Gross international reserves rose to a 31-month high of $85b—BSP
The country’s gross international reserves which serve as a buffer against external risks climbed to a 31-month high of $85.02 billion in May 2019, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show.
— Manilastandard.net
Philippines President Duterte demands arrests in dead patient dialysis scam
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the arrest of those involved in a dialysis treatment scam that defrauded Philippine Health Insurance Corp, and plans a revamp of the state-run insurer for losing more than 150 billions pesos (US$2.89 billion) from fictitious claims and abuse.
— South China Morning Post
PH, Japan to sign $202-m loan for Mindanao roads
The Philippines and Japan are expected to sign this month a $202.04-million loan agreement for the road network development project in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao, the Finance Department said over the weekend.
— Manilastandard.net
“Outrageous interference”- Palace rejects call by UN rights experts for probe on alleged unlawful drug killings
Malacanang again rejected calls for a probe on alleged unlawful killings in the country by United Nations human rights experts, saying this was an “outrageous interference” on Philippine sovereignty.
— Eagle News
SSS taps 9 domestic fund managers for P7-b investments
State-run Social Security System has tapped nine domestic fund managers to manage part of its Investment Reserve Fund worth P7 billion to help improve pension fund’s earnings from investments.
— Manilastandard.net
Rights Experts Urge U.N. Inquiry Into ‘Staggering’ Killings in Philippines
A group of United Nations human rights experts called on Friday for an international inquiry into the state of human rights in the Philippines because of the “staggering number” of unlawful killings by the security services and official attacks on people and institutions who defend human rights there.
— The New York Times
PhilHealth to charge ‘economic saboteurs’
State-owned Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) said it had launched a “corporate-wide intensive fraud detection” initiative following reports of a “ghost dialysis” scandal.
— The Manila Times
Duterte fears war in 2022 polls with use of Smartmatic
President Rodrigo Duterte said the continued use of Smartmatic as a technology provider in future elections could trigger a war among politicians.
— Manilastandard.net
BSP imposes uniform 4% reserve ratio on LTNCDs
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has imposed a uniform reserve requirement ratio (RRR) for long-term negotiable certificates of time deposits (LTNCDs), freeing up about P6 billion additional funds to the financial system and at the same time deepening the financial market.
— The Philippine Star
SMC to build 1,200-MW Batangas power project
Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. plans to put a new 1,200-megawatt combined cycle gas turbine power project alongside the Ilijan plant in Batangas province to address the country’s growing power demand.
— Manilastandard.net
More economic measures pushed
THE 17TH CONGRESS, which closed its third and last regular session on Tuesday, passed an “acceptable” number of laws, key officials of business chambers said, but noted the lack of measures on economic liberalization.
— BusinessWorld Online
PH Navy audit shows delays in hundreds of millions worth of projects
The 2018 audit of the Philippine Navy showed that there were projects worth hundreds of millions that were either not implemented or delayed, putting to question the inefficiency of the Navy’s use of its funds.
— Rappler
Chinese ships may have left Pag-asa with end of fishing season: analyst
Chinese vessels likely left Pag-asa Island in the disputed West Philippine Sea due to the looming end of the fishing season, not because of backchannel talks among officials, a maritime law expert said Sunday.
— Spratly Islands
Carpio calls for South China Sea ‘truth movement’
As the Chinese government uses propaganda to bolster its claim over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio called for a truth movement to push back against China.
— Rappler
Over 100% hike in teachers’ salaries in 10 years
Amid public school teachers’ clamor for a wage increase and President Rodrigo Duterte’s promise, the Department of Education (DepED) noted that teachers’ monthly salary has increased by more than 100 percent since 2000.
— Philippine News Agency
DFA slams Callamard, 10 others over calls for UN probe into state of human rights in PHL
The Department of Foreign Affairs has rejected the call of some parties at the United Nations for a probe into the state of human rights in the Philippines.
— Eagle News
Duterte eyes reshuffle at PhilHealth
President Rodrigo Duterte is planning to reshuffle the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) following allegations that the agency paid a dialysis center for kidney treatments of “ghost patients.”
— Rappler
Duterte orders shutdown of Kapa-Community Ministry, other investment scams
President Duterte has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to shut down investment scams like Kapa-Community Ministry International, operating mainly in Southern Mindanao.
— Rappler
BOI, 33 others to ink MOA on ease of doing business
The Board of Investments (BOI) and 33 other agencies part of the Investments Promotion Unit Network (IPU Net) are set to sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) next month to work together in improving the ease of doing business in the country through immediate resolution of issues faced by investors.
— The Philippine Star
PHL social spending lower relative to size of economy
THE Philippines lags similar-sized economies in spending on social protections and needs to improve their design and implementation, according to a study of state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).
— BusinessWorld Online
Drilon seeks special audit of PhilHealth fund, JV bucks suspension of UHC implementation
SENATE Minority Leader Franklin Drilon has pressed for a comprehensive audit of the government’s multibillion-peso health insurance program, prodding the Duterte administration to “send people to jail” as soon as anomalies are verified.
— Business Mirror
PH climate change body calls for stronger ‘global climate action’
The Philippines’ Climate Change Commission (CCC) has called for stronger global climate action and reiterated its appeal to countries, especially developed nations, to deliver on their commitments on climate change.
— Rappler
Measles immunization coverage recovers –Duque
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Sunday said the immunization coverage in the country has already recovered.
— GMA News
Duterte wants higher budget for Muslim pilgrimage –Andanar
Amid the controversy over the use of Marawi rehabilitation fund for Hajj, President Rodrigo Duterte wants a budget increase that would enable more Filipino Muslims to travel to Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, according to Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.
— GMA News
Ban on pork imports to cover more countries
As the deadly pork disease African Swine Fever (ASF) spreads uncontrollably to other countries, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to add more countries banned from exporting pork to the Philippines.
— Manila Bulletin
Ultra-high speed infrastructure to cut internet cost by half – DICT
The cost of internet services could be cut in half by next year with the expected completion of the government’s “ultra-high speed information highway” project.
— CNN Philippines
Coca-Cola to invest in P1-billion recycling facility in the Philippines
Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Incorporated (CCBPI) said it will be investing P1 billion to pioneer a food-grade recycling facility in the country, its first major investment in a recycling plant within Southeast Asia.
— Rappler
DTI wants e-commerce sites regulated
THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) wants legislators to pass a law regulating the operations of e-commerce sites and imposing stiffer penalties on consumer rights violations.
— Business Mirror
World’s first rice straw biogas facility to open in Laguna
The world’s first Rice Straw to Biogas (R2B) facility, developed by a company based in the United Kingdom (UK), is set to formally start operations in the Philippines.
— Manila Bulletin
Imus to hold cremation rites for worn-out PH flags
This city, tagged as ‘Flag Capital of the Philippines’, will conduct cremation rites for the first time for worn-out national flags on June 11, a day before the country observes its 121st Independence Day.
— Philippine News Agency
DOH warns dengue cases may rise
The number of dengue cases is seen to rise this year, according to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III
— GMA News
Davao Today columnist Margarita Valle arrested at Laguindingan Airport
Davao Today columnist Margarita Valle was arrested by cops and soldiers at the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental on Sunday morning, June 9.
— Rappler
Private construction projects up 10% in Q1
THE number of private construction projects increased 10.4 percent in the first quarter of the year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
— Business Mirror
Incoming mayor assures no tax on real estate, permits on watch
ILOILO CITY Mayor-elect Jerry P. Treñas has outlined his governance plans for the next three years to the business community, including an assurance that there will be a moratorium on real property and business tax increases.
— BusinessWorld Online
Briones: Public school teachers’ pay improved in past 20 years
EDUCATION Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones on Sunday claims that public-school teachers have gained continued improvements in their compensation for almost two decades.
— Business Mirror
5,000 cops to secure Duterte’s SONA
At least 5,000 police officers will be deployed to secure President Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) announced yesterday.
— The Philippine Star
Taiwan sets PH roadshow
Meet Taiwan, the promotion program organized by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), has set a Philippine roadshow to further promote the country as global travel destination.
— Manila Bulletin
PHL, Japan to hold 8th high-level infrastructure meeting in New Clark City
Officials from the Philippines and Japan would meet again this month for a high-level discussion on the progress of Japan-funded infrastructure projects under the government’s “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) program and other areas of economic cooperation between Manila and Tokyo.
— Business Mirror
Government approves funding for proposed UPLB agro-industrial, IT park project
The government has approved the provision of pre-investment support for the agro-industrial and information technology parks proposed by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) as a public-private partnership (PPP) project.
— The Philippine Star
COA: P154-M Navy projects unimplemented
The Commission on Audit (CoA) said the Philippine Navy failed to implement projects payable through Deposit on Letters of Credit (DLCs), which caused the Navy’s idle funds to balloon to P1.2 billion as of Dec. 31, 2018.
— The Manila Times
Some news sites unintentionally collecting info for third parties – study
A new study published by the Center for International Media Assistance shows that the websites of independent news publishers could be unintentionally collecting their visitors’ personal information and sharing these with third parties.
— Rappler
PAO understocked on office supplies needed for Dengvaxia cases — COA
The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) was understocked on several office supplies which must be readily available given the voluminous Dengvaxia cases being handled by the agency, according to the Commission on Audit (COA).
— GMA News
De Lima says sharing of nude photos of students influenced by Duterte’s vulgarity, rape jokes
Detained Senator Leila De Lima on Saturday said President Rodrigo Duterte’s supposed vulgar language, sexist remarks and rape jokes on women have promoted a culture of misogyny on the youth.
— GMA News
PVAO administrator clarifies pension doled out to dead veterans were unclaimed
The administrator of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office on Sunday clarified that the pension distributed to already dead veterans were not claimed.
— GMA News
Human rights experts push for UN probe on Philippine violations
HUMAN RIGHTS experts on Friday called on the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council to launch an independent investigation on the alleged violations in the Philippines, which they said has been worsening with the government showing no signs of intent to address the situation.
— BusinessWorld Online
Usman-affected families in Albay village wish for safe relocation site
This school year, grade school students from families displaced by Tropical Depression Usman have free school supplies – thanks to the donations they received since January.
— Rappler
Duterte now open to possible arms deal with US
President Rodrigo Duterte said the Philippines is now open to buy firearms from the United States anew after it stopped its purchase of arms in 2016.”Well, America has been helpful.
— Philippine News Agency
Startup founder aims to bridge Philippine healthcare gaps with drones
Rapid advancements in healthcare mean those with the resources to live in global centers are often able to live longer, healthier lives. But seldom do life-saving medicines and materials make it to the world’s most remote communities.
— BusinessWorld Online
NPC calls for ‘immediate resolution’ on slay of freelance journalist
The National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC) on Sunday called for the ‘immediate resolution’ of the death of a freelance account executive and journalist who was shot dead in Quezon City.
— Inquirer.net
DND backs PRRD stance on possible purchase of US-made weapons
The Department of National Defense (DND) on Sunday said it welcomes President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s statement that he would reconsider acquiring weapons from the United States.
— Philippine News Agency
[OPINION] A call for a South China Sea truth movement
Editor’s Note: Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio delivered the commencement speech at the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) graduation rites on Friday, June 7.
— Rappler
Drilon calls for special audit of PhilHealth funds
MANILA, Philippines – Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon has called on the Commission on Audit (COA) to conduct a special audit of funds of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), following allegations of anomalies in the government agency,
— Rappler
Navy stops transfer of funds to PITC
The Philippine Navy (PN) on Sunday said it has stopped the transfer of funds to the Philippine International Trading Corportion (PITC), which the Commission on Audit (COA) flagged as an ineffective outsourcing agreement.
— GMA News
DICT urges teachers to avoid ‘likes-based’ school projects
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Sunday called on teachers to avoid giving school projects and outputs wherein the grades depend on the number of “likes” they receive on social media.
— Inquirer.net
Angara assures tobacco farmers of benefits from new cigarette taxes
SENATOR EDGARDO “Sonny” M. Angara has assured tobacco farmers that they will benefit from the incremental increase in cigarette taxes starting next year following the recent passage of the bill that will increase excise taxes on tobacco products.
— BusinessWorld
Fish kill in Taal Lake should not affect tilapia market price, says BFAR
DEPLETED LEVEL of dissolved oxygen caused the recent fish kill in Taal Lake, the Bureau of Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said, but assured consumers that the volume affected is minimal and should not affect the market price of tilapia.
— BusinessWorld Online
TECO now accepting applicants for Taiwan Fellowship
Filipino researchers still have less than a month to apply for the Taiwan Fellowship which ends on June 30, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Manila said.
— Philippine News Agency
People-to-people exchange beneficial to US-PH ties
Keeping the United States-Philippines’ ties strong, particularly on the people-to-people aspect, proves to be beneficial as manifested in the works of Filipino professionals who had participated in some US exchange programs, US Ambassador to Manila Sung Kim said.
— Philippine News Agency
Sandra Cam sues Mon Tulfo for libel
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board member Sandra Cam has filed a libel complaint against columnist Ramon Tulfo Jr. over two articles containing “unjustified and unfounded accusation” against her.
— Inquirer.net
Seven senators record perfect attendance in 3rd session of 17th Congress
Seven senators recorded a perfect attendance in the third regular session of the 17th Congress, having attended all 61 plenary sessions during the period.
— GMA News
Sotto says no special favors for Duterte allies over Senate committee chairmanships
Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Sunday said no special favors were given to first-time senators Christopher Bong Go, Ronald Bato dela Rosa and Francis Tolentino even as they were poised to get the chairmanship of key Senate committees in the 18th Congress.
— GMA News
DOH official berates Rappler journalist for covering hospital inspection
A Department of Health (DOH) official berated Basilan-based Rappler journalist Richard Falcatan for covering a hospital inspection he was invited to cover on Saturday, June 8.
— Rappler
How to keep imported waste out of the Philippines
In less than a week, the Philippines managed to re-export two shipments of trash: the remaining 69 containers from Canada and one container from Hong Kong . Canada’s trash lingered on Philippine soil for 6 years, while Hong Kong’s cargo remained for …
— Rappler
Feature photo Rakso Air Travel & Tours
This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo acknowledges Philippines Independence Day, June 12.
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 June 10 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on
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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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