Philippines Morning News For June 26, 2019

Government budget surplus hits P2.6 billion in May
THE national government reported a budget surplus of P2.6 billion for the month of May, reversing the budget deficit of P32.9 billion recorded in the same month in 2018, as revenues outpaced expenditures, data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed.
— Business Mirror

PNP disputes UNHCHR’s casualty figures in government’s illegal drugs war
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said that the figures presented by the of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) on the casualties in the drive against illegal drugs was “bloated” and does not paint the campaign’s correct picture.
— Business Mirror

No wage hike for Metro Manila, Calabarzon workers
Minimum wage earners in Metro Manila and Calabarzon will not yet receive a salary increase.
— The Philippine Star

Duterte abandons federalism, pushes for Charter change
In a turnaround, President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday he is no longer batting for a federal form of government.
— CNN Philippines

Pangilinan, Hontiveros hit Duterte for allowing Chinese access to EEZ
Two opposition senators on Tuesday criticized President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement that China will continue to fish in waters within the country’s exclusive economic zone on the premise that the Philippines and China are friends.
— GMA News

Charges filed vs. erring officials over Asean funds misuse: PCOO
The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) on Tuesday denied that it has failed to act on the recommendation of the Commission on Audit (COA) to file charges against erring officials involved in the misuse of PHP38.8 million worth of funds for the country’s hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEA) summit in 2017.
— Philippine News Agency

Duterte attempting to ‘silence political opponents’: Report
Opposition Senator Leila de Lima still remembers meeting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for the first time in 2009 when he was the mayor of Davao city in the southern island of Mindanao.
— Aljazeera

2 years of martial law: Mindanao still ‘a dangerous place’ – Duterte
Despite the imposition of martial law in Mindanao for two years now, President Rodrigo Duterte admitted Tuesday that the region remains “a dangerous place.”
— Inquirer.net

China ‘dragging its feet’ on Code of Conduct in South China Sea – Del Rosario
Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario on Tuesday said China has been delaying the final Code of Conduct (COC) that is seen to prevent tensions in the disputed areas of the South China Sea.
— Inquirer.net

Hanjin creditor banks eyeing shipyard’s sale, shares in parent to recoup funds
THE FIVE local banks exposed to the troubled Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines (HHIC-Phil) are exploring a two-pronged approach to recoup their funds, an official from Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) said.
— BusinessWorld Online

PHL urged to use fintech to lower remittance costs
THE PHILIPPINES must take steps to make remittances more efficient, even as financial technology has improved in the country, money transfer solutions company Ripple said.
— BusinessWorld Online

‘All tax reform packages seen in place by 2020’
The Department of Finance (DoF) targets to implement all of the government’s tax reform packages by next year, according to Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd.
— The Manila Times

DOF begins steps in disposal of government’s idle assets
The Department of Finance (DOF) has ordered the Privatization and Management Office (PMO) and Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) to discuss with the Commission on Audit (COA) how to dispose of the government’s idle assets.
— Business Mirror

18 Chinese restos, firms shuttered in Parañaque City
The Paraaque City government has ordered the closure of 18 Chinese-owned or managed restaurants and business establishments found to be either violating local ordinances or operating without the necessary permits.
— Inquirer.net

PRRD still trusts Duque amid graft, plunder raps
President Rodrigo Duterte still has trust and confidence in Health Secretary Francisco Duque III despite the latter facing graft and plunder complaints over a lease agreement between a company owned by his family and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), Malacañang said on Tuesday.
— Philippine News Agency

DA pitches PHL fisheries fleet modernization
FOLLOWING the recent Recto Bank incident where a Chinese vessel hit a Filipino fishing boat then abandoned the 22 Filipinos onboard as their ship sank, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing for the legislation of a fisheries modernization program to improve the fleet of Filipino fisher folk.
— Business Mirror

PHL’s anti-ASF measures now cover plant-based feeds
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has issued guidelines to ensure that imported plant-based feed products do not carry the African swine fever (ASF) virus which could cripple the P200-billion local hog industry.
— Business Mirror

Economic zone proclamations hit snag for IT industry — PEZA
THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry said they will seek more time to meet the requirements of the Office of the President (OP) to obtain an official proclamation for economic zones.
— BusinessWorld Online

Panabo city oks P22.3-million flood control, other projects
The city of Panabo, home to one of the earliest banana plantations in the country, has approved six drainage projects and two additional undertakings that include the installation of flood sensors worth P22.3 million in a bid to boost the city’s resiliency against recurrent flooding of its barangays.
— Business Mirror

Denial of wage hike petitions slammed
A labor group on Tuesday slammed the decision of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board to junk its petitions for a wage increase in Metro Manila and Calabarzon, saying the government had failed to recognize how current salary levels can’t feed a worker’s family.
— Inquirer.net

Muntinlupa dogs saved but 103 left on ‘death row’ in pound
All of the 35 dogs at the Muntinlupa City Animal Pound have been saved from euthanasia after the city veterinary’s office decided to allow nonresidents to adopt some of them.
— Inquirer.net

Palace studying return of water services to government control
MALACAÑANG said it is considering the possibility of taking water services for Metro Manila back under government control.
— BusinessWorld Online

HR Asia Announces Philippines’ Best Companies to Work for in Asia
Twenty-three Philippines companies have been named the Best Companies to Work for in Asia by the human resources publication, HR Asia.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

27 New RTC judges appointed
PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte has appointed 27 new regional trial court judges.
— BusinessWorld Online

Businesses turn more optimistic in Q2, but consumers wary of higher prices
Businesses turned more optimistic for the second straight quarter in the second quarter, but Filipino consumers are wary of higher prices and expenses, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported yesterday.
— The Philippine Star

BSP warns public vs online banking, mobile text scams
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is reminding the public to be vigilant against online banking and mobile text scams.
— Philippine Information Agency

Driver to face charges in Camiguin mishap that killed 3
Charges will be filed against the driver of the van that crashed and caused the death of three persons in Barangay Poblacion here on June 22, police said Monday.
— Philippine News Agency

‘Innovative Iloilo’ roadmap aims to tap technology, science for better local governance
THE DEPARTMENT of Science and Technology (DoST) and stakeholders in Iloilo City are working on the “Innovative Iloilo” plan, a roadmap towards better governance using science, technology and innovations (STI).
— BusinessWorld Online

DFA chief, VP swap insults over passports
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Monday rebuked Vice President Leni Robredo for questioning his order to cancel the courtesy diplomatic passports issued to former Department of Foreign Affairs secretaries and diplomats.
— Manilastandard.net

Death penalty top of neophyte senators’ agenda
THE REINSTITUTION of capital punishment for crimes involving illegal drugs and measures on local government concerns are among the priorities of four neophyte Senators for the incoming 18th Congress.
— BusinessWorld Online

Go, Dela Rosa to file bill reviving death penalty
Two senators-elect agreed yesterday to file a bill seeking to restore the death penalty.
— Tempo

Filipino millennials’ optimism eroded
FILIPINO MILLENNIAL’s confidence in the country’s economic and socio-political situation has declined, according to survey results reported on Tuesday by NavarroAmper & Co., the Philippine management consultancy that forms part of the global Deloitte network.
— BusinessWorld Online

131 applications to set up IT centers impacted by NCR ecozone ban
PRESIDENT Duterte’s ban on economic zone development in Metro Manila will stall 131 applications to build information-technology centers and parks that will house mostly business-process outsourcing (BPO) firms.
— Business Mirror

PSA report cites lack of first-aid responders in typical work place
The lack, or total absence, of first-aid responders was the top violation of firms in terms of health and safety in the workplace, according to the latest report from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released on Tuesday.
— Business Mirror

Online demand for Filipino talent jumped 17% in May
The online demand for Filipino talent remained robust and posted a 17-percent growth in May 2019, according to the latest Monster Employment Index (MEI).
— Business Mirror

US trains 19 BOC, BI, PCG officers on border security
Nineteen officers from the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the Bureau of Immigration (BI), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) participated in United States-backed border security training program aimed at providing a thorough understanding of the targeting and risk management process to help identify high-risk shipments as well as high-risk persons entering the country.
— Manila Bulletin

SEC junks petition to void share swap among SMC firms
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has dismissed the petition filed by a minority shareholder against San Miguel Food and Beverage Inc. (SMFBI)
— The Philippine Star

PH eyes more agri, auto parts exports to Indonesia
The Philippines is working to bridge its runaway trade gap against Indonesia, which exports seven times more than what it imports from Manila, by exporting more agricultural products and automobile parts.
— Manila Bulletin

Aboitiz group seeks NEDA approval to run two regional airports
Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. expects to obtain the National Economic and Development Authority’s approval to operate two regional airports before the end of 2019.
— Manilastandard.net

Top POC officers step down, election set July 5
POC first vice-president Joey Romasanta, who has been serving as POC president the past week after the sudden resignation of Ricky Vargas, said he won’t be running for any position, including the position of president.
— Tempo

SC orders MMDA to comment on prov’l bus ban petitions
THE SUPREME Court (SC) has ordered the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to comment on the petitions seeking to stop the implementation of the provincial bus ban along Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA).
— BusinessWorld Online

Investments under P50K can offer good return
One can start investing below PHP50,000 with guaranteed good rate of return without having to fear being duped into pouring in their hard-earned money to fraudulent schemes.
— Philippine News Agency

Petition out to stop boulevard ‘reclamation’ project
Environmental groups here and in the province of Negros Oriental are spearheading a signature campaign petitioning city Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo to stop the ongoing multi-million pesos “reclamation” project at the Rizal Boulevard here.
— Philippine News Agency

SC associate justice aspirant favors same-sex marriage
One of the aspirants to the Supreme Court associate justice post is in favor of same sex marriage “in the pursuit of happiness.”
— Inquirer.net

Gov’t should heed UN rights chief’s concern over human rights violations –NUPL
The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers on Tuesday expressed support to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet’s concern over the death toll in the Philippines’ anti-drug campaign.
— GMA News

Duterte administers oath to Senate allies
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday administered the oath of office to his allies in the Senate except for Aquilino Pimentel III and his former top aide, Christopher “Bong” Go.
— GMA News

Cyprus court hands 7 life terms to ‘first serial killer’; four of seven victims were from PHL
A Greek Cypriot army captain who murdered five women and two girls was handed seven life sentences Monday in an unprecedented serial killing case that has shocked the Mediterranean island.
— Eagle News

UNESCO title seen to help safeguard Palawan’s imperiled mountain range
Palawan’s largest terrestrial protected area Mount Mantalingahan Protected Landscape (MMPL) , which faces continuing forest destruction, may gain additional protection should it be inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an environment official said.
— Rappler

Accord to build PH power plants signed
A non-binding agreement for the likely development of liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities and natural gas power plants in the country has been signed by the Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) and Lloyds Energy Group.
— The Manila Times

Marijuana burning triggers fire in Kalinga tree farm
Residents of Tinglayan town in Kalinga province have sought help from the police on how best to restore their pine tree plantations, which were razed by a fire triggered by law enforcers carrying out marijuana eradication in March.
— Inquirer.net

Joint committee prepares to disarm MILF fighters
The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are preparing for the difficult task of decommissioning some 12,000 Moro fighters this year, officials said on Monday.
— Inquirer.net

Reformation program for 214 ex-ASG members launched
A holistic program to transform the lives of 214 former members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) was launched here on Monday to prevent and address violent extremism in this island province, encouraging ASG members to return to the folds of the law.
— Philippine News Agency

World’s oldest Chinatown gets its own ‘Instagrammable’ museum
Township developer Megaworld recently opened its second museum in Binondo, Manila. The Chinatown Museum is dedicated to the “World’s Oldest Chinatown,” and is located at the fourth level of Lucky Chinatown.
— Inquirer.net

PHL, South Korean remember sacrifice of Pinoy veterans in 1950 Korean War
According to a report by Rida Reyes in GMA News TV’s Balitanghali on Tuesday, the Philippines was the first Asian country that sent its combat troops as reinforcements for South Korea in its clash with North Korea.
— GMA News

13 PHL cities join WWF’s One Planet City Challenge 2019-2020
THIRTEEN CITIES around the country made the list of qualifiers for the World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) One Planet City Challenge (OPCC) 2019-2020. Pasig, which won the country-level OPCC award for 2017-2018, is again in the running.
— BusinessWorld Online

Pangasinenses urged to become organ donors
The Philippine Network for Organ Sharing (PhilNOS) and Philippine Network for Organ Donation, the implementing arms of the Department of Health, have encouraged Pangasinenses to be organ donors.
— Philippine News Agency

MisOcc town’s ‘persona non-grata’ declaration vs. Reds lauded
Officials of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division have lauded the Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) of Calamba, Misamis Occidental for declaring the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) as persona non grata in the town.
— Philippine News Agency

CA Justice Bato supports same-sex marriage in SC application
Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Ramon Bato Jr expressed support for same-sex marriage and said that to block marriage equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGTBQ) community would be violating substantive due process.
— Rappler

P52-M farm-to-market road inaugurated in Ilocos town
A PHP52-million farm-to-market road was inaugurated in Currimao town on Tuesday to improve the living conditions of rural communities.
— Philippine News Agency

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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.

Philippines morning news for June 26 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on June 26, 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.