by Roy Stephen C. Canivel, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 20 Aug 2020 MANILA, Philippines — The country’s largest business group said the government does not seem to have a sound plan to save the economy from a downward spiral, as it appealed for a seat at the table during COVID-19 policy discussions.

by Gabriel Pabico Lalu, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 20 Aug 2020 MANILA, Philippines — A labor group has cautioned Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo against moves to privatize the corruption-riddled Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) as it is a step against assuring healthcare availability.

by Christia Marie Ramos, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 20 Aug 2020 MANILA, Philippines — After a total of five bicameral panel meetings, 40 hours of deliberations and “hundreds of messages in group chats, dozens of phone calls and Zoom video conference discussions,” Congress finally came out with the final version of the proposed Bayanihan to Recover…

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by MARITES VILLAMOR-ILANO, 19 Aug 2020, SunStar ROUGHLY three out of five, or 60 percent, of new infections in Cebu City in the last five days were traced to the workplace, presenting new challenges in the battle against Covid-19 and prompting the Emergency Operations Center in Cebu City to shift their focus to the business…

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By Ma. Cristina Arayata, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 19 Aug 2020 MANILA – A coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine will likely be available in the Philippines by the second quarter of 2021, and clinical trials will start in the country by the fourth quarter of 2020, an official from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)…

By: Bong Lozada – Reporter, 19 Aug 2020 MANILA, Philippines—Senator Joel Villanueva encouraged employers to send their workers for COVID-19 testing as the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has “sufficient funds” to shoulder the costs.

by Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat, Manila Bulletin, 19 Aug 2020 More than 18 million workers in the Philippines are affected by the dual destructive impact of digitalization and COVID-19 disruption, according to a study by the International Labor Organization (ILO).

by Rey E. Requejo, Manila Bulletin, 19 Aug 2020 The United States government on Wednesday announced the inauguration of a P1.9 billion ($37.5 million) project aimed at helping at least 180,000 out-of-school youth in the Philippines attain relevant education, obtain necessary work experience for employment and skills for their livelihood.

by Philstar.com, 19 Aug 2020 MANILA, Philippines — After placing Metro Manila and nearby provinces under a more relaxed general community quarantine (GCQ), Malacañang has announced several “transition protocols” to be implemented in the capital region starting Wednesday.

by Daxim L. Lucas, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 19 Aug 2020 MANILA, Philippines — The central bank’s automated consumer concerns interface, that can be accessed via its website, text messaging or via social media, has gone “live” and can now be used for bringing complaints against financial institutions to regulators.

by Janvic Mateo (The Philippine Star), 19 Aug 2020 MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government has issued cease and desist orders against 70 construction sites that were found to have violated health and safety protocols for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

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By Melissa Luz Lopez, CNN Philippines, 18 Aug 2020 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 18) — Up to a million Filipino youth are at risk of going jobless this year due to the pandemic if lockdown rules stretch on, a joint report of the Asian Development Bank and the International Labour Organization said.

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by Ian Nicolas Cigaral (Philstar.com), 18 Aug 2020 MANILA, Philippines — Around 1 million young Filipinos are seen to lose their jobs this year, a direct result of the pandemic that prompted companies to lay off workers, cut work hours and freeze hiring of new graduates, a report released Tuesday said.

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by Delon Porcalla (The Philippine Star ), 18 Aug 2020 MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has decided to suspend the chamber’s sessions temporarily as cases of employees being infected by the coronavirus disease 2019 have reached 44 since mid-March.

By FEDERICO D. PASCUAL JR., Philippine STAR, 18 Aug 2020 THE resetting to Oct. 5 of the Aug. 24 start of the school year may look like a grace period, a welcome relief all around, but the seven-week extension still sees everybody cramming, as Filipinos are wont to do at the last minute.

By Patricia B. Mirasol, BusinessWorld, 17 Aug 2020 Employees who work from home (WFH) tend to work longer hours. According to a study by Harvard Business School, the pandemic workday is, on average, “48.5 minutes longer than usual. It also has 13% more meetings and 1.4 more daily emails.”

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By: Christia Marie Ramos, INQINQUIRER.net, 17 Aug 2020 MANILA, Philippines — Janitors, security guards and maintenance men working in public hospitals should also receive hazard pay from the government as they face similar health risks as medical frontliners amid the pandemic, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said Monday.

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by Neil Jayson Servallos (The Philippine Star), 17 Aug 2020 MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police has posted 44 new cases of coronavirus disease 2019, bringing to 2,842 the total number of PNP personnel who have contracted COVID-19.