Congress buckles down on 2020 budget
THE PROPOSED national budget for next year has entered the legislative mill, with the House of Representatives lining up hearings leading to final approval at the chamber by Oct. 4.
— BusinessWorld Online
House OKs tax hike on alcoholic beverages, vapes
Voting 184 in favor, two against and with one abstention, the House of Representatives approved on final reading a bill that seeks to increase taxes on alcoholic beverages and impose new taxes on e-cigarettes and vapes.
— CNN Philippines
Gov’t warns foreign vessels in PH waters: Get clearance or leave
The Philippines on Tuesday warned foreign vessels that they need to obtain proper clearance to pass through the country’s territorial waters —or else will be asked to leave.
— CNN Philippines
Hog raisers: Help came too late, too little
GOVERNMENT intervention in areas of Rizal province ravaged by a strange animal disease came too late and too little for them, said hog raisers who said they are now stripped bare of their livelihood.
— Business Mirror
Philippines plans to build up infrastructure spending in 2020 budget
The Philippine government on Tuesday put to Congress a proposed 2020 budget that lifts spending 12% from a year earlier and makes a push to deliver on plans to slash poverty, boost education and transform the country’s decrepit infrastructure.
— Nasdaq
DBM’s Avisado: Gov’t workers to enjoy another pay hike in 2020
Civilian government employees would enjoy another round of salary increase next year, Acting Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said Tuesday.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer
BOI: Investment pledges climbed 24% in 7 months
Investment commitments approved by the Board of Investments jumped 24 percent in the first seven months to P312.8 billion from P252.2 billion in the same period last year despite the trade dispute between two of the world’s largest economies.
— Manilastandard.net
2020 budget priorities: Infrastructure, social services, peace and security
The national budget proposed by the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte for 2020 shows it is prioritizing infrastructure, social services like education and universal health care, and peace and national security.
— Rappler
DTI seeking to add pension portability to anti-endo bill
THE TRADE DEPARTMENT is seeking to add provisions to the Security of Tenure (SoT) bill making workers’ pensions portable when they transfer jobs, Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said.
— BusinessWorld Online
House’s alcohol tax bill ‘not enough’
THE Department of Finance (DoF) proposed higher tax increases on alcoholic beverages to the Senate on Tuesday, saying the House of Representatives’s approved hikes in alcoholic excise tax are not enough to finance the Universal Health Care (UHC) program of the government.
— Business Mirror
6 govt programs get P357B of 2020 budget
THE Duterte administration has allocated P357 billion of the 2020 national budget for its six economic and social assistance programs, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said on Tuesday.
— The Manila Times
‘Fat-free’ budget sent to House
THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Tuesday submitted to the House of Representatives a “no fat, boneless and pure meat” P4.1-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2020.
— Business Mirror
Philippine police rescue man from loan shark amid spike in Chinese nationals kidnapping compatriots
A kidnapped mainland Chinese man has been rescued from a loan shark syndicate by Philippine police, in what they say is the 53rd case of casino-related abductions by fellow Chinese nationals since 2017.
— South China Morning Post
PEZA bucks removal of 5% tax on GIE
Removal of the 5 percent tax on gross income earned (GIE) would expose export-oriented enterprises located in the economic zones to potential corruption as these investors have to deal with various levels of the bureaucracy, particularly the local government units, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) warned.
— Manila Bulletin
DBM wants to double DOTr funding for 2020
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) wants to double funding for the Department of Transportation (DOTr) under the proposed ₱4.1-trillion 2020 national budget as part of the Duterte administration’s continued push for infrastructure development.
— CNN Philippines
10,000 Filipino prisoners, including convicted rapist-murderer ex-mayor Sanchez, to walk free ‘soon’
A “happy jail” law that rewards good conduct of inmates and a recent Supreme Court ruling could give up to 10,000 inmates in Philippine jails an early release, according the Philippines Justice Secretary.
— Gulf News
DA gets USDA funding for P2-B dairy project
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will fund a P2-billion dairy goat farming project in the Philippines, which will be implemented by National Dairy Authority (NDA), an attached agency to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
— Manila Bulletin
10 QC barangays under strict monitoring, intensified anti-dengue
Mayor Joy Belmonte has ordered the strict monitoring and intensified anti-dengue campaign in the city, particularly in the 10 barangays with the most number of dengue cases.
— Philippine Information Agency
COA approves special audit of Philhealth funds – Drilon
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said on Tuesday, August 20, that the Commission on Audit (COA) has agreed on the need to conduct a special audit of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) funds.
— Rappler
Navy to decide ‘unfriendly manner’ of warding off intruder vessels –Defense chief
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he was leaving it up to the Philippine Navy to carry out President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to drive away foreign vessels intruding the Philippine waters without permission –whether in a friendly or unfriendly manner.
— GMA News
120 Chinese workers among 400 dengue cases in Mariveles coal plant
Around 120 Chinese workers are included in the list of some 400 dengue cases among employees of a coal-fired power plant in Mariveles town here, said the provincial health office.
— Rappler
Solution to Manila’s ‘monster’ traffic jams? 24-hour schools and banks, Duterte’s spokesman says
A top Philippine official has come up with a novel proposal to ease Manila’s chronic traffic congestion – schools and banks should stay open 24 hours a day.
— South China Morning Post
Local SMEs to hike investments in digital technology — survey
SMALL and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Philippines are planning to increase investments in digital technologies next year, a survey by United Kingdom-based Ernst & Young Global Ltd. (EY) showed.
— BusinessWorld Online
Senate panel may steer microgrid investors towards renewables
THE Senate Committee on Energy is proposing to add provisions to current microgrid legislation requiring investors in these independent energy systems to choose more renewables to supply their customers.
— BusinessWorld Online
Terms on performance, timelines limit ‘forever’ in Peza perks–Plaza
TAKE that, Salceda. The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) on Tuesday said its grant of fiscal incentives are regulated by terms and conditions that require firms to perpetually expand their operations and markets, as well as modernize their products and services.
— Business Mirror
Duterte dangles self-rule to breakaway Muslim rebel group
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte is considering creating another autonomous government in Mindanao for the Moro National Liberation Front, presidential peace adviser Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. said on Tuesday.
— BusinessWorld Online
DAR seeking P55.4M in ARB livelihood funding
THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is seeking P55.45million worth of funding for livelihood projects from Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARB) in the Eastern Visayas.
— BusinessWorld Online
Authorities seize Vietnamese vessel for illegally fishing in Tawi-Tawi
A joint team of policemen, soldiers and Coast Guard personnel seized over the weekend a Vietnamese vessel while it was illegally fishing in Tawi-Tawi.
— Business Mirror
‘More reforms needed to improve PHL irrigation’
Improving irrigation in the Philippines will entail more than just the creation of an apex body for water, a consultant of state-run think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (Pids) said.
— Business Mirror
DOE appeals TRO on oil unbundling policy
The Department of Energy (DOE) is appealing the decision of local courts to stop the implementation its oil unbundling policy, a ranking official said.
— The Philippine Star
Regulator making big push to expand dairy goat raising
THE National Dairy Authority (NDA) hopes to launch a P1.56-billion project to promote the dairy goat industry, helping boost overall milk production.
— BusinessWorld Online
119 Customs officials face criminal raps
The Bureau of Customs has filed administrative and criminal complaints against 119 Customs officials who were allegedly involved in illegal activities inside the agency as part of the bureau’s drive to rid itself of corrupt officials.
— Manilastandard.net
LGUs near Subic Freeport Zone receive P203.14-million revenue share
Eight local government units (LGUs) adjoining the Subic Bay Freeport Zone received a total of P203.14 million from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) as their shares in the revenue collected from business locators in this economic growth center.
— Business Mirror
No price hike for pork amid culling – DA
There should be no price increase in pork products even as the government has started culling hogs to contain the possible entry of the dreaded African swine fever.
— The Philippine Star
4 SC magistrates vie for chief justice post
Four Supreme Court (SC) associate justices will vie for the post of chief justice — Diosdado Peralta, Estela Perlas Bernabe, Andres Reyes and Jose Reyes.
— The Manila Times
Hike in prices of construction materials slower in July—PSA
The increase in the wholesale prices of construction materials sold in Metro Manila was slower last month due largely to the decline in steel prices, according to the latest data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
— Business Mirror
PEZA seeks status quo on tax perks
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) yesterday defended the need to maintain the status quo in providing tax perks to locators to encourage investments and promote ease of doing business, as well as avoid possible corruption and leakages.
— The Philippine Star
National polio vaccination drive kicks off in Manila
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso on Monday led the synchronized polio vaccination kickoff activity in the capital, as the city government targeted 197,000 children to be free of poliovirus.
— Manilastandard.net
San Juan, GSIS ink loan refinancing deal
The city government of San Juan and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) yesterday inked a memorandum of agreement on a loan refinancing program for city hall employees.
— The Philippine Star
Government eyes mandatory crop insurance
The government is being urged to provide mandatory insurance coverage for palay and other crops to help farmers survive crop destruction.
— The Philippine Star
Make medicines accessible to the people
The Coalition for People’s Right to Health (CPRH) welcomes the recent move of the Department of Health to draft an administrative order on the implementation of the maximum retail price for drugs and medicines.
— Inquirer.net
Soon-to-retire Carpio declines automatic nomination to Chief Justice post
Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Tuesday declined his automatic nomination as Supreme Court Chief Justice.
— CNN Philippines
Senate adopts resolution honoring Gina Lopez
The Senate on Tuesday adopted a resolution honoring former Environment Secretary Regina Paz “Gina” Lopez.
— Manila Bulletin
Germany, Switzerland offer continuous support for peace and development in Mindanao
Germany and Switzerland have offered to continue to support the peace and development of Mindanao, particularly the Bangsamoro autonomous region.
— Manila Bulletin
ASEAN COCI set to review 2020 proposals in Palawan
Delegations from member countries of ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information (ASEAN COCI) will gather this week (August 19-23)in Palawan to recommend and deliberate project proposals for 2020.
— Philippine Information Agency
Calendar for 2020 village, youth council elections released
Despite proposals to postpone the May 11, 2020 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday released the calendar of activities for the polls.
— Philippine News Agency
PRRD to lead decommissioning of MILF forces Sept. 7
President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to lead the launch of the decommissioning process of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants on September 7, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Tuesday.
— Philippine News Agency
Filipinos can now pay taxes online via PESOnet
Filipino taxpayers can say goodbye to long lines, as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) launched a digital system for electronic transfer of funds to settle tax obligations.
— Rappler
SAF commander shot dead by subordinate in Camp Bagong Diwa
A commander of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force (SAF) was shot dead by a subordinate inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City on Monday afternoon, August 19, supposedly in a fit of jealousy.
— Rappler
Duterte eyes creation of LGBTQ body: Go
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Tuesday bared the plan of President Rodrigo Duterte to create a commission for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) pending the approval of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Equality bill.
— Philippine News Agency
Feature photo PCOO/ Albert Alcain
This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, August 21.
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).
—
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Philippines morning news for August 21 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on
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Stella-maris Ewudolu
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.
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