Extended enhanced community quarantine in the Philippines

The province of Laguna and the cities of Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro will be placed on lockdown until the middle of August, Malacañang announces.

"President Rodrigo Roa Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to place Laguna, Iloilo City and Cagayan de Oro under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) beginning Aug. 6 until Aug. 15, 2021," presidential spokesman Harry Roque says in a statement.

Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro have been under the strictest quarantine classification since July 16. — The STAR/Alexis Romero

President Rodrigo Duterte approves the recommendation of Cabinet members to place Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal under modified enhanced community quarantine.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque says the new quarantine measures will be imposed starting midnight of August 4 and will stay in place until August 18.

The inter-agency task force on COVID-19 imposes a moratorium on the transit of locally stranded persons in Western Visayas, Cebu island, Mactan, Eastern Visayas and Caraga.

"Wala na po silang lugar para mag-quarantine," IATF spokesperson Harry Roque says in a virtual briefing. 

(They have no place to undergo quarantine anymore.)

The Department of Health announces 485 "fresh" COVID-19 cases on Sunday, June 28.

Another 168 are "late" cases, or "released to patients four days ago or more."

Most of the cases are still from the National Capital Region, with 245 "fresh" and 111 "late."

Central Visayas accounts for 120 "fresh" cases and 11 "late" ones. 

The National Bureau of Investigation's Death Investigation Division has filed murder and perjury complaints at the Department of Justice against Police M/Sgt. Daniel Florendo and four others over the killing of former soldier Winston Ragos.

Complaints of planting of evidence have also been filed against Florendo and Police S/Sgt. Hector Besas.

Ragos was killed, allegedly in self-defense, in Quezon City on April 21 after a confrontation over quarantine protocols. Florendo shot him, saying the former soldier was reaching for a gun. 

A video of the incident showed Ragos had already turned his back to Florendo when he was shot a second time.

The Department of Foreign Affairs announces that the Philippine Embassy in Yangon repatriated 91 stranded and distressed Filipinos to Manila on Monday through a special chartered Air Asia flight.

"Some of the repatriates were stranded in Yangon due to flight cancellations. Others lost their jobs as a result of COVID-19- related restrictions thus leaving them economically vulnerable to continue living in Myanmar," says the DFA in a statement.

Government Service Insurance System announces that the pension fund is again extending the deadline for the Annual Pensioners’ Information Revalidation (APIR) to 30 June 2020. 

“Old-age and survivorship pensioners born in March, April and May need not go to GSIS branches to renew their active status for the time being. We advise them to postpone visiting our branches. They can do their APIR at a later date through our GWAPS kiosks located in large government offices, provincial capitols, city and municipal offices, selected SM and Robinsons malls and GSIS offices. Anyway, they have until 30 June 2020 to do their APIR,” says GSIS President and General Manager Rolando Ledesma Macasaet.

Government should help small public transportation operators adjust to quarantine guidelines, saying workers need to be able get to their workplaces as the government eases restrictions to restart the economy, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto says.

"[T]he new normal in the pandemic world calls for public transport with reduced capacity and higher operating expense, and yet financially viable to operate. The adjustments will cost money—small by Ramon Ang standards, but a fortune for a jeepney driver or an independent taxi operator who hasn't seen a fare for more than two months," he says. 

Aside from the installation of dividers to reduce passengers' exposure, operators will also have to spend to regularly disinfect their vehicles.

"Government should assist their transition to the new normal. Their crucial role entitles them a place in front of the line for the stimulus fund. After all, what they get from the government will not be for their personal consumption, but to retool the vehicles for the riding public's safety," Recto says.

Alleged government inaction on Police Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas' birthday gathering despite quarantine guidelines last week is in stark contrast with how citizens accused of violating the quarantine are treated, rights group Karapatan says.

Although criminal and administrative proceedings have been initiated against the chief of the National Capital Region Police Office, he has remained at his post.

"Why was he not arrested immediately and jailed along with other officials and personnel of the national police?" Karapatan said in a statement in Filipino.

"How come when it's a regular citizen who breaks quarantine regulations, they are quicker than lightning in imposing a penalty that sometimes strays into inhumane treatment and violations of human rights?"

Karapatan points out that, in some cases, citizens have been made to stay in dog cages, do squats, made to dance, or stay in the heat of the sun as punishment. Some have also been beaten up, arrested, or killed, the group also says.

St. Luke's Medical Center will reopen its doctors' clinics in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig and in Quezon City on May 20, the hospital announces. 

Elective surgeries resumed on Monday, May 18.

"All our doctors have undergone COVID-19 testing prior to holding clinics. In the same way, all surgeons and patients will be tested and must be cleared by our Infectious Disease Team prior to any surgical procedures," it also says.

It adds its healthcare workers are also regularly screened for COVID-19.

The hospital will enforce physical distancing and infection control measures, it also says.

To support over 4,000 families in communities under lockdown in Metro Manila, the PLDT-Smart Foundation recently turned over 1,250-kg of rice and 500-kg of vegetables to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) mobile kitchen.

The initiative aims to provide hot meals to families in underprivileged communities. 

The fresh vegetables were purchased directly from farmers’ cooperatives including the Batangas Organic and Natural Farming Agriculture Cooperative. This includes potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, garlic, squash, green beans and bell pepper.

“The AFP has been one of our partners when it comes to conducting MVP Group relief efforts. With our recent donations, we hope that more families will benefit from this mobile kitchen initiative as the country continues to face the lethal impact of the pandemic,” said PSF president Esther Santos.

“We intend to continue supporting this initiative of the AFP as this really benefits a lot of families during these critical times,” Santos added. (Press Release)

Valenzuela City has given residents of Disiplina Village Bignay and Disiplina Village Ugong an additional 30-day extension of rent payments "to cushion the blow of unemployment and loss of economic sources as a result of the prolonged Luzon-wide lockdown for Disiplina Village residents," the city government says.

The additional 30 days is on top of a 120-day grace period from March 17 to July 15 on rent payments for the city's resettlement sites for informal settlers who had been living along calamity "danger zones."

The city says "the total rental fee accrued during the 150-day rent suspension period shall then be equally divided into and paid in the next four (4) months following the end of the moratorium season."

"The amortized amount shall be added to the rental fee due in the subsequent months sans interest, penalties, fees, and other charges."

The moratorium only covers rent and residents still need to settle utilities and other bills.

The Hall of Justice of the Quezon City will be on lockdown starting May 18 until further notice.

The Office of the Executive Judge clarified that an employee of an agency holding office at the building died of severe pneumonia and suspected COVID-19. The employee reportedly went to the building a few days before dying.

Due to the closure, all initiatory pleadings in both civil and criminal cases, will be filed electronically and will be received by the clerk of court through their official email addresses.

READ: The Official Statement of the Office of the Executive Judge of Quezon City on the lockdown of the Hall of Justice (Main and Annex), Quezon City, beginning May 18, 2020 until further notice. pic.twitter.com/x4x0HntCXE

— Supreme Court Public Information Office (PIO) (@SCPh_PIO) May 17, 2020

Malls may be closed and operators charged if the task force enforcing quarantine measures sees more violations of physical distancing rules, Joint Task Force COVID Shield warns.

Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, JTF commander, says authorities have monitored reports and social media posts of physical distancing rules being violated as malls reopen. 

"As per instruction of the SILG (Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Eduardo Año), we will not only facilitate the closure of these malls but will also initiate the filing of appropriate charges against the management, Eleazar says. 

He says the reported violations have been forwarded to local police commanders, who will "warn the management of these malls and make sure that the warning be personally relayed to the mall management and other similar establishments."

Sen. Nancy Binay says it is worrisome that local government units and national government agencies seem ill-prepared for eased quarantine protocols.

She says in a statement that the government seems "not even prepared, or even near in realizing the COVID T3 strategy which is supposed to be already in a satisfactory operational level by this time."

T3 refers to "Test, Trace and Treat", a strategy that Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health says gave countries that adopted it "an early edge" against the novel coronavirus disease.

"Kaya 'yong sinasabing 'second wave', we all know that it's not a question of if, but when. At kung pagbabatayan natin 'yong bugso ng mga tao kahapon (May 16), well, don't expect just a second wave—prepare for a tsunami!" Binay also says.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology says it provided support to the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s ReliefAgad System with the Developers Connect Philippines by giving secure cloud storage and cybersecurity assessment.

DICT says the cloud service can process a maximum of 300 transactions per second. This offers faster and much more efficient means of data collection and management compared to manual processing that is currently being done.

“In furtherance of their efforts, the DSWD strived for better, more efficient and more systematic cash aid distribution to improve the implementation of the SAP. And with that, we have the ReliefAgad,” says DICT Assistant Secretary for Digital Philippines Emmanuel Rey Caintic.

ABS-CBN’s KidZania Manila says its operations will remain suspended until Aug. 15, 2020.

The company assures that its employees will continue to receive financial assistance and health benefits amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

After initially defending him, Police Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, Philippine National Police chief, says Police Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas of the National Capitol Region Police Office—along with other police officials—"will be made to answer for their individual culpability that will be determined by a swift and impartial investigation to satisfy the requirements of due process."

The police Internal Affairs Service has already launched an investigation into a social gathering at the NCRPO headquarters in Taguig for Sinas' birthday.

"I expect to receive a complete Investigation Report of the incident by tomorrow. Per initial assessment, there is probable cause for the filing of criminal and administrative charges in relation to quarantine health protocols. IAS personnel are now in NCRPO gathering affidavits as support documents to file these cases," Gamboa also says.

He maintains the incident is isolated.

Police Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas should be disciplined over a celebration for his birthday during the qauarantine, when mass gatherings are prohibited, Human Rights Watch says, pointing out that "the ordinary people of Metro Manila face tight restrictions enforced by his officers, whose disproportionate strictness has resulted in rights abuses."

The Philippine National Police is the lead agency in enforcing quarantine guidelines across the country.

"Worse, once Sinas’ irresponsible behavior was revealed, he sought to deny his action and retaliated against the reporter who broke the story about the birthday party. The National Capital Region Police Office’s first action was to remove Rappler reporter Rambo Talabong from the NCRPO’s Viber message group," HRW Deputy Asia Director Phil Robertson says.

"Such vindictive retaliation violates press freedom and the public’s right to know, and should be reversed by reinstating Rappler in the Viber group," he also says, adding the police are expected "to be exemplars of the conduct they expect from the citizenry."

The Department of Information and Communications Technology calls on government agencies, state universities and colleges and government-owned and controlled corporations  to review and assess its ICT equipment and software.

“The COVID-19 crisis in the country puts many of our fellow Filipinos and many of our institutions exposed to high security risks due to higher dependency on ICT resources. We encourage everyone, as a matter of good practice, to periodically check for updates, especially those that are needed to address possible security vulnerabilities on outdated software or even equipment,” DICT Secretary Gregorio Honasan II says.

Ilocanos will soon be able to use a COVID-19 testing laboratory at the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center in Batac City.

The hospital has been at the forefront in the management of probable, suspect, and confirmed cases in the province since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While it has the structure for a molecular biology laboratory, the medical institution is only capable of offering GeneXpert-TB and HIV viral load tests due to limited equipment.

Region I has no existing molecular diagnostic laboratory to cater to COVID-19 testing. 

MMMH&MC has been sending samples for molecular testing to Baguio General Hospital (BGH), the nearest designated sub-national reference laboratory to Ilocos Norte and a five-hour drive away.

Gov. Matthew Manotoc says “testing is probably the most important. It’s a three-pronged approach. First, we control the borders. Second, isolate those who may be potential candidates. Finally, mass testing.”

Ilocos Norte's provincial government had allotted a budget amounting to almost P5 million for the molecular biology laboratory equipment. — The STAR/Artemio Dumlao

Philippine National Police chief Archie Gamboa orders the PNP Internal Affairs Service to investigate the recent birthday celebration of Debold Sinas, head of the National Capital Region Police Office amid physical distancing protocols.

Makati City will be using the GCash platform to efficiently and safely provide the P2.7-billion financial assistance to 500,000 constituents. This will help reduce the risk of transmission of the disease, as it limits physical contact among people.

The Quezon City government has put 20 areas in five barangays under a 14-day "special concern lockdown" from 5 a.m. on Wednesday because of high numbers of COVID-19 cases there, it says in an announcement Tuesday night.

Parts of the following barangays will be locked down:

• Bahay Toro
• Culiat
• Sauyo
• Batasan Hills
• Tatalon

"As of May 11, 2020, Brgy. Bahay Toro has 21 active cases; Brgy. Culiat, 37 active cases; Brgy. Sauyo, 19 active cases; Brgy. Batasan Hills, 29 active cases; and Brgy. Tatalon has 17 active cases," the QC government says.

The QC government says it will provide and other assistance to affected residents.

The US government announces that it has developed an online platform to help Filipino fisherfolk to sell their catch to consumers amid the ongoing COVID-19 community quarantine.

Built as part of the Fish Right project of the United States Agency for International Development, Fish Tiangge is an online marketplace that can connect 6,000 fisherfolks with buyers from more than 300,000 households in three of the Philippines’ most important areas for marine biodiversity: South Negros and Visayan Sea in the Visayas region, and the Calamianes Group of Islands in Palawan.

“By connecting fishers and consumers online, the US government is helping to protect fisherfolk income and prevent a food crisis, while ensuring that conservation measures are not compromised in areas that are hard-hit by COVID-19,” says U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim. “We will continue to work with local partners to help Filipinos manage the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic while protecting the Philippines’ marine environment.” Photo courtesy of US Embassy in the Philippines Information Office 

An aired address of the president does not contain the much-awaited update on the fate of Metro Manila's quarantine even after a decision was supposedly made last night.

President Duterte's talk to the nation will air tomorrow, May 12 at 8 a.m., the Presidential Communications Operations Office says. Live updates here.

He is expected to announce his decision on which areas will remain under an enhanced community quarantine and which are allowed to transition to a general quarantine. (Report from STAR/Alexis Romero)

President Duterte's meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases started only at 8:30 p.m., presidential spokesperson Harry Roque was quoted as saying.

The IATF met Monday morning to finalize its recommendations to Duterte on whether the strict quarantine will be relaxed in Metro Manila, the hotbed of the coronavirus outbreak in the Philippines, by this coming weekend. Real-time updates here.

President Rodrigo Duterte's decision whether to extend the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila or not will be based on the "test, trace, treat" strategy, says COVID-19 response deputy chief implementor Vince Dizon.

"Whatever the president decides, it will be based on recommendations of experts such as DOH, private sector, academe and task force members," Dizon tells CNN Philippines' "The Source."

Dizon further notes that the government is not yet contented with the 7,000 to 7,300 tests conducted daily as the goal is to increase capacity. He adds that conducting 15,000 tests by Friday is doable.

Students of Universidad de Manila are petitioning Manila Mayor Isko Moreno to suspend online graded requirements and pass nearly 8,000 students amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Samahan Ng Progresibong Kabataan says in a release.

The university's student government i asking the mayor to make the health and welfare of the city government's scholars a priority.

It adds that in a survey conducted by student leaders that more than half of the student population participated in, "a great majority of the participants were not able to catch up on their lessons because of unstable internet connectivity, absence of gadgets with computer shops closed, absence of convenient learning environment. constrained financial capacity and mental health issues. "

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines says inbound international flights will be allowed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on specific days starting May 11.

Inbound international chartered flights will only be allowed to land at the NAIA on Mondays and Thursdays while commercial flights will be allowed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. 

The government may ease the quarantine restrictions in parts of Metro Manila where the growth of coronavirus cases are slowing down, Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said there have been observations that the case doubling time in Metro Manila has slowed down from two to three days to five to six days.

"If the data that shows that the spread of the disease is slowing down does not change and we still have the capacity to provide critical care, perhaps that is the direction we are taking," Roque said at a press briefing when asked whether some Metro Manila cities may be placed under GCQ.

"That is why our appeal for the remaining days...is stay at home so the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) won't have difficulties lifting the ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) especially in Metro Manila," he added. — The STAR/Alexis Romero

Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian says over 230,000 families are expected to receive the third wave of the Alagang Valenzuelano Food Vouchers on its seven-day distribution, which started on May 4. 

“With the extension of the community quarantine, the City Government of Valenzuela aims that we still have food on our tables so we have launched our third wave of the Alagang Valenzuelano Food Vouchers. This time around, the food voucher that you will receive is color blue and like our previous food vouchers, the food vouchers indicate the place, the date and the time of the food pack redemption,” says Gatchalian.

“We will make sure that in 6 to 7 days, we will finish the food voucher distribution. My first request [to you is] let’s not react quickly if you have not received your food voucher yet… We will make sure that if not all, almost all Valenzuelano families will receive their food voucher in 6 to 7 days,” he adds.

Government agencies are conducting RT-PCR testing on 455 members of the crews of M/V Pacific Explorer and M/V Costa Venezia, which are among the cruise ships in Manila Bay waiting to offload their Filipino seafarers.

If they test negative, they will be given quarantine clearances and will be transported to their home provinces or cities.

Those who test positive will be brought to a COVID-19 referral hospital.

The Department of Health reports 199 new COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, bringing the national total to 9,684.

The health department also announces 93 new recoveries, raising the total number of recovered patients to 1,408.

Meanwhile, the national death toll is now at 637 with 14 new deaths recorded as of Tuesday afternoon.

Pasig City launches a supplemental social amelioration program (SAP) for families that did not initially receive cash aid from the national government.

Under the program, each family that needs financial assistance will receive P8,000. Guidelines posted by the Pasig City information office classified families as traditional or nuclear family, grandparents living with their grandchildren, solo parents, couples without children and LGBTQ couples with children.

"[O]ur goal w SUPPLEMENTAL SAP is to help ALL Pasigueños in need," Mayor Vico Sotto posted on Twitter.

Nagsimula na ang pamamahagi ng PASIG SUPPLEMENTAL SAP!

Trial run muna sa 5 brgy.

Para sa guidelines: https://t.co/QV3plRCLrV pic.twitter.com/F6tZ3eijos

— Vico Sotto (@VicoSotto) May 5, 2020

Women's groups are calling for the continued and unhampered delivery of reproductive health services, which they say should be part of the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

They say this will help prevent unwanted and unplanned pregnancies, preventable infant and maternal deaths, and the spread of sexually transmitted infections.

"Now is not the time to stop the delivery of reproductive health services and information. We need this more than ever to protect and promote the rights of women and girls especially those in the most vulnerable sector," Oxfam Pilipinas’ Sexual Health and Empowerment (SHE) Project Officer Rina Fulo says in the release.

"The pandemic does not have to put our women population at risk twice over with the virus and unplanned pregnancies, destroying their aspirations for their families' health and well-being. Family planning reminders, counselling, needed supplies and quality services cannot and must not be left behind in the time of COVID-19," FriendlyCare Foundation CEO Teresita Panganiban also says.

Albay province and Zamboanga City will be under enhanced community quarantine until 11:59 p.m. of May 15, according to a May 2 memo by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

The memo was released on Monday, May 4.

The Department of Health reports 101 new recoveries in the Philippines, bringing the total number of COVID-19 recoveries to 1,315.

With an additional 262 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, the country's total is now at 9,485. Among the new cases 122 (47% ) are from the National Capital Region, 88 (33%) are from Region 7 while the remaining 52 (20%) are in various areas in the country.

The health department also logs additional 16 deaths, raising the national death toll to 623.
 

At least 12 Senate personnel tested positive for COVID-19 after undergoing rapid test prior to entering the premises before the resumption of the session on Monday.

Senate President Tito Sotto says those who tested positive for the virus were sent to hospitals for swab tests and will be quarantined. — with report from The STAR/Paolo Romero

Lawyers' network Concerned Lawyers for Civil Liberties has raised concerns over continuing arrests and alleged human rights abuses during the COVID-19 lockdown.

"While we do not condone senseless violations of quarantine rules, we condemn the use of the supposed violation of said rules to arrest those delivering relief aid to the poor and even those protesting or expressing dissent," it says.

Police on Labor Day arrested feeding program volunteers in Marikina and Quezon City over alleged quarantine violations.

Activist workers have also been arrested for online posts of a protest held indoors.

 CLCL noted that people have been arrested while trying to help " while allies of President Duterte were left untouched despite violations of quarantine rules, the government has hammered dissenters for the same supposed violations." 

Five emergency quarantine facilities with a total of 120 beds were turned over to Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Hospital in Marikina City on Monday.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the WTA Architecture+Design Studio turned over the facilities, which were funded by the Marikina LGU and partly by United Architects of the Philippines-Manila chapter.

The emergency quarantine facilities will be used to treat and isolate COVID-19 patients with mild to no symptoms. The new facilities would also help decongest hospitals and increase the country's capacity to contain coronavirus pandemic.

Overseas Filipino workers will no longer be required to pay PhilHealth premium, which worth 3% of their monthly salary, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque says.

According to Roque, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration announce that this would no longer be required for OFWs for them to be issued certain documents.

Instead, the collection of PhilHealth premium from overseas workers will be voluntary.

Another batch of repatriates — 264 seafarers of cruise ship Carnival Freedom and Carnival Valor from Barbados — arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport through a chartered flight early Monday.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and United Philippine Lines Inc. and TDG Crew Management Inc., the local manning agencies of the cruise ships, welcomed the seafarers at the airport before it will be closed for a week.

The DFA said all 264 repatriated Filipinos underwent appropriate airport medical protocols and will undergo a 14-day mandatory quarantine.

UST Hospital has had to lay off workers because of heavy losses, including P180 million in expenses owed by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

“[P]ainful decisions were needed to be made. While the news around significantly highlights the health and medical impact of the pandemic, the huge economic and financial impact brought about by this crisis to all business establishments, most especially to healthcare institutions, is often overlooked,” Dr. Marcellus Francis Ramirez, hospital medical director, says in a report by The Varsitarian.

In a statement also carried by The Varsitarian, UST Hospital says has implemented the non-renewal of fixed-term contracts and retrenchment,

"Employees affected by the retrenchment measures will receive 150% separation pay based on our CBA, which is 50% higher than what the Labor Code provides. It must also be noted that retrenchment is a recognized valid and legal management measure and it remains as such even during the Covid 19 crisis. Thank you for allowing us to clarify about the matter," the hospital also says.

Three new cases of the novel coronavirus were reported in Batangas City on Saturday.

In a Facebook bulletin published by the Batangas City Health Office, it said those who tested positive for the virus were a 70-year-old woman from Barangay Pinamucan Proper; a 66-year-old man from Barangay Malitam; and 56-year-old man from Barangay Cuta.

Each of the patients has comorbidities.

Comorbidity is defined as the simultaneous presence of two chronic diseases or conditions in a patient.

Authorities are already conducting contact tracing for persons who were possibly exposed to the three newly-infected patients.

In its latest report, the provincial Department of Health Office said as of Saturday, Batangas City has 24 confirmed COVID cases, the second most in Batangas province next to Lipa City’s 26.

Four have died while 10 have recovered from the disease. The city has 87 suspected COVID patients or those who haven’t undergone a test yet.  — The Filipino Connection

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport announced late Saturday night that all passenger and commercial flights to and from the Philippines are suspended from 8 a.m. on May 3, Sunday.

"To help further mitigate the spread of the deadly Corona Virus in the country, the Philippine Government, through Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., Chief Implementer of the National Taskforce Against COVID-19, has decided to temporarily suspend all commercial/passenger flights to and from the country beginning 8:00am of May 3, 2020," the announcement reads.

"Cargo flights, medical supplies, utility, and maintenance flights will remain unhampered."

There is no word on when flights will resume.

It is likely that Metro Manila will "graduate" from enhanced community quarantine to general community quarantine on May 15, Local Government Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya says.

He says on radio dzBB that "by all indications," the National Capital Region will be under GCQ at the end of the second extension of the quarantine.

He says some parts of Metro Manila may remain under ECQ due to high numbers of COVID-19 cases.

Detained Sen. Leila de Lima calls for probe into the implementation of the emergency subsidy program for low-income households amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Milyon-milyon nating kababayan ang hindi pa rin nakatatanggap ng emergency subsidy. Anong petsa na? Isa’t kalahating buwan na silang nakikipagbuno sa gutom at nakikipagpatintero sa COVID-19, pero ang ayuda, wala pa,” says De Lima.

“Kailangang magpaliwanag ang DSWD kung bakit napakabagal ng usad ng pamamahagi ng pondo at mailatag ang plano para matugunan ito,” she adds.

Agusan del Norte 1st District Rep. Lawrence Fortun asks the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Department of Transportaion to resume flights under strict quarantine measures for cargo, medical evacuations, relief operations and mercy flights for stranded people.

"These calibrated moves would allow the airline sector to keep its workers, bring back those personnel they let go, and prepare the industry for resumption of full operations after enhanced community quarantine measures are lifted," Fortun says.

"Limited airline operations would also somehow give hope to the tourism industries nationwide, including the airport concessionaires, the pasalubong outlets, the MSME sector, and the underground economy," he adds.

The Department of Foreign Affairs announces that some consular offices (COs) will resume operations starting May 4. 

The consular offices which will resume work include the COs in Cotabato, La Union, Puerto Princesa, Santiago and Tuguegarao. The rest of the consular offices in Luzon will still be closed until the end of the extended community quarantine.

The Department of Health logs 284 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total infections in the Philippines to 8,772.

The DOH also reports 41 new recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 1,084. Meanwhile, 11 new deaths were recorded, which raises the national toll to 579.

Offshore gaming operations will resume operations to help in the government's response to the COVID-19 crisis, PAGCOR chairman Andrea Domingo says.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque also confirms this, noting that only 30% of offshore gaming workers may go back to work.

Roque adds that online gaming services are part of the BPOs, which cater to markets outside the country.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases will discuss whether or not religious activities will be allowed to resume in areas under General Community Quarantine, presidential spokesman Harry Roque says.

News5 reports that this is in response to complaints that the IATF received over its decision to allow religious activities when people are supposed to be practicing physical distancing.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers Private Schools slams the government’s neglect to equally pay attention to the plight of academic and non-academic personnel of private basic and tertiary education institutions.

Based on an online survey conducted by ACT Private Schools, 4,005 or 94% of the 4,268 respondents across 65 cities and provinces in the country did not receive any financial assistance to sustain living amid prolonged lockdown.

“With the private school teachers and staff being among the most vulnerable educational sectors, the government should also pay utmost precedence to the health and welfare of privately employed educational workers nationwide, especially now that their employment is at stake more than ever because of the economic impact brought by COVID-19,” says Jonathan Geronimo, secretary-general of ACT Private Schools. 

Government Service Insurance System announces it will release pensions ahead of schedule in May similar to what they did in April.

“Our pensioners will receive their pension on May 5, instead of the usual crediting date of every eighth of the month,” says GSIS President and General Manager Rolando Ledesma Macasaet.

“The early release of pension is one of several proactive measures we are taking to help our pensioners cope with the extended Enhanced Community Quarantine period,” he adds. 

A "We Heal As One Center" at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan has been turned over by the Iglesia Ni Cristo for use by the national government, the national task force on COVID-19 says.

The center has a 300-bed capacity. 

Part of the Philippine Arena will also be used as a "Mega Swabbing Center"  for testing.

Human rights watchdog says prison deaths amid the COVID-19 pandemic are unreported in the Philippines. 

“Unreported deaths of inmates show the urgent need for the Duterte government to be transparent about the spread of Covid-19 inside the country’s overcrowded prisons,” says Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

“The government should get serious about the terrible situation in its prisons and jails and accurately report on prison deaths and illness,” it adds.

The overseas workers group Migrante International says that there should be financial aid and medical attention for overseas Fiipino workers for quarantine to be effective.

"They (OFWs) have families to support and without any income, the hunger and hardships being experienced by their loved ones add up to their distress. This should likewise be the time for the Duterte government to stop extracting Philhealth collections," the group says in a statement.

"Travel assistance for OFWs who have completed the fourteen-day quarantine must be undertaken straight away so they can return back safely into their respective families. Our clamour for justice for the OFW suicide victim endures and we call on all OFWs and their families to continue pressing the Duterte government to ameliorate them for their hardships and agonies," it adds.

The Makati City government will disburse the second tranche of financial assistance to over 8,000 drivers to help cope with the COVID-19 pandemic,

Mayor Abby Binay says each of the 8,376 jeepney, tricycle and pedicab drivers in Makati will receive P2,000 via their GCash accounts. The beneficiaries are: 5,952 registered tricycle drivers, 598 pedicab drivers and 1,826 jeepney drivers who are part of the Makati Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association.

The Department of Science and Technology is tapping other universities to help the University of the Philippines in the development and production of ventilators to supply hospitals in preparation for a surge of cases in intensive care units.

Secretary Fortunato dela Peña, in a task force meeting aired Monday night, told members of the Cabinet and President Duterte that the department's Project Ginhawa is set to test three prototypes of ventilators with actual patients.

Dela Peña also said the importation of ventilators recently became more challenging. The Duterte government has been criticized for its delays in the purchase of essential medical equipment including PPEs, surgical masks and ventilators right after the first reported cases of COVID-19 in January.

A thread of major news, developments and government pronouncements related the extended community quarantine across the country. Real-time updates about the coronavirus outbreak in the Philippines are available in this live blog. (Main image by AFP/Ted Aljibe)