Philippines morning news for January 15

Philippines morning news for January 15
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Philippines morning newsWorld Bank doubles Philippines’ natural disaster risk insurance to $390 million
The World Bank nearly doubled the Philippines’ natural disaster risk insurance in 2017 with a new $390 million in coverage that became effective Dec. 19, 2018 to help the country better respond to losses from climate change and disasters.
— Manilastandard.net

6 deals with Japan, China up for signing
The Department of Finance (DOF) expects six infrastructure projects funded by the governments of Japan and China will be signed within the first three months of the year.
— Manila Bulletin

Fecal coliform bacterial content in Manila Bay hits 1.9 billion – DENR
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) expressed concern over the high level of fecal coliform bacteria in Manila Bay.
— UNTV

‘LandBank’s loan to Hanjin slap in face for PHL agri’
CORN farmers belonging to the Philippine Maize Federation (PhilMaize) urged President Duterte and lawmakers to investigate the $85-million loan extended by the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) to Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co.-Philippines (HHIC-Phil).
— Business Mirror

P20B insurance readied for 25 provinces
The World Bank said it has renewed an insurance program to help the Philippines better respond to losses from climate and disaster risks, with the coverage effective since December 19 last year.
— Malaya

Gov’t printer denies breach, says passport data intact, accessible
There was no breach of data of Philippine passport holders, according to an executive of a government printer and Department of Foreign Affairs insiders, saying the software containing details of applicants are intact and still with the DFA.
— GMA News

Labor group seeks another salary hike for minimum wage earners
A labor group prepares to file another salary hike petition for minimum wage earners.
— ABS-CBN News (video)

Senate to delete DPWH’s P75 billion
THE SENATE will move to delete the P75 billion added to the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) without its prior knowledge when the chamber reaches the period of amendments in its deliberations on the 2019 national budget.
— BusinessWorld Online

Duterte to march the streets to support to the Bangsamoro Basic Law
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana confirmed on Monday (January 14) that President Rodrigo Duterte plans to fly to Cotabato City to join a massive rally on January 18 in support of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
— UNTV

SC is asked to compel DBM to release 4th tranche of salary hikes for government workers
The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday was asked to compel the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release starting Tuesday the P42.7 billion representing the fourth tranche of salary increases for government workers.
— Manila Bulletin

Five infra loans to be inked in Q1
Loan agreements for five infrastructure projects to be financed by official development assistance (ODA) are expected to be signed in the first quarter of this year, the Finance department said on Monday.
— The Manila Times

PHL rice stockpile down 4.59% in December
The country’s rice stockpile as of December 1 reached 2.718 million metric tons, 4.59 percent lower than the 2.849 MMT recorded in 2017, according to a report by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
— Business Mirror

Department of Agriculture launching farmer, fisherman database program
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is launching the National Farmers and Fishermen Database (NFFD) this quarter to better identify beneficiaries of its credit programs, its top official said yesterday.
— The Philippine Star

DSWD undertakes P95.4-M projects in Zamboanga
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is undertaking PHP95.4 million projects that will place all its support facilities in one location to better serve the agency’s clientele.
— Philippine News Agency

Banks’ credit ratings at risk from Hanjin
HUGE LOAN EXPOSURES to troubled Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines (HHIC-Phil) could pull down credit ratings for the five Philippine banks concerned as its problems would mean narrower profits for absorbing possible defaults, Moody’s Investors Service said in a Jan. 14 note.
— BusinessWorld Online

Thai appeals WTO ruling favoring PH’s cigarette case
Thailand has appealed the World Trade Organization (WTO) Appelate body ruling upholding an earlier decision for the country to correct the discriminatory tax treatment on imported cigarettes from the Philippines.
— Manila Bulletin

Too early to raise red flag on ‘Chinese takeover’ of Hanjin – analyst
t’s too early to tell if national security will be put at risk by a Chinese takeover of the Subic operations of troubled South Korean shipbuilder, an analyst said Monday.
— ABS-CBN News (video)

RCBC establishes green finance framework
Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) on Monday said it has established its green finance framework, providing the basis for future issuances of green bonds and loans.
— GMA News

Local court puts Hanjin Subic on receivership
DEBT-RIDDEN Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction-Philippines (HHIC-Phil) has been placed on receivership by the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court (RTC) to start a court-supervised rehabilitation program for the ailing Subic Bay Freeport-based shipbuilder.
— Business Mirror

Vehicle sales suffer worst slump since ’98
Vehicle sales fell by 16 percent last year, the worst full-year decline since the financial crisis in 1998. Members of two large automotive groups in the country sold 357,410 units last year, much less than the 425,673 units sold in 2017.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

PayPal to open 1-K jobs in new Manila office
Global payments leader PayPal has set its sights on creating more than 1,000 jobs in the next two years with the opening of its new office here.
— Philippine News Agency

Philippines’ shoe industry has a new spring in its step
Marikina, a city in Metro Manila, was once known as Southeast Asia’s leading center for shoemaking.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Hefty oil price hike set Tuesday
Pump prices are set to increase starting Tuesday, January 15, amid the implementation of higher oil excise tax and increasing cost of petroleum in the global market.
— CNN Philippines

Philippines Tax Academy eyes New Clark City, Tagaytay campuses
The Philippine Tax Academy (PTA) is planning to set up permanent campuses in Tagaytay City in Cavite and New Clark City at the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga, the Department of Finance (DOF) said over the weekend.
— The Philippine Star

Philippines look to international, Chinese suppliers to feed growing LPG market
The Philippines’ annual LPG demand is expanding at around 8% with 2019 imports estimated at 1.5 million mt from 1.4 million mt last year, and importers are sealing term contracts with Western trading houses as well as Chinese traders, trade sources said recently.
— S&P Global Platts

Philippines: Benguet farmer dumps unsold carrots due to oversupply
In the Philippines, a farmer was caught on video dumping at least a ton of unsold carrots.
— Fresh Plaza

Okada asks PSE to block backdoor listing of gaming unit
Japanese casino mogul Kazuo Okada asked the Philippine Stock Exchange to block the planned backdoor listing of his gaming unit allegedly to protect the investing public from the ownership dispute within the company.
— Manilastandard.net

New eco-friendly equipment set up in Manila International Container Terminal
International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI)’s flagship Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) has started receiving new eco-friendly equipment as part of the company’s long-term investment in capacity enhancement and environmental efficiency.
— The Philippine Star

Palace open to entry of Chinese investors taking over from Hanjin
Malacañang is open to the possible entry of Chinese investors in the country’s largest shipyard after South Korean shipbuilder Hanjin declared bankruptcy.
— Manila Bulletin

US still most trusted country among Filipinos – Pulse Asia
The United States of America remained as the most trusted country for majority of Filipinos at 84 percent while Russia and China were the least, the latest Pulse Asia Research survey showed.
— Manila Bulletin

CTRM decides to retain 5% tariff on MDM
The Cabinet-level Committee on Tariff and Related Matters (CTRM) has decided to retain the 5-percent tariff on mechanically deboned meat (MDM) of chicken despite the opposition of local poultry stakeholders and the Department of Agriculture (DA).
— Business Mirror

Court orders NBP transfer of 2 cops in Kian murder
The Caloocan City regional trial court (RTC) has ordered the transfer of two detained policemen from the Valenzuela City Jail to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City to serve their sentence for the murder of Kian Loyd delos Santos in 2017.
— Philippine News Agency

Group urges The Netherlands to abort Joma’s asylum status
A group of former rebels urged The Netherlands Embassy to terminate Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Joma Sison’s asylum status and repatriate him to the Philippines so his punishments may be served.
— Philippine News Agency

Trillanes sets foot in Davao City to face libel cases
Opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV set foot in President Rodrigo Duterte’s hometown for the first time since he was declared persona non grata here nearly a year ago.
— Rappler

Philippines ‘extremely dangerous’ for rights workers — report
The working environment in the country has been especially challenging for defenders of land, indigenous peoples’ and environmental rights, a report by Dublin-based human rights organization Front Line Defenders said.
— The Philippine Star

Extremist threats in Southeast Asia
The siege of Marawi City in the southern Philippines may have ended more than a year ago.
— CGTN (video)

PH seeks to strengthen political, economic ties with Sri Lanka
President Rodrigo Duterte seeks to strengthen political, economic, and cultural interests with Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena through bilateral talks, Malacañang said on Monday, following the five-day state visit of the Sri Lankan leader to the country.
— Manilastandard.net

Polish mayor dies of stab wounds after attack
The centrist mayor of the Polish port city of Gdansk died on Monday, January 14, a day after a man stabbed him in the heart in front of hundreds of people at a charity event.
— Rappler

Norwegian jailed for ordering online child sex abuse in Philippines
A 71-year-old Norwegian man was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison on Monday for ordering sexual assaults to be carried out online against dozens of young Filipinas.
— Inquirer.net

 

Feature photo jahcordova

 

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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