Even prior to this announcement, the ombudsman's central office was already closed and was to remain so until April 18, due to increased infections among its employees, 17 of whom tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month. 

The Philippines on Saturday recorded 11,101 additional COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections to 926,052.

The isolation wards in Ateneo de Manila University have started accepting COVID-19 patients, the Philippine Red Cross confirmed Saturday. 

The Philippine Red Cross will build an emergency field hospital in Quezon City to address the shortage of COVID-19 beds amid the continued surge in cases, its chairman said Friday. 

Foreign reserves dropped for the third straight month in March after the government paid up foreign obligations using some of its dollars while gold values dropped, the central bank said on Friday.