Philippines Morning News For July 15, 2019

Corruption Red Flags: Fake transactions, doubtful accounts in government spending
“I don’t want to hear about any trace of corruption, [not] even a whiff or whisper. I will fire you or place you somewhere,” said the tough-talking Rodrigo Duterte in a mix of Filipino and English on June 22, 2016.
— Rappler

Philippines loses to China 3 years after Hague ruling
Three years after winning against China in an international court, the Philippines is achieving the exact opposite of its legal victory over the South China Sea.
— Rappler

Gov’t releases 85.5% of national budget
The government has released P3.13 trillion in funds to line agencies as of end-June this year to support their programs and operations, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
— The Philippine Star

Philippines: Dengue outbreaks declared in Capiz, Guimaras provinces
Two provinces in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines declared dengue fever outbreaks this week after reporting dramatic increases in the mosquito-borne infection in 2019.
— Outbreak News Today

AFP wants security act amended to boost counter-terrorism efforts
The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Sunday pushed for amendments to the Human Security Act to allow law enforcement agencies to be more effective in their counter-terrorism efforts.
— GMA News

63 people hurt in Surigao del Sur quake
Dozens of people were injured after a magnitude 5.5 earthquake hit Surigao del Sur early Saturday morning.
— CNN Philippines

Govt disburses P27.4 billion to pay mainly for debt interest
THE national government disbursed P27.407 billion in May for the payment of some of its debt, with interest payments outpacing amortization for the month, data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed.
— Business Mirror

Philippines eyes withdrawal from UN rights body
The Philippines’ top diplomat hinted at the possible withdrawal of the country from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) after the adoption of an Iceland-initiated resolution to investigate President Duterte’s bloody “war on drugs.”
— The Philippine Star

Duterte willing to invoke MDT
IF push comes to shove, President Rodrigo Duterte would invoke the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the US and the Philippines should its long-time ally declare war on China in a bid to stop Beijing’s intrusion in the West Philippine (South China) Sea.
— The Manila Times

Speakership scheme could stunt reforms
THE PLANNED term-sharing of speaker aspirants Taguig 1st district Rep. Alan Peter S. Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco could disrupt reform impetus in the remaining three years of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s term, analysts said on Thursday last week.
— BusinessWorld Online

House to implement 3-day lock-out starting July 19 for Duterte’s SONA
The House of Representatives will implement a three-day complete lock-out policy starting July 19 in preparation for the President Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22.
— Manila Bulletin

WTO upholds PH anew in cigar dispute vs Thailand
Thailand has lost all three panel and appellate rulings before the World Trade Organization (WTO) on the cigarette tax dispute against the Philippines prompting Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez to challenge a fellow ASEAN country to accept the decision and implement the tax valuation reforms that are inimical to Filipino tobacco farmers.
— Manila Bulletin

Gov’t finalizing rules for renewable energy suppliers in option program
THE DEPARTMENT of Energy (DoE) targets to finalize in about two months a circular that will set the guidelines for the issuance of operating permits for renewable energy suppliers under the agency’s green energy option program (GEOP).
— BusinessWorld Online

Ex-RBI chief flags risks for overseas borrowing
INDIA’S PLAN to issue foreign currency debt has no real benefit and is fraught with risks, according to former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Raghuram Rajan.
— BusinessWorld Online

Diokno says BSP monetary action to become independent of US Fed
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said local monetary authorities do not need to move in line with the US Federal Reserve’s action in the months ahead.
— Manilastandard.net

PCCI exec echoes chamber, says pay hike sought ‘too big’
THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) in Western Visayas also bucked the proposed P50 to P60 wage increase among private sector workers in the region.
— Sun Star

Vico Sotto orders inventory of supplies amid missing P1.4B
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto ordered a physical count of the local government’s supplies after a recent Commission on Audit (COA) report found it cannot account for P1.464 billion in 2018.
— Rappler

Duterte wants Department of OFWs up by December
A separate Department of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) should be established within six months to address the persistent woes of OFWs with regard to illegal recruiters and other labor malpractices, according to President Duterte.
— The Philippine Star

How we kill: Notes on the death penalty in the Philippines
A week after assuming office, neophyte senators Christopher “Bong” Go and Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa proposed the reinstatement of the death penalty through Senate Bills (SB) 207 and 226, respectively.
— ABS-CBN News

Janette Garin faces 100 more Dengvaxia cases
Iloilo Rep. and former health secretary Janette Garin stands to be charged with about 100 more cases involving deaths of schoolchildren inoculated with the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine.
— The Philippine Star

PEZA okays 131 IT centers worth P160 billion
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said they have approved 131 IT Parks/Centers developer projects locating in Metro Manila as of June this year with combined investments of P159.435 billion, but said that only half of these may be able to vie for a PEZA status as most of these office spaces may have been leased out already to online gaming operators.
— Manila Bulletin

Overtaxation seen driving POGOs away
THE government runs the risk of losing investment from the online gaming industry if it stiffens regulation and raises tax rates, industry analyst Asia Gaming Brief said.
— BusinessWorld Online

Cabinet okays project cost hike for Mindanao railway
THE Mindanao Railway Project, an ambitious effort to link most southern cities and provinces by rail, will now cost 125.25 percent more, after the interagency Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) Cabinet Committee (Cabcom) approved the increase for its Phase 1 (Tagum-Davao-Digos Segment).
— Business Mirror

Robredo spokesperson shrugs off VP’s impeachment warning from anti-corruption exec
The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo downplayed the statement of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commissioner Manuelito Luna after he said Robredo may be impeached for supporting the United Nations Human Rights Council’s plan to review the country’s human rights situation.
— CNN Philippines

Peza wants eight MM cities excluded from ecozone ban
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority asked the Office of the President to exempt eight cities in Metro Manila from the moratorium on economic zone proclamation.
— Manilastandard.net

100 persons found infected with HIV for engaging in paid sex
More than 100 individuals were infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) last April after engaging in transactional or paid sex.
— Manila Bulletin

Higher, just wages for nurses pushed
MANILA, Philippines Sen. Richard Gordon is pushing for a measure that will give nurses higher and just wages.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

LPA enters PAR, may develop into tropical depression
A low-pressure area (LPA) monitored off Visayas has entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Sunday afternoon, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.
— Inquirer.net

Palawan, Cebu, Boracay, among world’s best tourist destinations, according to travel list
Three islands in the Philippines were recognized as best destinations in a survey conducted by Travel+Leisure magazine among their readers.
— Manila Bulletin

Lorenzana raised Recto Bank incident at ASEAN defense chiefs’ meeting — DND
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana raised the issue of the Recto Bank incident during the 13th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) in Bangkok on Thursday, the Department of Defense said.
— GMA News

Central Luzon declares Reds ‘persona non grata’
The Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) 3 has declared the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) as ‘persona non grata’ in Central Luzon.
— Philippine News Agency

13 Pinoys with fake boarding passes held at NAIA
Immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have intercepted 13 Filipino passengers bound for Hongkong in possession of fake boarding passes believed to be acquired from a scammer.
— The Philippine Star

12,000 sign petition to stop Kaliwa Dam
Around 12,000 people have signed a petition urging the Duterte administration to stop the P10.37-billion China-funded Kaliwa Dam project in Quezon province.
— Inquirer.net

Killing the poor
A recent report has pitted the Philippines as one of the most dangerous countries in the world, positioning it next to the likes of conflict-ridden Syria and Yemen.
— The Asean Post

UNHRC probe a chance for gov’t to clarify issues on drug war–CBCP
The government should use the resolution of the United Nation Human Rights Council (UNHRC) as an opportunity to clear up issues regarding its war on drugs campaign, an official from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said on Sunday.
— Inquirer.net

Robredo won’t back down from impeachment threats — spokesperson
Vice President Leni Robredo is ready to face any impeachment cases that will be filed against her for supporting the United Nation Human Right Council’s (UNHRC) probe into the government’s drug war, her spokesperson said on Sunday.
— Inquirer.net

DOH receives 1,590 bags of blood from Calabarzon donors
A total of 1,590 blood bags have been collected from various blood donors from the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon during the Department of Health (DOH)-Calabarzon’s series of bloodletting activities in observance of July as “National Blood Donors Month.
— Philippine News Agency

Davao Oriental localizes EO 70 to curb poverty, insurgency
In a continuous and serious bid to provide long-term solutions to poverty and insurgency, Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang localized Executive Order 70 of President Rodrigo Duterte by conducting immersions in the villages of the province.
— Philippine News Agency

Keep your routines amid threats; when we fear, terrorism wins –AFP
The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Sunday reminded the public to keep their regular activities amid the terror threats in the country.
— GMA News

Imee Marcos: PH must cut diplomatic ties with Iceland ‘ASAP’
Joining the hostile reactions towards the Iceland-led resolution for the United Nations to review the drug war killings in the Philippines is Senator Imee Marcos who said the Philippines must cut diplomatic ties with Iceland as soon as possible.
— Rappler

DOH pushes for strengthening of immunization program in CAR
The Department of Health, in its goal to further strengthen the immunization program in Cordillera, gathered key stakeholders for a regional project implementation review for “Oplan Culex” and the “Baby Come Back to Bakuna” campaign at Chalet Hotel here last week.
— Philippine Information Agency

Housing project to benefit regular, contractual CEZA workers
The more than 300 regular and contractual employees of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) will soon benefit from the CEZA-Pag-IBIG Fund Housing Project in this town.
— Philippine News Agency

Ship manning firm bares new BOC modus to link unsuspecting companies to smuggling
A top official of a ship manning company based here on Sunday (July 14) called for an investigation of reports that linked it to the illegal release of 641 shipping containers loaded with smuggled goods at the Port of Manila and the filing of charges against those behind the reports.
— Inquirer.net

Bill seeks regular pay for village officials
Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara is pushing anew for a measure to provide better, commensurate pay to the country’s frontline workers, its barangay officials and employees.
— Inquirer.net

Iloilo gov’t hospitals seek help amid dengue spike
The Iloilo provincial government has sought the assistance of private hospitals in treating dengue patients amid the surge of cases of the mosquito-borne disease in government-run hospitals in the province.
— Inquirer.net

Congress to probe price, supply bottlenecks for biofuels
THE Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Biofuels is set to investigate the biofuel industry over price increases in molasses when the 18th Congress opens its first regular session.
— BusinessWorld Online

Greater use of GSP program driving exports growth to US, DTI says
PHILIPPINE exporters are learning to maximize their use of a Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) arrangement with the US, resulting in increased exports overall to that country, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.
— BusinessWorld Online

Love woes may lead to mental health problems, suicide
Love problems are the leading cause of mental health problems and suicide, a mental health expert said on Saturday.
— Philippine News Agency

Top PH firm delineates 65-hectare area as reserve to absorb greenhouse gas
To offset the carbon emissions of its commercial operations by 2022, a company here has established a land carbon forest reserve in the city’s mountains which could absorb thousands of tons of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.
— Inquirer.net

Sen. Cayetano files inclusive education bill for special-needs kids
Senator Pia Cayetano filed a bill which would create inclusive learning resource centers, which would cater to children and youth with special needs (CYSN), in all public school divisions in the country.
— GMA News

Mindanao leaders bat for stronger link with Indonesia, BIMP-EAGA
Leaders in Mindanao region have vowed to sustain and improve both economic ties and cultural exchanges anchored on years of bilateral relations between Philippines and Indonesia.Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chair Nathaniel Dalumpines, in his message during the recent opening of Wonderful Indonesia Tourism, Food, and Trade Expo …
— Philippine News Agency

DepEd orders temporary closure of 55 Lumad schools in Davao region
The Department of Education (DepEd) in Southern Mindanao has ordered the temporary shutdown of 55 schools catering to indigenous peoples communities in the region for allegedly deviating from the basic curriculum, among other reasons.
— Rappler

Transport groups go ahead with strike vs. PUV modernization program
Some transport groups will continue with their planned strike on Monday despite an appeal from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to call it off.
— GMA News

Feature photo WorldSkills Thailand

This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on World Youth Skills Day, July 15.

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 July 15 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on July 15, 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.