Philippines Morning News For May 31, 2019

NG debt hits P7.79T as of April
The national government’s outstanding debt stood at P7.79 trillion as of end-April 2019, 13.3 percent up from its year ago level due to higher domestic and foreign loans.
— Malaya

PHL digital economy to expand 12-fold to P1.9 trillion in 2030–Hinrich
The country’s digital economy could expand 12-fold to P1.9 trillion by 2030 if the government would hike investments in information and communications technology (ICT), and ease border frictions to facilitate greater trade within the Asia-Pacific region, according to the Hinrich Foundation (HF).
— Business Mirror

Tax reform to jack up production cost by 80%
With over a billion dollars in potential investments foregone the past year and a half due to the uncertainties brought about by the proposed tax reform, players in the country’s top exporters face as much as 80 percent increase in production cost should they be subjected to corporate income tax (CIT) under that plan.
— Malaya

Duterte: I don’t care how many will die in war on drugs
Speaking before the Filipino community in Tokyo, Duterte said, I don’t give a shit kung ilan kayo diyang namatay.
— GMA News

Duterte approves auction of P704.8-M in Marcos jewelry–Palace
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte approved the auction of P704.8 million worth of jewelry seized from the Marcoses, Malacanang said on Thursday.
— The Manila Times

Canada takes trash back
Canada is finally taking back tons of garbage shipped to the Philippines, with a chartered vessel having arrived Thursday afternoon to receive 69 containers in the custody of Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC).
— The Manila Times

ICC studying Morales, Del Rosario complaint vs China’s Xi
The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is analyzing if it has jurisdiction over the communication filed by two former Philippine officials against Chinese President Xi Jinping, said their lawyer who delivered the complaint to the Hague-based court.
— CNN Philippines

Energy issues circular on unbundling of petroleum product prices
Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi signed a department circular providing for the unbundling of petroleum product prices to improve price transparency among oil industry players.
— Manilastandard.net

‘Filipinos not covered by China fishing ban in South China Sea’
Filipino fishermen can still fish in the South China Sea despite China’s three-month fishing ban in the region, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said yesterday.
— Spratly Islands

Duterte admin imposed fear, violated rules in 2019 polls — Pangilinan
Senator Francis Pangilinan on Thursday questioned the credibility and fairness of the recently concluded elections, saying that the administration used threats, imposed fear, and violated several election rules to secure poll victory.
— Inquirer.net

Duterte signs EO that rationalizes rules for third-party engagement under petroleum service contracts
President Rodrigo Duterte has signed an executive order that rationalizes the rules for the engagement of third-party participants under petroleum service contracts.
— Eagle News

PNP: 8 killed in 51 post-election violent incidents
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded a total of 51 violent incidents after the May 13 midterm elections.
— GMA News

Solon says Canadian trash could’ve been used as ‘kicker’ to smuggle illegal drugs to PHL
A lawmaker on Thursday expressed fear that the trash illegally shipped to the Philippines from Canada years ago could have been just a cover to smuggle contraband such as illegal drugs to the country.
— GMA News

Duterte bares invitation to visit S. Korea with Russia’s Putin
President Rodrigo Duterte has said he has been invited to South Korea with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
— Eagle News

Philippines among slowest in mobile internet speed worldwide
Mobile internet speeds in the Philippines continue to lag behind most countries in the world, ranking 11th slowest in upload speed and 16th slowest in download speed among 87 countries, according to the latest report of mobile analytics company OpenSignal.
— The Philippine Star

Income inequality widening amid strong economic growth
THE regional disparity in wealth has widened throughout the years, mitigated only by high levels of overall economic growth and a trend towards reduced poverty, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said Thursday.
— BusinessWorld Online

NCR consumers biggest spenders in 2018–PSA
METRO Manila residents spent the most on consumer goods and services in 2018, according to the latest data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Thursday.
— Business Mirror

PHL lifts Japan fish ban as a gesture of goodwill
The Philippines has lifted the 7-year-old ban on the importation of several Japanese fish species from Fukishima prefecture as a gesture of goodwill as Manila seeks better market access in the East Asian country, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said.
— Business Mirror

Youth group decries frozen SK funds
A youth sector party list group on Thursday deplored the delay in the release of funds to Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) organizations in the country, reportedly due to the failure of agencies to craft the guidelines for fund releases.
— — Inquirer.net

Ex-Samar mayor fined P1,000 after pleading guilty in P282,000 unlawful reimbursements case
The former mayor of Motiong, Samar has pleaded guilty to his alleged unlawful reimbursements for the purchase of supplies and services related to the municipality’s water system project in 2008.
— GMA News

Access Bangsamoro launched to provide online platform for BARMM discussions
THE ACCESS Bangsamoro Website (accessbangsamoro.ph) was launched Thursday (May 30) “to promote the free flow of information, analysis, and discussions” relating to the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) and the transition into the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
— BusinessWorld Online

PRRD order to eliminate red tape paying off: ARTA chief
President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s directive to eliminate red tape in government has been paying off, the head of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) said on Wednesday.
— Philippine News Agency

OCD spent only P10k of P36M in donations for Marawi victims –COA
The Commission on Audit (COA) has called out the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) for spending in 2018 only P10,000 out of the P36.92 million donation for victims of the five-month long siege of Marawi City in 2017.
— GMA News

US allows imports of young coconuts from PH
The United States (US) will now allow the entry of young coconuts coming from the Philippines, following a bilateral meeting held between the two countries last week as well as the request made by the Department of Agriculture (DA) in 2017.
— Manila Bulletin

Japan travel agents to help develop, market PHL destinations
EXECUTIVES of Japan’s travel industry vowed to help the Philippines develop and promote more tourism destinations outside Manila and Cebu.
— Business Mirror

Agriculture under pressure to contribute more to growth
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it will step up its seed and fertilizer distribution and support the poultry industry to help the government catch up on its spending, after the delay in the 2019 budget dampened economic growth during the first quarter, as pressure from elsewhere in the government mounted on the DA to pull agriculture out of its 10-year spell of weak growth.
— BusinessWorld Online

PH, Canada ties to return to ‘normal’ as tons of trash return to Ottawa
Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Canada is expected to return to “normal” after tons of trash are finally returned to Ottawa, Malacaang said Thursday.
— Inquirer.net

Guevarra says criminal raps to be pursued vs private importers even as Canada recalls trash today, May 30
Criminal charges will be pursued against the private importers of the trash from Canada that had been languishing in the Philippines for years. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, who was also designated the caretaker of the government while President Rodrigo Duterte is on a working visit to …
— Eagle News

Bonifacio acquires P2.6M DOLE emergency employment
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) provided temporary employment to displaced/disadvantaged workers with an allocated budget of P2.6 million in Bonifacio town, Misamis Occidental.
— Philippine Information Agency

Reforms in the health care benefits through UHC Act
All Filipino citizens can now have access to health care benefits is one of the important provisions of the newly-signed Universal Health Care Law or the Republic Act (RA) 11223.
— Philippine Information Agency

Improved coordination urged for P5-B CDO flood control project
Mayor Oscar Moreno called for improved coordination Wednesday among all agencies and contractors involved in the PHP5.5-billion flood risk management project for Cagayan de Oro River.
— Philippine News Agency

PECO says expropriation hearings ‘premature’ without ruling on MORE Power’s franchise
ILOILO CITY’S power distributor, Panay Electric Company, Inc. (PECO), said it would be “premature” for the Iloilo Regional Trial Court (RTC) to proceed with the hearings on the expropriation of its assets by its competitor, MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power), without a …
— BusinessWorld Online

Dino eyes monorail system for Metro Cebu
The top presidential aide for the Visayas on Thursday said he welcomes the proposal of a Davao-based firm to construct a monorail system, instead of a Light Rail Transit (LRT) system, for Metro Cebu.Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino, chief of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the …
— Philippine News Agency

Security, Fire, and Safety Experts to Gather at IFSEC Philippines
The 3-day seminars and conferences of IFSEC Philippines will present the hottest topics and the latest news in the security, fire, and safety industry from 13 – 15 June, 2019 at the SMX Convention Center.
— AEC News Today PR Newswire (media release)

PH lifts ban on several fish species from Fukushima
The Philippines has lifted a seven-year-old ban on the importation of several fish species from Fukushima Prefecture as a gesture of goodwill during the visit of President Rodrigo Duterte and his Cabinet members to Japan this week.
— Philippine News Agency

5 firms face P71-M tax raps
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday filed criminal tax complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against five delinquent corporate taxpayers for failure to pay taxes amounting to PHP71 million.
— Philippine News Agency

84 kilos of meat from Japan seized at NAIA
A shipment of imported meat from Japan that was brought into the country with no clearance and health certificate was recently intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
— Tempo

Six years after Yolanda, OCD yet to use up P135M in donations for victims –COA
Six years after Yolanda hit the Visayas, the Office of Civil Defense has yet to spend all of the P135.39 million it received from donors for the victims of the strongest typhoon in history.
— GMA Network

DAR turns-over farm equipment, houses to farmers
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) on Monday turned-over farm equipment and houses to farmers and organizations in the province.
— Philippine Information Agency

Speakership race crucial to PRRD’s legislative agenda
The race for the House speakership is crucial in pushing for the legislative agenda of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, specifically on tax reform and federalism, a political analyst said on Wednesday.
— Philippine News Agency

AFP to deploy 1st Brigade Combat Team in Sulu for anti-ASG ops
The military will deploy the 1st Brigade Combat Team (1BCT) to Sulu in line with ongoing efforts to neutralize the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) terrorists.”Now that the election period is over and national candidates have been proclaimed, we are redeploying forces to security challenged areas …
— Philippine News Agency

New 4Ps law boosts Duterte admin’s anti-poverty efforts
A ranking lawmaker at the House of Representatives on Thursday said the recent passage of the landmark Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act has further strengthened the anti-poverty efforts of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
— Philippine News Agency

NFA to focus on palay buffer stocking
With Republic Act 11203 or the Rice Liberalization Law already in place, the National Food Authority (NFA) will now focus on its primary function as defined by this law to concentrate on buffer stocking of palay for utilization in times of calamities.
— Philippine Information Agency

Children at risk from overexposure to technology – PNP
Screen or gadgets dependency and easy access to internet were the top reasons for children involved in rape cases.
— Philippine Information Agency

Cyberbullying victims urged to come forward, file raps
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday urged victims of cyberbullying to report these incidents to the nearest police station and file charges against the suspects.
— Philippine News Agency

GenSan mulls dev’t of Blaan tribal villages
The city government is planning to establish tribal villages in 10 barangays here inhabited by the Blaan tribe to help promote and preserve their rich culture and traditions.
— Philippine News Agency

Duterte allows PNOC-EC to enter into third-party contracts
In line with the government’s goal to attain energy independence, President Duterte has allowed the Philippine National Oil Co.-Exploration Corp. to forge farm-in and farm-out agreements with third parties for oil and gas exploration and development in the country.
— Tempo

SC issues writ of amparo, habeas data for Karapatan, Gabriela, RMP
The Supreme Court has issued a writ of amparo (protection) and habeas data in favor of Karapatan, Gabriela and the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines.
— Eagle News

NV guv pushes procurement of add’l dialysis machines for public hospitals
Nueva Vizcaya Governor Carlos Padilla (center, facing the audience) explains the importance of the procurement of additional dialysis machines for the growing number of kidney patients in the province. (Photo from VIVA Nueva Vizcaya FB Post) BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, May 29 (PIA)–The …
— Philippine Information Agency

Back to square one for Public Service Act amendment
IT’S BACK to square one for the bill amending the 82-year-old Public Service Act (PSA) to lift foreign ownership limits in certain sectors as it will fail to secure final approval with two session days left for the 17th Congress to wrap up its business.
— BusinessWorld Online

DA: No pork price hike seen amid ASF spread
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) assured consumers on Wednesday that “there should be no increase” in pork prices, citing local hog raisers’ capability to meet domestic demand amid the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) in China, Southeast Asia and beyond.
— The Manila Times

Philippine Coast Guard beefs up capability with new assets
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday launched dozens of its newly acquired assets meant for rescue operations.
— Inquirer.net

Feature photo Tobacco Control

This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo acknowledges World No Tobacco Day, May 31.

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 May 31 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on May 31, 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.