Philippines Morning News For September 10

Twin trips reap $143 million; Alliances renewed—Rody
President Rodrigo Duterte’s trip to Israel and Jordan reaped more than $143 million in investments expected to generate thousands of jobs, Malacañang said after the President arrived in Davao City Saturday.
— Manilastandard.net

GIR rises to $77.83B at end-August
THE country’s gross international reserves (GIR) rose to $77.83 billion as of end-August, higher than the $76.72 billion in July, but lower than the $81.51 billion recorded in August 2017, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has reported.
— Business Mirror

Philippines encourages families to donate organs of deceased relatives
The Department of Health (DOH) of the Philippines is encouraging families to consider organ donation of deceased relatives, including those who have been declared medically brain dead, to help others in need of transplantation.
— Xinhua

GOCC subsidies reach P32.47 B in July
The national government extended P32.47 billion in subsidies to government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) last July to support their operations, according to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr).
— The Philippine Star

Duterte blames Trump for record-high inflation in the Philippines
President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines has blamed tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on certain products for record-high inflation in the Philippines, the Manila Times Online reported on Sunday.
— Thai PBS World

Retail prices of rice in August spike to new all-time highs
THE average retail prices of rice in end-August rose by double digits to new all-time highs as the slim market presence of the National Food Authority (NFA) proved unable to check the spike in retail prices of the staple.
— Business Mirror

Duterte’s plan for retrial of senator over failed coups ‘could split Philippine military’
President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to arrest Philippine opposition senator Antonio Trillanes and try him in a military court for crimes he has already been pardoned for could split the military, a defence and security analyst warned.
— South China Morning Post

Investments in agri industries rise in 1st half of 2018
Local and foreign investments in agriculture, forestry, and fishing increased by 41.5 percent to PHP2.77 billion in the first half of the year from PHP1.96 billion in the same period last year.
— Philippine News Agency

Lawmakers want P10 billion supplemental budget for NFA
Legislators from the House of Representatives are pushing for a P10-billion supplemental budget for the state-run National Food Authority (NFA) for the procurement of local palay in time for the main harvest season in the fourth quarter.
— The Philippine Star

New expressway project for the Philippines
Work on a US$245.6 million expressway project is now underway in the Philippines. The 58km-long expressway will improve transport between the Southern Tagalog and Bicol Regions, reducing journey times for drivers while also improving safety.
— World Highways

Huaren Capital Expands Foothold in Philippines, Focuses on Providing Opportunities for Future Investors
Huaren Capital has further expanded by completing the construction of its new factory in the Philippines.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

Malasakit Center in Bacolod City to get P5-M monthly aid
Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go turned over an initial PHP5-million assistance to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) to kick off the operation of the Malasakit Center in this city.
— Philippine News Agency

Almost P3-B rice subsidy set for soldiers, cops
The national government intends to give a P2.9-billion rice subsidy to soldiers, police officers and other uniformed personnel, Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel revealed on Sunday.
— Manila Bulletin

E-cigarettes not scientifically proven safe: ASEAN alliance
An alliance promoting tobacco control said the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) is not scientifically proven to be less harmful than smoking regular cigarettes.
— Philippine News Agency

Higher airline tickets seen as fuel surcharges return
Expect airline ticket prices to go up within the month as the government approved the resumption of fuel surcharge on domestic and international flights operating in the Philippines due to the rising cost of crude oil.
— Malaya

Political crisis looms from Trillanes standoff
Multiple constitutional issues can be raised against the deployment of state might to arrest Sen. Antonio Trillanes. Already at the Supreme Court are three.
— The Philippine Star

DOTr keen on pursuing P3.6B contract with PPI-JKG
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) plans to pursue the P3.6-billion contract with Power Plates Development Concepts Inc. and J. Knieriem BV-Power Plates (PPI-JKG) to supply vehicle license plates despite allegations of violation of procurement rules.
— Malaya

P50 added to tourists’ fees
The municipal government of Mabini, Batangas, has started collecting a P50 fee from tourists in the town known for its diving spot, Anilao, a village in the town.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Philippines’ overall consumer outlook index
FILIPINO CONSUMERS turned pessimistic on the outlook of the economy in the third quarter as they expect commodity prices to continue to rise in the near term, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
— BusinessWorld Online

Affordable cancer treatment bill pushed
Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara is calling on fellow lawmakers to expedite the passage of the measure that would make cancer treatment more equitable and affordable to all Filipinos.
— Manila Bulletin

Court-martial proceedings vs Trillanes put on hold – AFP chief
The Armed Forces of the Philippines has deferred court-martial proceedings against Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV to wait for the Supreme Court decision on his petition for the invalidation of President Duterte’s order voiding the amnesty given to him as a military rebel in 2011.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

HIV-infected overseas Filipino workers up 14.4 pct in H1
A total of 451 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the first half of this year, up 14.4 percent compared to the 394 listed in the same period of last year, a Philippine lawmaker said on Sunday.
— Xinhua

‘Inflation self-inflicted, not caused by Trump’
US President Donald Trump and other global factors should not be blamed for the Philippines’ accelerating inflation, which is largely triggered by the Duterte administration’s policies, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said yesterday.
— The Philippine Star

Bonifacio flag sold for P9.3M
Despite a last-minute appeal from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) to stop Saturday’s auction, the “personal flag” of Katipunan founder and revolutionary Andres Bonifacio, sewn by his wife, Gregoria de Jesus, was sold by Leon Gallery for P9.3 million.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Gov’t targets EV conversion of 5.8-M PUVs
With viable policy support and incentive mechanisms, the Philippine government is targeting to convert roughly 5.8 million public transport system into electric vehicles (EVs), including jeepneys, buses, tricycles and trucks.
— Manila Bulletin

DOT takes steps to boost PHL profile as diving destination
CLOSE to half a billion pesos in tourism receipts were earned by the country last year from scuba divers.
— Business Mirror

DTI sees China trade show interest boosting exports
THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it is pushing to expand exports to China in the wake of growing demand, as reflected in robust Philippine participation in Chinese trade shows.
— BusinessWorld Online

Total to exit from Sulu petroleum block due to ‘non-comm’l’ find
The Philippine upstream subsidiary of French energy giant Total S.A. has indicated to the Department of Energy (DOE) its plan to exit from its petroleum block in Sulu basin due to “non-commercial quantity” of prospective gas discovery.
— Manila Bulletin

Government to harmonize tariff codes
The Department of Finance (DOF), together with various trade regulatory government agencies (TRGAs), will harmonize the tariff codes used by government to classify goods in order to facilitate trade and improve ease of doing business in the country.
— The Philippine Star

Rice subsidy for cops, soldiers in ‘19 budget
Soldiers, police officers and other uniformed personnel will get a P2.9 billion rice subsidy from the government, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said Sunday.
— Manilastandard.net

Fewer households with savings in Q3 nationwide – BSP survey
THE number of Filipino households with savings dropped in the third quarter of 2018, data from a nationwide Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) poll showed.
— The Manila Times

Firms upbeat on expansion, hiring
PHILIPPINE companies are more upbeat with regard to expansion and hiring plans for the fourth quarter, data from a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) survey showed.
— The Manila Times

EO to write-off P10-B debt of Marawi electric coop
An Executive Order (EO) targeted to be signed by President Rodrigo Duterte intends to write off P10 billion worth of debts incurred by the Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative (LASURECO), a power utility serving the war-torn Marawi City as well as neighboring areas.
— Manila Bulletin

P12-trillion reward? Supreme Court says no to ‘Marcos wealth informant’
The Supreme Court (SC) dismissed the petition of a man seeking a P12-trillion reward from the government for his supposed role in the recovery of the ill-gotten wealth of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, his family, and his cronies.
— Rappler

SMC taps 2 foreign banks for P735-b Bulacan airport
San Miguel Corp. said it tapped Standard Chartered Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. as co-financial advisors for the planned P735-billion New Manila International Airport project in Bulacan province.
— Manilastandard.net

Negros pilot project boosts sugarcane output to 80-100 tons per hectare
THE BPI Foundation and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines said that its P10-million partnership has helped boosted sugarcane farming productivity in Negros Occidental from the previous 40 to 60 tons average per hectare to current 80 to 100 tons per hectare.
— BusinessWorld Online

Govt targeting to set up Polo in China
Amid the expected increase in the number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in China, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is planning to put up a new Philippine Overseas Labor Office (Polo) in Shanghai.
— Business Mirror

Financial aid for kids injected with Dengvaxia imperiled
Children injected with the Dengvaxia vaccine are in danger of losing financial support from the government due to a clause in the P1.161-billion supplemental budget passed by the Senate, House appropriations committee chair, Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, warned on Sunday.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Diokno urges Senate to pass rice tariff bill this month
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has urged the Senate to immediately pass the rice tariffication bill within this month to address the increasing prices of Filipino staple food.
— Manila Bulletin

Typhoon Haiyan: a harbinger of tomorrow’s climate
The Eastern Visayas region in the Philippines is frequently in the pathway of typhoons, as it fronts the Pacific Ocean.
— Asia Times

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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 September 10 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on September 10, 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.