GDP growth picks up to 6.8% in 2018 fourth quarter — Moody’s unit
Philippine economic growth likely picked up in the fourth quarter of last year after slumping in the third quarter due to higher oil and food prices, according to the economic research and analysis arm of Moody’s Corp.
— The Philippine Star
PH expects $450-M loan from World Bank OKd in March
The World Bank is expected to approve by March a $450-million loan for the Philippines that will be used by the government in improving fiscal management.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer
Senate approves P3.757-trillion budget for 2019
The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading the proposed 2019 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) which would provide the government P3.757 trillion to fund its programs and operation for this year.
— Manila Bulletin
Chinese substandard steel in South Luzon may be disaster risk–Pisi
SUBSTANDARD steel is prevalent in Southern Luzon, local steelmakers have claimed, and they want the government to conduct an immediate audit of hardwares in the region.
— Business Mirror
Government, Japan sign P99-billion loan for rail, flood control deals
The Philippine and Japanese governments on Monday signed two loan agreements amounting to P98.69 billion to finance rail and flood control projects in Luzon.
— Manilastandard.net
Did Duterte change the rules of Philippine elections?
Populists change the way we think about electoral strategy. They mobilise new constituencies, they prime new debates, and, most importantly, they shift rhetoric.
— New Mandala
Philippines holds referendum for Muslim autonomy in south
Minority Muslims in the southern Philippines cast votes on Monday in a long-awaited referendum on autonomy, the culmination of a peace process to end decades of separatist conflict in a region plagued by poverty, banditry and Islamist extremism.
— Bangkok Post
“Amang” maintains its strength; Signal No. 1 hoisted over several areas
“Amang” maintained its strength on Monday, Jan. 21, as it hovered over the eastern seaboard of Eastern Samar.
— Eagle News
PLDT allots over P58 billion for capital spending in 2019
PLDT Inc. is allocating over P58 billion for its 2019 capital expenditure mainly to finance the rollout of fiber and wireless networks.
— Manilastandard.net
BOC orders post-clearance audit, prior disclosure of goods
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) will require a post clearance audit of stakeholders and prior disclosure in their goods declarations to further improve its revenue collection capabilities.
— Malaya
House OKs Road Board abolition
THE House of Representatives on Monday endorsed for Senate approval a measure abolishing the Road Board.
— Business Mirror
Duterte unhappy on sluggish Cha-cha in Congress; push for federalism stays
President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed dismay over the slow-moving development of Charter change in Congress, Malacañang said Monday, three days after the Chief Executive said he might just opt to seek a revision of the Constitution’s economic provisions.
— Inquirer.net
Are the midterm elections really a referendum on President Duterte?
IF ONE goes by the prevalent commentary in the media, the thinking by now regarding this year’s midterm elections is that this transition in Rodrigo R. Duterte’s presidency will serve as a referendum on his administration.
— BusinessWorld Online
COA disallows P92 million spent on nonexistent works in Mabalacat
Despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s tirades against the Commission on Audit, it appears that the financial oversight body remains alert in safeguarding the people’s money.
— Manilastandard.net
Gov’t to award contracts for projects despite pending okay of 2019 budget
Awarding of contracts for the ongoing government projects will proceed as planned under the reenacted budget, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) assured yesterday.
— Manila Bulletin
PHL, Asean aim for effective financial sector
THE Philippines is working closely with other member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to harmonize policies and share best practices among institutions to achieve financial stability, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).
— Business Mirror
House panel OK’s bill lowering age of criminal liability to 9
THE HOUSE committee on justice on Monday approved what its chairman called a “pro-children” measure lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 9 years old from the current 15 years old.
— BusinessWorld Online
‘Angeles risks falling into P233-million debt trap’
This Pampanga city’s debt payment in 2019 will climb to a new high of P233 million, “taking a heavy toll on the city’s social services as it irreversibly falls into a disastrous debt trap for 15 years,” a mayoral candidate said over the weekend.
— Manilastandard.net
Customs issues order awarding itself power, authority on traders
IN a bid to further improve its revenue collection capabilities, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) ordered traders to undertake prior disclosure in their declaration of goods and a post-clearance audit.
— Business Mirror
DOJ dismisses estafa charges versus Okada
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has affirmed the dismissal of the estafa charges against casino magnate Kazuo Okada and several others in connection with the supply of P210 million worth of lights for the façade of Okada Manila.
— Manila Bulletin
Hydroelectric power plant eyed in Pangasinan
The Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC) Philippines Inc.- FDC Renewable Corporation is seeking the endorsement of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) for the construction of a 26-megawatt hydroelectric power plant in San Nicolas, Pangasinan.
— Philippine News Agency
PHIVOLCS Issues Lahar, Flash Flood Advisory For Mt. Bulusan
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) issued an advisory for the towns near Mt. Bulusan.
— Philippine News
Imprisoning Children A “Short-Sighted” Solution, Says CWC
The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) says that lawmakers should focus more on strengthening the laws instead of lowering the age.
— Philippine News
1,467 families flee homes in Camarines Sur as ‘Amang’ dumps more rains
At least 1,467 families (5,297 individuals) were forced to evacuate from their homes in Camarines Sur on Monday as Tropical Depression “Amang” dumped more rains in the Bicol region.
— Inquirer.net
PH at center of world pollution problem
AN international alliance formed to fight plastic waste around the world came out his week with a statement that should cause a great deal of concern among us Filipinos.
— Tempo
Use of dumpsites in Laguna, Batangas boundary still suspended
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Calabarzon has reminded dumpsite operators in the boundary of Laguna and Batangas not to dump trashes and solid wastes in these areas.
— Philippine News Agency
All passport data safe, DFA tells NPC
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday assured the National Privacy Commission (NPC) that all passport data are safe in the agency’s custody.
— Philippine News Agency
Residents told to prepare as ‘Amang’ closes in on Eastern Visayas
Malacaang on Monday urged the public to brace for Tropical Depression Amang, which is now heading towards the Leyte-Samar area, according to weather forecasts.
— Philippine News Agency
Massive Amount of Garbage Spotted Scattered Along Streets of Caloocan
Scattered Garbage Spotted Along Streets of Caloocan City A massive amount of garbage has been spotted along General San Miguel Street in Caloocan City causing a disgusting smell in the area.
— Philippine News
PNP confiscates 1,025 firearms from 96 private security agencies that ceased operations
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) confiscated a total of 1,025 firearms from 96 private security agencies that were ordered to cease operations in 2018, Director General Oscar Albayalde said.
— The Manila Times
MICC exec: March start set for new mining audits
New mining audits will begin in March for another batch of companies as the government seeks to settle challenges against closures and suspensions ordered by the Environment department in 2017
— The Manila Times
Clark should spur a renaissance in PH travel
THE upgrading of the Clark International Airport is well underway, following groundbreaking rites for a new terminal building which, when completed, will be able to handle eight million passengers a year.
— TEMPO
Legazpi City aims to vaccinate 20K dogs this year
The City Veterinary Office (CVO) here is targeting 20,000 dogs to be vaccinated against rabies this year.
— Philippine News Agency
Mentorship key in raising successful youth entreps
Young people see things in a different yet equally valuable lens and this is visible in the way they do and handle their businesses.
— Philippine News Agency
Palace: Jail parents of kids in conflict with the law
Malacañang on Monday said parents of children in conflict with the law must be punished for letting their offspring go astray, as Congress again revived deliberations on the lowering of minimum age of criminal liability.
— ABS-CBN News
DSWD investigates slow release of assistance to Typhoon Nina victims
The Department of Social Welfare and Development is investigating the alleged slow release of emergency funds to victims of Typhoon Nina in 2016 as revealed by the Commission on Audit.
— ABS-CBN News
Kris Aquino Replies To Gretchen Barretto With Timeline Of Taxes She Paid
Timeline of paid taxes was the reply of Kris Aquino to Gretchen Barretto Queen of all Media Kris Aquino replied to former actress Gretchen Barretto with the timeline of taxes she paid.
— Philippine News
MILF member nabbed for bringing gun inside Lanado del Sur precinct
An alleged member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was arrested inside the polling place of Benago village, Balabagan town in Lanao del Sur for bringing his firearm when he was about to vote.
— Inquirer.net
BSP, IMF host 1st reg’l dialogue on financial stability
The Bangko Sentralng Pilipinas (BSP) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are co-hosting the Inaugural Regional Dialogue on Financial Stability (FS) for ASEAN Central Banks on Jan. 21-22 at the Philippine International Convention Center, with the theme, “Ensuring Financial Stability in the Region: Some Policy and Practical Issues.”
— Philippine News Agency
4 Cebgo flights cancelled due to bad weather
Four Cebgo flights were cancelled due to bad weather, the Manila International Airport Authority said Monday.As of 11 a.m., the cancelled flights were DG 6177/6178 Manila-Masbate-Manila and DG 6009/6010 Manila-Basco-Manila.
— Philippine News Agency
Senate version wins: PCGG will not be abolished
The bicameral conference committee keeps the Presidential Commission on Good Government and also retains the powers of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel
— Rappler
Tension mars opening of BOL plebiscite in Cotabato City, teachers fail to arrive in 24 clustered precincts
Police, instead of teachers manned several polling precincts, in Cotabato City due to the late arrival and in some instances non-arrival of teachers in the area.
— Eagle News
Disaster-related agencies on standby for ‘Amang’ — Palace
Concerned government agencies have been mobilized to provide disaster response and relief as tropical depression Amang moved towards Leyte and Samar area, Malacañang said Monday.
— Manila Bulletin
Chief Justice seeks purge of misfits
Supreme Court Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin has called on all court judges to support his four-point reform agenda for the judiciary, which includes updating the Rules of Court, purging the bench of misfits and scalawags, initiating Bar reforms, and adopting legal clinics to enhance access to justice.
— Manilastandard.net
SC resets oral arguments on Mindanao martial law extension
The Supreme Court (SC) has moved to next week the oral arguments on the petitions questioning the constitutionality of the third extension of martial law in Mindanao.
— ABS-CBN News
Cebu Pacific receives its first A321neo from Airbus
CEBU AIR, Inc. has received its first Airbus A321neo (new engine option) out of its 32 orders from the European aircraft manufacturer.
— BusinessWorld Online
Philippines kicks off 10th ASEAN Para Games in second hosting stint
The Philippine Paralympic Committee officially kicked off the 10th ASEAN Para Games (APG) on Friday, January 18, 2019—exactly a year before the event takes place on January 2020—at the Novotel Manila in Quezon City.
— FOX Sports Philippines
Feature photo Asian Development Bank
This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo acknowledges International Day of Education, January 24.
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.

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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