Philippines morning news for February 26

Philippines morning news for February 26
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Philippines morning newsGovt eyes P4.25-T budget for ’20 on infra spending hike
THE government is eyeing a P4.249-trillion national budget for 2020, as the Philippines continues to ramp up infrastructure spending, economic managers told Japanese business leaders.
— Business Mirror

Measure lifting restrictions on foreigners in business could still make it out of 17th Congress
A MEASURE further relaxing restrictions in Republic Act No. 7042, or the Foreign Investments Act of 1991 (FIA), could be one of the bills that could secure approval in the remaining days of the 17th Congress, Senate leaders said in separate interviews late last week.
— BusinessWorld Online

‘Wutip’ may enter PH on Thursday morning — Pagasa
TYPHOON “Wutip” may enter the Philippines on Thursday and will be named locally as “Betty,” the state-run weather bureau said on Monday.
— The Manila Times

House leader expects Congress approval of proposed Islamic banking law
The chairman of the House Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries expressed confidence over the approval of the proposed Islamic Banking law by Congress when it reconvenes after the May polls.
— Manila Bulletin

Next 3 years ‘most dangerous’ to drug personalities: PRRD
President Rodrigo R. Duterte issued Sunday a stern warning that he will make the remaining years of his presidency the “most dangerous years” for people who are into drugs.
— Philippine News Agency

China petrochemical giant eyes $1 billion plant in Mindanao
One of China’s biggest petrochemical firms is looking to invest $1 billion to set up operations in the country, an official of the Board of Investments (BOI) said.
— The Philippine Star

Gov’t can impose import ban amid rice tariffication
Philippine can always impose import ban even after the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law once there is already a supply glut in the local rice market.
— Manila Bulletin

‘Return of tariffs on some agri goods to 2012 levels automatic under EO 23’
CONCESSIONARY tariff rates slapped on certain imported farm goods should automatically revert to their levels in 2012 once the rice trade liberalization law takes effect on March 5, a high-ranking agriculture official told the BusinessMirror.
— Business Mirror

G-to-G collaboration can facilitate SME participation in halal trade
Government-to-government cooperation, with the active support of the private sector, is key to helping small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Philippines break successfully into the burgeoning global halal market, according to a visiting Malaysian transport executive.
— Malaya

Bangsamoro transition leaders to officially take over ARMM Tuesday
From Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to the new Bangsamoro region.
— CNN Philippines

UK assures continued GSP+ for Philippines exporters amid Brexit
The British government has assured Philippine exporters they would continue to enjoy trade benefits under the European Union (EU) Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), even after the UK leaves the trade bloc.
— The Philippine Star

Govt eyeing P5-B revenue from taxing Pogo workers
AT least P5 billion in additional monthly revenues are expected to be generated by the government from taxing foreign workers of the so-called Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogo) sector.
— Business Mirror

Davao City tribe declares NPA ‘persona non grata’
Close to 600 members of the Obu-Manobo tribe in the far-flung village of Tambobong, Baguio District, here declared the communist New People’s Army (NPA) as “persona non grata” in their ancestral lands.
— Philippine News Agency

Philippine rebel: From fighter to minister
Murad Ebrahim’s life as the Philippines’ top Muslim rebel led him into fierce jungle combat and to meet with Osama bin Laden, but a very different challenge now awaits him: governing.
— The Asean Post

Air passenger volume doubles in 10 years
Air passenger traffic volume rose 10 percent to 54.2 million in 2018 in which Cebu Pacific Air led in domestic passenger volume and Philippine Airlines (PAL) still led in the international market, according to latest data from Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).
— Malaya

Maguindanao mayor arrested on murder charges
A town mayor of Maguindanao province was arrested by police authorities on Sunday based on a 2016 arrest warrant for murder charges.
— Philippine News Agency

CAB to cut surcharge on air tickets if jet-fuel prices go down
SHOULD jet-fuel prices continue on a downward trend to reach a government-imposed threshold, air transport regulators will once again remove the fuel-surcharge component from ticket prices, making air travel more affordable.
— Business Mirror

P6.5B to fund Mindanao agri projects
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has allocated P6.51 billion from the Philippine Rural Development Project’s (PRDP) funds to support several agricultural projects in Mindanao.
— The Manila Times

Poultry growers call for 40% tariff on deboned meat
An alliance of poultry growers is urging the government to revert the 40 percent tariff on mechanically deboned meat (MDM) as mandated under the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement which the Philippines recognizes.
— Philippine News Agency

BSP gains more power to collect unpaid loans, advances from banks
With over P200 billion worth of loans and advances to banks, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) now has more teeth to go after erring banks with unpaid loans from the central bank based on its amended charter.
— Manila Bulletin

SSS to set aside P75B for offshore investments – Dooc
The state-run Social Security System (SSS) is looking to diversify its investments following President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval of changes to the pension fund’s charter.
— The Manila Times

Rush of Chinese workers in Philippines sparks worry, call for caution
From cash registers accepting WeChat payments to street corner stalls selling “taho,” the number of Chinese workers in the Philippines is growing, sparking a legislative inquiry and a reminder from President Rodrigo Duterte to approach the influx with “caution.”
— ABS-CBN News

Philippines launches its National ICT Ecosystem Framework
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) partnered with a global non-profit organisation to develop a central consolidating framework for the process of ICT policy formulation and governance.
— OpenGov

Clashes in southern Philippines kill two militants
Philippine troops clashed with Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern part of the country in the past two days, killing two militants in two separate fightings.
— Xinhua

PNP: Total crime volume down in 2018
The number of crimes in the country went down by at least nine percent last year, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced yesterday.
— The Philippine Star

New department eyes ₱1-trillion budget, squatter housing focus
THE LAW creating the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), which President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed on Feb. 14, will be followed by another proposed bill which will seek to address the housing needs of around 2 million informal settler families nationwide, according to Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman Eduardo D. del Rosario.
— BusinessWorld Online

Labor, senators rebuke Duterte on illegal Chinese workers
Senators, including those who support the administration, on Monday rejected President Rodrigo Duterte’s suggestion to allow Chinese illegally working in the Philippines to stay and keep their jobs to avoid a diplomatic controversy that could lead to the expulsion of thousands of Filipinos from China.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

3.2M to quit smoking with tax hike: DOF
The proposal that seeks to increase excise taxes on tobacco products to P60 per pack will bring down cigarette consumption by 16.8 percent and lead 3.2 million adults to quit smoking, the Department of Finance (DOF) said.
— Malaya

‘DHSUD mandated to take idle govt lands for housing projects’
THE recent enactment of Republic Act (RA) 11201 that paved the way for the creation of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), had vested the new housing agency with the power to take and administer government lands that have been idle for 10 years and utilize these for urban development.
— Business Mirror

Major oil price hike set Tuesday
Filipino motorists may have to get used to higher pump prices again, as international oil prices continue marching upward.
— Philippine News Agency

Philippines a transit hub for cocaine smugglers: police
Drug cartels are increasingly turning to the Philippines as a transit hub of illegal drugs, a police official said Monday, as more packages of cocaine were found along the shores in the country’s eastern seaboard.
— ABS-CBN News

Church execs urged to thoroughly screen wannabe priests
An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said the Catholic Church should be strict in accepting candidates for priesthood.
— Philippine News Agency

Fitch: Tax take key to hike in debt rating
A SUSTAINED rise in tax collections may trigger a debt rating upgrade for the Philippines, an analyst at Fitch Ratings said, noting that last year’s budget deficit will not affect the country’s credit outlook for now.
— BusinessWorld Online

Strong demand expected for retail Treasury bonds
RETAIL Treasury bonds (RTB) to be auctioned off today can expect strong investor demand amid additional liquidity in the market due to the government’s payment of matured debts.
— BusinessWorld Online

Department of Agriculture wants palm oil imports reduced
The Department of Agriculture wants to cut palm oil imports to address the declining copra prices in the country.
— The Philippine Star

Law will be applied “with full force” on illegal Chinese workers, Panelo clarifies
After President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement that Chinese workers in the country could not simply be deported, Malacanang clarified that he was referring to Chinese workers who have valid working permits.
— GMA News

SEC stops religious firm KAPA’s illegal investment offering
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a cease-and-desist order to Kapa-Community Ministry International Inc.
— Inquirer.net

Comelec says official ballots forge-proof despite posting on website
The Commission on Elections is confident that ballots for the May 2019 National and Local Elections can never be forged even after the ballot face templates were posted on the Comelec’s website.
— GMA News

Manhunt on vs. ‘investment scam’ leader
Law enforcement agents are now trying to locate the person believed to be behind an alleged investment scam in Mindanao after a local court issued an arrest warrant against the firm’s founder.
— Philippine News Agency

Pinoy app wins in NASA space apps challenge
An app developed by young Filipino professionals swims its way to success in a contest organized by the US space agency NASA.
— ABS-CBN News

Go vows to raise salaries of doctors, nurses
Aspiring senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Sunday said the country cannot improve its health care program for the poor if the government will not work to increase the benefits of Filipino nurses and doctors.
— Philippine News Agency

POGOs to continue driving office space demand
DEMAND FOR office space from offshore gaming operators is expected to remain upbeat despite the government’s efforts to tighten regulation on the industry, as property consultants noted such moves will legitimize their presence in the country.
— BusinessWorld Online

Japanese investors flock to Philippines economic briefing
Japanese investors continued to show strong interest in the Philippines as close to 180 companies attended the Philippine economic briefing held in Osaka wherein economic managers pitched investment opportunities, citing vital economic and infrastructure reforms that have been put in place.
— The Philippine Star

Why households, enterprises need micro-insurance
It’s a common knowledge by now that the Philippines is one of the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change .
— Rappler

Cebu City to clean up 2 more rivers next month
After the simultaneous river clean-up drive in Central Visayas last Saturday, the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) is again asking the public, especially those residing near the rivers, to help in their effort to rehabilitate all polluted rivers in the metropolis.
— Philippine News Agency

Policy change sought for shrinking rural bank industry
The Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) is seeking amendments of the law regulating countryside banking, citing unfair policies that triggered closures of several branches in the past 10 years.
— Philippine News Agency

Sara now taking lead in political decisions — Duterte
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is now calling the shots on the political decisions of the first family, President Duterte said, as he claimed that his daughter is worse than him when it comes to enforcing regulations.
— Philippine Star

MIAA to intensify security at airports
Manila International Airport Authority general manager Eddie Monreal on Monday renewed call to air travelers to cooperate with the intensified security screening procedures at the country’s main gateway.
— Manilastandard.net

PhilHealth ready for UHC enactment–Ferrer
Philippine Health Insurance Corp. acting president and CEO Dr. Roy B. Ferrer assured the Filipino public that the state-run agency is prepared for the imminent enactment of the Universal Health Care (UHC) bill.
— Manilastandard.net

Duterte: Catholic Church will disappear in 25 years
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said the Catholic Church would “disappear” in 25 years, as he again hit the clergy’s alleged abuses.
— Inquirer.net

Comelec requires sign language, Braille for political ads
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has required the use of the Filipino sign language in on-air advertisements and the Braille system in printed campaign materials of candidates and their political parties for the May elections.
— GMA News

 

Feature photo yeowatzup

This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo acknowledges World Wildlife Day, March 3.

 

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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