Philippines morning news for January 29

Philippines morning news for January 29
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Philippines morning newsSenators firm up schedule to front-load budget bill
SENATORS on Monday moved to firm up the timetable for Congress to front-load passage of the P3.757-trillion 2019 budget bill, amid reports that the delayed enactment of the annual money measure, according to the Department of Finance, cut government’s spending by P46 billion, effectively denting the country’s first-quarter growth.
— Business Mirror

House okays bill lowering ‘age of social responsibility’
THE House of Representatives yesterday approved on third and final reading a bill which seeks to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 12 from the current 15 years.
— Malaya

Gov’t wants big ticket infra projects exempted from election ban
The Duterte administration is planning to ask the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to exempt big-ticket infrastructure projects from the government spending ban during the campaign period.
— Manila Bulletin

Landmark law ratified, paving way for Muslim autonomous region in southern Philippines
A landmark law was ratified on Friday (January 25), paving the way for the creation of an autonomous entity in Muslim-majority areas in the southern Philippines.
— Intellesia.net

PRRD admin posts highest public construction value since 1999
Commitment to modernize public infrastructure in the Philippines prompted the Duterte administration to post the highest gross value in public sector construction since the Estrada administration.
— Philippine News Agency

Pass 2019 budget now, Makati seniors ask dads
Senior citizens in Makati City on Monday appealed to members of the City Council to immediately approve the 2019 executive budget as they expressed their concern over the adverse impact of the delay on benefits and privileges provided to them by the city.
— Manilastandard.net

Hanjin Failure in Philippines Has Disturbing Implications
It could well be a tsunami in another form, yet the recent declaration of bankruptcy by shipbuilder Hanjin Philippines has attracted scant attention in the Philippines and almost none overseas.
— Asia Sentinel

Bicameral committee targets Jan. 30 OK of 2019 budget
THE HOUSE of Representatives and the Senate on Monday resumed their bicameral conference committee meeting to reconcile differences in the proposed P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019, targeting approval on Wednesday.
— BusinessWorld Online

Bicam sets P50-billion cap on ‘re-prioritization’ projects of 2 houses
THE Senate and the House of Representatives on Monday temporarily agreed to set to P50 billion the two houses’ “re-prioritization” projects.
— Business Mirror

BSP eyes further enhancements to PHL payments system in 2019
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is eyeing further enhancements to the country’s payments system this year, after the launch of two electronic clearing houses in the previous years.
— Business Mirror

Supreme Court to hold oral arguments on Mindanao martial law extension on Tuesday
The Supreme Court will hold oral arguments on the third extension of martial law in Mindanao this week even as security concerns hound the South including the deadly blasts in a Catholic cathedral in Jolo, Sulu.
— CNN Philippines

DA sets up P200-million fund for lending to rice farmers
The Department of Agriculture is allocating P200 million in loan funds for farmers who will sell their produce to the National Food Authority (NFA).
— The Philippine Star

Manila Bay cleanup yields 5 tons of garbage
The simultaneous cleanup of Manila Bay in Bulacan, Pampanga and Bataan on Sunday yielded more than five tons of garbage.
— The Philippine Star

HIV-positive cases in 15-24 age group tripled from 13%
The proportion of HIV-positive cases in the 15 to 24 year age group nearly tripled from 13 percent in 1999-2008 to 29 percent in 2009-2018 in only 10 years, according to the November 2018 latest update of the Department of Health’s HIV and AIDS Registry.
— Manilastandard.net

DOTr accredits 36 transpo coops
The government has approved the accreditation of 36 new transport cooperatives as part of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
— Malaya

P394.76-million allotted for Mindanao road
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has allotted P394.76 million to develop a 60.4-kilometer (km) diversion road in Northern Mindanao to cut travel time between Iligan City and Talakag, Bukidnon, by more than half.
— Business Mirror

ISIS Bombing of Cathedral in Philippines Shows Group’s Reach into Asia
A deadly bombing of a cathedral in the Philippines has brought fresh attention to the Islamic State’s ability to metastasize across the world, even as the militant group has been reduced to a sliver of turf in Syria.
— The New York Times

West Philippine Sea 2019: Policies to watch out for
The decision of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on the request to lift the moratorium covering the West Philippine Sea, the proposed review for the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), and the code of conduct negotiations are among the Philippine foreign policy issues that South China Sea observers should watch out for in early 2019, an analyst said.
— Inquirer.net

Luxury cars sales slumped over 50% in Philippines last year
Sales of luxury vehicles slumped more than 50 percent in 2018, sharper than the 16-percent sales drop in the entire Philippine automotive sector, Lexus president Raymond Rodriguez said.
— Manilastandard.net

Arroyo leads trade mission in Saudi
House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will lead an investment mission in Saudi Arabia to look for business opportunities for Mindanao.
— The Manila Times

Study reveals hybrid skills required by emerging jobs in Philippines
HYBRID skills are highly needed by the local labor market to fit in with new employment opportunities available in the country, the 2019 Emerging Jobs in the Philippines Report of LinkedIn said.
— Business Mirror

DA’s ban on cow leather threatening 16,000 jobs
About 16,000 workers of Superl Philippines Inc., a top manufacturer and exporter of leather bags based in Pampanga province, may lose their jobs because of a Department of Agriculture directive banning the importation of cow leather.
— Manilastandard.net

‘Battle of Manila Bay’ to be won in 7 years – DENR
The rehabilitation of Manila Bay will be in three phases in the next seven years, which means this will go beyond the term of President Duterte who vowed to make the bay as clean as the world-famous Boracay island.
— Manila Bulletin

CCTV of Jolo church blasts shows ASG bomb maker
A SUSPECT has been identified in the twin bombings in Sulu on Sunday that has killed at least 20 people, including five soldiers, as the Philippine National Police (PNP)went on nationwide heightened alert following the deadly bombings.
— Business Mirror

Jolo, Sulu on total lockdown
With the perpetrators of the deadly bombings at the Jolo cathedral still at large, authorities have placed the Muslim-dominated city on lockdown.
— The Philippine Star

High value services to drive Philippines growth
The World Bank is urging the Philippines to ease foreign ownership and other regulatory restrictions in services to enable the sector to drive economic growth further amid slowing global trade in goods.
— The Philippine Star

End the toleration of unfinished projects
TOO many public works projects have not been completed for too many reasons in many parts of the country.
— Tempo

Government plans on Hanjin clearer by Q1
Medenilla THE government sees itself forging within the first quarter a more concrete position on its plans for debt-saddled Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Corp. Philippines (HHIC-Phil).
— Business Mirror

Wanted: More investments in Roros, seaports
A LAWMAKER on Sunday batted for the strengthening of the nautical highway and use of inland waterways to boost tourism in the Visayas and Mindanao.
— Business Mirror

Jolo bombings won’t stop 2nd Bangsamoro Organic Law plebiscite
The Commission on Elections does not see the need to place Jolo under its control and defer the Feb. 6 plebiscite on the Bangsamoro Organic Law following the twin blasts in a Catholic church while mass was ongoing on Sunday.
— The Philippine Star

Zambo on heightened alert after Sulu blast
The city is secure, security authorities here assured in the wake of the bombing of the Jolo Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu Sunday morning (January 27) .
— Philippine Information Agency

No water rationing yet in Zambo – ZCWD
Water level in Zamboanga City became stable after the occurrence of rainfall for the past few days, but Zamboanga City Water District (ZCWD) said that the water level from the dam is still below normal.
— Philippine Information Agency

Authorities eye 6 persons of interest in Jolo blasts — Esperon
Authorities are eyeing six persons of interest behind the gruesome bombings at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu, according to National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. on Monday.
— GMA News

ACT files raps vs Año, Albayalde, others over alleged profiling of group’s members
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers on Monday, Jan. 28, filed charges against Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año and several others over their alleged profiling of the group’s members.
— Eagle News

47 gun ban violators, 83 firearms seized in Central Luzon
At least 47 individuals were arrested and 83 firearms were seized in Central Luzon since the start of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban on January 13.
— Philippine News Agency

Service sector reforms urged to spur PH growth
The Philippines should work on opening the service sector if it wants to spur growth, a World Bank economist said on Monday. Andrew Mason, the multilateral lender’s acting chief economist
— The Manila Times

Ex-RCBC exec appeals money-laundering ruling
FORMER Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) branch manager Maia Santos-Deguito has asked the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Makati City to reverse its decision, which found her guilty of seven counts of money laundering. The Makati RTC declared on January 10 that Deguito was guilty of laundering the $81 million stolen from by hackers from […]
— Business Mirror

Foreign chambers back FIA changes
The Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) in the Philippines have thrown their support behind amendments to the Foreign Investments Act (FIA) to help the country attract more investors and create jobs.
— The Philippine Star

Bishops slam ‘culture of violence’ after Jolo cathedral bombing
Catholic bishops decried the “culture of violence” that they said have prevailed in the country, a day after the bombing of the cathedral in Jolo, which killed 20 people and wounded over 100 others.
— GMA News

Duterte inspects Jolo cathedral, visits kin of victims
Duterte was accompanied by top security officials and his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, during the visit to the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral, according to photos released by former Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go.
— GMA News

‘PHL may not become upper middle-income economy in 2019’
THE Philippines could fall short of becoming an upper middle-income economy this year, as the protracted trade conflict between the United States and China is seen by a World Bank economist to take a toll on the country’s growth.
— Business Mirror

Foreign chambers back investment law changes
Foreign business chambers have expressed support for legislative moves to amend the Foreign Investment Act of 1991 (FIA) with regard to the entry of foreign professionals and requirements for full
— The Manila Times

Toyota gears up for sale recovery
Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMPC) and its luxury arm Lexus expect to reverse the sales decline seen last year with a single-digit sales growth this year.
— The Philippine Star

Metro Pacific Tollways allots P45 billion for capex in 2019
Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., the tollways arm of infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investment Corp., is ramping up its capital spending this year by five times from last year to accelerate construction of five big-ticket projects.
— The Philippine Star

Swiss Embassy lauds ratification of BOL, condemns Jolo bombings
The Embassy of Switzerland in Manila on Monday lauded the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) and said that the successful plebiscite stood out as “a historic moment” aimed at ending decades of historical divide and injustices in the region.
— GMA News

Comelec: Showing of Bato biopic outside campaign period is legal
The showing of the biopic film featuring the life of former Philippine National Police chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa will be deemed an election offense if it is shown from February 12 or the start of the campaign period onward, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Monday.
— GMA News

SSS offers loan program for pensioners in Tarlac
Social Security System Luzon Central Division 1 Senior Communications Analyst Maureen Inocencio (right) discusses their Pension Loan Program.
— Philippine Information Agency

Baguio chill dips to 9.8ºC
The mountain chill in this city dropped to 9.8 degrees Celsius early yesterday morning, bringing shivers even to residents used to the bone-tingling cold.
— The Philippine Star

Metropac Movers lays groundwork for South Luzon hub
Metropac Movers Inc. (MMI), the logistics arm of Metro Pacific Investment Corp. (MPIC), is now laying the groundwork for the construction of its sprawling industrial hub in Southern Luzon.
— The Philippine Star

Pacquiao attends Senate session, thanks public, colleagues for support
Senator Manny Pacquiao on Monday thanked Filipinos and his colleagues for supporting him during his match against American boxer Adrien Broner last week.
— GMA News

PH won’t host UN migration meet
SAYING the Philippines needs money to fund infrastructure programs, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. turned down the invitation for Manila to host an international conference on migration in 2020.
— The Manila Times

 

Feature photo Asian Development Bank

 

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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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