PhilHealth withdraws accreditation of WellMed Dialysis Center in QC
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation on Tuesday, June 18, withdrew its accreditation of WellMed Dialysis Center.
— Eagle News
PNP: 6,600 dead in drug war
The government’s relentless campaign against illegal drugs has resulted in the death of 6,600 suspects, the arrest of 240,565 and the surrender of 1,283,409, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
— Tempo
Duterte’s ‘insulting remarks’ on PH boat sinking draw flak
Senators on Tuesday bewailed President Duterte’s playing down the sinking of a Philippine fishing boat after being hit by a Chinese trawler in the South China Sea as just a “little maritime incident.”
— Inquirer.net
Supreme Court resets oral arguments on writ of kalikasan for West Philippine Sea
The Supreme Court has rescheduled oral arguments on the petition of Palawan fishermen seeking the protection of the marine environment in the West Philippine Sea.
— GMA News
UHC law a big leap towards reforming health care system: NEDA
The country’s chief economist is pushing more reforms to ensure the smooth implementation of Universal Health Care (UHC) law, considered a big leap towards improving the country’s health care system.
— Philippine News Agency
Gov’t fast-tracking normalization program for MILF — Nograles
The government is fast-tracking the implementation of the normalization program for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
— Inquirer.net
Locsin raises PH boat sinking at U.N., hits sea ‘felony’
‘It is a felony to abandon people in distress,’ says Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr, after President Rodrigo Duterte dismissed the issue as a ‘maritime incident’ Published 9:20 AM, June 18, 2019 Updated 11:30 AM, June 18, 2019 UN SPEECH.
— Spratly Islands
Dangerous for Duterte to express outrage over Reed Bank incident
It would be “dangerous” for President Rodrigo Duterte to make a public statement of outrage over the ramming of a Filipino fishing boat by a Chinese vessel near Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea, a Malacañang official said Tuesday.
— GMA News
Cayetano proposes ‘two-track approach’ for Charter change
Taguig City Representative-elect Alan Peter Cayetano is considering a two-track approach in pushing for the Duterte administration’s proposal for a shift to a federal form of government.
— GMA News
Angat only a meter away before hitting 160-meter ‘critical low’-Pagasa
THE Angat dam, the primary source of water in Metro Manila, is only more than a meter away from hitting its critical low level of 160 meters, the state-run weather bureau said.
— The Manila Times
Don’t wait for armed aggression before invoking US-PH defense treaty — Lacson
Senator Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday said the government should not wait for armed aggression to happen in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) before invoking the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the Philippines and the United States (US).
— Inquirer.net
Sandiganbayan amends sentence vs ex-BME chair in estafa case
The Sandiganbayan has amended the prison sentence meted against the former chairman of the Board of Mechanical Engineering (BME) over his estafa conviction for allegedly using membership dues and ticket sales for the oath-taking of new engineers for his own benefit.
— GMA News
Palace: Duterte doesn’t want boat sinking incident turn into international crisis
President Rodrigo Duterte was cautious in his response to the June 9 allision involving Filipino and Chinese vessels in Recto Bank to prevent the issue from turning into an international crisis, Malacañang said Tuesday.
— GMA News
All gestures, no words as Vietnamese fishermen saved 22 Filipinos
Awakened past midnight, the crew of a fishing boat from the Mekong Delta’s Tien Giang Province understood from gestures that some strangers in the sea were seeking help, said Ngo Van Theng, owner of the TGTG-90983-TS fishing boat which made world headlines for rescuing 22 Filipino fishermen in the South China Sea, called the East Sea in Vietnam, on June 10.
— Spratly Islands
3 senators say Duterte admin ‘confused, incoherent, agent of China’
President Rodrigo Duterte should focus on helping the Filipino fishermen who were abandoned at sea after their boat was hit by a Chinese vessel instead of distracting the public with statements exalting the Marcoses, Senator Risa Hontiveros said Tuesday.
— GMA News
Alan Cayetano: Aspirants for speaker offering P200M in projects to party-list groups
Taguig City Representative-elect Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday claimed that other aspirants to the speakership post have promised up to P200 million worth of projects for each party-list representative in exchange for their votes.
— GMA News
Modi, Duterte, Widodo have something in common – and it’s not just winning elections
This year, India, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia all held elections. About 1 billion voters were involved, all within a few weeks of one another.
— South China Morning Post
Invoking Mutual Defense Treaty on Recto Back incident ominous, says expert
Invoking the Philippines’ Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the United States in connection with the Recto Bank incident is ominous, an expert on maritime law said Tuesday.
— GMA News
Don’t link RRR cuts to TDF bids: BSP chief
Increase in domestic liquidity as a result of the cut in banks’ reserve requirement ratio (RRR) should not be the gauge for tenders in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) term facility.
— Philippine News Agency
New NFA administrator Dansal assumes post
Career official Judy Carol Dansal took her oath on Tuesday as the new administrator of the National Food Authority (NFA).
— GMA News
SEC sues KAPA for running an ‘investment scam’
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Tuesday sued Kapa-Community Ministry International Inc. for running an illegal investment scheme.
— CNN Philippines
Brownouts hit Luzon, grid put on red alert
ROTATIONAL brownouts were experienced in Luzon on Tuesday after the grid was placed on red alert notice, the 11th time since March this year.
— Business Mirror
NTC releases IRR on mobile number portability law
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has issued the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the mobile number portability (MNP) law, or Republic Act 11202, which allows subscribers to transfer from one service provider to another without changing their mobile numbers.
— Business Mirror
ADB to work closely with WB on PHL projects
THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) will work closely with the World Bank (WB) in developing projects for the Philippines and other countries in the Asia and Pacific region, responding to a call made by the Department of Finance (DoF) earlier.
— Business World Online
COA questions economic viability of PADC; corporation in 5th year of losses
Facing management issues, the Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation’s “economic viability” to exist as a state-run corporation is under serious scrutiny.
— Manila Bulletin
Central banks seen turning dovish over ‘uneasy’ economic conditions
Key central bank meetings worldwide this week are likely to result in a dovish shift in policy environment as economic managers become “uneasy” about global economic conditions, IHS Markit said in a research paper.
— The Philippine Star
Asean meet not best venue for Duterte to raise boat sinking issue – DFA exec
There is an “opening” for President Rodrigo Duterte to raise the sinking of a Filipino fishing boat at the Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea during the 34th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Thailand, a foreign affairs official said Tuesday.
— Spratly Islands
Corruption pulls country down – Duterte
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has admitted that the extent of corruption in government has left him with low morale and little trust in the bureaucracy.
— The Manila Times
The Real Failure of Southeast Asia’s Drug Wars
There may come a day when Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is brought before the International Criminal Court to answer questions about his “war on drugs.”
— The Diplomat
Subsidy for missionary electrification to reach P28.373 billion by 2021, DOE says
The subsidy in the form of Universal Charge for Missionary Electrification (UC-ME) shouldered by Filipino consumers for electricity services rendered in off-grid areas is expected to balloon to P28.373 billion by the end of 2021.
— Business Mirror
LGUs’ share from tobacco taxes hits P15.8B
TOBACCO-PRODUCING local government units’ (LGU) shares from 2016 collections of excise taxes on tobacco reached more than P15 billion, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)
— The Manila Times
Facebook hosts digital workshop for SMEs in Cebu
Digital transformation is the trend right now for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in the country, a client-partner of Facebook Philippines said here on Friday.
— Business Mirror
Japan tapped to help upgrade PHL ship building capability
THE Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) said it signed an agreement with a Japanese industry association to help build the capacity of Philippine shipbuilders.
— Business World Online
Shipbuilder Austal allots $20M for PHL expansion
SHIPBUILDER Austal Philippines is investing $20 million to expand its operations in the country as it bids to supply ships for the Philippine Navy.
— Business World Online
DSWD to craft manual on handling of children exposed to armed conflict
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will be crafting a manual on the rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration of children in armed conflict to provide effective and efficient assistance under a new law that protects children during conflict situations.
— Manila Bulletin
SWS: Lesser families consider themselves poor
A new record-low of 38 percent or about 9.5 million Filipino families consider themselves poor, according to the First Quarter 2019 Social Weather Survey (SWS).
— GMA News
PPA proposes development projects for Dumaguete
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) here, headed by lawyer Sarah Mijares, has proposed a number of port development projects for next year.
— Philippine News Agency
Recruitment firms may now apply for 1-year license extension
Recruitment agencies may now apply for a one-year extension of their provisional license following the recent slump in the deployment of migrant workers, according to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
— Inquirer.net
Energy starts review of higher subsidy enjoyed in off-grid areas
The Department of Energy is seeking ways to cushion the impact of higher subsidy in the off-grid areas, which are expected to soar to P28.373 billion in the next two years from P7.784 billion in 2011.
— Manilastandard.net
Marine troops deployed to fight Abu Sayyaf in Sulu
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has deployed an additional battalion to further boost the focused military operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits in the province of Sulu.
— Philippine News Agency
Cebu Pacific goes shopping in Paris, makes $6.8B order for Airbus planes
Budget airline Cebu Pacific went on a shopping spree on Tuesday as it sealed a deal to order 31 Airbus planes during the Paris Air Show, the world’s biggest aviation trade event.
— Inquirer.net
Palay seeds to be given to affected farmers in Antique
The provincial government will purchase palay seeds to be given to farmers suffering from the impact of the El Niño phenomenon.
— Philippine News Agency
DENR distributes land titles to 215 Tarlac residents
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) provincial office here on Monday distributed land titles to more than 200 residents in Cristo Rey resettlement area in Capas town.
— Philippine News Agency
Vietnamese account matches Filipino fishermen’s story
The owner of a Vietnamese boat broke his silence and recounted on Tuesday, June 18, how the 10 Vietnamese crew of his vessel rescued 22 Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
— Rappler
12,000 former MILF troops to be decommissioned in 2019
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles announced on Tuesday, June 18, that some 12,000 former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) troops are set to be decommissioned following the creation of a new Bangsamoro region.
— Rappler
Philippine Army troops to train under Israeli Defense Forces
Nearly 200 soldiers of the Philippine Army will undergo counter-terrorism training under the Israeli Defense Forces later this month.
— Inquirer.net
Manila Water to implement 8 to 12 hours of service disruption
Manila Water is set to enforce rotational service interruptions for up to 12 hours in areas under its East Zone concession as water level in Angat Dam nears its critical mark.
— Inquirer.net
Farmers seek gov’t support to promote more agri products from Region 9
Region 9 is abundant in a wide assortment of agricultural products, but farmers have been concerned on how to sell these products to more markets.
— Philippine Information Agency
Philippine Navy to buy corvettes, fast attack craft
The Philippine Navy will acquire new corvettes and fast craft as part of its modernization goals.
— Spratly Islands
MISLEADING: Kapa Community Ministry continues operation courtesy of Duterte
Claim: Kapa Community Ministry International, Inc (Kapa) continues its operation as President Rodrigo Duterte heeded the voice and the call of the poor.
— Rappler
Residents want smelly Batangas dumpsite shut down
Residents of Barangay Laurel in Tanauan City here have taken their disgust on social media as they continue to call on authorities to permanently shut down the operations of a sanitary landfill in the area.
— Rappler
Rights group denied chance to present evidence in red-tagging hearing
It was a small victory for rights groups that quickly lost its momentum after the Court of Appeals (CA) on Tuesday, June 18, terminated – after just one hearing – the writ of amparo case of human rights group Karapatan.
— Rappler
Davao del Sur information officer arrested over illegal recruitment
Police have arrested a Davao del Sur provincial information officer (PIO) and another companion over alleged illegal recruitment activities.
— Rappler
DOJ panel issues subpoena vs one of those charged in P1.8-billion shabu shipment
A Department of Justice panel has directed one of those charged in connection with the P1.8-billion shabu shipment seized in March to appear before it for the preliminary investigation.
— Eagle News
Less water to be used in San Juan’s ‘Wattah Wattah’ Festival
Less water will be gushing out of hoses during the revelry this year for the Wattah Wattah Festival of San Juan City, which was one of the several metro cities affected by the water shortage.
— Rappler
Local startup launches on-demand fuel delivery service
Philippine startup Gasmee Corporation Philippines launched today their on-demand fuel-delivery service, catering to customers in Rizal and Cebu, with plans for expansion later this year.
— BusinessWorld Online
Former Ilocos Norte town mayor dies at 87
Leonardo Velasco, former mayor of Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, succumbed to hypertension early Tuesday morning.
— Philippine News Agency
Gov’t employee, 2 others nabbed in Zambo anti-drug ops
A government employee tagged as a high-value target and two others were arrested while some PHP90,000 worth of illegal drugs were seized in separate buy-bust operations in Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), police said Tuesday.
— Philippine News Agency
1K volunteers to join tree-planting event in Iloilo
About 1,000 volunteers are expected to take part in a tree-planting activity of the Iloilo provincial government on June 22.
— Philippine News Agency
Feature photo Department of Agriculture – Philippines
This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo acknowledges Sustainable Gastronomy Day, June 18.
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 19 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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