Philippines cuts 2019 GDP growth target, cites budget squabble
The Philippines on Wednesday cut its 2019 GDP growth target to 6-7%, from 7-8%, citing a delay in final legislative approval of the budget, and the economic planning chief said growth might fall to below 5%.
— Bangkok Post
Duterte fails to break budget impasse
Not even a meeting with President Duterte could break the impasse among lawmakers over this year’s stalled budget program.
— The Philippine Star
El Niño wreaking havoc in the Philippines
El Niño is parching farms and drying up water supplies in the Philippines, with the southern island of Mindanao taking the brunt of the irregular weather pattern that causes sudden drought-like conditions.
— Asia Times
DUTERTE THROWS OUT DECADE-LONG FIGHT FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
The Philippines’ withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) takes effect on Sunday, March 17, 2019, throwing out a long struggle that took 11 years.
— Rappler
PH to file complaint before EU, Belgium on funding CPP fronts
The Philippine government is set to file a formal complaint before Belgium and the European Union (EU), which will also request them to stop funding alleged fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) once it has gathered more proof.
— Philippine News Agency
Neda: Reenacted budget to stall infrastructure projects, cut GDP growth this year
A REENACTED budget will likely result in the lowest GDP growth rate that the Philippines will see in nearly a decade as it would hamper jobs creation and the implementation of publicly funded projects.
— Business Mirror
Rappler may face anti-dummy raps
Online news outfit Rappler may be up for yet another case in court.
— The Philippine Star
Data confab seeks to draw new blueprint of government’s ICT road map
TO raise further public awareness on the government’s strategic road map for its information and communications technology policy formulation, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. will delve on the National ICT Ecosystem Framework (NICTEF) at the 1*DATA Privacy and Security Solutions Day on March 20 at the Makati Shangri-La hotel.
— Business Mirror
Rice import applications reach 1.6 million metric tons
As the Philippines opens its market to cheap imported rice, the number of applications to bring in the commodity under the out-quota scheme has reached 1.6 million metric tons, almost near the projected record-high imports for the country.
— The Philippine Star
Government eases restrictions on agricultural free patents
Farmers holding agricultural free patents may now sell their land or use it as collateral after President Duterte signed a measure that removed Commonwealth-era restrictions on lands covered by the Public Land Act.
— Business Mirror
EO due on water crisis; hospital supply safeguarded
A PALACE official said the government is drafting an executive order (EO) to address the water crisis by rationalizing inefficient water management practices which had been flagged by economic planners, as continued shortages in parts of the capital entered their second week, forcing the authorities to prioritize critical users like hospitals.
— BusinessWorld Online
Philippines loses right to limit agricultural imports, says DA
With the passage of the rice liberalization law, the Philippines has effectively lost its right to impose restrictions on all imported agricultural products.
— The Philippine Star
Finance chief: Water crisis should prompt faster construction of China-funded dam
The water shortage in the eastern part of Metro Manila calls for the faster rollout and construction of the China-funded Kaliwa Dam project as a new water source for the metropolis, Finance Secretary Carlos “Sonny” Dominguez said Wednesday.
— CNN Philippines
Duterte gives P1.5-M reward for Manila drug operatives
President Duterte said he will give P1.5 million to agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) following the drug operation in Manila which led to the death of a businessman Monday.
— Manila Bulletin
CAAP not considering ban on Boeing 737 MAX 8
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) is not considering banning the use of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 to and from the country.
— Manila Bulletin
RCBC lawsuit is no setback to stolen money recovery: Bangladesh Bank
The defamation suit filed by Philippines’ Rizal Commercial Banking Corp or RCBC against Bangladesh Bank is not a setback to the efforts to recover the stolen money, the central bank has said.
— bdnews24.com
Speaker Arroyo may be held criminally liable for falsification — Lacson
Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday said former president and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo could be held criminally liable for signing the version of the 2019 budget which contained post-ratification amendments by the House of Representatives.
— Manila Bulletin
Suspects ‘carefully and meticulously’ removed student’s organs in Cebu slay – authorities
Local authorities on Wednesday bared new developments on the case of the 16-year-old student found dead in Lapu, Lapu, Cebu– saying that the teen is also missing a number of body organs.
— CNN Philippines
Imports surge hits clear float glass; government probing, eyeing safeguard duty
FOLLOWING the imposition of a safeguard duty on cement, the government is now eyeing to protect the float glass industry after it reportedly got hit by a surge in imports from 2013 to 2017.
— Business Mirror
Rice, corn inventory expanded in February—PSA report
The country’s rice inventory in February went up by 19.24 percent to 2.141 million metric tons, from 1.795 MMT recorded in the same period last year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
— Business Mirror
Makati City Subway incorporation okayed
THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the incorportation of the wholly owned subsidiary of Philippine Infradev Holdings Inc. (IRC) that will build the $3.7-billion Makati City Subway system.
— The Manila Times
PH’s mining industry faces fin’l crisis with tax proposal
The country’s mining sector will be in serious financial trouble once the government imposes a tax regime currently being pushed for by the Department of Finance (DOF), which could lead to the industry’s eventual downturn.
— Manila Bulletin
Filipina migrant workers still ‘top export’
Emer de Lina, 59, expected that when she returned to the Philippines, there would be improved roads and basic services as well as reasonably stable prices for necessities.
— UCA News
EU funding for Philippine NGOs put on hold over alleged communist ties
The European Union asked the Duterte administration to present evidence proving that some groups that receive funds from its member countries have ties to the communist rebellion, a military official said Wednesday.
— The Philippine Star
Philippines Billionaire Offers to Build New Dam as Taps Run Dry
Philippine tycoon Enrique Razon is pushing to build a new dam east of the capital to prevent another water shortage hitting thousands of people in Metro Manila as the dry season begins.
— Bloomberg
Car sales in Feb 2019 up 0.6%
Vehicle sales in February this year slightly improved by 0.6 percent to 26,327 units compared to the 26,176-unit sales in the same month in 2018, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) reported Wednesday.
— Philippine News Agency
PHL can’t block Huawei without scientific evidence — DICT official
Despite cybersecurity issues hounding Huawei, the Philippines will have to secure concrete evidence of possible threats before blocking the Chinese information and communications technology giant in the country.
— GMA News
A few days before PHL exit, Duterte says he’s ready to face death sentence from ICC
President Rodrigo Duterte again expressed readiness to face a death sentence should the International Criminal Court (ICC) find him guilty of crimes against humanity in connection with his war on drugs.
— GMA News
DoF sees 2018 FDI slump as temporary
THE Department of Finance (DoF) said the 4.4% drop in foreign direct investment (FDI) net inflows in 2018 is temporary due to uncertain global economic conditions, with the Philippines poised to implement reforms that will improve the investment environment.
— BusinessWorld Online
47% of Filipino adults use the Internet — SWS
The percentage of Filipino adults using the Internet have reached record-high in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.
— Inquirer.net
Marawi City Vice Mayor Arafat Salic arrested for rebellion
Marawi City Vice Mayor Arafat Salic was arrested Wednesday morning at the city hall over rebellion charges.
— CNN Philippines
4.1-magnitude quake hits Davao Oriental
A 4.1-magnitude earthquake struck Davao Oriental on Wednesday, March 13. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the quake struck 75 kilometers northeast of Baganga at 2:14 p.m.
— Eagle News
Air Force: No approval yet for cloud seeding to address water shortage
The Philippine Air Force will not be starting cloud seeding operations any time soon, because it does not yet have approval from the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
— GMA News
12 BIFF men killed in AFP Maguindanao offensive
At least 12 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were confirmed killed in air and ground assaults launched by the military in this province since Sunday.
— The Philippine Star
P1.6-million bounty up on arrest of Cebu girl’s killer
A P1.6-million cash reward awaits anyone who can give information that will lead to the arrest of the killers of 16-year-old church collector Christine Lee Silawan.
— Manilastandard.net
Philippine Airlines offering 30MB of complimentary inflight WiFi
Philippine Airlines (PAL) now offers 30MB of complimentary in-flight WiFi for regular passengers and 100MB for business class passengers with “speeds that rival your regular on-ground connections” according to the airline.
— Rappler
DOF exec cites need for reforms to attract more FDIs
A ranking official of the Department of Finance (DOF) says reforms should be implemented to encourage more foreign direct investments (FDIs) and improve the country’s investment environment.
— Philippine News Agency
PDEA agents in slay of party drug dealer Pasion to get cash reward –Duterte
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said he would give cash rewards to agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) following the killing of a supplier of party drugs in a buy-bust operation on Monday.
— GMA News
Group opposes QC garbage incinerator plan
An environmental group on Wednesday opposed the plan of the Quezon City government to put up a waste-to-energy facility with the Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Covanta Energy, LLC and the Macquarie Group, Ltd.
— Philippine News Agency
Soldiers in NegOcc recover copies of NPA extortion letter
Troopers of the Philippine Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion recovered copies of the extortion letter being sent by the New People’s Army (NPA) to construction companies in Negros Island.
— Philippine News Agency
Bishop orders removal of Church fees for funeral masses, blessings
Balanga Bishop Ruperto C. Santos has ordered the removal of fees for funeral masses and blessings in his diocese.
— Tempo
US Navy’s ‘finest ship’ docks in Manila with more than 100 Fil-Am crew members
The USS Blue Ridge, considered as the finest ship of the United States Navy and the most technologically advanced among its fleet, docked in Manila on Wednesday for another port visit.
— GMA News
DA to probe high prices of GMO corn
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol has ordered an investigation in the reportedly high prices of hybrid corn seeds in the country.
— Philippine News Agency
Cebu water firm eyes new dam, desalination to augment supply
To augment the water supply of Metro Cebu’s aquifer, the water body here plans to develop a new dam at the remaining water source in the hinterland and desalinate seawater for human consumption.
— Philippine News Agency
Duterte to fire more officials for corruption
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said he would fire “another set of officials,” as he decried anew corruption and red tape in government.
— The Manila Times
Senate to probe unusual water service interruptions in Metro Manila, Rizal
The Senate will investigate the unusual water shortage being experienced in Metro Manila and parts of Rizal which are being serviced by the Manila Water Company.
— Eagle News
Osaka firms aim to make PH benchmark for economic growth
A Japanese business federation has invited Filipino companies to participate in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting slated on April 5 in Osaka, Japan, as it intends to benchmark with Philippine economic growth.
— Philippine News Agency
The long, hot summer
Based on information on the website of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), the main sources of Metro Manila’s water supply are the Angat, Ipo, and La Mesa Dams.
— BusinessWorld Online
DepEd-11 denies banning ACT members as poll BEIs
The Department of Education-Region 11 (DepEd-11)-brushed aside allegations of the Association of Concerned Teachers (ACT) that it has banned the group’s members from performing election duties.
— Philippine News Agency
NEDA won’t back DA plans to ban palay imports
THE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said it cannot rule out imports of palay, or unmilled rice, by the private sector, after the Department of Agroculture (DA) signalled that it will not allow the practice because of the potential that the shipments might bring in pests or …
— BusinessWorld Online
Open-pit mining investment could have shored up weak FDI, think tank says
AN independent think-tank said investment frozen by the open-pit mining ban could have sustained the Philippines through the recent drop in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), which fell 4.4% in 2018.
— BusinessWorld Online
Decreasing trend in measles cases in East Visayas seen, says DOH-8 official
A top official of the Department of Health Regional Office 8 (DOH-8) on Monday reported a decreasing trend in measles cases in Eastern Visayas due to the intensified immunization activities.
— Philippine Information Agency
Malasakit Center in NegOr awaits fresh funds
The Malasakit Center established at the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital (NOPH) here has run out of funds but replenishment is forthcoming.
— Philippine News Agency
MWSS criticizes Manila Water for unfinished Cardona treatment plant
An official of Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) said that the severity of the water shortage in the east zone concession area serviced by Manila Water Co.is due to the company’s water treatment plant in Cardona, Rizal still being unfinished.
— GMA News
MWSS wants summit to craft 50-year water security and used water masterplan for Metro Manila
The Metropolitan Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System is calling for a summit that will craft a 50-year water security and used water masterplan for Metro Manila to address future water crises in the Philippine capital.
— Eagle News
Feature photo Brian Evans
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Philippines morning news for March 14 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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