Philippines Morning News For March 28, 2019

MADE IN CHINA: Loan terms with waivers, shrouded in secrecy
The Philippine government has repeatedly downplayed fears of the country falling into what is dubbed as the Chinese debt trap.
— Rappler

Economists count budget delay’s Q1 cost
ECONOMIC GROWTH this quarter could hover close to last quarter’s pace but will be substantially slower than the year-ago clip when official data is reported on May 9, according to economists asked on Wednesday, citing primarily the impact of delayed enactment of the P3.757-trillion national budget for this year.
— BusinessWorld Online

Budget delay, poll ban threaten infra targets — DOF
The Department of Finance (DOF) yesterday expressed uncertainty on whether the government may still be able to catch up with its infrastructure spending plan for 2019, considering the delay in the approval of the national budget as well as the upcoming election ban.
— The Philippine Star

MWSS chief to push for Laguna de Bay rehab to boost Metro’s water supply
METROPOLITAN Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco will push for the rehabilitation of Laguna de Bay to boost water supply for Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
— Business Mirror

PH population to reach 109 million by end of 2019
Three babies are born every minute in the Philippines, the Commission on Population (POPCOM) said Wednesday.
— ABS-CBN News

Duterte media critic charged on ‘foreign ownership’ rap
The head of a Philippine news site critical of President Rodrigo Duterte is facing another court case for allegedly violating the country’s ban on foreign ownership of the media.
— Bangkok Post

Filipino companies target $2.6 trillion halal industry
Around 26 food, cosmetics and tourism companies from the Philippines are gearing up for the country’s exhibit in the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS), the world’s largest halal event.
— Times of Oman

El Niño damage to agriculture doubles to ₱2.7 billion
Damage to agriculture caused by a prolonged dry spell across many parts of the country has doubled to ₱2.7 billion from last week, according to the National Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) report on Wednesday.
— CNN Philippines

21 deaths, almost 6K dengue cases recorded in Calabarzon
A total of 5,910 cases of dengue fever, leading to 21 fatalities, were recorded in the Calabarzon Region (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) from Jan. 1 to March 23 this year, the Regional Surveillance and Epidemiology Unit (RESU) reported.
— Philippine News Agency

Red Cross appeals for support as more requests for water supply draw in
WHILE the water crisis in Metro Manila has abated, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) continues to receive requests to augment water supply, especially in communities affected by the El Niño phenomenon.
— ReliefWeb

Port area resettlement sparks row
The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) said the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has allocated the pension fund’s property at the Manila North Harbor to social housing, without its knowledge and consent.
— Malaya

The Philippines’ China Dam Controversy
Millions of people in Metro Manila were left without water last week, raising pressure on indigenous communities in the mountains above the Philippines capital as the government seeks to tap their terrain for supply.
— The Diplomat

Philippine Leader Defends Former Adviser Accused of Drug Links
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has defended a former economic adviser after a fired police official surfaced with documents alleging that the ex-aide was involved in the drug trade.
— Benar News

Duterte gives self ‘5 or 6’ passing mark
PRESIDENT Duterte has given himself a passing mark of “five or six” for his performance in the first three years of his term.
— Malaya

TDF attracts P37.12-B bids for shorter tenors
The central bank offered only two tenors of its term deposit facility (TDF) yesterday but still attracted more bids than offer of P30 billion at P37.12 billion.
— Manila Bulletin

‘Hindi na natuto’: Ex-President Aquino slams Duterte admin’s China loans
Former President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday criticized the Duterte administration’s project loans with China.
— CNN Philippines

CEOs displeased over tax regime
Philippine executives are the most displeased among their regional peers over the domestic tax environment, results of the OBG (Oxford Business Group) Business Barometer: Asean CEO Survey showed.
— Malaya

Philippines Looks to Calm Growing Fears of a China Debt Trap
Philippine finance officials said the country will be able to repay Xi Jinping’s government for millions of dollars in backing for local water projects, a bid to quell rising concerns that it risks falling into a Chinese debt trap.
— Bloomberg

PFA targets 100 global Pinoy franchises in 2022
At least 100 Filipino franchises, mostly in the food sector, are expected to go global in three years from the current 30 as more local concepts have become viable for expansion particularly in ASEAN.
— Manila Bulletin

Rody slammed for ‘indirect order’ to kill Acierto
HUMAN rights lawyer Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno, a senatorial candidate of the opposition’s Otso Diretso slate, yesterday said President Duterte’s desire to have dismissed police official Eduardo Acierto killed is raising suspicions that his administration is linked to the illegal drugs trade.
— Malaya

51 mayors sued over unorganized, low performing drug councils
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday filed administrative cases against 51 mayors over their failure to create anti-drug abuse councils (ADAC).
— Philippine News Agency

Philippines ‘fully trusts’ China to comply with terms of loan deal
The Department of Finance on Wednesday said it “fully” trusts China that it would comply with the provisions in the P3.2-B Chico River Pump Irrigation Project following criticisms that the multi-billion loan was “onerous” for the government.
— Inquirer.net

Loan default? DOF says Reed Bank gas can be sold to raise funds
The cash that can be generated by selling gas from Reed Bank in the West Philippine Sea can be used as payment in the event of a loan default, officials of the Department of Finance (DOF) said on Wednesday, March 27.
— Rappler

PH shifts to high-value call center services
The Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) is shifting much faster to higher value-service in the industry than global projections.
— Malaya

PRRD delivers P13.2-M grant to poor families in SoCot
President Rodrigo R. Duterte distributed here Tuesday night some PHP13.2-million worth of livelihood grants and financial assistance to poor families from parts of South Cotabato province.
— Philippine News Agency

Travel tax exemption for seniors okayed
A panel in the House of Representatives has approved a bill granting tax exemptions to senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
— Manilastandard.net

Senator calls for review of laws on foreign workers
SENATOR JOEL J. Villanueva sees the need to amend the Labor Code of the Philippines and the Philippine Immigration Act to improve government’s regulations on foreign nationals working in the country amid the issues surrounding illegal foreign workers in the Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs).
— BusinessWorld Online

CHR to probe Barangay Commonwealth’s ‘drug-free’ sticker drive
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Wednesday slammed the recent “drug-free” sticker drive in Barangay (village) Commonwealth in Quezon City, citing possible human rights violations.
— Inquirer.net

NGCP sees power demand hitting new high of 11,403 MW
Grid operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said Wednesday it expects Luzon’s power demand to hit an all-time high of 11,403 megawatts this year.
— Manilastandard.net

DICT partners with UN dev’t body for free WiFi
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has partnered with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for the rollout of free Wi-Fi internet services in the country.
— Philippine News Agency

[ANALYSIS] How the Philippines fell for China’s infamous debt trap
No less than Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio of the Supreme Court has combed through the Chinese loan agreements entered into by the Duterte administration and found onerous provisions that imperil our nation’s “patrimonial assets.”
— Rappler

No end in sight as Philippines communist revolt marks 50th year
Philippine policewoman Ruby Buena’s introduction to one of the oldest communist insurgencies in the world was a roadside bomb blast followed seconds later by an eruption of gunfire.
— Rappler

Japan Offers Over 350k Job Opportunities for Filipino Workers
350k Job Opportunities Opened in Japan for Filipino Workers Japan is now offering over 350,000 job opportunities and vacancies for aspiring Overseas Filipino workers who would like to work abroad.
— Philippine News

Duterte ‘in a hurry’ to strike a deal with Misuari
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said he was “in a hurry” to forge a new peace agreement with Moro National Liberation Front Head Nur Misuari.
— The Manila Times

PHL targets $250-million sales in China trade show
MANILA is banking on the strong demand for Philippine processed food and agricultural products as it sets its sights on doubling sales to nearly $250 million from China’s largest trade show this year.
— Business Mirror

DBM authorizes 4th government salary hike financed by ‘any available’ 2018 Budget funds
THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the fourth tranche of salary increases for government workers will be financed by available appropriations from the re-enacted 2018 Budget.
— BusinessWorld Online

Crime downtrend means successful anti-drug ops: PNP
As government has been relentless in its campaign against illegal drugs, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has noted the continued drop of crime rate as indicative of a successful anti-illegal drug operation.
— Philippine News Agency

Think tank hints of 50 bps rate cut this year
The Philippines is among the countries in Asia Pacific with the most room for monetary easing this year due to decelerating inflation and weaker growth prospects, said UK-based think tank Oxford Economics.
— The Philippine Star

Heavy equipment for Marawi rehabilitation delivered from China
THE ARMED Forces of the Philippines has acquired 248 units of cranes, bulldozers, loaders, and other engineering equipment from China worth P1.5 billion, which will be used for the rehabilitation of Marawi City and nearby affected areas.
— BusinessWorld Online

2nd runway to boost capacity of Clark airport
A SECOND runway will be built for the Clark International Airport, which is being eyed for completion by 2020, the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) has revealed. It is seen to increase the passenger capacity of the airport.
— Business Mirror

Banks’ bad loans grow in January
BAD LOANS held by big banks grew in January to outpace lending growth, the latest central bank data showed.
— BusinessWorld Online

Agrarian Farmers beef up financial literacy training
At least 131 small-scale farm holders comprised of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) and non-ARBs attended a series of workshops on Basic Financial Literacy to provide the needed financial management skills held recently here.
— Philippine Information Agency

591 drug surrenderers finish rehab program in Cebu town
At least 591 drug surrenderers on Wednesday completed a community-based rehabilitation program (CBRP) in Cebu’s island-municipality of Bantayan, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Central Visayas said.
— Philippine News Agency

Deal signed to put up Climate Smart Hub in Bicol
Members of a multi-sectoral group coming from government and private institutions, academe, media, civic organizations, and religious and business associations signed here on Wednesday a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the establishment of the Climate Smart Hub for Albay.
— Philippine News Agency

More LGU execs face raps over anti-drug councils
Forty-two other local government officials who failed to organize their respective Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADACs) as mandated under the Local Government Code face administrative complaints.
— The Philippine Star

PPA accused of appropriating land
The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is threatening to file a case against the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) over the latter’s appropriation of a North Harbor property.
— The Manila Times

Government ‘blind’ to informal workers’ true numbers
THE government continues to struggle in protecting its informal workers as it remains “statistically blind” to their exact numbers.
— Business Mirror

Senator calls for stricter laws on carrying of firearms
SENATOR Panfilo M. Lacson on Wednesday recommended that the 18th Congress legislate stricter laws on the carrying of firearms, following recent shooting incidents, including the killing of a policeman in San Juan City last Tuesday.
— BusinessWorld Online

South Korea helps PHL address growth constraints
It is said that the “toughest steel is forged in the hottest fire.” The same is true for the strong bilateral relationship between Korea and the Philippines, which fought side by side during the Korean War.
— Business Mirror

From farm to household use: DA chief proposes ‘workable’ plan for efficient use of water supply
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol has proposed that the water supply allocated for agriculture be diverted to Metro Manila at times that irrigation is not needed by farmers to avert crises in the area in the future.
— Business Mirror

PDEA: 31 celebrities ‘involved’ in illegal drugs
THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is validating the alleged involvement of 11 female and 20 male television and movie personalities in the illegal drug trade.
— Sun Star

Caraga farmers vow to increase palm oil production
Following the high market demand of palm oil, the farmers in the Caraga region vowed to increase their production.
— Philippine Information Agency

Panelo calls Carpio ‘unpatriotic’ for claims on Chico River project
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo has labeled Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio as “unpatriotic” for raising the possibility that China can seize Philippine gas fields if the country fails to pay back the loan for a project.
— Tempo

A more powerful SEC
Republic Act No. 11232 or the Revised Corporation Code (RCC) has expanded the role and increased the powers of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
— The Manila Times

Need water in QC, Marikina? You can book for free via Grab Igib
Grab Philippines launched a free water delivery service called Grab Igib to help those affected by the water crisis in Metro Manila.
— Rappler

MWSS eyes cloud seeding over Angat Dam
The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System is eyeing to conduct cloud seeding over Angat Dam as climate pattern El Niño rolls around.
— GMA News

Philippines, Hungary agree to boost agricultural trade, irrigation
The Department of Agriculture (DA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture to boost collaboration on agricultural trade and water security.
— Rappler

Philippine military acquires P1.5-B engineering equipment from China
The Armed Forces of the Philippines has acquired P1.5 billion of engineering equipment from China intended for the rehabilitation of Marawi City.
— Inquirer.net

Maguindanao execs turn over 28 firearms
Officials of four Maguindanao towns on Tuesday handed over a total of 28 guns to the Army’s 603rd Infantry Brigade (603IB), through the 90th Infantry Battalion (90IB), part of the municipality campaign against loose firearms.
— Philippine News Agency

SC opens E-Library to public use
The Supreme Court has decided to open its e-Library to the public for easier access to its decision, resolutions, and issuances from 1901 to the present.
— Tempo

Calayan Island, known for pristine white beaches, opens airport
The Calayan Island in this province finally opened its airport on Wednesday, March 27.
— Rappler

SM Holdings breaks ground to build SM City Sorsogon
A P4 billion SM Supermall will be built on a sprawling 13-hectare property in this city, which, when completed, will be the biggest of its kind in the Bicol region in terms of land area.
— Rappler

PNP takes PRRD’s view on drug situation as challenge
The Philippine National Police (PNP) took as a challenge the recent remark of President Rodrigo Duterte that the drug problem in the country has worsened despite the relentless war against illegal drugs.
— Philippine News Agency

Gender equality pushed under new rules on dominant parties
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) pushes for gender equality by giving weight to women representation in the determination of the dominant and major political parties for the May 13, 2019 elections.
— Sun Star

Duty Free employees urge Ombudsman to resolve complaint vs top officials
A group of employees of Duty Free Philippines Corporation on Wednesday, March 27, urged the Office of the Ombudsman to resolve their two-year-old plunder, graft, and administrative complaints against top DFPC officials.
— Rappler

Feature photo Philippine Red Cross

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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 March 28 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on March 28, 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.