‘Hot money’ inflows hit $762.8 million in January
POSITIVE sentiment flowed into the Philippines at the start of the year, as short-term investments made by foreign players surged in January, according to the latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
— Business Mirror
Political ads of top spenders worth more than their declared wealth
The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) tracked senatorial candidates’ spending on political advertisements and found something odd: the top spenders’ expenses exceeded their net worth.
— Rappler
Asean lawmakers call for charges against Philippine journalist Maria Ressa to be dropped
Lawmakers from South-east Asian nations have called for all charges against Philippine journalist Maria Ressa to be dropped.
— The Straits Times
Duterte endorses Senate bid of 5 PDP-Laban bets, 7 guest candidates
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday officially announced his 12-man senatorial lineup, composed of five candidates from his party, PDP-Laban, and seven other preferred candidates.
— Inquirer.net
Senate slashes SEAG budget by 33-percent
The country’s hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) hit a major roadblock when it was revealed the Senate slashed the proposed P7.5-billion budget by 33 percent, the PHISGOC (Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee) said yesterday.
— Manila Bulletin
Philippines frees on bail Duterte critic journalist Ressa
Philippine journalist Maria Ressa was freed on bail on Thursday following an arrest that sparked international censure and allegations she is being targeted over her news site’s criticism of President Rodrigo Duterte.
— The Jakarta Post
Philippines’ largest shipyard to close in blow to Hanjin rescue
The Philippines’ largest shipyard is set to close with the loss of some 3,500 jobs as financial troubles deepen around its South Korean owner, Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
PCIC spends close to P5-B for farmers’ crop insurance in 2018
The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) spent a total of PHP4.99 billion to insure crops of 85,999 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) for the year 2018 alone.
— Philippine News Agency
DOJ: You can be sued for cyber libel within 12 years of publication
The cyber libel charges that the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed against Rappler CEO Maria Ressa now makes it possible for online publishers to be sued for the crime within 12 years of publication.
— Rappler
Over 300 measles patients being treated at San Lazaro Hospital; 3 more deaths reported
Three patients died of measles on Wednesday as 60 more were admitted to the San Lazaro Hospital, according to a report from Mariz Umali on 24 Oras.
— GMA News
DPWH-Quirino to implement P1.4B infra projects in 2019
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is set to implement various infrastructure projects this year such as roads, bridges, and public buildings under its Regular Infrastructure Projects funds amounting to P1.455 billion.
— Philippine Information Agency
Duterte says Build, Build, Build program delayed
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, Feb. 14, said there was a “delay” in the implementation of infrastructure projects under the Build, Build, Build program.
— Eagle News
City ENRO strengthens campaign on solid waste management in Calapan
City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Wilfredo G. Landicho explains the importance of complying with RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 in a recent meeting conducted in Calapan City.
— Philippine Information Agency
House committee recommends raps vs. DPWH execs in road right-of-way scam
The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability has recommended filing charges against officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other individuals supposedly involved in large-scale Road Right-of-Way scam in Region XII.
— GMA News
P42B allotted for free college program
SEN. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino 4th on Thursday assured the public that the government allotted P42 billion for the implementation of the free college law.
— The Manila Times
Philippines: Fruit output higher in fourth quarter
On Wednesday, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) brought out numbers on agricultural and horticultural achievements in the fourth quarter of 2018.
— Fresh Plaza
Duterte bares senatorial slate he is endorsing
President Rodrigo Duterte has narrowed down the number of senatorial candidates that he will campaign for in the upcoming elections to eleven.
— CNN Philippines
Gov’t already raised more than half of Marawi rehab budget
The national government has already raised more than half of the needed funding for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi City, the Department of Finance (DOF) said yesterday.
— Manila Bulletin
Tanglawan, PNOC set to sign deal for $2-billion LNG terminal
Tanglawan Philippine LNG Inc., the joint venture of Phoenix Petroleum Philippines and China’s CNOOC Gas and Power, is set to sign a memorandum of understanding with state-run Philippine National Oil Co. for the planned $2-billion liquefied natural gas hub project.
— Manilastandard.net
Duterte denies involvement in Maria Ressa cyber libel case
President Rodrigo Duterte said he has nothing to do with the cyber libel case that led to Rappler CEO Maria Ressa’s arrest on Wednesday, February 13.
— Rappler
Canada’s garbage remains dumped in the Philippines five years later, environment groups write letter to Trudeau
Local and international groups have called Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to address the Canadian garbage that has been illegally shipped to the Philippines last 2013 to 2014 and has been sitting there for five years.
— The Independent
US confident in ‘like-minded’ allies while Philippines seeks treaty review
The US Indo-Pacific Command has assured the Senate that Southeast Asian nations continue to share common principles with Washington.
— The Philippine Star
DOH, DepEd create task force for measles outbreak response in schools
The Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Education (DepEd) created a task force to address the rising number of measles cases in the country, focused on children who are among the most vulnerable to the disease.
— Rappler
TAHO-GATE HAS STAINED DUTERTE’S PHILIPPINES-CHINA LOVE AFFAIR
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. A single, seemingly trivial, incident can trigger a cascade of reactions that expose long-simmering tensions and prompt far-reaching consequences.
— South China Morning Post
Emerging jobs in the Philippines require employees with hybrid skills
The top five emerging jobs in the Philippines were identified by the world’s largest professional network and many of them still require traditional roles such as management and communications skills.
— OpenGov
MRT-3 allows liquids up to 100 ML
Bottled drinks and other liquid containers are now permitted inside the Metro Manila Rail Transit System (MRT-3) stations– as long as they do not go beyond 100 milliliters (ML).
— CNN Philippines
Insurance firms allowed to invest in infra projects
The Insurance Commission has released a circular allowing insurance companies to invest in the government’s infrastructure projects.
— Manila Bulletin
Key rebel stronghold left out of Philippines’ Muslim territory
Dozens of communities won approval to join a new Muslim-led territory in the Philippines’ south, results showed Thursday, yet the exclusion of a key rebel stronghold raised concerns about the peace process in the restive region.
— The Jakarta Post
PCC blocks URC-RHI deal over monopoly concerns
The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has blocked the planned acquisition by Universal Robina Corp. (URC) of the refining and milling assets of Central Azucarera Don Pedro Inc. (CADPI) and land owned by Roxas Holdings Inc. (RHI), citing the deal would lead to a monopoly in sugarcane milling services in Southern Luzon.
— The Philippine Star
Philippine companies eye agriculture exports to Singapore
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said technical teams from Singapore’s Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority just started a 10-day on-site inspection of vegetables, fruits, hogs, poultry and egg farms as the Philippines prepares to export its agricultural products to the neighboring ASEAN country.
— Fresh Plaza
700-million people employed but mired in poverty – ILO
DESPITE being employed, around 700 million people worldwide still languish in poor living conditions due to their substandard quality employment, according to a new report from the International Labor Organization (ILO).
— Business Mirror
DFA extends ban on some Polish deployments
THE Philippine Embassy in Warsaw renewed its recommendation to suspend the deployment of workers to the polish road transport sector following the reported poor working conditions of Filipino truck drivers.
— BusinessWorld Online
95 LGUs around Manila Bay violating environmental laws – DILG
Philippines – Some 95 local government units (LGUs) within the Manila Bay watershed are violating environmental laws, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Thursday, February 14.
— Rappler
Anti-Corruption Commission, Comelec tell gov’t employees: Stay away from politics
With the campaign period in full swing, the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) and Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday, February 14, reminded government officials to stay away from partisan political activities or face possible sanctions.
— Rappler
Poll hotspots: 4 Metro cities ‘areas of concern’
In a statement, Metro Manila police chief Guillermo Eleazar said these areas are categorized as “yellow,” the lowest level of election hotspots.
— Manilastandard.net
Anti-trust body blocks merger of URC, Roxas Holdings’ sugar mill
The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) on Thursday said it has blocked the merger between sugar millers Universal Robina Corp (URC) and Roxas Holdings Inc’s (RHI) Central Azucarera Don Pedro Inc (CADPI), saying the deal would lead to a monopoly.
— ABS-CBN News
US embassy hopes for quick resolution, due process in Maria Ressa case
The US Embassy in the Philippines on Thursday said it was hoping for a speedy resolution of a cyberlibel case filed against Rappler’s chief Maria Ressa.
— Inquirer.net
Ressa arrest shows how Duterte admin ‘twists law’ to silence critics – Hontiveros
The arrest of Rappler chief executive Maria Ressa showed how President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration “twists the law” to silence its critics.
— Inquirer.net
Duterte apologizes to ousted speaker Alvarez
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday apologized to Davao del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez months after the latter was removed as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
— GMA News
NorMin Heart Center to operate this year
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, February 13 (PIA)–The city of Cagayan de Oro will host one of the most advanced hospitals here in Mindanao once the Northern Mindanao Heart Center, run by the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC), will open to public by the third quarter of 2019.
— Philippine Information Agency
DSWD expands program for indigent senior citizens
The number of indigent senior citizens who received their social pension in the calendar year 2018 has increased by 1.81 percent, serving a total of 130,796 beneficiaries as compared to 128,466 in 2017.
— Philippine Information Agency
BOC chief Guerrero warns Customs officials, employees vs. illegal campaign solicitation
Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero on Thursday warned officials and employees of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) against unscrupulous individuals who are supposedly using President Rodrigo Duterte’s name to solicit or accept campaign funds, contributions or materials.
— GMA News
Mayors have key role in Bay rehabilitation
THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) called a meeting last Monday of mayors of Metro Manila and other towns and cities in the provinces around Manila Bay as part of the total effort to clean it up after many long years of inaction that led to its present state of …
— Tempo
DoTr wants Bulacan airport built in phases
The Department of Transportation (DoTr) wants the proposed Bulacan airport to be built and operated in phases.
— The Manila Times
Cabadbaran City forms TWG for street food park construction
The City Council of Cabadbaran created a Technical Working Group for the construction of Street Food Park or a common selling area for street food vendors in the city in order to accelerate the economic efforts here.
— Philippine Information Agency
Feature photo End Rabies Now
This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo acknowledges World Radio Day February 13.
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 February 15 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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