World
Philippines Extends Lockdown of Main Island Until End of April
- Restrictions in Luzon island extended for almost 3 more weeks
- Remittances may drop as the pandemic shuts economies
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The Philippines has extended a lockdown on Luzon island until the end of April, idling its economic engine and home to most of its population to counter the spread of coronavirus.
The quarantine that began in mid-March was set to end April 12, but given the sustained growth in virus cases the lockdown will have to stay, the government said Tuesday. The country will need to put more funds toward virus relief, as the 200 billion pesos ($3.9 billion) set aside so far for cash aid to poor families won’t be enough, President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday.