by Catherine Talavera (The Philippine Star), 14 Oct 2020 MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Small Business Corp. (SB Corp) have rolled out a loan assistance program for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the tourism industry.

by Ma. Aurora Geotina-Garcia (The Philippine Star), 14 Oct 2020 (First of two parts) Economic recovery: Yes, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Economy recovery: Is there light at the end of the tunnel? was the theme of the second online SharePHIL Summit held last Aug. 28, following the first online summit…

by Boo Chanco (The Philippine Star), 14 Oct 2020 Shortly after we went on lockdown in mid-March, Dr. Maui Bondoc-Hermosa posted a notice that said her “online eye clinic is now up and running. I can help with eye emergencies, any eye pain/discomforts, do visual acuity tests, second opinions. Send a message to facebook.com/docmaui.eyeMD.”

by Mary Grace Padin (The Philippine Star), 14 Oct 2020 MANILA, Philippines — Congress should immediately pass two pending fiscal reforms to address the urgent needs of pandemic-hit businesses as identified by a recent World Bank survey, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).

by Lawrence Agcaoili (The Philippine Star), 14 Oct 2020 MANILA, Philippines — Multilateral lender International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the Philippines is expected to suffer the biggest blow from the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 pandemic in the region with a deeper economic recession this year despite the projected less severe global contraction.

by Ben Serrano (The Philippine Star), 14 Oct 2020 BUTUAN CITY, Philippines — Five treasure hunters were reportedly buried alive when the tunnel they were digging in Purok Casting, Barangay Bayan, Marihatag, Surigao del Sur collapsed on Monday.

by Andrew J. Masigan (The Philippine Star), 14 Oct 2020 For a country whose annual per capita income is $3,3484, the cost of living in the Philippines is just as expensive as it is in Poland and Hungary where per capita income is $15,595 and $17,463, respectively. Why is this?

by Jarius Bondoc (The Philippine Star, 14 Oct 2020 How much is one congressional district’s pork barrel? Almost the same cost to print 22 million schoolchildren’s weekly lessons for a year. Or to feed 18 million poor families for a day or two. Or to vaccinate Metro Manila’s 12.8 million residents against COVID-19.

by Sheila Crisostomo (The Philippine Star), 14 Oct 2020 MANILA, Philippines — Around 3.6 million Filipinos are suffering from mental disorders amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to initial results of a Department of Health (DOH) survey.

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by Doris Dumlao-Abadilla, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 14 Oct 2020 Insurer Manulife Philippines has unveiled a new life and health insurance solution touted to be the first in the market to offer flexibility for customers to select the most suitable critical illness protection and add-on benefits.

by Gaea Katreena Cabico (Philstar.com), 13 Oct 2020 MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines—an archipelagic country vulnerable to natural hazards—was among the countries that recorded the highest number of disaster events from 2000 to 2019, the United Nations said in a report.

by Ben O. de Vera, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 13 Oct 2020 MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines is seen shedding 8.3 percent off its economy this year, considered as the biggest annual gross domestic product (GDP) drop in history, as the COVID-19 pandemic battered consumer confidence and private investments through prolonged community quarantine measures, according to the International…

by Villamor Visaya Jr., Philippine Daily Inquirer, 13 Oct 2020 TUGUEGARAO CITY —- The Department of Agriculture-Cagayan Valley regional office here was closed for disinfection starting Monday until Friday after three of its employees contracted the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), authorities said.

by AFP Relaxnews, 13 Oct 2020 From door handles and handrails on public transportation to disposable tissues and enclosed spaces with inadequate ventilation, public health messaging encourages us to be wary of things that present genuine risks of catching COVID-19. But certain other day-to-day objects, things that you touch or share instinctively, could also be…

by Agence France-Presse, 13 Oct 2020 Washington, United States — The global economic crisis will not be quite as grim as feared this year, but GDP will still contract 4.4 percent and the pandemic means the outlook remains uncertain, the IMF said Tuesday.

by Mariejo S. Ramos, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 13 Oct 2020 MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has recently reopened 44 traditional public utility jeepney routes, allowing 4,820 jeepney drivers to operate again in Metro Manila during the quarantine.

by ABS-CBN News, 13 Oct 2020 MANILA (UPDATED) – Two workers died after a steel framework fell off a column at a bridge construction site along the Subic Freeport Expressway (SFEX) Tuesday.

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by Jovic Yee, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 13 OCt 2020 MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) issued new guidelines on Monday on good ventilation and proper air circulation in enclosed spaces, amid the continuing threat of the coronavirus pandemic.

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by Agence France-Presse, 13 Oct 2020 Washington, United States — The global economic crisis will not be quite as grim as feared this year, but GDP will still contract 4.4 percent and the pandemic means the outlook remains uncertain, the IMF said Tuesday.

by Daxim L. Lucas, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 12 Oct 2020 MANILA, Philippines—More long-term capital from overseas entered the Philippines in July marking the third consecutive month of increases for this key economic barometer.

by Ben O. de Vera, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 12 Oct 2020 MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines cannot revert to stringent COVID-19 lockdowns if it wanted to save jobs and lift more out of poverty when the pandemic ends, according to economic managers as two weeks of strict quarantine in Metro Manila and four provinces last August weighed…

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by Janvic Mateo (The Philippine Star), 11 Oct 2020 MANILA, Philippines — A Malaysian court has convicted the former employers of a Filipino for violation of the country’s anti-trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants law, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Friday.

by Sheila Crisostomo (The Philippine Star), 11 Oct 2020 MANILA, Philippines — The number of healthcare workers infected with COVID-19 has hit 10,000, but a majority of them have recovered, the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday.