of having contracted the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), died on Wednesday afternoon. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo on Thursday said Army 2LT Vince Magbanua was declared dead on arrival at the Norzagaray Municipal Hospital at 3:40 p.m. after he was rushed there for severe breathing difficulty. "It is with great sadness that we mourn the death of one of our young and promising officers, Army 2LT VINCE MAGBANUA at 3:40 pm yesterday, April 8," Arevalo said in a statement. On April 7, Magbanua was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance after complaini...

Keep on reading: Army officer suspected of COVID-19 infection dies

JAKARTA --- Financial technology (fintech) platform PT Investree Radhika Jaya has announced that its plans to expand its market to Thailand and the Philippines through joint ventures are on track despite the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. Investree cofounder and CEO Adrian Gunadi said on Wednesday that the company expected to complete the expansion by the second or third quarter of this year. "We are in the process of obtaining a license in the Philippines while we are in the final stages of licensing in Thailand. So, there is no change of plans," he told the press through a video conference. He went on to say that thelicensing process in the Philippines might take longer than p...

Keep on reading: Fintech platform Investree’s expansion to Philippines, Thailand on track this year

MANILA, Philippines---With Luzon under lockdown during Holy Week, Filipinos are finding ways to practice their faith in the safety of their homes. To help address this need for spirituality, former actress Rica Peralejo has made a Lent workbook she created with friends available online for free. The workbook, titled "Anchor of the Soul", can be downloaded from her blog. Peralejo said in her Instagram post Wednesday, April 8, "Our team made this before the week of Lent, and we are sharing it again for those who want something soul-filling, spirit-lifting for this week." https://www.instagram.com/p/B-sT0qoFHe2/ She said that the four-day devotional has "reflection prompt...

Keep on reading: Rica Peralejo offers free Lent workbook for Holy Week during quarantine

President Donald Trump finally has his 2020 election opponent, but he's missing the crucial asset on which he anchored his bid for a second term: a roaring economy.

BANGKOK --- Shares were mixed in Asia on Thursday after a 3.4% gain on Wall Street overnight as investors chose a positive focus for data about the coronavirus outbreak's trajectory.   Japan's Nikkei 225 index lost 0.4% after the central bank governor said the economy faces "extremely high" uncertainty over the likely impact of the pandemic. Shares rose in Hong Kong, Sydney and Shanghai. Recent upward swings in markets have dwarfed declines amid signs that deaths and infections may be nearing a peak or plateau in some of the world's hardest-hit areas. That's led some investors to begin looking to the other side of the economic shutdown that is gripping the world as autho...

Keep on reading: Asian shares mixed, Tokyo lower as Wall Street rally fades

MANILA, Philippines --- Two senators on Thursday backed a possible sale of government assets as a last resort should funds for the country's battle against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) run out. President Rodrigo Duterte, ina televised address late Wednesday night,said he is ready to sell properties of the government to help the people affected by the pandemic. In a text message toINQUIRER.net, Senate Minority Franklin Drilon said he agrees with Duterte, adding that the COVID-19 crisis should be taken as an "opportunity to better utilize (government) assets." "I agree. Let us turn this COVID crises into an opportunity to better (utilize government) assets. Better utilizatio...

Keep on reading: Senators back possible sale of gov’t assets to ramp up COVID-19 response

  MANILA, Philippines --- A lawmaker on Thursday called on the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to restore its no cost limit for treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.   Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez made the call after PhilHealth president Ricardo Morales released a new case rate package for COVID-19 patients who will be hospitalized starting April 15.   The move, Rodriguez said, will put the poor at a disadvantage and might push them to not consult with hospitals for fear of additional expenses.   "I am worried of the poor and even the middle class who certainly cannot afford hospita...

Keep on reading: PhilHealth asked to restore no cost limit for COVID-19 patients

        MANILA, Philippines --- Senate President Vicente Sotto III believes the country's battle with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) will not come to a point where the government would have to sell its assets to fund its response to the pandemic.   "I do not think it will get to that point considering the serious ways we are undertaking to address the disease," Sotto said in a message to reporters on Thursday.   During President Rodrigo Duterte's televised addressed late Wednesday night, he raised the possibility of selling assets of the government as a last resort should funds for the COVID-19 response run out. &nbs...

Keep on reading: Govt may not need to sell assets for COVID-19 response – Sotto

MANILA, Philippines --- Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Thursday urged the Department of Health (DOH) to come up with a "game plan" for COVID-19 positive mothers-to-be. "DOH should be reminded to come up with protocols on 'childbirth in the (COVID-19) era' just in case they haven't yet," Pimentel told reporters in a Viber message. "Pregnant women are one of the most vulnerable at this time. They worry about (COVID-19) and they worry about their pregnancy," he added. "Hence professional competent attention to this matter must now be given by our experts. A game plan should be put in place for (COVID-positive) mothers-to-be," he further said. Pimentel said a venue for t...

Keep on reading: Koko Pimentel to DOH: Have a ‘game plan’ for COVID-positive mothers-to-be

MANILA, Philippines --- The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) could have caused the death last month of a male person deprived of liberty (PDL) or inmate of the Quezon City Jail, prompting the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to create an isolation center for inmates. The detainee had died of a heart ailment, acute myocardial infarction, and hypertension, the BJMP said Thursday, but it added that the death certificate indicated that "possible COVID-19 infection" could have contributed to his death "Taking the attending physician's point of view, citing possible COVID-19 as contributing condition is a piece of information that we cannot take lightly," said BJMP spokes...

Keep on reading: ‘Possible COVID-19 infection’ could have led to detainee’s death — BJMP

MANILA, Philippines --- With the entire Luzon placed under quarantine to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Google has released a report showing how Filipinos responded to the social distancing guidelines issued by the government. Google said it prepared its COVID-19 Community Mobility Report to help the public as well as health officials "understand responses to social distancing guidance related to COVID-19." The company, however, stressed that its report should not be used for medical diagnostic, prognostic, or treatment purposes. According to Google's report, Filipinos have reduced their trips to places like restaurants, cafes, shopping centers, theme ...

Keep on reading: Google report shows how Filipinos practiced social distancing measures

  MANILA, Philippines--- The Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has clarified that pensioners and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries are eligible to receive the government's emergency cash subsidy.   IATF spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said pensioners and 4Ps beneficiaries are no longer required to fill up the social amelioration cards (SAC) distributed by local government units (LGUs) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).   "Ang ibig ko pong sabihin, excluded sila sa Social Amelioration Card or SAC, hindi na po sila kailangang mag-fill-u...

Keep on reading: Pensioners, 4Ps beneficiaries covered by govt cash aid, IATF clarifies

CITY OF BALANGA ---- Bataan Gov. Albert Garcia paid tribute to Filipino frontliners battling the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as the country commemorated "Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) on Thursday. Garcia said doctors, nurses, and other medical workers are just like "our [World War 2] soldiers who put up a blocking force to delay the arrival of enemies." The commemoration rites for the 78th Araw ng Kagitingan at Mt. Samat National Shrine here had been canceled due to COVID-19 threats. "The war is won not only by soldiers but the people themselves, which is happening now in our fight against the killer virus," Garcia said in a statement. He urged Filipinos to help the ne...

Keep on reading: COVID-19 frontliners honored on ‘Araw ng Kagitingan’ in Bataan

MANILA, Philippines --- Angel Locsin revealed Sharon Cuneta's generous contributions in the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, especially to Locsin's own advocacy to provide for the needs of hospitals and frontliners. "BTW, Ms. Sharon donated a whopping 3 MILLION PESOS para makatulong kahit paano sa overcrowded hospital situation ngayon," said Locsin in an Instagram comment on Tuesday, April 7. "Binigay nya ito ng KUSA at AYAW IPAALAM." (BTW, Ms. Sharon donated a whopping 3 MILLION PESOS to help somewhat with the current overcrowded hospital situation. She gave this voluntarily and did not want others to know.)   https://www.instagram.com/p/B-...

Keep on reading: Angel Locsin defends Sharon Cuneta on issue of ‘donation’ raised by critic

MANILA, Philippines --- Facebook Philippines will reduce its bit rates for videos on Facebook and Instagram during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) announced Thursday. This came in the wake of the DICT's call to ensure that internet access is stable in the country during the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. DICT Secretary Gregorio B. Honasan II said that the quarantine has led to a "significant surge" in the use of digital services and streaming platforms which has strained the country's internet infrastructure. "Along with food, water, and medicine, connectivity is vital for the people ri...

Keep on reading: Facebook Philippines to reduce bit rates for videos during Luzon ECQ — DICT

SAN PEDRO CITY ---- The number of people infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon provinces (Calabarzon) has reached 403, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Thursday. The region has also recorded 55 deaths, while 15 reportedly recovered from the viral disease. Rizal province has 148 cases, as of April 8, traced to Antipolo City, Angono, Baras, Binangonan, Cainta, Cardona, Jalajala, Morong, Rodriguez, San Mateo, Tanay, Taytay, and Teresa. Twenty people from the province had died. In Laguna, 95 residents contracted the disease, out of which nine had died. The towns and cities with confirmed cases are Alaminos, Bay, Bina...

Keep on reading: Calabarzon COVID-19 cases climb to 403

  MANILA, Philippines --- President Rodrigo Duterte has joined the call for survivors of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to donate blood which may likely be the key to finding a cue for the viral respiratory illness.   The President made the call after the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) asked patients who have recovered from COVID-19 to make blood donations for its study on the virus' cure.   "Mag mabuting-loob kayo. And I think kung ako, I should volunteer. That is the way of thanking God that you have survived," Duterte said in a meeting with members of the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infe...

Keep on reading: Duterte asks recovered COVID-19 patients to donate blood

MANILA, Philippines --- The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is set to provide free Wi-Fi connection to over 30 COVID-19 monitoring and control centers, including designated quarantine areas and lodging for frontliners, and emergency operations centers. Through the Free Wi-Fi For All Program, the move aims to enable swift data gathering and exchange in these facilities, as well as give frontliners and patients the opportunity "to communicate with their loved ones to let them know of their situation," the DICT said in a release on Thursday. Among these free Wi-Fi-enabled facilities are the Ninoy Aquino Stadium (RMSC) in Malate, Manila; Leyte Provincial ...

Keep on reading: DICT to provide free Wi-Fi to over 30 COVID-19 facilities