Philippines Morning News For February 28, 2019

Metro Manila Subway breaks ground in Valenzuela
The Metro Manila Subway Project, a 36-kilometer underground railway system dubbed as the “project of the century,” broke ground Wednesday.
— Manilastandard.net

In less than two months, measles kills 203 in the Philippines
More than 12,000 people have contracted measles while over 200 have died due to the highly-contagious disease in nearly two months, according to the report of World Health Organization and the United Nations Children Fund.
— The Philippine Star

Inflation seen to ease below 3% level in third quarter of 2019
Swiss investment bank UBS expects Philippine inflation to ease below three percent in the third quarter after falling within the two to four percent target set by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on easing oil and food prices within the next few months.
— The Philippine Star

Markers to be injected in 15.2 billion liters of fuel to curb smuggling
THE government is targeting to mark around 15.2 billion liters of fuel for the first year of implementation of the fuel marking system, in a bid to help curb oil smuggling in the country.
— Business Mirror

BARMM leaders to get P31 billion from budget
The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) that will administer the new autonomous Muslim region in Mindanao for three years will inherit operational funds of more than P31 billion this year.
— The Philippine Star

PH expected to miss 2019, 2020 GDP goals
Philippine economic growth will fall below target this year and the next, one of the big three debt watchers and an economist from a multinational investment bank said on Wednesday.
— The Manila Times

4 Philippine universities in QS world rankings by subject
Four institutions from the Philippines appeared in the latest global ranking of universities based on academic discipline insights released Wednesday.
— The Philippine Star

Fuel marking could earn govt P40B – DoF official
A newly launched fuel marking program could generate as much as P40 billion in revenues during the first year of implementation, a Finance department official said on Wednesday.
— The Manila Times

Measles cases now found in nearly every province in PH
Just how widespread are measles cases in the Philippines?
— Rappler

Taiwan confirms first imported dengue cases from the Philippines
Members of the public are advised to take precautions against mosquito bites before visiting the Philippines, after Taiwan confirmed the first imported dengue cases this year from the Southeast Asian country last week.
— Taiwan News

Philippine family businesses score high in confidence towards future readiness in Southeast Asia
Family businesses in the Philippines expressed high levels of confidence in their readiness to adopt to the changing business environment.
— Inquirer.net

More than 500 patients benefit from NAC medical-surgical mission
A total of 597 patients from Surigao, Dinagat, and Palawan provinces benefited from the nine-day medical-surgical mission of Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC) this month.
— Philippine News Agency

Fuel marking to start in March
About 15.2 billion liters of imported and locally-produced gasoline, diesel and kerosene will be subjected to fuel marking this year.
— Philippine News Agency

Philippines, UK, Australia launch center vs online child porn
With their leading law enforcement agencies, the Philippines, United Kingdom, and Australia launched the first international center to battle online exploitation of Filipino children.
— Rappler

Malacañang names Bangsamoro Transition Authority members
Malacañang on Wednesday released a partial list of members of the Bangsamoro Transition Autority (BTA), which will serve as the interim government of the newly-established autonomous region in the South.
— CNN Philippines

Cavite seeks exemption of measles fund from poll ban
Cavite Gov. Jesus Crispin Remulla is seeking exemption from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) restrictions during the election period so that local government units (LGUs) could source out additional funds to address the measles outbreak in the province.
— Philippine News Agency

Fuel marking to have ‘negligible’ effect on inflation — DOF
In an attempt to curb fuel smuggling in the country, the revenue collection agencies of the government will fully implement the fuel marking scheme under the tax reform program.
— CNN Philippines

Filipinos have better work-life balance than Singaporeans, Malaysians — study
Filipino working professionals have better work-life balance experiences compared to their counterparts in Singapore and Malaysia, according to a study by a Singapore-based website.
— The Philippine Star

P11-B largest dam outside Luzon officially breaks ground
The PHP11.2-billion Jalaur River Multipurpose Project (JRMP) II in Calinog, Iloilo, the largest dam outside Luzon, finally held its ceremonial groundbreaking on Wednesday.
— Philippine News Agency

NEDA pitches Japan on investment-friendly reforms due in Congress
THE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) told Japanese businesses that three pending laws representing major reforms will facilitate new investment in the Philippines.
— BusinessWorld Online

PH’s mining sector earns higher at P122-B even with lower output
The Philippine mining sector is still benefiting from China’s move to raise its stainless steel production that despite a continuous decline in output, the overall value of what it has produced in the entire 2018 managed to rise to P121.94 billion.
— Manila Bulletin

Higher cement prices pose risk for robust construction sector
Increase in prices of cement as a result of the imposition of safeguard duty on imported cement is seen as the major risk that could put a break to the robust construction sector, one of the country’s property management firms warned.
— Manila Bulletin

Philippines begins export of refrigerated bananas to China
The Chinese Customs Office recently announced the no. 30 “Announcement regarding the quarantine demands for import of refrigerated fruit from he Philippines”.
— Fresh Plaza

Online gaming to fuel property market
Property consultant KMC Savills sees continued growth in the Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGO).
— Malaya

Poe eyes fuel subsidies for fisherfolk
Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday vowed to expand the coverage of the government’s fuel subsidy program to include fisherfolk amid the incessant increase in oil prices.
— Philippine News Agency

Palace hopes next admin finishes Metro Manila subway project
Malacañang on Wednesday expressed hope that the next administration will ensure the completion of the Metro Manila subway project even after President Rodrigo R. Duterte steps down in 2022.
— Philippine News Agency

Gov’t: Subway construction to have minimal impact on traffic
The massive project covering several busy cities in Metro Manila aims to connect Quirino highway in Quezon City and the Ninoy International Airport.
— CNN Philippines

149 new agents to boosts PDEA’s war on drugs
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is beefing up its forces with the addition of 149 more agents who just completed their six-month training.
— Manila Bulletin

Number of teenage moms decreasing in Cordillera
From having the highest rate of teenage pregnancy 5 years ago, Cordillera is now among those with the lowest.
— Rappler

Denying health, life insurance to people with HIV illegal – lawmaker
Surigao del Sur Representative Johnny Pimentel reminded health maintenance organizations that denying insurance to people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is illegal under the recently signed HIV and AIDS Policy Act of 2018.
— Rappler

The risky business of corpses and souls in Duterte’s drug war
A pair of gleaming Harley Davidson motorbikes sit in the lobby of the upmarket Floresco Funeral Home, where President Rodrigo Duterte’s 32-month drug cull has done little for business.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

US electronics firm moves to PH
Ever Win International Corp and two other US electronics companies are moving some of their operations in China to the Philippines due to rising costs in that country as well as the ongoing trade spat between the US and China.
— Malaya

Five more subway contracts to be offered to bidders this year
THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) said it will solicit bids to construct five more sections of the Metro Manila Subway this year after it broke ground on the first segment Wednesday.
— BusinessWorld Online

PHL, Thailand ink pact strengthening info cooperation
A long-standing friendship just got a bit stronger after officials of the Philippines and Thailand signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for greater information and media cooperation.
— Business Mirror

Philippine Airlines mulls re-IPO option to raise funds
PAL Holdings, the operator of flag-carrier Philippine Airlines, is looking into the possibility of conducting a re-initial public offering (re-IPO) to raise funds and comply with the looming higher public float requirement for listed companies.
— The Philippine Star

Grab partners with PNP for safer roads
GRAB Philippines has strengthened its partnership with the Philippine National Police (PNP), after donating the country’s first trooper-shooting simulator, a technology that essentially helps train law enforcers on quick response to real and imminent threats on the road.
— Business Mirror

Duterte says he will ‘subpoena’ Trillanes mother over ‘shady’ Navy deals
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday night said he would subpoena the mother of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV over her alleged anomalous deals with the Philippine Navy.
— Inquirer.net

PHL, India work together for affordable medicines
THE Embassy of India in Manila, headed by Ambassador Jaideep Mazumdar, supported the recent business forum and business-matching session between Indian pharmaceutical companies and local distributor-partner firms.
— Business Mirror

Not Even Prison Walls Can Silence Duterte’s Nemesis
On February 13, the Philippines National Bureau of Investigation bungled the serving of an arrest warrant to Maria Ressa, the founder of the scrappy news site Rappler.
— The Nation

Combined assets of the Philippines’ largest banks reach P16.58 trillion in 2018
FOURTH-QUARTER growth of assets and loans of the country’s biggest banks continued to post double-digit rates even as they recorded smaller increases than year-ago levels. Read the full story.
— BusinessWorld Online

Colliers sees Metro Manila Subway boosting Quezon City property values
The planned Metro Manila Subway is expected to boost real estate prices in Quezon City, with both the private sector and the government to benefit, according to Colliers International Philippines.
— Rappler

Cotabato town placed under state of calamity due to dry spell
A town in Cotabato was placed under a state of calamity because of the dry spell being experienced there.
— Eagle News

Metal production sustains growth, rises 10% in 2018
The country’s metallic production has continued its upward momentum, rising 10.4 percent to P122 billion last year amid better metal prices in the world market.
— The Philippine Star

Duterte eyes new peace deal with Nur Misuari
President Duterte is looking at striking a new peace agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front following the creation of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.
— The Philippine Star

Duterte claims Marcos ill-gotten wealth ‘still unproven’
President Duterte has raised doubts on allegations that the Marcoses have amassed ill-gotten wealth despite previous court rulings that forfeited some of the family’s assets in favor of the government.
— The Philippine Star

Decommissioning of MILF arms, forces to begin
The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) is set to start decommissioning weapons and combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
— GMA News

‘We don’t know where the President gets his statistics’ – PNP
With President Rodrigo Duterte now pegging the number of drug users in the Philippines at a new high of 7 to 8 million, the Philippine National Police (PNP) admitted on Wednesday, February 27, that it did not know where his numbers came from.
— Rappler

S&P cites stronger banking industry
S&P Global Ratings gave a higher score for the Philippine banking system, citing better growth prospects following enactment of a law strengthening the central bank.
— BusinessWorld Online

MICP creates committee to address port congestion
The Manila International Container Port (MICP) has established an oversight committee tasked to fast track the disposal and reduction of overstaying containers in the port, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said yesterday.
— The Philippine Star

Consumer advocate proposes lowering SRPs for rice
In line with the government’s projection of lower rice prices after the signing of the rice tariffication law , suggested retail prices (SRPs) should also be amended, according to a consumer rights advocate.
— Rappler

Rise in Central Luzon drug kills? Commanders were ‘hardworking’ – PNP
The anti-drug campaign kills in Central Luzon rose because its police commanders worked harder than everybody else.
— Rappler

Ilocos Norte intensifies massive dog vaccination
The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) has started deploying vaccinators in various parts of the province to ensure all dogs get anti-rabies shots.
— Philippine News Agency

SWS: Most Filipinos think cops into drugs, EJKs, planting evidence
More than half of Filipinos believe that some police officers are involved in the illegal drug trade, extrajudicial killings (EJKs), and are often planting evidence against drug suspects, the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey revealed.
— Inquirer.net

PSEi likely to close at 8,900 by end-2019
THE Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) is likely to close at the 8,900 level by end-December, driven by lower interest rates and upbeat earnings expectations for the year, according to investment bank UBS Philippines.
— BusinessWorld Online

Caguioa, Leonen warn of dangers of SC vote upholding Boracay closure
The two Supreme Court justices who opposed the six-month closure of Boracay have warned of the dangerous precedent and the space for abuse set by the majority ruling that upheld the rehabilitative island shutdown.
— GMA News

PAL offers one-way fares as low as P78 on March 1
Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Wednesday, February 27, announced its biggest seat sale of the year, with fares as low as P78.
— Rappler

Environment officials launch search for oldest pine tree in Baguio
Environment officials in Benguet have launched the search for the oldest pine tree in this city as part of efforts to promote the conservation of the iconic trees here.
— Rappler

Supreme Court moves to speed up resolution of small money claims
THE SUPREME COURT has increased the ceiling for small money claims cases filed with metropolitan trial courts nationwide uniformly to P400,000 from P300,000, effective April 1, raising government hopes the move could help improve the Philippines’ performance in the World Bank’s annual ease of doing business reports.
— BusinessWorld Online

CHR vows to continue speaking up vs. administration’s deadly war on drugs
The Commission on Human Rights on Wednesday vowed to continue expressing its dissent against the government’s war on drugs as President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to take a harsher approach in his already bloody campaign in his last three years in office.
— GMA News

DA boosts mechanization program for C. Visayas corn farmers
The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Central Visayas continues to strengthen the mechanization program for corn farmers in the province of Cebu.
— Philippine News Agency

ALI plans massive fund raising
AYALA LAND, Inc. (ALI) plans to raise up to P45 billion in fresh capital this year to partially fund general corporate requirements and to refinance loans.
— BusinessWorld Online

K9, comics to deepen anti-drug campaign
Comic books about drug abuse prevention and education and additional 7 K9 units are some of the measures the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has in place in its continuous effort to counter illegal drugs.
— Philippine Information Agency

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.

Philippines morning news for February 28 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on February 28, 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.