Philippines morning news for January 25

Philippines morning news for January 25
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Philippines morning newsEconomic team lists risks as growth slows to 6.2%
THE reenacted budget and the 45-day ban on government spending in preparation for the elections will delay the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) program, according to the President’s economic team, highlighting more challenges as the country posted its slowest growth since 2015.
— Business Mirror

Philippines breaks tourism record in 2018 despite Boracay closure
The Philippines welcomed a record 7.1 million tourists to its beaches and dive spots in 2018, despite its most famous resort Boracay being shut half the year to recover, the authorities said on Thursday (Jan 24).
— The Straits Times

Makati subway gets $350M pledge
Philippine Infradev Holdings Inc. has secured the commitment of China Civil Engineering Construction Corp. (CCECC) for the latter’s $300-million to $350-million investment in the Makati subway project.
— Malaya

Philippines face battle to hit growth goal amid global headwinds
Headwinds such as stubborn inflation and the U.S.-China trade war have stacked the odds against the Philippines achieving its growth target of 7%-8% in 2019.
— Nikkei Asian Review

IBM Services Signs a USD$260M Agreement with Bank of the Philippine Islands to Support the Bank’s Digital Transformation
IBM (NYSE: IBM) and the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), a universal bank headquartered in Manila, have signed a $260M, multi-year services agreement. IBM will provide IT infrastructure services to support an agile IT and hybrid cloud, as well as digital development capabilities to accelerate BPI’s digital transformation.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

PH economy still among Asia’s fastest despite inflation
The Philippine economy further cemented its position as one of Asia’s top performers after accelerating 6.2 percent last year despite high inflation and a slowdown in agriculture.
— Philippine News Agency

Bangsamoro law ratification strengthens Japan’s desire to help Mindanao
The ratification of the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (OLBARMM) will “strengthen the desire” of the Japanese Government to help Mindanao improve its economy, Japanese Consul General Yoshiaki Miwa said.
— Minda News

B.S.P. seen to junk tightening stance as growth slows in 2018
THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is likely to abandon its tightening cycle and move to a more accommodative monetary-policy stance for this year, after the Philippine economy registered a slower growth rate for 2018.
— Business Mirror

CHR: Keep age of liability at 15
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said Congress should not amend the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) from 15 as the law still needs to be fully implemented.
— CNN Philippines

Philippines: SEARCA helps boost calamansi exports
The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is now helping Philippines’ growers to explore ways on how to potentially boost the country’s calamansi exports (the calamansi is a lemon variety)
— Fresh Plaza

Mislatel’s telco franchise ‘deemed revoked’: Drilon
WINNING third telco bidder Mindanao Islamic Telephone Co. (Mislatel) cannot serve as the country’s third telco player because its franchise is “deemed revoked,” Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon said yesterday.
— Malaya

Japanese firm to make robot parts in Subic
Nidec-Shimpo Corp. of Japan would mass produce in its Subic factory a new line of robot components developed in Japan.
— Malaya

Maynilad allots P100 billion for capex budget until 2022
MAYNILAD Water Services, Inc. is setting aside P100 billion as capital expenditure in five years through 2022, or the period covering its fifth rate rebasing, of which more than a quarter will cover the construction of new sewage treatment plants (STPs).
— BusinessWorld Online

Locsin blames labor attaché for US ban on Filipino workers
The Philippines’ top diplomat blamed a Philippine labor attaché for the decision of the United States to remove Filipinos from its eligibility list of temporary working visas.
— The Philippine Star

Senate committee studying amendment to foreign investment act
THE Senate committee on economic affairs on Thursday opened its inquiry into the bill seeking to amend Republic Act No. 7042 or the Foreign Investments Act of 1991.
— BusinessWorld Online

Weapons, gadgets seized from foreigners in Bureau of Immigration jail raid
Weapons, portable air conditioners and gadgets were among the contraband seized from foreigners detained at the Bureau of Immigration Warden Facility (BIWF) during a raid last Tuesday, an official said yesterday.
— The Philippine Star

Little Caesars® Pizza to Celebrate Its First Philippine Location
Little Caesars® Pizza, the third largest pizza chain in the world1, is set to celebrate the opening of its first restaurant in the Philippines on January 26, 2019.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

Mislatel resolves key issues identified by oversight body
The country’s new major telecommunications player, Mislatel Consortium, has resolved the four major concerns identified by the government oversight committee in its selection process, the head of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said on Thursday.
— Philippine News Agency

SEC approves Dennis Uy firm’s P18.5-billion follow-on offering
THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has given the greenlight for the P18.488-billion follow-on offering of PH Resorts Group Holdings, Inc. as well as BDO Leasing and Finance, Inc.’s (BDOLFI) plan to issue P15 billion worth of commercial papers.
— BusinessWorld Online

U.S.-based Shearwater Health and Philippines-based Asian Hospital and Medical Center Create Transpacific Partnership to Solve Global Nursing Shortage
Hospitals and other healthcare providers inside the United States are challenged daily to adequately staff nurses amidst an ongoing shortage with no end in sight.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

Philippines: Japanese officials visit Ilocos Norte to boost garlic industry
Japanese officials are visiting Ilocos Norte on the Philippines, intent on revitalizing the garlic industry there.
— Fresh Plaza

Bicam committee asked P350M for QC’s urban poor
SPEAKER Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has asked the bicameral panels on the 2019 budget to provide P350 million to help more than 8,000 urban poor families at the National Government Center to acquire the land they have long been occupying.
— Malaya

DENR-7 to look into waste management of hotels, malls
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas (DENR-7) is set to inspect the waste management and treatment facilities of all resorts, hotels, and malls in the region.
— Philippine News Agency

5.5-magnitude quake hits Cagayan
(Eagle News)-A 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck Cagayan on Thursday, Jan. 24. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the quake, which was tectonic in origin, hit 27 kilometers northwest of Calayan at 4:34 p.m.
— Eagle News

Crops output up in 2019 first quarter
The country’s production of palay (unhusked rice) and corn is seen to increase by a meager 0.49 percent in the first quarter due to the effects of weather disturbances at the tail end of last year.
— The Philippine Star

UBS sees slower GDP growth in 2019, 2020
UBS AG expects the Philippines’ real gross domestic product (GDP) momentum to slow to 6.1 percent in 2019 and 2020 from the forecast 6.4 percent in 2018.
— Manila Bulletin

4 miners killed, 3 missing in Agusan del Norte landslide
Four miners were killed while three are still missing after a landslide hit Mount Manhupaw in Agusan del Norte during the onslaught of Tropical Depression “Amang,” police said.
— Inquirer.net

Cotabato poll officer admits errors in BOL plebiscite tally
Errors were committed in the entry of data during the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite in Cotabato City, an election officer admitted before the National Plebiscite Board of Canvassers (NPBC) on Thursday.
–Inquirer.net

DOTr backs bill seeking to require gov’t execs to commute once a month
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Thursday welcomed the bill filed by Quezon City Representative Winston Castelo seeking to require the government officials to use public transport modes once a month.
— GMA News

Lagman slams House for passing bill lowering age of criminal responsibility on second reading
Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman on Thursday, Jan. 24, slammed the House of Representatives after it approved on second reading a bill lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 12 years old. In a statement, Lagman said the House was a “chamber of regressive legislation” for approving on second reading House Bill 8858 on Wednesday, Jan. 23.
— Eagle News

DSWD to start releasing 4Ps grants next week
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will begin releasing cash grants to some 309,000 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Western Visayas next week.
— Philippine News Agency

3 nabbed, P1.5-M ‘shabu’ seized at Comelec checkpoint in Bulacan
Three suspects were arrested and some PHP1.5-million worth of illegal drugs and firearms were seized at a Commission on Elections (Comelec) checkpoint in Barangay Pulong Sampalok
— Philippine News Agency

Infant vaccination, improved sanitation may prevent liver cancer – DOH
Do not let liver cancer conquer lives. Instead, prevent it by lowering the prevalence of Hepatitis B by immunization of infants and by improving sanitation in the entire country.
— Philippine Information Agency

Palace: Misuari not a threat to success of envisioned Bangsamoro region
Malacañang on Thursday said Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari would not be a threat to the success of the envisioned Bangsamoro region after his home province of Sulu rejected the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
— GMA News

Trillanes claims gov’t favored Mislatel as 3rd telco because of its officials’ “contributions” to Duterte’s presidential campaign
Mislatel on Thursday, Jan. 24, reiterated it went through the proper process before it was chosen as the country’s third telco player, even as opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes claimed the consortium had been favored by the government.
— Eagle News

IUCN marks “tawilis” as critically endangered species
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has marked tawilis or “sardinella tawilis,” a freshwater sardine species found exclusively in the Philippines, particularly in Taal Lake, as an “endangered” species because of the alarming decrease in its population.
— Eagle News

No room for criminals during Dinagyang fest: PRO-6
Close to 3,000-strong government forces and force multipliers will secure this year’s Dinagyang festival as they leave no room for criminals and other threats to disrupt the celebration.
— Philippine News Agency

DPWH starts rehiring of 3.9K job orders in Region 8
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has started the process of rehiring the 3,900 job order employees after the delayed approval of 2019 budget rendered them jobless for weeks.
— Philippine News Agency

Ex-gov: Sulu wants out of Bangsamoro
After majority of the people of Sulu rejected the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), former Sulu governor Abdusakur Tan said they would want to be part of Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9) and be excluded from the new Bangsamoro government.
— the INQUIRER

Drug den dismantled
Anti-narcotics operatives dismantled a drug den in Kudarat and arrested its suspected maintainer and four other cohorts including two minors.
— TEMPO

Omnichannel Asia Summit Philippines 2019 to be held on February 20
A 2018 Nielsen report estimates that by 2020, the global fast-moving consumer goods e-commerce platform will reach over US$400 billion and will account for 10 to 20 percent market share.
— The Philippine Star

Juan Ponce Enrile Warns Government Of Approaching Energy Crisis
Filipino politician Juan Ponce Enrile warned the government about the energy crisis in the future. Philippine Senator Juan Ponce Enrile was a former Defense Minister during the presidency of the late President Ferdinand Marcos.
— Philippine News

Police file raps vs Daraga Mayor Baldo
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) officially filed charges against Daraga, Albay Mayor Carlwyn Baldo after he was caught in possession of unlicensed firearms in a search of his home
— The Manila Times

20 new Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange routes to be opened
Twenty new routes for public utility vehicles (PUV) to and from the Paraaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) will be opened, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced.
— Inquirer.net

LGU medical scholar grad now works at South Leyte prov’l hospital
The medical scholarship program of the provincial government of Southern Leyte is starting to pay-off as some medical scholars now become professional doctors after passing the medical board examination in 2018.
— Philippine Information Agency

PhilHealth shows stronger performance in 2018; gears up for UHC
THE Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) posted stronger performance in 2018, surpassing previous year’s records on its net income, benefit payments and membership coverage; showing strong indication that the state health insurer is prepared to take on the challenges of Universal Health Care (UHC), which President Rodrigo R. Duterte will soon sign into law.
— Business Mirror

Live Clean. Live Healthy.
When people talk about healthy living, you would usually think about exercise, going to the gym, nutrition, whole food, no fat, no sugar, vitamins and supplements, etc. Right? You wouldn’t think of trash, recycling and waste management. You’re thinking, “it’s not something related to health.” But it is.
— Business Mirror

EU companies to hold 2 missions in PH
Some 30 to 50 companies from the European Union (EU) will explore business opportunities in waste management in the Philippines in March.
— Malaya

Go-Jek in talks with Philippines, expects to be in market soon
Indonesia’s Go-Jek is in talks with Philippine authorities to get its ride-hailing service application reconsidered, after it was rejected this month by regulators, and hopes to be in the market soon, co-founder Kevin Aluwi said on Thursday.
— Reuters

SEC admitted to IFIAR membership
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that it has been admitted as member of the International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators (IFIAR).
— Manila Bulletin

Manila Bay litterbugs face arrest
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) is setting its sights on people and firms littering Manila Bay, an official said yesterday.
— The Philippine Star

Local execs barred from going on leave during calamities
Local officials are prohibited from traveling abroad and going on leave during calamities and emergencies, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said yesterday.
— The Philippine Star

 

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.

 

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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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