Philippines Morning News For October 9

Duterte under fire for Hong Kong trip as Filipinos reel from soaring inflation
Social media users hit President Rodrigo Duterte for going on an unannounced trip to Hong Kong with his family while Filipinos grapple with steep prices of commodities.
— The Philippine Star

Malaysia eliminates mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis
Malaysia today became the first country in the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region to be certified as having eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.
— World Health Organisation

PH, Japan sign P2B loan for Bohol airport
The governments of the Philippines and Japan have signed a supplemental agreement extending a 4.376 billion yen (about P2.1 billion) loan to the Philippines to support the second phase of the New Bohol Airport Project, to cover the expansion of its runway and passenger terminal building.
— Malaya

New draft Charter removes term limits
THE House constitutional amendments panel has endorsed for plenary debates the draft constitution filed by Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and 21 other lawmakers, which seeks to shift to a federal system of government and lift term limits.
— The Manila Times

PRRD to convey aid to Indonesia quake victims in meeting with Widodo
President Rodrigo Duterte will have a chance to personally convey to Indonesian President Jokowi Widodo assistance the Philippines can provide to earthquake and tsunami victims when the two leaders meet at the ASEAN Leaders’ Gathering on Oct. 11 in Bali, Indonesia.
— Philippine News Agency

Rice imports may hit 2.4-M tons, second biggest on record
The Philippines will allow major rice retailers to import up to 350,000 tons of the grain, its agriculture minister said on Monday, potentially bringing the country’s total purchases this year to 2.4 million tons, the second highest on record.
— ABS-CBN News

Boracay tourist arrivals to be regulated
The number of people, including tourists, to be allowed to stay in Boracay will be regulated under the guidelines adopted by the Boracay Interagency Task Force (BIATF).
— The Philippine Star

Gov’t sets incentives for rice farmers
The National Food Authority Council (NFA Council) said government would be providing rice farmers incentives the equivalent of P3.70 per kilogram of palay for grains procured this season to ensure farmers will not be disadvantaged as government and private sector embark on a massive importation program to stabilize supply and bring down prices.
— Malaya

IMF long-term outlook: Inflation in PHL to ease
DESPITE the steady rise of consumer prices in the country in recent months, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) believes inflation will likely stabilize and stay relatively low in the long term.
— Business Mirror

The Philippines is one of two countries where divorce is illegal, trapping women in marriages
The Philippines is one of the only countries in the world where divorce is illegal, often trapping women in toxic marriages with no way out.
— ABC News

SHOPPING SPREE PLANS OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE FOR OCTOBER 2018
It’s a busy month for the Philippine National Police this October 2018, as they are preparing for several tenders for weapons, vehicles, force protection equipment and support equipment to be used by the different units of the police force, including the vaunted PNP Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) which is the combat unit of the police.
— MaxDefense Philippines

Philippines: ‘Weak peso to boost exports’
Philippine’s Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez has remained confident the country’s goods and services exports growth target of nine percent this year can be achieved.
— Fresh Plaza

‘PHL only one in region with rising HIV cases’
THE Philippines remains to be the only country in the Western Pacific region where the incidence of HIV continues to rise, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
— Business Mirror

5 firms vie for 3rd telco slot
Five local and foreign firms yesterday bought bid documents to formalize their intent to join the selection for the country’s third major telecom player.
— Malaya

Trabaho bill seen creating an average of 1.4 million jobs until 2029
The Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High-Quality Opportunities (Trabaho) bill is expected to generate 1.4 million more jobs in the next decade if it becomes law.
— Business Mirror

PAF allots P18.4-M for UH-1H/D helicopters maintenance
The Armed Forces of the Philippines, through the Philippine Air Force Bids and Awards Committee, is allocating PHP18.4 million to buy spare parts for the maintenance of its four UH-1H/D “Huey” combat utility helicopters.
— Philippine News Agency

Senate passes bill to penalize catcalling, public harassment
The Senate on Monday passed on third and final reading a bill that seeks to penalize catcalling and other forms of public harassment.
— CNN Philippines

PAL warns the public on Buy and Sell Scams
Philippine Airlines is warning the public against buying “cheap” airline tickets being sold by scam artists on social media sites – such as Facebook.
— Philippines Magazine

Ilocos Norte bags best tourism-oriented LGU award
Ilocos Norte finally won the prestigious Pearl Award for Best Tourism-Oriented Province in the Philippines from the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) and the Department of Tourism.
— Northbound Philippines

DTI pushes probe on the use of induction furnace in steel making
The Trade Department said it intensified its investigation on the use induction furnace by steel manufacturers amid reports of proliferation of substandard products that pose serious safety hazards to homebuilders and consumers.
— Manilastandard.net

Task force adopts tourism guidelines to protect Boracay
To protect Boracay against unsustainable tourism practices, the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) has adopted a set of guidelines to protect the world-famous resort island ahead of its scheduled reopening on October 26.
— Business Mirror

Firm offers to develop, run Davao port
Dennis Uy-led Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. wants to rehabilitate and operate Davao’s Sasa Port and has submitted a P16-billion unsolicited proposal to the Transportation department.
— The Manila Times

SMEs, solar firms join forces to apply for minigrid franchises
Thousands of small and medium-sized solar companies are joining forces to apply for Solar Minigrid franchises in Congress, to create the first true electric cooperatives in the Philippines.
— Manila Bulletin

Duterte to pitch support for MSMEs in ASEAN meeting
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte will urge leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during their gathering in Bali, Indonesia on Thursday, Oct. 11, to support the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the region.
— BusinessWorld Online

Palace spokesman goes on ‘abrupt’ leave
Presidential Spokesman Harry L. Roque Jr. went on a hasty leave starting on Monday following his announcement he will spend the weekend to weigh his job options.
— Business Mirror

Lowering power rates to drive economy
This year, the recorded national inflation rate has been steady in its increase. The first month of the year was at 3.4 percent — a number that, by August, had ballooned to 6.4 percent.
— Inquirer.net

PH T-bill rates up again
The rate of the Philippines’ Treasury bills (T-bills) rose across the board on Monday, with the auction committee awarding in full the 91-day paper after three consecutive weeks of rejection.
— Philippine News Agency

Senate OKs bill increasing Filipino war veterans’ monthly pension
The Senate unanimously approved on third and final reading on Monday a bill increasing by 300 percent, from P5,000 to P20,000, the monthly old-age pension of Filipino war veterans.
— Manila Bulletin

Ozamiz judge handling drug cases shot dead
A judge handling the drug cases against the Parojinog siblings was killed in an ambush Monday afternoon.
— Manilastandard.net

Petron’s P20-B fixed-rate bond issue gets SEC nod
Petron Corp. has secured the green light from the Securities and Exchange Commission on its P20-billion issue of peso-denominated fixed-rate bonds.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Oil firms raise pump prices big time; diesel up by P1.45
Oil companies jacked up diesel prices Tuesday by a hefty P1.45 per liter to reflect the movement of oil prices in the world market.
— Manilastandard.net

Review finds 59 firms to be Shariah-compliant
THE Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) found 59 listed firms to be compliant with Islamic finance principles as of Sept. 25.
— BusinessWorld Online

Facebook officials uncover, removes 583,000 fake accounts, SP Sotto reports
Officials of Facebook confirmed Monday uncovering over 583,000 “fake FB accounts” that has since been removed, Senate President Tito Sotto said
— Business Mirror

Labor group demands dismissal of DTI chief amid soaring prices
A moderate labor group is planning to ask President Rodrigo Duterte at their scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 9, to fire Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez for his supposed failure to monitor and control the price of basic commodities.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

PHL, China to hold joint military exercises in Zhanjiang
The Philippines will hold joint military exercises with China during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)-China military exercise to be held in Zhanjiang, China on October 22 to 29, the Defense department said Monday.
— Update Philippines

Feature photo JL Javier

This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo acknowledges World Mental Health Day, October 10.

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Philippines morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Philippines news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

Philippines morning news for October 9 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on October 9, 2018
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Stella-maris Ewudolu

Journalist at AEC News Today

Stella-maris graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Education from Ebonyi State University, Nigeria in 2005.

Between November 2010 and February 2012 she was a staff writer at Daylight Online, Nigeria writing on health, fashion, and relationships. From 2010 – 2017 she worked as a freelance screen writer for ‘Nollywood’, Nigeria.

She joined AEC News Today in December 2016.