Philippines Morning News For May 6, 2019

Investment pledges surged 47% to P286.7b in 4 months
Investment pledges jumped 46.5 percent in the first four months to P286.7 billion from P195.7 billion a year ago on the back of a significant increase in foreign projects, the Board of Investments said over the weekend.
— Manilastandard.net

Bank deposits reach P12.7 trillion at end-2018
The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) reported that total deposits in the Philippine banking system grew by 8.8% to P12.7 trillion as of December 31, 2018 from P11.7 trillion in the previous year.
— Manila Bulletin

Foreign tourist arrivals up 7.6% to 2.2 million in Q1
The government is on track to meet its tourist arrival targets this year, with the number of visitors from January to March growing by 7.59 percent compared to the same period in 2018, according to figures released by the government yesterday.
— The Philippine Star

PH needs to improve airports to boost tourism industry
The Philippines should improve its airports and make it at par with international standards in order to further boost its tourism industry.
— Manila Bulletin

Palace: Administration not lax with environmental concerns in West Philippine Sea
The Duterte administration believes that it has protected the marine ecosystem in the West Philippine Sea.
— CNN Philippines

Duterte vetoes budget restriction on funding
PRESIDENT Duterte has indeed directly vetoed the “block payment” provision in the 2019 national budget intended to prohibit the government from using unprogrammed appropriations for public video surveillance and communication system.
— Business Mirror

Govt to limit tourist numbers to carrying capacity of sites
The President wants to limit the number of tourists visiting the country’s major destinations to ensure that environmental and local laws are followed, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT).
— Business Mirror

RRR could be cut should inflation slow
INFLATION likely slowed in April as food prices continued to drop, analysts said, even as they were divided on the central bank’s next policy move, with some expecting a steady stance despite room to ease and a cut in banks’ reserve requirement ratio (RRR) instead.
— BusinessWorld Online

Supreme Court orders COA to release P747.1 million to retired DBP employees
THE 141 retired employees of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) can now enjoy their retirement years after the Supreme Court ordered the release of P747.17 million representing their retirement benefits, which was earlier nullified by the Commission on Audit (COA).
— Business Mirror

SC issues writ of kalikasan on West Philippine Sea
THE Supreme Court granted a petition last month by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and fisherfolk groups, issuing a Writ of Kalikasan for the protection and preservation of three shoals within the country’s territory in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
— BusinessWorld Online

DOT upbeat on 8.2M visitors’ goal
With over 2 million tourist arrivals nationwide in the first quarter of the year, the Department of Tourism (DOT) remains confident that will be able to hit its target of 8.2 million visitors this year.
— Business Mirror

Crime rate down 3.3% in first quarter, says PNP
CRIME VOLUME nationwide decreased by 3.3% or 3,963 incidents to 115,539 in the first quarter compared with 119,502 in the first quarter of last year, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
— BusinessWorld Online

Changes seen in PHL move to UMIC status
The Philippines believes it will “graduate” to upper middle income country (UMIC) status this year, sooner than expected, and this will likely result in “changes” in its financing efforts, according to the country statement submitted to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Board of Governors.
— Business Mirror

DOLE looks into PHL’s return to national minimum wage
Efforts to revert to setting a national minimum wage are now in the initial stage, as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said a review of existing wage policy of the Philippines is ongoing.
— Business Mirror

BIR sets 5-year strategic plan
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has prescribed its Strategic Plan for 2019-2023, after posting strong collection performances in the first two years of the administration’s term.
— Malaya

Quakes hit Davao, Surigao del Sur — Phivolcs
AT least eight earthquakes ranging from magnitude 3.7 to 5.0 shook two provinces in Mindanao on Sunday,the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivocs) said on Sunday.
— The Manila Times

‘Brace for NPA attacks ahead of polls’
Military and police forces in Bicol region and Mindoro province on Sunday rolled out their election security plans amid possible attacks from the New People’s Army.
— Manilastandard.net

Mindanao railway construction pushed to Q4 due to alignment issues
Construction of the Mindanao Railway System (MRS) has been moved to the fourth quarter this year as the government reviews the alignment in Davao City following resistance from affected homeowners.
— BusinessWorld Online

Quezon hosts largest steel wire-rod manufacturing facility
Quezon province, particularly the town of Candelaria, would soon transform into a site of the world’s largest steel wire-rod manufacturing facility following the groundbreaking of the Steel Asia’s processing complex in Barangay Malabanban Sur here.
— Philippine News Agency

Alert Level 1 up in Bulusan due to ‘increased seismic activity’
THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised alert level 1 over Mt. Bulusan on Sunday, citing “increased seismic activity.”
— The Manila Times

MWSS allots P533 M for Angat Dam improvements
The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) has allocated more than P500 million to continuously improve Angat Dam, Metro Manila’s water source, following recent earthquakes that rocked several parts of the country.
— The Philippine Star

CDC declares P2 billion dividends in past 3 years
For the past three years, Clark Development Corporation (CDC) has declared P2.016 billion which represents half of the total remittances by the state-owned firm to the Bureau of the Treasury in its 25-year existence.
— Manila Bulletin

Goods trade up 10.5% amid large deficit with top partner China; electronics still top export
INTERNATIONAL trade in goods in 2018 totaled $182.15, up 10.5%, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said, with China, the top trading partner, accounting for 16.9% of total trade while enjoying a large surplus vis-a-vis the Philippines with exports of $22.01 billion and imports of $8.82 billion.
— BusinessWorld Online

PHL-France sign tourism cooperation agreement
FRANCE AND the Philippines have signed an agreement to strengthen tourism ties and increase the flow of visitors both ways.
— BusinessWorld Online

Wage hike petitions still being evaluated by NWPC, DoLE says
THE Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said it continues to study current settings for minimum wages after various wage hike petitions were filed before Labor Day last week.
— BusinessWorld Online

Aviation exec mulls reviving luggage tag system in airports
The management of the Laguindingan Airport in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental is considering on recommending to airline operators the revival of luggage tagging after the bag of a Cebu Pacific passenger went missing for a few days, which Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP-10) in Northern Mindanao called as “mischance.”
— Philippine News Agency

Book on Martial Law launched: ‘It is happening again’
Seeing similarities between the present and the Philippines’ dark days under military rule, Martial Law survivors launched a book documenting their experiences to remind Filipinos about their past.
— Rappler

Mindanao Railway construction to start this year
Homeowners at the Monteritz village are complaining about the railway project that will hit their homes.
— Philippine Information Agency

30,000 int’l petitioners to PH: Drop charges vs Maria Ressa
Amnesty International Australia urged the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) to drop the charges against Rappler CEO and executive editor Maria Ressa.
— Rappler

Army: 7 hurt in rebel attack in Camarines Sur
At least seven people, including a soldier and two militiamen, were wounded in an attack by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members on Saturday in a remote village of Libmanan town in Camarines Sur province, the military said Sunday.
— Inquirer.net

Ex-House Speaker Prospero Nograles dies
Former House Speaker Prospero Nograles has passed away, his son Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Saturday.
— CNN Philippines

TUCP to file wage hike petitions in 3 regions
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippine (TUCP will file three other petitions to increase the minimum wage — this time in Central Luzon, Central Visayas, and Calabarzon.
— Inquirer.net

Maternity disbursements hit P7B in 2018 – SSS
The Social Security System (SSS) said on Sunday its disbursements for maternity benefits rose to P7.07 billion last year.
— The Manila Times

TGI partners with Chinese firm for various Internet services in PHL
ZAMORA-LED Tranzen Group Inc. (TGI), a leading diversified conglomerate in the country, has struck a partnership deal with a Chinese firm to roll out Wi-fi Internet, digital television and satellite network services in the Philippines.
— Business Mirror

Hospital for OFWs to cost over P500M
THE FIRST hospital for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) will cost more than half a billion pesos and is targeted to open by 2020 in Pampanga, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE).
— BusinessWorld Online

Canada finally offers to take back its trash after President Duterte’s threat of war
Canada has finally offered to take back tons of its trash that had been in the Philippines since 2013 after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte earlier threatened to “declare war” over it.
— Eagle News

Ombudsman orders PAO chief to answer graft charges
The Office of the Ombudsman has given due course to a complaint filed against Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta and Dr. Erwin Erfe for malversation of public funds, falsification of public medical documents, grave misconduct, and abuse of authority.
— Manilastandard.net

QC teachers open hotline to protect poll servers
A hotline against harassment, threats and other concerns was activated on Sunday by the Quezon City Public School Teachers Association (QCPSTA) for the protection of its members who will serve in the May 13 elections.
— Inquirer.net

Poll sees muted 1st quarter GDP growth on 2019 budget delay
ECONOMISTS expect gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the first quarter to be weighed down primarily by the impact of the delayed enactment of the 2019 national budget despite household spending and private sector investment picking up, according to results of a BusinessWorld poll.
— BusinessWorld Online

Oil firms announce big-time rollback
Several oil companies will be reducing local prices to reflect the movement of prices in the world market.
— Rappler

BSP to take measured policy steps — S&P
THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY is not overheating, but this does not mean the central bank will dial back the cumulative 175-basis-point interest rate hike it fired off last year to ease inflation pressures.
— BusinessWorld Online

ERC’s competitive selection rules expected in 30 days
THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) expects to issue within 30 days its final rules on competitive selection process (CSP), a scheme that chooses the lowest-cost power for consumers, including a provision on replacement power that will require the generation companies to shoulder the cost of …
— BusinessWorld Online

Gov’t inaction on West Philippine Sea marine life denied
Malacañang said that it will follow the order of the Supreme Court to actively protect the marine life in the West Philippine Sea but protested the contention of government inaction in the disputed waters.
— Tempo

DOH launches TB-free initiative in Batangas island town
Hundreds of island residents in Batangas’ 5th class geographically-isolated town of Tingloy have expressed elation as the Department of Health (DOH) regional office in Calabarzon and devolved health units launched their first Tuberculosis-Free Island Initiative and the medical mission and health caravan.
— Philippine News Agency

DOST supports Halal thru R&D
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is supporting the halal industry in the country through their research and development (R&D) programs.
— Philippine Information Agency

SC to gov’t: Explain red-tagging, West PH Sea neglect
President Rodrigo Duterte’s government must explain to the Supreme Court (SC) the government’s harassment of human rights lawyers, and the supposed failure to enforce environmental laws in 3 areas in the West Philippine Sea.
— Rappler

P78-M needed to haul garbage into Korean vessel: BOC
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) in the Mindanao International Container Terminal (MICT) District port on Friday reported that the Ministry of Environment in South Korea is now willing to have the 50,000 tons of garbage dumped at Phivedec Industrial Estate premises in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental Province shipped back to their country.
— Philippine News Agency

14 Senate hopefuls get El Shaddai’s backing
Fourteen senatorial hopefuls, mostly from the administration, got the backing of Catholic charismatic group El Shaddai.
— GMA News

Viral video on pre-shaded ballots allegedly favoring “Otso Diretso” bets, alarms admin candidates
Just a few days before the 2019 midterm elections, a viral video that showed pre-shaded ballots that allegedly favored opposition senatorial candidates has alarmed administration bets who pressed for a probe on this.
— Eagle News

Opposition bets fret over Namfrel’s pullout as citizens’ arm of Comelec
Opposition senatorial candidates on Sunday expressed concern over the National Citizen’s Movement for Free Elections’ move to decline its accreditation as the citizens’ arm of the Commission on Elections in the May polls.
— GMA News

CIDG probes politician’s link to seized firearms in Lanao Norte
Authorities are now investigating if a politician is the real owner of firearms and ammunition stashed inside a house rented by a woman in Lanao del Norte on Friday.
— Philippine News Agency

Farmers’ group leader claims strafing of house poll-related
A farmers’ group leader here has claimed the strafing incident at her house in a mountain village of Sudlon 1 by unidentified men last Saturday night was meant to harass her in relation to the May 13 election.
— Philippine News Agency

Palace: No “gov’t inaction” as claimed in Panganiban Reef, Ayungin and Scarborough Shoals
The Palace on Saturday, May 4, denied there was “government inaction” with respect to the implementation of environmental laws in Philippine areas that are also being claimed by China.
— Eagle News

Ospital ng Malabon to open human milk bank
Mothers in Malabon City who are unable to produce breast milk will no longer have to resort to baby formula with the opening of the Ospital ng Malabon’s human milk bank in September.
— Inquirer.net

Trillanes tells Duterte: You aren’t paid to watch Netflix
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Sunday criticized President Rodrigo Duterte for watching Netflix at home after the public missed him at work for a week.
— GMA News

Owner of spa offering ‘extra services’ held
The National Capital Region Police Office on Saturday arrested the owner of a massage spa which allegedly offers “all the way sex” services to its customers and saved two of its employees in an entrapment and rescue operation in Sta. Mesa, Manila. Police Major Gen.
— Tempo

Drug den dismantled; 19 others nabbed in Bacolod buy-busts
A total of 19 persons were arrested in separate buy-bust operations conducted by operatives of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) here between Friday and Sunday.On Friday, seven persons were apprehended in a drug den at Sitio Sibucao, …
— Philippine News Agency

SC: Release P747-M retirement perks of ex-DBP employees
The Supreme Court (SC) ordered the release of P747.17 million in retirement benefits of 141 former Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) employees.
— Rappler

MYDev: Helping Mindanao youth realize their potential
Living in the strife-torn Indanan, Sulu without educational plans to back up her future, 20-year-old Marshaida Hamid, at one point, almost lost hope she would be able to lift her family from poverty.
— Philippine News Agency

Pangilinan frets over OAV delays, says DFA’s fund woes trivial
Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan on Saturday expressed dismay over delays in the delivery of ballots for the overseas absentee voting in some countries, saying the Department of Foreign Affairs’ concerns about funds for the stamps was a minor problem that could be addressed immediately.
— GMA News

10 of 14 Senate bets in winning circle come from political dynasties
Ten of the 14 senatorial candidates who have a chance of winning in the May 13 elections come from political dynasties.
— Rappler

Feature photo Mongabay

This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo acknowledges World Migratory Bird Day, May 11.

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 6 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on May 6, 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.