Philippines Morning News For January 24, 2019

Gov’t keeps 7-8% growth target this year
THE GOVERNMENT will hold on to its 7-8% growth target this year, according to Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III who noted the Philippines has room to stand resilient despite a slowing global economy.
— BusinessWorld Online

Chinese tourists lift 11-month arrivals–DOT
CHINESE tourists continued to lift the total foreign visitor arrivals in the Philippines, helping overcome the sluggish South Korean market in the 11 months to November 2018.
— Business Mirror

Government offers financing assistance to potential Hanjin investor
The government is ready to provide assistance should a private entity decide to invest in the embattled Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines (HHIC), the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said yesterday.
— The Philippine Star

Senators block P7.42-billion fund for video surveillance project in 2019 budget bill
The Senate moved to block an initial P7.42-billion allocation in the 2019 budget bill for the China-supplied P20-billion video surveillance system proposed to be installed by the Duterte administration in Metro Manila and Davao.
— Business Mirror

Q3 GDP growth lowered to 6.0%
State statisticians on Wednesday lowered the official third quarter growth figure ahead of the release of October-December and full-year results for 2018.
— The Manila Times

P508-M central cybersecurity monitoring system launched
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and Integrated Computer Systems, Inc. (ICS) the other day (Jan 22, 2019) held the official kick- off for the P508-million Cybersecurity Management System Project.
— Manila Bulletin

IN CHARTS: Inflation crisis not yet over for poorest Filipinos
The poorest Filipino households experienced inflation, or the rate of increase in the prices of goods, at 7.2% for 2018, said the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Wednesday, January 23.
— Rappler

House revises crime liability threshold from 9 to 12
The leadership of the House of Representatives approved yesterday the measure that seeks to lower the age of criminal liability for children, but compromised for 12 years instead of the originally proposed nine.
— The Philippine Star

Philippines seen weathering potential spill-over from China’s slowing growth
The Philippines is somehow insulated from risks posed by a sharp slowdown in China, according to a London-based think tank, although the Southeast Asian country could come under pressure if China’s cooling economy spurs capital outflows from Asia.
— The Philippine Star

ECCP seeking corporate tax reduction
European businessmen yesterday called on government to be bolder by immediately reducing the corporate income tax (CIT) to 20 percent from the current 30 percent to attract more investors into the country even as they forecast a cautious optimism that 2019 would be a better year for the Philippine economy.
— Manila Bulletin

Philippines risks downgrade in aviation standards
Philippine aviation safety standards are at risk of being downgraded to “unwanted state” by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) given the country’s continuing failure to establish an independent National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), an airline official warned.
— The Philippine Star

Medical marijuana bill gets House approval
The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on second reading the bill legalizing the use of medical marijuana.
— Manilastandard.net

DBM chief reports P18.5 billion procurement savings in 2018
The government posted P18.25 billion in terms of procurement savings in 2018, increasing by nearly five-fold from what was recorded a year ago.
— Business Mirror

Sulu, Isabela City vote down BOL
The capital of Basilan province, Isabela City, has joined Sulu province in rejecting the Bangsamoro Organic Law or BOL.
— The Manila Times

Lack of data, support hampers PHL e-commerce roadmap
THE GOVERNMENT has admitted being in the dark in determining its progress in implementing its five-year e-commerce roadmap due to the lack of support form other government agencies and the absence of official industry data.
— BusinessWorld Online

Senate panel resumes probe on third telco Thursday
A Senate panel will resume its investigation into the country’s third telecommunications (telco) entity on Thursday, January 24.
— CNN Philippines

House-to-house campaign vs. measles ongoing in Antique
A house-to-house campaign is being conducted in the seven towns of Antique where there are recorded measles cases.Dr. Leoncio Abiera of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) said in an interview Wednesday that there are 30 measles cases, including one death, monitored in the seven municipalities.
— Philippine News Agency

Chinese nationals told to settle re-entry fee at BI offices
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) advised Chinese nationals in the Philippines who will spend Chinese New Year overseas to pay their reentry fees at BI field and satellite offices and avoid congestion at airports.
— The Inquirer

MRT-3 to study proposal to extend operating hours
The management of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) will study proposals to extend its operating hours to serve more passengers, a Department of Transportation (DOTr) official said Wednesday.
— Philippine News Agency

Philippine economy to ‘rebound slightly’ in 2019 — United Nations
The Philippine economy is expected to “rebound slightly” this year, the United Nations said, adding that public spending on infrastructure will continue to fuel growth.
— The Philippine Star

Manila hospital temporarily closes ER due to suspected meningococcemia case
A hospital in Manila temporarily closed its emergency room starting Wednesday, Jan. 24, due to a suspected meningococcemia case. The Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center made the announcement on its Facebook account.
— Eagle News

Pangasinan, PBSPI tie up to fight drug-resistant TB
The provincial government of Pangasinan is partnering with the Philippine Business for Social Progress, Inc. (PBSPI) to step up the province’s control and treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB).
— Philippine News Agency

DOH, FDA want minimum age of vapers raised to 25
The Department of Health and the Food and Drug Adminstration are pushing for regulation of the use of e-cigarettes or vapes, including limiting their use to those who are 25 years old or older.
— GMA News

Agriculture production grew just 0.56% in 2018
Agriculture and fishery production, which accounts for less than a fifth of the gross domestic product, grew by 0.56 percent in 2018, slower than the 4-percent expansion in 2017, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show.
— Manilastandard.net

DOF calls for heightened vigilance vs illicit cigarette manufacturers
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III appeals to the public to heighten their vigilance vs illicit tobacco trade as this robs the government of about P16.8 million a day from unpaid taxes.
— Philippine Information Agency

PNP to intensify security ops during election period amid attacks on local execs
Security operations during the election period will intensify amid recent attacks on local officials, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Senior Superintendent Bernard Banac said on Wednesday.
— GMA News

Cebu town mayor survives ambush; husband, 2 others slain
Mayor Lakambini Reluya of San Fernando, Cebu was wounded in an ambush in Barangay Linao, Talisay City on Tuesday that left three persons, including her husband barangay chairman Ricardo Jr., dead.
— The Philippine Star

Customs raids in Pampanga yield illegal cigarette-making machines worth P200 million
At least eight cigarette-making machine units with a combined value of about P200 million were seized from two warehouses in Pampanga as the government renewed its drive against the manufacture, distribution and sale of fake tobacco products.
— Business Mirror

CA affirms P3-M damage ?suit vs Rosanna Roces
The Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed its ruling in June last year finding actress Rosanna Roces liable for P3.1 million in damages over the breach of contract with an aesthetic clinic 15 years ago.
— The Philippine Star

Philippines Navy to join Chinese naval ships at anniversary celebration amid maritime row
The Philippines has accepted an invitation from China to attend the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese navy, amid a maritime dispute over the South China Sea.
— Channel NewsAsia

ANA to buy 10% stake in Philippine Airlines, say sources
NA Holdings plans to acquire a roughly 10% stake in PAL Holdings, the parent company of Philippine Airlines, in a deal valued at 10 billion yen ($91 million), sources said on Tuesday.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

House leader: Experience over science on lowering age of criminal responsibility
The proposal to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility should be grounded more on experiences than scientific studies, one of the measure’s proponents said Wednesday.
— The Philippine Star

No let up in drive vs drugs in Cebu
War On Drugs Continues. The Cebu Provincial Police Office says there will be no let up in the fight against illegal drugs, which remains a top priority. Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III, chair of the Provincial Peace and Order Council, assured the police of his support during the PPOC 1st quarter meeting on Jan. 21.
— Philippine Information Agency

Arroyo on why she pushed for approval of House bill lowering age of criminal liability: President Duterte wants it
Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Wednesday, Jan. 23, said she pushed for the approval of the House bill seeking to lower the age of criminal liability to nine years old because it is what President Rodrigo Duterte himself wants.
— Eagle News

De Lima: Children are victims, not criminals
Senator Leila de Lima on Wednesday expressed her dissent to the move to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 15 to nine years old.
— GMA News

MILF to fully decommission arms when all BOL deals implemented — Iqbal
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panel chair on Wednesday said that the group will withdraw all its weapons when all the agreements in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) have been implemented.
— GMA News

NegOcc ARB leaders sign petition vs. sugar import liberalization
More than 170 leaders of agrarian reform cooperatives and organizations in southern Negros signed a petition opposing the liberalization of sugar importation.
— Philippine News Agency

2-week deadline for police to solve ambush of Cebu town mayor
Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde on Wednesday gave the chief of the Cebu Provincial Police Office and the Talisay City chief of police two weeks to solve the ambush of Mayor Lakambini “Neneth” Reluya of San Fernando, Cebu in Talisay City last Tuesday.
— TEMPO

Car importers report 17% sales drop in 2018
Vehicle importers in the country posted a 17-percent drop in sales in 2018 selling only 88,700 units compared to 106,285 units during the previous year.On Wednesday, the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors (AVID) reported that sales of both passenger car and light commercial vehicle segments were down last year by 22 percent and 14 percent, respectively.
— Philippine News Agency

Joint health mission benefits Maguindanao indigents
Hundreds of indigent families in several villages here have benefited from the joint medical-dental services rendered by the Army and the provincial government of Maguindanao on Tuesday.
— Philippine News Agency

Bill legalizing medical marijuana passes second reading
The House of Representatives approved on second reading a bill legalizing and regulating the use of medical marijuana.
— The Philippine Star

Catastrophe avoided as evacuation, class suspension enforced in Bicol
The evacuation of people and the suspension of classes and interisland trips even before tropical depression “Amang” dumped heavy rains in the Bicol region averted another catastrophe in areas still recovering from last month’s landslides and flooding.
— Philippine Information Agency

Supreme Court orders submission of DND reports on Mindanao martial law
The Supreme Court (SC) wants to see Department of National Defense (DND) reports in connection with the implementation of martial law in Mindanao in 2018.
— GMA News

Proactive drive vs. dengue urged
“Let’s be proactive in our fight against dengue,” said Cuartero Rural Health Officer Dr. Winfred Rivera.He reiterated that prevention is always better than cure as he encouraged everyone to take action in the drive against the deadly dengue.
— Philippine Information Agency

Strict food inspection carried out for Dinagyang Fest
The Iloilo City health office will ensure the safety of the food being sold during the holding of Dinagyang Festival.Dr. Bernard Caspe, city health officer, during a press conference Wednesday said the city’s sanitary inspectors have been making the rounds of restaurants to check on their food preparations.
— Philippine News Agency

DPWH ensures accessible roads for Dinagyang Fest
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) ensures that roads in this city are in good condition and accessible during the celebration of Dinagyang Festival 2019.yang Tribes Dance Competition on January 27.
— Philippine Information Agency

House gives rest of P13-M reward in Batocabe case to PNP
The House of Representatives on Wednesday turned over to the Philippine National Police (PNP) PHP8 million, comprising the balance of the PHP13 million committed by the institution to the reward money raised for information on the killers of Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe.
— Philippine News Agency

Feature photo Asian Development Bank

This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo acknowledges International Day of Education, January 24.

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 January 24 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on January 24, 2019
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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.