Philippines Morning News For July 23, 2019

Philippines’ Duterte defends China gambit, calls for return of death penalty in annual address
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte launched a spirited defence of his relationship with China on Monday (Jul 22), insisting that his refusal to challenge its maritime assertiveness was not capitulation, but an avoidance of conflict.
— CNA

Highlights of Duterte’s 4th State of the Nation Address
President Rodrigo Duterte delivered on Monday an almost expletive-free fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona) that lasted for an hour and 33 minutes.
— Inquirer.net

Goverment incurred P41.8-b budget deficit in June
The government incurred a budget deficit of P41.8 billion in June, lower by 22.9 percent or P12.5 billion than the P54.3-billion shortfall in the same month last year as revenue collections rose 4.3 percent and expenditures dropped 1 percent during the month, the Treasury said Monday.
— Manilastandard.net

Duterte pushes reforms, rails vs graft
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday asked lawmakers to pass more tax reforms starting with a proposal to cut corporate income tax, overhaul fiscal incentives given out to companies and further increase tobacco and alcohol excise tax rates.
— BusinessWorld Online

Infrastructure development spree pushes up steel imports 3-fold in 2018–U.S. report
THE Duterte administration’s infrastructure program has driven the country’s steel imports by nearly threefold to 9.1 million metric tons (MMT) last year, according to the Global Steel Trade Monitor.
— Business Mirror

‘I will end my term fighting’
Although still basking in popularity halfway through his six-year tenure, President Duterte vowed yesterday to end his term fighting as the country’s woes – especially the drug menace – continue.
— The Philippine Star

Philippines Has Little Power Against China, Duterte Tells Lawmakers
President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines used his annual address to Congress on Monday to defend his government’s conciliatory stance toward China and his controversial drug war, which has left more than 6,600 people dead.
— The New York Times

Government vows to accelerate infrastructure spending over the next three years
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Monday the acceleration of infrastructure projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program is a major priority in the second half of the Duterte administration.
— Manilastandard.net

Davao City militants seek ouster of President
Here in President Duterte Rodrigo ’s hometown, militant groups are calling for his ouster and an end to martial law in Mindanao because of his failure to deliver on his promise of change during his first three years in office.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Duterte: No corruption in selecting third telco player
President Rodrigo Duterte defended the selection of the third major telecommunications player in the country.
— CNN Philippines

Duterte sets conditions for his imprisonment, vows to end term ‘fighting’
President Duterte is ready to be sent to prison over alleged extrajudicial killings if he is given a “comfortable cell” and “unlimited” conjugal visits.
— Manila Bulletin

Duterte leaves federalism to next President
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday conceded that the shift to a federal form of government is up for another President to complete.
— Inquirer.net

PH rethinks China-backed loans due to high rates
The Philippines is carefully studying if it will avail itself of more loans from the Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) given the lender’s relatively higher rates.
— inquirer.net

Over 6,000 workers receive P1-billion benefits
More than 6,000 workers received almost P1 billion in collective bargaining benefits and other monetary claims from several settled labor cases from January to June 2019, the Department of Labor and Employment said.
— Manilastandard.net

Iloilo eyes P28-M calamity fund for dengue
The Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) is eyeing to allocate PHP28 million to respond to medical supplies and other needs of dengue patients.
— Philippine News Agency

Duterte vows to keep China fishers out of West PHL Sea ‘in due time’
The Duterte Administration would stop China from fishing within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone “in due time”, President Rodrigo Duterte promised on Monday, during his fourth State of the Nation Address.
— GMA News

Duterte supporters hit critics of PH foreign policy
Government supporters came to the defense of President Rodrigo Duterte against the critics of his foreign policy.
— Inquirer.net

Teachers in Davao Norte get threat of ‘tribal war’
The mayor in the Davao del Norte town of Talaingod said he requested the Department of Education (DepEd) to temporarily halt the deployment of teachers in the town after receiving a “pangayaw” or tribal war threat.
— Philippine News Agency

DPWH to construct P66M worth of school projects in Pangasinan town
The Pangasinan 3rd District Engineering Office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Ilocos Region has started the construction of P60 million-worth of two school buildings in Asingan town.
— Philippine Information Agency

PRRD urges DILG to suspend officials not utilizing public roads
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday ordered Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año to suspend mayors and governors refusing to clear public roads to ease traffic congestion in the country.
— Philippine News Agency

Duterte to Congress: Pass salary increases for gov’t workers
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday asked Congress to pass a new Salary Standardization Law that will cover the pay increases of government employees including teachers and nurses.
— GMA News

Duterte urges Congress to reimpose death penalty
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday reiterated his call for Congress to reimpose death penalty for crimes related to drugs and plunder.
— GMA News

Duterte: Teachers to get salary increase in new Salary Standardization Law
President Rodrigo Duterte in his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) called on Congress to pass a new Salary Standardization Law that will raise the pay of government workers, including public school teachers.
— Rappler

Gov’t sets guidelines setting ‘reasonable’ LGU regulatory fees
The Departments of Finance (DOF) and of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) have issued a joint circular providing the guidelines in setting reasonable rates for regulatory fees and other service charges imposed by local government units (LGUs).
— Manila Bulletin

5 state agencies told: Improve services or die
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday ordered five government agencies to improve their services, and threatened to terminate them if they fail to do so.
— The Manila Times

Gov’t seeks to limit power plant outages as part of performance benchmark
THE ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION (ERC) has asked the public to submit comments on its proposed interim benchmark for reliability of power generation units in the country, especially in terms of allowable outage days per year.
— BusinessWorld Online

Duterte must ‘iron out’ second tranche of tax reform for investors: analyst
President Rodrigo Duterte should “iron out” a measure that aims to lower corporate income taxes and rationalize incentives as the market expects updates on tax reform, an analyst said Monday.
— ABS-CBN News (video)

‘Worse than prison’: Abuses in Philippine youth homes
Eleven-year-old Jerry’s crime was breaking curfew laws after fleeing violence at home.
— CNA

Duterte: I’m willing to be jailed for EJKs if there’s ‘unlimited’ conjugal visits
President Rodrigo Duterte would not mind being incarcerated over the alleged extrajudicial killings in the Philippines due to his administration’s brutal drug war. But he has some conditions: there must be a “comfortable cell” and “unlimited” conjugal visits.
— Inquirer.net

LOOK: MRT-7 concrete walls allegedly vandalized by Sona protesters
Protesters who rallied along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City for President Rodrigo Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona) allegedly vandalized a part of the government’s MRT-7 project.
— Inquirer.net

Duterte wants to invest coconut levy fund in trust funds
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday suggested to instead invest in trust funds the initially planned P100 billion for the coconut levy fund.
— GMA News

PhilHealth mess magnifies ‘pervasive’ corruption in gov’t: PRRD
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday stressed the prevalence of corruption in the country by citing the ghost claims that hounded the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in the past months.
— Philippine News Agency

Duterte urges Congress to pass gov’t rightsizing bill
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday called on lawmakers to pass a long-pending measure to rightsize the national government, a priority legislation of his administration.
— GMA News

SONA best time for ‘The Big One’ quake, Duterte jokes
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said in jest that if The Big One will come, he would rather have it hitting the country during his ongoing State of the Nation Address (SONA).
— GMA News

Duterte vows to crack down on polluters of environment
President Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to destroy, if not burn, business establishments that pollute the environment.
— GMA News

Duterte wants PH establishments closed by midnight
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said he wanted Congress to pass a law that would require establishments across the country to close by midnight.
— Inquirer.net (video)

Duterte cites Hague ruling: PH may enter into fishing deal with other nations
President Rodrigo Duterte defended his verbal fishing deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping allowing Chinese fishermen to trawl in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
— Inquirer.net (video)

Justice Carpio: Traditional fishing not applicable in EEZ
Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Monday said that traditional fishing is not applicable in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
— GMA News

DA-Calabarzon implements measures vs. swine fever
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has assured the public it is implementing measures to prevent the entry or spread of African swine fever (ASF) and protect the hogs and swine sector in Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon (Calabarzon) region from the disease.
— Philippine News Agency

4th SONA draws mixed reactions from Bicolanos
Bicolanos from all walks of life gave mixed reactions including hope for a better Philippines during President Rodrigo Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday.
— Philippine News Agency

3-month jail term for pangolin traders
A court in Tagaytay City convicted three men of violation of the wildlife protection law after they were arrested last month for possessing 10 Philippine pangolins (Manis culionensis), of which seven had died before the rare and sensitive mammals were released back into the wild.
— Inquirer.net

Rising soon in Bicol: Safe, comfortable centers for evacuees
Thirty-one permanent evacuation centers are due to be completed in Bicol region before the year ends, giving families displaced by natural disasters safer and more comfortable areas to stay until they return to their home villages.
— Inquirer.net

Ban on small-engine bikes on tollway takes effect
Despite an agreement to defer the enforcement of a ban on motorcycles with an engine displacement of below 400 cubic centimeters on a portion of Osmea Highway, several riders were still apprehended on Monday by policemen.
— Inquirer.net

Philippines vehicle production falls most in Asean
Motor vehicle production in the Philippines continued to fall behind the rest of Southeast Asia as it posted the biggest decline in output at 29.5 percent in the five months to May this year.
— The Philippine Star

ICTSI inks P10-B deal for Brazil’s Libra Rio
INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) has completed a P10-billion deal to acquire a Brazil-based firm, which holds the concession to operate a container terminal in the Port of Rio de Janeiro.
— BusinessWorld Online

Sotto reelected as Senate President, lays down broad agenda
IN contrast to the long-drawn drama that characterized the choice of House Speaker, the 24-man Senate quickly picked its leader as the 18th Congress opened on Monday (July 22) hours before the President’s State of the Nation Address (Sona).
— Business Mirror

Cayetano elected Speaker, vows to push President Duterte’s agenda
HEEDING the endorsement of President Duterte, members of the House of Representatives on Monday elected Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano as new Speaker of the lower chamber, ending days of tension amid speculation that people close to the President would move to scuttle his dream despite the latter’s endorsement.
— Business Mirror

30 ‘scavengers’ face raps for salvaging trash from Korea
Police said they filed theft charges Monday against at least 30 “scavengers” who were caught salvaging trash deposits inside the Phividec Industrial Estate last week.
— Philippine News Agency

Anti-Duterte protesters burn Duterte effigy in rally denouncing PHL leader before start of SONA
While anti-government protests had always accompanied State of the Nation Addresses of Philippine leaders and usually denounced alleged US interference in the country’s government, this time protest rallies against President Rodrigo Duterte’s SONA centered on his friendship and closeness with China.
— Eagle News

DOST’s program for small businesses called out for wasting millions
The Commission on Audit (COA) called out the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for inefficient implementation of its program for small businesses that has cost the agency P461 million so far.
— Rappler

Artists’ group to launch song calling on Filipinos to protect PH sovereignty
An organization of artists is set to release during the State of the Nation Address on Monday (July 22) a song calling on Filipinos to protect the country’s territory from foreign intruders like China.
— Manila Bulletin

Government, private sector push for disaster resilient enterprises in PH
Enterprise leaders and key representatives from the government, humanitarian sector, and business sector gathered last week for the 2019 National Summit on Strengthening MSME Disaster Resilience to highlight the need for enhanced efforts toward disaster preparedness for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines.
— ReliefWeb

Okada faces major setback in bid to regain control of Philippines gaming business
Embattled Japanese pachinko king Kazuo Okada has faced a major setback in his bid to regain control of his gaming empire here in the Philippines and Japan.
— The Philippine Star

Duterte Promise Checklist: Major accomplishments, failures
With President Rodrigo Duterte about to give his 4th State of the Nation Address at the halfway mark of his term, it’s time to take a look at major accomplishments or failures during his presidency.
— Rappler

Duterte asks Congress to postpone Barangay-SK polls set in May 2020
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte asked Congress to postpone the Barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections set in May 2020.
— The Manila Times

Duterte nudges Congress to fast-track creation of Department of Disaster Resilience
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said he intends to hasten the establishment of the government agency that would handle disaster issues in the country.
— GMA News

Duterte to several agencies: Simplify your processes or else
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, July 22, ordered several agencies to simplify their processes for the people or else.
— Eagle News

Isko Moreno threatens to fire all Manila traffic enforcers over viral extortion case
The mistake of one is the mistake of all.
— Rappler

Focus on destroying mosquito-breeding places: DOH
The Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) in Western Visayas has urged the public to focus on destroying mosquito-breeding places during clean-up activities as cases continue to rise in the region.
— Philippine News Agency

OneConnect partners with UnionBank’s fintech subsidiary UBX to co-create Philippines’ first blockchain-enabled platform for MSMEs
OneConnect Financial Technology Co. Ltd. (OneConnect), an associate company of China’s insurance giant and Fortune Top 29 Company Ping An Group, has partnered with UBX Philippines Corporation, the wholly-owned fintech subsidiary of Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank), to build the country’s first blockchain-enabled platform to meet the banking needs of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
— Yahoo Finance (media release)

Airbus Helicopters launches new model in SE Asia with first order in PHL
Airbus Helicopters, a unit of European aircraft maker Airbus Group, is launching a new chopper model in Southeast Asia after securing a first order in the Philippines.
— GMA News

Humanitarian Aid: €10.5 million for South and South East Asia
To help the most affected communities in South and South East Asia hit by natural disasters and humanitarian crises, the Commission has mobilised a new humanitarian funding package worth €10.5 million.
— ReliefWeb

SC stops QC govt from selling UP-Ayala Technohub
The Quezon City government cannot sell the University of the Philippines’ (UP) lot occupied by Ayala Land TechnoHub to compensate for the P117.18-million unpaid taxes, the Supreme Court said.
— Inquirer.net

Davao City LGU establishes one-stop shop for construction permits
The City Govt has established a One-Stop Shop for Construction Permits to cut red tape in the issuance of construction permits and certificates of occupancy.
— Philippine Information Agency

Feature photo CAUGHT (UP) IN TRAFFIC

This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on air quality throughout Asean.

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 23 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on July 23, 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.