Philippines morning news for April 11

Philippines morning news for April 11
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Philippines morning news‘Almost an invasion’: Protesters in Philippines slam Duterte for weak response over disputes in South China Sea
Protesters descended on the Chinese embassy in Manila on Tuesday to oppose China’s growing sway in the Philippines, as tensions continue to rise over Beijing’s presence in the contested South China Sea.
— South China Morning Post

January FDI inflows dipped 38% to $609 million
Net inflows of foreign direct investments fell 38.2 percent in January 2019 to $609 million from $986 million a year ago on lower equity capital placements, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Wednesday.
— Manilastandard.net

NG investments surge to record 5.4% of GDP
Investments made by the national government (NG) surged to P940.4 billion last year, which at 5.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) was the highest in the country’s history, the Finance department said on Wednesday.
— The Manila Times

Over 1.49-M foreign tourists visited Philippines from Jan-Feb
At least 1.49 million foreign tourists have visited the Philippines over the first two months of 2019, the Department of Tourism (DOT) disclosed on Wednesday.
— Inquirer.net

PRRD to sign 2019 national budget on April 15
President Rodrigo R. Duterte will sign the long-delayed PHP3.7-trillion national budget for 2019 on April 15, Malacañang confirmed on Wednesday.
— Philippine News Agency

U.S. court orders distribution of ₱715M to Marcos victims; Malacañang says PH should decide
Malacañang stressed on Wednesday that the Philippine government should have final say on the distribution of funds to some 9,000 victims of human rights abuses during martial law under the late President Ferdinand Marcos.
— CNN Philippines

World Bank lends $450M to help develop PHL fiscal management
THE Philippines obtained $450 million from the World Bank for a project to improve the country’s fiscal management.
— BusinessWorld Online

As the South China Sea dispute heats up, China must not belittle Duterte’s hand of friendship
One of the more successful regional relationships that China has pursued in the past few years is with the Philippines.
— South China Morning Post

Economic Boom Lifts More People Out of Poverty in Philippines
The ranks of the poor in Philippines are moderating as the nation sustains among the fastest economic growth in the region.
— Bloomberg

Dengue cases up in first three months of 2019 — DoH
THE Department of Health (DoH) recorded close to 56,000 dengue cases with 227 deaths for the first three months of 2019.
— The Manila Times

Banks’ rediscount borrowings increase in March
BANKS TAPPED more loans via the central bank’s rediscounting window in March, as credit for businesses and capital purchases rose during the period.
— BusinessWorld Online

Duterte net satisfaction rating up by 6 points in Q1 2019
President Rodrigo Duterte’s net satisfaction rating jumped six points for the first quarter of 2019, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) revealed Wednesday.
— Inquirer.net

Philippines halal certification scheme to start August, businesses ‘in a hurry’ to welcome Muslim visitors for year-end SEA Games
From August this year, certifying bodies and businesses seeking halal certification in the Philippines must meet standards set out by the Philippine National Halal Certification Scheme and Accreditation Guidelines, Abdulgani Macatoman, Undersecretary at the Department of Trade and Industry’s Trade and Promotions Group, told Salaam Gateway.
— Salaam Gateway

‘Huge debt to imperil funding for SDGs’
HUGE debts could hinder developing countries like the Philippines from financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the United Nations said in its latest report.
— Business Mirror

Govt to decide on US court’s ruling
The government will decide whether or not to follow the decision of a US judge awarding monetary settlement for victims of the Marcos regime, Malacañang said on Wednesday.
— The Manila Times

Robredo on Duterte family wealth: All gov’t officials must disclose assets
Vice President Leni Robredo pointed out that not even the highest official in the land is excused from truthfully declaring all of his wealth in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).
— Rappler

Pimentel wants travel tax to ASEAN countries removed
Senator Aquilino Pimentel III is seeking the removal of travel tax being imposed on Filipinos travelling to southeast Asian countries.
— Manila Bulletin

Philippines bans workers’ deployment to Libya amid fighting
The Philippine government on Wednesday imposed a total ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Libya because of fighting between rival militias for control of the North African nation’s capital, the labor chief said.
— Fox Business

Pioneering cyborg-type robot for medical use introduced in PHL
JAPANESE robotics company Cyberdyne Inc. officially launched on Wednesday its new medical technology called Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL), reminiscent of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s costume in his 1984 smash hit film The Terminator, which is expected to help revolutionize the health-care industry in the Philippines.
— Business Mirror

Philippine government inducts 141 new data scientists
With data science becoming a pervading technology in industry, innovative learning programs aid in producing more data scientists by honing their talents and expanding their skill sets from the comfort of their own home and schedule.
— OpenGov

France pushes sustainable urban dev’t in PH
As the Philippine economy starts to climb and more infrastructure are on the way, the French embassy in the country has initiated a series of events toward sustainable urban development through its Manila 2050 event.
— PTV News

Rice inventory grows to 2.22 million MT in March
Rice stocks grew by 30.87% year-on-year to 2.22 million metric tons (MMT) as of March 1, despite the ongoing weak El Niño, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
— Rappler

6 in 10 firms ‘digitally distraught’
Sixty percent of local enterprises in the Philippines are “digitally distraught,”’ according to the recent report from International Data Corp. (IDC) Philippines.
— Malaya

Foreign investors to weigh in Davao market for Halal food chain
Foreign investors joining the Philippine Halal Trade and Tourism Expo 2019 next month are expected to assess the potential of the Davao market on Halal food chain business.
— Philippine News Agency

ERC, DOE commit to act on PSAs for power projects
With decrepit infrastructure and lack of firm investment commitments, the Department of Energy (DOE) and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) have finally been prompted to act on pending power supply agreements (PSAs) for energy projects.
— Manila Bulletin

Cement shortage seen to delay new construction projects
A property consultancy firm warned that the current shortage of cement is likely to hold back the construction of new buildings.
— Philippine News Agency

PH-made motorcycle tires from locally grown rubber enter market
A slightly cheaper brand of motorcycle tire will soon be sold in the Philippines and it is locally manufactured, using the rubber bought from Filipino farmers.
— Manila Bulletin

Lambunao allocates P9M for interventions after town declares state of calamity due to El Niño
LAMBUNAO IS the second town in Iloilo province to declare a state of calamity due to El Niño and the municipal government is tapping P9 million from its emergency fund to assist affected residents.
— BusinessWorld Online

Power demand outstrips reserves in Luzon
FOR THE FIRST TIME this year, grid operator National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has issued a “red alert” notice on Wednesday after power demand in Luzon exceeded existing reserves, raising the possibility of power interruption if the situation were to persist.
— BusinessWorld Online

Pagasa: Heat index in 13 locations considered ‘dangerous’
Thirteen locations in the Philippines on Wednesday reported a heat index considered to be “dangerous,” the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.
— Inquirer.net

DOE banks on efficient energy use to address power demand upticks
The Department of Energy (DOE) called for conservation and efficient use of electricity so the thinning power supply can keep up with the high demand.
— Philippine News Agency

SC gives gov’t 10 days to comment on petition vs Chico irrigation loan deal
The Supreme Court has given the government ten days to comment on the petition seeking a stop to the $3.6-million Chico irrigation loan deal with China.
— Eagle News

Kymco to build P1 billion production plant in Philippines
The local unit of Taiwanese motorcycle and scooter firm Kwang Yang Co. Motors Ltd. will build a new production facility in the Philippines estimated to cost around P1 billion.
— The Philippine Star

Robredo: Apply SALN rules to both high-ranking, small-time gov’t employees
Laws and rules on proper disclosure of Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) should be applied to the high-ranking government officers just as how they are applied to small-time public officials, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Wednesday.
— GMA News

No power outage during dry spell, May polls: NGCP-Visayas
The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) in the Visayas has assured adequate power supply for the duration of the mild El Niño and during the May 13 mid-term elections.
— Philippine News Agency

Palace: Chico River irrigation project constitutional
Malacañang on Wednesday said it will comply with the Supreme Court order for the government to respond to the petition seeking to nullify the loan agreement with China on the Chico River pump irrigation project.
— GMA News

AboitizPower secures $300-million loan for AC Energy thermal platform
Aboitiz Power Corp. has inked a $300-million facility agreement with four foreign banks to partially finance its acquisition in AC Energy Inc.’s thermal platform.
— The Philippine Star

Widespread brownouts hound Metro Manila, Luzon
Barely a month away from the country’s mid-term elections and despite the government’s promise of sufficient electricity supply, power consumers in Metro Manila and a large swathe of Luzon have been tormented with widespread rolling brownouts lasting one-hour duration in each of the affected areas.
— Tempo

Cyborg-type robots to aid Filipinos with limb disabilities
Persons with limb disabilities due to severe damage in their nervous and muscular systems can now stand or walk again with the Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL), the first cyborg-type robot which provides support and improves the bodily functions of the wearer.
— Philippine News Agency

CHR sets autopsy on farmers killed in police-military ops
A medico-legal team from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) central office will conduct autopsies on Friday and Saturday on two of 14 farmers killed during the joint police and military police operations in Negros Oriental in late March.
— Philippine News Agency

Robredo to Duterte: Be careful with the words you say
Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday reminded President Rodrigo Duterte to be careful with his words as this could be misconstrued as actual policies of his administration.
— GMA News

Bones Reveal a New Human Cousin Found in Philippine Cave
It’s yet another reminder that, although Homo sapiens is now the only surviving member of our branch of the evolutionary tree, we’ve had company for most of our existence. A
— Inquirer.net

Gov’t launches 1st farmer-owned rubber tire brand
The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will be jointly spear-heading the launch on April 26, of the first farmer-owned motorcycle tires brand, Pilipinas Agila Tires, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila.
— Philippine News Agency

 

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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.

 

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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.

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