More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.
COVID-19 cases in the Philippines are still on the decline, the Department of Health said on Saturday, after reports of an uptick in infections in other parts of Asia.
According to media reports, COVID-19 cases have increased in Singapore, Thailand, and Hong Kong.
However, the DOH said that there is no cause for alarm at this time.
''We are actively coordinating through established mechanisms like the ASEAN. This gives us verified information, boosting readiness even as we see no cause for alarm,'' the DOH said in a statement.
As of May 3, 2025, the DOH reported that the number of COVID-19 cases and fatalities in the Philippines has decreased by 87% from 2024.
Only 1,774 COVID-19 cases have been documented in the country so far this year, a significant drop from the 14,074 cases recorded in 2024. The current case fatality rate stands at 1.13%.
The DOH also highlighted a downward trend in reported cases in recent weeks. Between April 6 and 19, there were 65 cases, down from 71 cases during the March 23 to April 5 period.
The Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Inc., meanwhile, said hospital infection control departments have not observed an increase in COVID-19 consultations or admissions.
"PSMID emphasizes that various respiratory infections can cause symptoms similar to those of COVID-19. Some of these infections may be prevented by vaccination," it said.
''We should all remain vigilant, continue practicing preventive measures, and maintain healthy lifestyles to reduce the risk of respiratory infections.''
The DOH also urged the public to adhere to these basic health protocols to prevent the spread of not only COVID-19 but other communicable diseases as well:
- Wear face masks in healthcare facilities
- Stay home when sick
- Cover mouth when coughing or sneezing
- Regularly wash hands with soap and water
- Seek early medical consultation for symptoms
“We are committed to keeping the public informed and will provide timely updates should the situation evolve,” the DOH said.
The Department of Health (DOH) assured there is "no cause for alarm" despite the reported surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in some Southeast Asian countries.
“We are actively coordinating through established mechanisms like the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Nations). This gives us verified information, boosting readiness even as we see no cause for alarm,” it said in a statement on Saturday.
Hong Kong and Singapore earlier noted a surge in Covid-19 cases.
In Singapore, the latest data showed that the estimated number of Covid-19 cases in the week ending May 3 increased to 14,000 from 11,100 in the previous week.
Its Ministry of Health said there is no indication that the variants circulating are more transmissible or cause more severe disease.
Hong Kong, meanwhile, said its "major surveillance indicators" of Covid-19 reached a one-year high, likely due to "changes in predominant circulating strains and declining herd."
Its health agency did not provide the total number of cases but said it recorded 81 severe cases among adults, including 30 "fatal cases" in the past four weeks.
In the Philippines as of May 3, the DOH said it recorded 1,774 Covid-19 this year, about 87 percent down from 14,074 recorded in 2025.
The case fatality rate is 1.13 percent and recent trends also indicate a “slight decrease” in reported cases over the past three to four weeks.
From 71 cases in the week of March 23 to April 5 this year, the number of Covid-19 cases in the country decreased to 65 cases April 6 to 19.
“We are committed to keeping the public informed and will provide timely updates should the situation evolve,” it said.
“We encourage everyone to stay informed through official DOH channels, and continue practicing the same preventive measures that protect from other diseases,” it added.
The DOH reminded the public anew to always wear face masks in healthcare facilities, stay home when sick, practice proper respiratory hygiene, and seek early consultation for symptoms.
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| https://www.verticalfarmdaily.com/article/9730987/philippines-making-a-career-out-of-a-pandemic-era-hobby/ |
What started as a simple hobby to pass the time during the pandemic has now grown into one of Baguio City's promising ventures in urban agriculture. Mark Adriel Sison, the owner of DomeGarden Hydroponics, never imagined that a casual project born out of boredom in 2020 would one day supply fresh, high-quality lettuce to some of the city's well-known restaurants, including Korean Palace. Now four years into the business, DomeGarden stands as a model of innovation, sustainability, and community-driven farming.
DomeGarden Hydroponics takes pride in offering insecticide- and pesticide-free produce, something Mark believes is becoming increasingly important to consumers who are seeking cleaner and safer food options. Amid traditional farms that rely heavily on chemicals, DomeGarden stands out as a healthy, eco-friendly alternative. Mark highlights that there is a high demand for such products, especially from restaurants that prioritize food quality and safety.
Beyond producing crops, DomeGarden is also deeply rooted in education and advocacy. Mark generously shares his knowledge with anyone interested in hydroponics, from casual visitors to students and even individuals sent by government agencies, like the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
His efforts extend to his own community, a mining neighborhood, where he showcases how hydroponic farming can serve as a sustainable livelihood. Through community outreach and technology demonstrations, DomeGarden has introduced many to the profitability and environmental benefits of this modern farming technique.
I have documented many stories like this. Let us all admire him for his tenacity for growing lettuce.
A Laguna data center has landed a Singapore client. This goes back to the pandemic.
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| https://business.inquirer.net/525490/first-gen-clinches-2-1-mw-deal-to-power-laguna-data-center |
First Gen Corp., a Lopez-led renewables producer, has started energizing a Singaporean company’s data center in Laguna province with clean power.
Top officials from First Gen and Singapore’s Digital Edge Holdings Pte. Ltd., a developer and operator of data centers across Asia, had a formal signing event for the power supply agreement in Ortigas City on Wednesday.
The two-year pact, which entails 2.1 megawatt (MW) of renewable energy capacity, covers Digital Edge’s NARRA 1 data center. The facility is located in the Laguna Technopark in Biñan.
According to the Filipino firm, the electricity would be sourced from the Pantabangan-Masiway and Casecnan hydro-electric complex in Nueva Ecija.
First Gen chief customer engagement officer Carlo Vega acknowledged the growing presence of data centers in the country, given their crucial role in digital transformation.
Data centers have been on the rise as they cater to businesses’ large-scale information and technology operations, supporting the massive digital shift particularly highlighted during the pandemic.
“The need for data centers is growing, and operating these requires large-scale, uninterrupted power with the lowest possible carbon emissions,” Vega said.For Digital Edge Philippines country manager Vic Barrios, teaming up with First Gen complements its efforts for sustainable operations.
“We are proud to operate a world-class data center that meets the growing demand for digital infrastructure while upholding the highest standards of environmental responsibility. By design, NARRA1 is already one of the most energy- and water-efficient data centers in the region,” Barrios said.
First Gen, a subsidiary of conglomerate First Philippine Holdings Corp., is the leading power generation firm in the local market, with 3,668 MW of total installed capacity from a portfolio of 33 power facilities.
Its renewable energy portfolio includes nearly 300 MW of hydro power generation, 160 MW from wind and solar facilities, and about 1,200 MW of geothermal generating capacity.
But can't this be handled in Singapore? Why look to the Philippines to handle your data needs?
During the pandemic the Bayanihan spirit shined forth. Now a Portland, Oregon Filipino community center has arisen to bring that ideal to the USA.
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| https://katu.com/features/community-center-brings-filipino-idea-of-bayanihan-to-portland?photo=1 |
In the Philippines, there's a concept known as bayanihan, which refers to a spirit of unity and cooperation that's common in Filipino culture.
The term stems from a physical action the community will take in response to typhoons and floods.
"In the rural areas of the Philippines, a lot of the houses are made up of bamboo and woven nipa, and they're held up by four stilts," explains Nikki De Leon, a first-generation Filipino immigrant. "'Bayanihan' describes this action of the community coming together and lifting the entire house and moving it out of harm's way."
In 2020, Portland's Filipino community saw the pandemic as a disaster that needed a bayanihan response. De Leon headed up those efforts, with the help of community members and nonprofits, like the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON).
"We launched the Bayanihan Response to COVID-19," De Leon says. "[It's] the collective response of the Filipino community to help our 'kababayan,' our fellow countrymen."
What that response looks like is De Leon and the community putting together food kits for families, handing out personal protective equipment and helping people get vaccinated.
These efforts laid the groundwork for the opening of the Filipino Bayanihan Center, located at 1537 SE Morrison St, in 2021.
The center provides a litany of services, including a food pantry, which is stocked with Filipino foods and ingredients.
"Each week, they feature a 'lutong bahay' meal kit, which means homecooked meal," De Leon says.
There's also the Community Health Based Program, where a licensed physician can perform basic medical exams, like blood pressure and blood sugar screenings.
The program also provides natural remedies to sleeping problems and chronic pain, usually in the form of tinctures, which are created in-house.
Over the years, the Filipino Bayanihan Center has expanded its programs to advocate for the rights of migrant workers and engage Filipino youth in the culture.
"It reminds the community of the community-oriented value that is very apparent back in the Philippines," De Leon says.
Most importantly, Filipinos can convene at the center and build relationships.
"Being able to be around other Filipinos, see the culture, be with the community [is] really helpful," says Pedro Neri, a Portland State University student whose mother immigrated from the Philippines.
Neri comes here almost weekly to chat with friends, and their family participates in the center's programs.
The more time they spend here, the more they've discovered what bayanihan looks like in the United States.
"Coming here, I was like, 'oh, this is not just something that exists in the Philippines," Neri says. "[It] is something that can exist here and does exist here."
Why don't they move back to the Philippines if they are looking for a Filipino community? It would be interesting to hear these people's thoughts on Duterte's brutal pandemic lockdown.
The pandemic changed the workforce and made remote work go mainstream. Now the PEZA is set to release new guidelines concerning remote work for businesses under its jurisdiction.
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| https://business.inquirer.net/525425/peza-rule-on-50-remote-work-out-soon |
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) is set to release new guidelines this month for businesses under its jurisdiction, allowing them to keep up to 50 percent of their workforce under work from home (WFH) setup without losing their fiscal incentives.
Peza director general Tereso Panga said the guidelines giving the 50-percent WFH flexibility would clarify and streamline remote work policies within its economic zones.
“And if they’re [located]outside [our economic zones], they can even do 100 percent [WFH]. So, we need not be as strict as before with the guidelines,” Panga told reporters on the sidelines of the launch of their sustainability reporting program in Pasay late Tuesday afternoon.
Peza, one of the investment promotions agencies of the Department of Trade and Industry, requires registered firms to conduct their business operations within designated economic zones to qualify for tax incentives.
However, at the height of the lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, employees of these registered firms were allowed to work remotely as a health and safety measure.
The remote work allowance eventually ended in 2022, with the interagency Fiscal Incentives Review Board issuing a decision in September of that year allowing Peza-registered firms to transfer their registration to the Board of Investments (BOI). This move allowed firms to continue implementing WFH arrangements while remaining eligible for tax incentives, as the BOI does not impose the same location-based restrictions as Peza.
The 50-percent WFH threshold is in line with the provisions of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Act.
Peza-accredited firms enjoy a number of fiscal and nonfiscal incentives, including income tax holidays, special corporate income tax rates, or enhanced deductions, among others.
According to records from the government investment promotions agency, more than 440 registered companies applied to transfer their registration to the BOI following the decision.
To date, more than 4,380 registered companies are operating within Peza’s network of at least 423 economic zones.
Being a member of PEZA saves on taxes while having a remote workforce saves on expenses. That is a fine line to walk. Wherever the savings is the most will surely determine how these businesses react.
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