2020 in the Philippines


2020 in the Philippines details events of note that have occurred in the Philippines in 2020.
This year is largely defined by COVID-19 pandemic that caused of the national economic recession and continued until the state of public health emergency was lifted in the country on July 21, 2023.

Incumbents

Events

January

February

  • February 3 – A state of calamity is declared by the provincial government of Davao Occidental, due to the African Swine Fever outbreak, a first for the Davao Region.
  • February 5 – The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee recommended the filing of criminal charges against individuals involved in the Good Conduct Time Allowance controversy, including the near-release of former Calauan, Laguna, mayor Antonio Sanchez, the mastermind in the June 1993 rape and murder of UPLB students Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez. On February 12, the Senate adopts the said recommendation.
  • February 8 – A group of archaeologists led by the National Quincentennial Committee, unearthed the grave of Filipino World War II guerilla and scientist Maria Orosa at the Malate Catholic School compound in Manila, nearly 75 years since her death on February 13, 1945.
  • February 10 – The DOJ cleared Vice President Leni Robredo and several opposition figures of sedition but indicted former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and 10 others for "conspiracy to commit sedition" over an alleged ouster plot against President Duterte. On February 14, a Quezon City court issued an arrest warrant against Trillanes and nine others and four days later, Trillanes posted a bail for the case.
  • February 11 – The Philippines announced that it will terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement with the U.S. The announcement is rescinded on June 1.
  • February 15 – President Duterte leads the inauguration of the commercial operations at Sangley Airport in Cavite, 8 months after he ordered the start of its general aviation operations.
  • February 17:
  • * President Duterte signs Executive Order No. 104, or the Improving Access to Healthcare Through the Regulation of Prices in the Retail of Drugs and Medicines, that imposing a limit on the prices of several medicines and drugs.
  • * Senator Risa Hontiveros revealed the alleged "pastillas" modus operandi within the BI that allows the entry of Chinese nationals to the country in exchange for ₱10,000 each. On February 20, President Duterte relieved all Immigration officials and employees involved in the said bribery scheme that allegedly gives VIP treatment to Chinese visitors. On September 2, the NBI filed a complaint against 19 BI personnel in connection with the said scheme. On September 22, Joshua Paul Capiral, a NBI official was arrested in an entrapment operation for allegedly accepting bribes from Bureau of Immigration personnel involved in the said scheme. On September 28, DOJ filed extortion and graft charges against NBI legal assistance chief Joshua Paul Capiral and his brother Christopher John, an immigration officer, before the Manila Regional Trial Court for allegedly accepting bribes from Bureau of Immigration personnel involved in the said scheme.
  • February 18 – Former Communist Party of the Philippines chairman and New People's Army commander Rodolfo Salas was arrested in Angeles City.
  • February 19 – Former official of BuCor Fredric Anthony Santos was shot dead in Muntinlupa.
  • February 21:
  • * The NBI filed a complaint for murder against Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office board member Sandra Cam and six others over the killing of Charlie Yuson III on October 9, 2019.
  • * The BIR shut down the operations of SAFYI, the first Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator to be given a license by the government, after it failed to pay the 5% franchise tax.
  • * President Duterte signs Executive Order No. 106, that prohibits vaping in public and prohibited the sale and manufacture of unregistered e-cigarettes due to their potential health risks.
  • February 24 – The Senate public services committee begins its hearing on the issues surrounding the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation. On February 26, President Duterte accepted the apology of ABS-CBN over his unaired campaign ads during the 2016 presidential election.
  • February 27 – The Philippine government lifted the suspension on negotiations and signing of loan and grant agreements with countries that sponsored and voted in favor of a United Nations investigation on the country's human rights situation.
  • February 28 – The Sandiganbayan acquitted former PNP chief Alan Purisima of eight counts of perjury over his alleged failure to declare his wealth in full for 6 years.

March

April

  • April 6 – Diwata-1, the Philippines' first micro-satellite for scientific earth observation built by Filipino scientists, was officially decommissioned after re-entering the Earth's atmosphere.
  • April 14 – The government began its mass testing processes on persons suspected of having COVID-19.
  • April 17 – The Supreme Court conducted a special en banc session, the first-ever done online in its 119-year history as the judiciary seeks to deal with urgent matters amid a Luzon-wide lockdown imposed to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019.
  • April 24 – The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines received criticism after releasing a music video about the relations of China and the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • April 27:
  • * 15 senators, files a resolution that seeks to amend the Senate rules to allow the conduct of plenary sessions and committee hearings via teleconference amid the coronavirus disease 2019 situation.
  • * President Duterte signs Executive Order No. 111, which abolished the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office, which served as his chief message-crafting body.
  • April 28 – Taiwan rejected the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment's moves to deport Elanel Egot Ordidor, an overseas Filipino worker over social media posts critical of President Duterte, saying the Philippines must first consult with Taiwan before taking any drastic action.

May

  • May 1 – Pope Francis names former Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle to the rank of Cardinal-Bishop, the highest title of a Cardinal in the Catholic Church.
  • May 4:
  • * The radio and television franchise for ABS-CBN expired. Renewal of the franchise was uncertain due to tense relations of the network with the Duterte administration. On May 5, ABS-CBN's broadcasting operations were signed off the air at 7:52 p.m. due to the cease and desist order of the NTC to stop broadcast operations of the said network because of the expiration of its franchise granted to them on March 30, 1995. On June 23, the Supreme Court dismissed Solicitor General Jose Calida's petition questioning ABS-CBN Corporation's franchise, ruling that the issue was "moot and academic". On August 25, the Supreme Court dismissed ABS-CBN's petition challenging the National Telecommunications Commission's cease and desist order that forced it to shut down broadcast operations. On September 10, NTC recalled the frequencies assigned to ABS-CBN, which it said was warranted in the absence of a legislative franchise.
  • * President Duterte directed the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation to make the payment of premiums voluntary for overseas Filipino workers in light of opposition against premium rate increases.
  • May 6 – President Duterte signs Executive Order No. 114, that ordered the implementation of the "Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa" Program to decongest Metro Manila and promote countryside development.
  • May 8 – The Supreme Court dismissed the petition filed by attorney Dino de Leon seeking the disclosure of President Duterte's health records. On September 8, SC denies with finality de Leon's bid to compel President Duterte to disclose his health records.
  • May 11 – A plebiscite is set for the ratification of the law which approved the division of the provinces of Palawan into three provinces but rescheduled on March 13, 2021.
  • May 13 – The NBI launched a probe into Overseas Workers Welfare Administration deputy administrator Mocha Uson over a coronavirus-related fake news.
  • May 14 – Typhoon Vongfong (Ambo) makes landfall over Eastern Samar and hits Visayas, resulting to over a billion peso in damages.
  • May 23 – BRP Jose Rizal, the country's first missile-capable warship, arrived in Subic, Zambales, after a 5-day maiden journey from South Korea.
  • May 24 – Renato Llenes, awaiting trial for the killing of Christine Silawan reportedly kills himself while in police custody.

June

  • June 3 – The Senate Electoral Tribunal denied the petition filed by Reymar Mansilungan and Efren Adan that seeking to declare Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III ineligible for the senatorial term 2019–2025.
  • June 4 – The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights released its comprehensive report on the widespread killings in the Philippines under President Duterte.
  • June 5 – Former Presidential Commission on Good Government chairman Camilo Sabio was arrested by the NBI in his home in Quezon City over the execution of judgment in one of the criminal cases against him pending before the Sandiganbayan.
  • June 15 – The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46 convicts Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and former researcher-writer Reynaldo Santos Jr., of cyber libel over a 2012 article that linked a businessman to alleged illegal activities. On July 25, the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46 denied a motion for reconsideration filed by Ressa and Santos, Jr..
  • June 19 – President Duterte signs Republic Act No. 11475, that officially transferring the capital and seat of government of Rizal province to Antipolo from Pasig.
  • June 21 – An Solar eclipse of [June 21, 2020|annular solar eclipse] was witnessed by many astronomers and skywatchers throughout the country.
  • June 25 – President Duterte signs Republic Act No. 11476, that mandating the inclusion of Good Manners and Right Conduct classes in the K-12 program.
  • June 29 – Four soldiers were killed following a shooting incident with policemen in Barangay Walled City, Jolo, Sulu. On July 21, the NBI filed criminal complaints against members of the local police in Sulu allegedly involved in the shooting. On September 7, the PNP-Internal Affairs Service filed administrative and criminal complaints against the police officers involved in the shooting.

July

August

  • August 4 – The Senate Committee of the Whole begins its hearing on the alleged irregularities and fresh controversies hounding state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. On August 7, President Duterte formed a task force to investigate alleged corruption at the said agency. On August 18, Ombudsman Samuel Martires issued a six-month long preventive suspension against 13 PhilHealth officials. On August 24, PhilHealth senior vice president for the legal sector Rodolfo del Rosario Jr. tendered his irrevocable resignation from his post. On August 26, PhilHealth president and CEO Ricardo Morales resigned from his post amid allegations of corruption plaguing the state insurer and his battle with lymphoma. On August 31, President Duterte named former NBI chief Dante Gierran as the new head of PhilHealth. On September 14, President Duterte approved the recommendations of a task force to file criminal and administrative charges against Morales and several other executives in connection with irregularities in the state insurer. On October 2, the inter-agency task force created to investigate alleged anomalies in the said agency filed criminal complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against Morales and several other agency officials over fund disbursements through the controversial Interim Reimbursement Mechanism, a system where advance releases are made to hospitals in case of unforeseen events. On October 8, PhilHealth announced that a total of 43 senior officers have either tendered their courtesy resignation or retired from service.
  • August 6 – The government formally launched the One Hospital Command system which aims to improve the referral system and interoperability of public and private health care facilities catering to COVID-19 patients in the country.
  • August 10 – Randall "Ka Randy" Echanis, the peasant activist and National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace consultant, was killed in Quezon City.
  • August 13 – Abu Sayyaf Group leader Anduljihad "Idang" Susukan, was arrested in Davao City.
  • August 18 – A 6.6–magnitude scales|magnitude] 2020 [Masbate earthquake|earthquake] hit the island of Masbate, leaving one person killed and injured 43 others.
  • August 24 – At least 15 people were killed while 75 others were injured in 2020 [Jolo bombings|twin bombings] that ripped through Jolo, Sulu.
  • August 25 – The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Senator Richard J. Gordon, announced and recommended the filing of criminal charges against former health secretary Janette Garin, former budget Secretary Florencio Abad and former Philippine Health Insurance Corporation president & CEO Alexander Padilla for allegedly diverting ₱10.6 billion of funds to construct barangay health centers and procure dental trucks which supposedly had not been utilized at all in December 2015.
  • August 26 – Former Davao del Norte Representative Antonio "Tonyboy" Floirendo Jr., was convicted of graft over the deal between his family-owned Tagum Agricultural Development Co., Inc. and the Bureau of Corrections in 2003.
  • August 28 - ABS-CBN Corporation decided closed already "ABS-CBN Regional" of North Luzon Laoag, Baguio, Dagupan, and Pampanga; South Luzon Batangas and Naga City; Metro Cebu of Central Visayas ; Iloilo, Bacolod and Puerto Princesa of Whole Western Visayas and Tacloban of Eastern Visayas; Metro Davao of Southern Mindanao ; General Santos and Cotabato of South Central Mindanao, Cagayan de Oro of North Mindanao, and Western Mindanao Zamboanga as Final Broadcast of "Provincial Morning shows" and 12 "TV Patrol Regional".
  • August 31 – Employees of ABS-CBN Corporation were retrenched and its businesses ceased.

September

October

November

  • November 11 – Typhoon Vamco (Ulysses) makes landfalls on the island town of Patnanungan, Burdeos and on General Nakar in the Luzon landmass as a high-end Category 2-equivalent typhoon. It results to more than ₱20 billion worth of damages.
  • November 13 – A water level of, 0.3 meters below the dam's spilling point, forced the Magat Dam to continue releasing water. All seven gates of the dam were opened at 24 meters as the dam released over 5,037 cubic metres of water into the Cagayan River as numerous riverside towns experienced massive flooding.

December

Holidays

On November 15, 2019, the government announced at least 18 Philippine holidays for 2020 as declared by virtue of Proclamation No. 845, series of 2019.

Regular

Special (Non-working)

Business and economy

  • March 9 – The Philippine Stock Exchange index lost 457.77 points or 6.76% in the 2020 stock market crash, its steepest decline since the 2008 financial crisis.
  • April 10 – The World Bank approved a $500-million policy loan to boost the Philippines' capacity to respond and recover from disasters such as the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 crisis.
  • April 23 – The World Bank approves a $100-million or ₱5.1 billion loan for the Philippines' COVID-19 Emergency Response Project. On April 28, the Philippines and the World Bank signed the said loan agreement for the country's COVID-19 Emergency Response Project.
  • April 28 – The Philippines and the Asian Development Bank signed an agreement for a $200-million loan for additional funding for the government's emergency cash assistance program to poor and vulnerable households hit by quarantine measures imposed to contain COVID-19 spread.
  • May 2 – President Duterte signs Executive Order No. 113, that temporarily increased tariffs on imported crude oil and refined petroleum products to fund the country's COVID-19 response.
  • May 7:
  • * The Philippine economy contracted by 0.2% in the first quarter of 2020, for the first time since 1998, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdown.
  • * Fitch Ratings downgraded its outlook on the Philippines to factor in the impact of the global health crisis brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019.
  • May 15 – The Energy Regulatory Commission ordered the Manila Electric Corporation to explain how it came up with consumers' electricity bills during the three billing cycles covering the lockdown periods.
  • May 16 – ABS-CBN Corporation resumed its trading of shares after complying with the disclosure requirements of the Philippine Stock Exchange.
  • May 21 – The Philippines is experiencing a shortage of onion and garlic as local farmers are unable to "produce much" of the crops amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
  • May 28 – The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank approved a $750 million loan to the Philippines to help the country cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • May 29 – The World Bank approved a new $500-million policy loan to boost the Philippines' capacity to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus disease pandemic on poor and vulnerable households and to provide financial relief to small and medium enterprises. On June 3, the Philippines and the World Bank signed the said policy loan agreement to ease the social and economic impact of COVID-19 on poor households and workers of micro, small, and medium enterprises.
  • June 3 – The Land Bank of the Philippines approved some ₱250 million in loans under its ₱3-billion credit support for private academic institutions to provide a "study now, pay later" scheme to students hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • June 5:
  • * The Philippines and the Asian Development Bank signed a $400-million loan agreement that supports the government's efforts to strengthen domestic capital markets as the country recovers from the economic fallout resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • * The number of jobless Filipinos hit record-high of 17.7%, in April as the economic impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 caused the displacement of millions of workers.
  • July 1 – The Philippines signed a $26.5-million Asian Development Bank loan which would finance the reforms needed to improve local property valuation and tax collection.
  • July 29 – The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas officially launched the enhanced new generation currency banknotes, which the central bank said features the latest anti-counterfeiting technology.
  • August 6 – The Philippine economy plunged further in the second quarter to mark its worst performance on record based on the available data since 1981, bringing the country to a technical recession amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • August 24 – The Philippines signed a €24.5-million financing agreement with the European Union, its third so far this year, to finance initiatives in the Bangsamoro region and assist in the rehabilitation of Marawi City.
  • August 25:
  • * The Asian Development Bank approved another $125 million loan to boost the Philippines' capacity to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19.
  • * Shakey's Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. announced that they are entered into a franchise agreement with Singapore's Koufu Group Ltd. to bring the R&B milk tea brand to the Philippines.
  • * The Philippine Competition Commission approved the acquisition of a controlling stake in Manila Water Inc. by Enrique Razon-led Trident Water Holdings Company Inc., the holding firm of Prime Metroline Holdings Inc..
  • September 15 – Olivia Limpe-Aw and Melanie Perkins, the two Filipina businesswomens were included in the Forbes Asia's 2020 Power Businesswomen List, which features 25 outstanding female leaders in the Asia-Pacific region.
  • September 16 – The Supreme Court decided in favor of billionaire Enrique Razon's MORE Electric and Power Corp. in a legal battle involving power distribution in Iloilo City.
  • September 24 – Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez III tendered his resignation for personal reasons as Chairman Emeritus and Director of ABS-CBN Corporation and other Lopez-owned companies.
  • October 5 – The Department of Transportation suspended the mandatory use of Beep cards at the EDSA Busway, with stakeholders scrambling to look for other service providers that can suit the demands.
  • October 15 – Oil exploration activities in the South China Sea resumed after President Duterte approves the recommendation of the Department of Energy to lift the suspension of petroleum activities in the disputed waters.

Health

  • January 30 – The Philippines confirmed its first case of COVID-19.
  • February 1 – The first COVID-19 death outside China was reported in the Philippines: a Chinese tourist who recently arrived in the country.
  • February 21 – The DOJ indicted former Health secretary Janette Garin and several other health officials over children's deaths allegedly linked to the dengue vaccine Dengvaxia.
  • March 6 – The DOH confirmed that two Filipinos tested positive for COVID-19 for the first time in the Philippines. On March 7, the DOH and WHO confirms that the Philippines' fifth confirmed COVID-19 patient is the first case of local transmission.
  • March 10 – The FDA approves the use of test kits developed by scientists at the University of the Philippines to confirm cases of COVID-19 in the country. On April 3, the FDA approves the said test kits for COVID-19 developed by UP-National Institutes of Health and manufactured by Manila HealthTek, Inc. On May 20, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire announced, that the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health had recalled its locally made coronavirus test kits over "very minor" defects. On July 19, DOH announced that the COVID-19 test kit developed by the University of the Philippines was approved for commercial use.
  • March 11 – The first Filipino COVID-19 patient death, was reported in the Philippines. The victim was a 67-year-old female who was confined at the Manila Doctors Hospital.
  • October 6 – Health Secretary Francisco Duque III was elected as chairperson for the World Health Organization's Regional Committee for the Western Pacific.

Sports

Entertainment and culture

Deaths

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Country overviews

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