Latest Updates

DATE TIME UPDATE

October 08, 2020 8:00 AM

DOH issues Press Release: MacGraphics Carranz International Corporation bolsters BIDA SOLUSYON SA
COVID-19 campaign

Advertising giant MacGraphics Carranz International (MGCI) Corporation is now featuring the
Department of Health’s (DOH) BIDA Solusyon sa COVID-19 campaign with the Department of Interior
and Local Government (DILG). The Mandaluyong City-based company owns some of the largest
billboards in the country that are strategically placed in Metro Manila’s busiest areas. Commuters are
now reminded of the minimum public health standards and COVID-19 updates when passing through
major thoroughfares and landmarks including GA Tower located at One EDSA in Mandaluyong, C5 Road,
Boni MRT (Northbound), Ortigas, Shaw Boulevard, and SLEX Magallanes...

October 06, 2020 5:00 PM

DOH issues Press Release: DOH, DILG fortify BHERTS to boost universal healthcare, push for proper
equipment, pocket guide, and retooling

As the importance of Universal Healthcare (UHC) was emphasized by the pandemic, the Department of
Health (DOH) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) reintroduced the
Barangay Health Response Teams (BHERTs) and announced the ways forward in strengthening them
during Monday’s media forum, Oct. 5, 2020. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire
emphasized the role of BHERTs, reiterating the statement of Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III that
they are the country’s first line of defense in the communities. “Ang mga BHERT friends po natin ang
pangunahing health defense sa ating community ngayong pandemic,” said Usec. Singh-Vergeire...

October 06, 2020 5:00 PM

DOH issues Press Release: WHO’s regional committee for Western Pacific elects Duque to lead its 71st
session

In its 71st Session happening today, representatives of the 37 member-states of the World Health
Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Western Pacific elected Health Secretary Francisco T.
Duque III as its new chairperson to serve a term of one (1) year. The committee meets annually to
formulate policies, provide oversight for regional programmes, report on the progress of their projects,
and consider, revise and endorse new initiatives. Resolutions and decisions adopted during the session
will guide the work of the Regional and Country Offices for 2021...

October 05, 2020 2:00 PM

DOH issues Press Release: DOH receives WHO donations of PPEs and medical devices

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III received various health commodities donated by the World
Health Organization (WHO), at the Department of Health (DOH) Central Office today. Represented by its
Officer-in-Charge and Acting Country Representative to the Philippines, Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, the
WHO turned over personal protective equipment (PPEs) such as gowns (230,900 pcs), KN95 masks
(405,000 pcs), face shields (187,800 pcs), googles (159,540 pcs) and surgical masks (552,000 pcs)...

October 05, 2020 2:00 PM

DOH issues Press Release: DOH pushes quarantine assistance for private sector employees through
BHERTS

The Department of Health (DOH) reminded the private sector that they can seek assistance from the
Local Government Units (LGU) in terms of aiding their COVID-19 positive employees to get medical
attention and isolate them in quarantine facilities. According to Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, if
an employee tests positive for COVID-19 or is experiencing symptoms aligned with the novel sickness,
the company may get help from the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs)...

Both the farmgate and retail prices of the country’s main staple food palay and corn are on a
downtrend, which is bad news for farmers but good news for consumers.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that farmgate price of palay fell further
during the first week of September.
The average farmgate price of palay fell further by 2.2 percent during the period to P17.64 per kilogram
(/kg) from its level of P18.04/kg in the previous week.

The average farmgate price of yellow corn grain also went down to P12.32/kg or by 4.6 percent during
the first week of this month, from its level of P12.91/kg in the previous week. It also dropped further at
an annual of rate of 5.5 percent relative to its average price of P13.04/kg in the same period of the
previous year.

Similarly, the average farmgate price of white corngrain decreased to P13.52/kg or by 5.1 percent during
the week, from its previous week’s level of P14.24/kg. On an annual basis, it also dipped at a rate of 6.0
percent relative to its average price of P14.38/kg during the same period of the previous year.

A few weeks ago, Philippine Maize Federation Inc. (Philmaize) and the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture
and Food Inc. (PCAFI) already sounded the alarm over falling domestic corn prices, prompting the
Department of Agriculture (DA) to hold a consultation meeting with stakeholders.

During the meeting, the Philippine Association of Feed Millers Inc. (PAFMI), the largest group of feed
millers in the Philippines, pledged to buy more local corn from farmers.
As for rice, Agriculture Secretary William Dar assured that the government will intensify its palay-buying
activities.

For the remainder of the year, the National Food Authority (NFA) still has more than P10 billion budget
to buy as much as 10 million bags of locally produced unhusked rice. NFA buys palay at P19/kg.

Fortunately for consumers, there were also downward movements in the retail prices of well milled rice
during the first week of this month, the same PSA data showed.

The average wholesale price of well milled rice particularly dropped further to P38.57/kg or by 0.6
percent during the week, compared with its previous week’s level of P38.80/kg.

Likewise, the average retail price of well milled rice shrank to P42.23/kg or by 0.3 percent this week,
relative to its level of P42.35/kg in the previous week.

For regular milled rice, both wholesale and retail prices also continue to decline. From its level of
P35.22/kg in the previous week, the average wholesale price of regular milled rice dipped to P34.99/kg
or by 0.7 percent during the week.

The same trend was seen in the average retail price of regular milled rice, which fell to P37.91/kg or by
0.5 percent this week, from its previous week’s level of P38.08/kg.

Meanwhile, the average wholesale price of yellow corn grain also decreased to P20.85/kg or by 2.4
percent during the week, from its previous week’s level of P21.36/kg, while the average retail price went
down to P24.85/kg or by 0.1 percent this week, relative to its previous week’s level of P24.88/kg.

This, while both wholesale and retail prices of white corn grain likewise dropped. The average wholesale
price of white corn grain plunged to P15.88/kg or by 7.9 percent this week, relative to its previous
week’s level of P17.25/kg, while the average retail price of white corn grain declined to P27.80/kg or by
0.4 percent this week, compared with its previous week’s level of P27.90/kg.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/mb.com.ph/2020/09/22/prices-of-palay-corn-on-a-downward-
trend/amp/