PH slips in global competitiveness ranking, drops to 6th spot in ASEAN
The Philippines fell eight notches to 64th from 56th last year out of 141 countries in the global competitiveness ranking pulled down by lower ICT (information/communications technology) adoption and macroeconomic stability, according to the 2019 Global Competitiveness Report of the World Economic Forum.
— Manila Bulletin
Duterte Reportedly Invited Rosneft to Conduct Oil Exploration in South China Sea
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte reportedly invited Russian oil giant Rosneft to conduct oil exploration operations in the South China Sea during a visit to Moscow last week, the South China Morning Post reported Oct. 8. Why It Matters: Duterte has long attempted to maintain a …
— Spratly Islands
No more BSP rate cuts for ’19 but possibly for RRR
Philippine monetary officials are done with policy rate easing this 2019 but may possibly slash banks’ reserve requirement ratio (RRR) if inflation decelerates further.
— Philippine News Agency
‘Sin taxes’ in Philippines: Senate pushes for alcohol tax hike via TRAIN Phase 2
The Philippines Senate panel has recommended that a bill to increase taxes on alcohol and other ‘sin’ products under Phase 2 of the controversial TRAIN law be passed, amidst government lauding of the first phase’s success.
— Food navigator-asia
Next PNP chief must be honest, competent: Palace
President Rodrigo Duterte wants the next Philippine National Police (PNP) chief to be honest, competent, and free from irregularities amid reports of cops recycling illegal drugs, Malacañang said on Tuesday.
— Philippine News Agency
Jeepney operators, drivers continue to oppose modernization program
Jeepney operators and drivers continue to oppose the implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) modernization program, saying the government’s requirements are too difficult and costly to obtain.
— GMA Network
Philippines’ banana grower Tadeco faces biosecurity risk
Tagum Agricultural Development Co. Inc. (Tadeco), one of the country’s largest banana exporters, has warned against a move by local government officials to dismantle crucial quarantine measures in its joint-venture plantation.
— Fresh Plaza
SC declares “lump-sum discretionary funds” in 2014 GAA as constitutional
The Supreme Court on Tuesday, Oct. 8, declared as constitutional the “lump-sum discretionary funds” in the 2014 General Appropriations Act which then-Manila Councilor Greco Belgica argued was pork.
— Eagle News
Senators say Duterte’s muscle disease ‘not life-threatening’
Senators on Tuesday, October 8, said President Rodrigo Duterte’s rare muscle disease is not life-threatening, but some acknowledged the nation would always be concerned about the President’s health.
— Rappler
Manila court allows Rappler to seek dismissal of cyber libel case
The Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 46 has allowed Rappler and its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Maria Ressa to seek an outright dismissal of their cyber libel case.
— Rappler
New ports lure Asia’s biggest cruise ship to the Philippines
The Philippines, a country of more than 7,600 islands where you’re rarely more than a few miles from the sea, wants a bigger slice of Asia’s growing cruise-tourism industry.
— Bangkok Post
Progress made in South China Sea Code of Conduct as Beijing eases up on demands – Locsin
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed on a draft of the Code of Conduct in the disputed South China Sea.
— Spratly Islands
G2A Asia @ the Philippines debuts, launching new opportunity for the ASEAN Gaming Markets
G2E Asia @ the Philippines, the newest addition to the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia series of events, makes its official debut December 3-4, 2019 at the Manila Marriott Hotel.
— CalvinAyre.com (media release)
PSA sets pilot testing of nat’l ID until May or June ’20
Authorities are pilot-testing until May or June 2020 the implementation of the national ID, to be rolled out hopefully by July next year with an initial 14 to 15 million people.
— Philippine News Agency
BSP open to more RRR cuts – Diokno
THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) may be finished with its easing cycle for this year, but monetary authorities are open to further trimming banks’ reserve requirement ratio (RRR), its …
— Manila Times
Meralco bills rising after 5 straight months of decline
AFTER five straight months of power rate cuts, average households using 200 kilowatt-hours (kWH) will see their total electricity bill this month to increase by around P9 after Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) announced a rise in the overall energy generation charge.
— BusinessWorld
Metro Manila still at risk of water shortage next summer — former MWC exec
METRO MANILA remains at risk of a water shortage next summer as Angat Dam remains the sole supply source, but local government units in the Philippine capital can help avert another crisis through water demand-side management.
— BusinessWorld
Philippines aims for bigger share of Asia’s cruise tourism
THE Philippines, a country of more than 7,600 islands where you’re rarely more than a few miles from the sea, wants a bigger slice of Asia’s growing cruise tourism industry.
— The Business Times (extremely annoying popups)
Philippine graft court hands former president Marcos’ family another win
A Philippine court said on Tuesday (Oct 8) it has thrown out a decades-old civil case against the widow of late president Ferdinand Marcos, dealing a fresh blow to a protracted effort to recover alleged ill-gotten wealth.
— CNA
Bribery still on at Bilibid despite change in leadership –Bantag
The bribery of prison officers by influential inmates continues at the New Bilibid Prison despite the change in the leadership of the Bureau of Corrections, BuCor director general Undersecretary Gerald Bantag said on Tuesday.
— GMA Network
Creation of overseas labor relations body pushed under proposed OFW dep’t
Recruitment agencies and migrants’ organizations are pushing for the creation of an overseas counterpart of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) under the proposed Department of Overseas Filipino Workers.
— Eagle News
Napoles asks SC for TRO, dismissal of plunder case with Jinggoy
Convicted plunderer Janet Lim Napoles asked the Supreme Court (SC) for a temporary restraining order on her and former Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s plunder trial before the Sandiganbayan, even as she also asked the High Court to outright dismiss the case against her.
— GMA Network
Prosecutors in De Lima cases now under direct supervision of chief prosecutor
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has placed the team prosecuting Senator Leila de Lima under the direct supervision of the prosecutor general in an act that the senator’s supporters consider a government move to use the full force of its resources against her.
— GMA Network
Criminal complaints filed vs 7 suspects in PMA cadet Dormitorio’s hazing death
Dexter Dormitorio filed on Tuesday, October 8, criminal complaints against 7 suspects in the death of his younger brother, Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadet Darwin Dormitorio, in September. (READ: Police probe shows Dormitorio’s life inside PMA was living hell )
— Rappler
COA upholds notice of disallowance on P56M benefits for PhilHealth-Eastern Visayas personnel
The Commission on Audit (COA) has upheld its notice of disallowance issued on Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Region 8 (Eastern Visayas) over the authorized release of various allowances and benefits worth P56 million in 2012.
— GMA Network
Palace: No mass transport crisis in M. Manila
The Palace on Tuesday, Oct. 8, denied Metro Manila was experiencing a “mass transit crisis,” saying commuters could still get to their destinations.
— Eagle News
‘Ninja cops’ issue won’t affect drug war credibility – Palace
Malacañang on Tuesday said that the scandal involving policemen who allegedly benefited from the illegal drug trade would not tarnish the credibility of President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-narcotics campaign.
— GMA Network
Fitch Solutions sees faster PH loan growth
MONETARY policy-easing in the Philippines is likely to boost loan growth this year and the next, a Fitch Group unit said. In a report released on Monday, Fitch Solutions said.
— Manila Times
Oil companies to cut prices for 2nd straight week
Oil companies will be cutting pump prices of petroleum products on Tuesday, October 8, for the 2nd consecutive week , as Saudi Arabia continues to send a bullish message on the progress of repairs at its oil facilities.
— Rappler
DICT ‘withdraws’ free Wi-Fi for insurgency-affected village
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has announced it cannot push through with providing the bandwidth needed for the free Wi-Fi promised to one of the insurgency-affected areas in Negros Oriental.
— Philippine News Agency
Senators: There is nothing to worry about Duterte’s health
Senators said on Tuesday that the Filipino people do not have to worry about the health of President Rodrigo Duterte, who recently admitted that he has an autoimmune neuromuscular disease called myasthenia gravis.
— GMA Network
‘Faster CIT reduction to expand budget gap’
A shorter time frame for the proposed reduction in the corporate income tax (CIT) rate could widen the Philippines’ budget deficit, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd warned on Tuesday.
— Manila Times
Fitch: Affordable handsets needed for 5G takeoff
AFFORDABLE Fifth Generation (5G)-enabled devices must be in place before telecommunications firms in developing economies, like the Philippines, could capture the masses with prepaid 5G service, Fitch Ratings said.
— Manila Times
SEC’s warning against online trading apps
As you are all aware, various technological innovations have given birth to online trading, or the act of buying and selling financial products through an online trading platform, as generally defined.
— Manila Times
Ilocos Sur to host 2019 Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits
The Heritage Province of Ilocos Sur will host this year’s Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits (RICE) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Candon City on October 15-17.
— Philippine Information Agency
DA equips Pangasinan farmers with P66 million worth of machineries
Farmers from the municipalities in the fifth congressional district of Pangasinan have been equipped with their new farm machineries awarded by the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Regional Field Office 1 (DA – RFO1) on Thursday at the Pangasinan Research and Experiment Center in this town.
— Philippine Information Agency
Cebu City starts looking for solutions to water woes
The head of the advisory committee formed to address water shortage in this city on Tuesday said they are now scouting for alternative solutions to the water crisis.
— Philippine News Agency
DOT XI, NCCA sign MoA on cultural hub masterplan
The Department of Tourism XI regional office headed by Regional Director Tanya Rabat Tan and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) represented by deputy executive director Marichu Tellano signed a memorandum of agreement today (Oct. 7) at the Seda Hotel Davao on the masterplan for a cultural hub in Davao Region.
— Philippine Information Agency
CFO scales up advocacy on migration, trafficking
Commission on Filipino Overseas Supervising Emigrant Services Officer Janet Ramos discusses the different forms and dimensions of human trafficking during the Community Education Program in Pampanga.
— Philippine Information Agency
PHL hands off of China-Hong Kong crisis, only has OFWs in mind –expert
“As long as the Philippine government will be quiet about Hong Kong, they will give a lot of options for the Philippine government to allow OFWs to work in the Mainland, Banlaoi said.
— GMA Network
17 displaced workers in Porac receive livelihood aid from DOLE
Department of Labor and Employment gives livelihood assistance to displaced workers of the Chuzon Supermarket in Porac town that collapsed as a result of the 6.1 magnitude earthquake that hit parts of Luzon on April 22, 2019.
— Philippine Information Agency
Silliman Nat’l Writer’s Workshop now open for applications
The renowned Silliman University National Writers’ Workshop is now accepting applications for its 59th workshop to be held at the SU Rose Lamb Sobrepeña’s Writers Village and the university campus.
— Philippine News Agency
Kin of Darwin Dormitorio files raps vs 7 suspects in cadet’s death
The family of Darwin Dormitorio has filed criminal charges against the seven Philippine Military Academy cadets police said were behind his death.
— Eagle News
More than 4M register to vote, exceeding Comelec target
More than 4 million Filipinos applied to become voters during the last registration period, exceeding the target set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), poll body spokesman James Jimenez said on Tuesday, October 8.
— Rappler
Around 70 SAF personnel replace colleagues previously deployed to Bilibid
Around 70 members of the Special Action Force were deployed on Tuesday, Oct. 8, to guard the New Bilibid Prison.
— Eagle News
DepEd formally shuts down 55 Lumad schools in Davao
The Department of Education in Davao region has officially ordered the closure of all 55 Lumad schools operated by the Salugpongan Ta’Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center, Incorporated (STTICLCI).
— Rappler
Negros Occidental town mayor focuses on peace and order, not tourism
For the local officials of Moises Padilla town here, their tourism industry has to take a back seat as the municipality is gaining notoriety for killings and violence.
— Rappler
Cancel registration of ‘rebellious’ party-list groups? Not so fast, says Guanzon
National security officials may want the poll body to cancel the registration of party-list groups with supposed links to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), but for Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, it’s not as easy as simply giving an order.
— Rappler
Vico Sotto eases penalties on delayed housing payments
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto ordered the city’s housing unit to stop imposing additional penalties on delinquent payments, pointing out that only a flat rate should be imposed under the contracts with beneficiaries.
— Rappler
South China Sea news: The secret plan the Philippines have employed to gain upper hand | World | News
Dr Namrata Goswami, Senior Analyst and Author, argues that Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte could be playing Russia against China, and both nations against the US.
— Spratly Islands
PH dollar reserves hit all-time high in Sept
THE country’s gross international reserves (GIR) hit a record-high of $86.16 billion in September boosted by the government’s foreign currency deposits and the central bank’s investment income.
— Manila Times
If there was a ‘dumb ideas’ contest, Grace Poe would win
SENATOR Grace Poe is the perfect example of why people who have no more knowledge of mass transit other than that it is “a thing that exists” should not be allowed to help formulate, or for that matter, even casually comment on transportation policy.
— Manila Times
Consumer groups urge DTI to review SRP increase
LABAN Konsyumer Inc. (LKI) on Monday urged the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to thoroughly investigate the request of manufacturers to increase the prices of basic goods.
— Manila Times
Duterte visit should spur closer ties with Russia
TEN business agreements were signed during President Duterte’s visit to Moscow, Russia, this week, three of them for the exportation of tuna and sardines and one for coconut milk products to Russia.
— Tempo
PSEi gets boost from bargain-hunting
INVESTORS went bargain-hunting on Tuesday after the stock market fell the day before, but overall market sentiment remains cautious ahead of a new round of trade talks between the States and China this week.
— Manila Times
NEDA targets final draft of land use plan in Nov
THE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said it is targeting to submit its final draft of national land use plan, which seeks to harmonize sector-specific land use policies and institutionalize land use planning, for the cabinet meeting next month, an official said.
— Manila Times
BPI to raise P3B from LTNCDs
AYALA-led Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is looking to generate P3 billion in fresh funds from its offer of long-term negotiable certificates of deposit (LTNCDs), with an option to upsize.
— Manila Times
LANDBANK asked to clarify details of PDS takeover
LAND BANK of the Philippines (LANDBANK) is moving closer to getting exemptive relief from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in line with its proposed acquisition of the Philippine Dealing System Holdings Corp. (PDSHC).
— BusinessWorld
More employment eyed as mall chain opens in Dagupan City
More employment and economic boom are seen as mall giant SM opens its 74th mall in Dagupan City today.
— Philippine Information Agency
QC buy-bust yields P68-M shabu, 3 nabbed
Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Quezon City Police District (QCPD) on Tuesday confiscated PHP68 million worth of shabu from three suspects, including a Chinese, in drug buy-bust in Quezon City.
— Philippine News Agency
Palace hands off PET decision on Marcos vs. Robredo
President Rodrigo Duterte will not interfere in the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) decision on the poll protest filed by former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos against Vice President Leonor “Leni” Robredo, Malacañang said on Tuesday.
— Philippine News Agency
P5-M allocated to improve Legazpi slaughterhouse
Mayor Noel E. Rosal has appropriated PHP5 million to improve the city’s Double AA slaughterhouse, an official said on Tuesday.
— Philippine News Agency
Hard work pays off for Negros science quiz bee teen champs
While most teenagers today are glued to their television sets, engrossed in online games or fiddling with their electronic gadgets, 18-year-old Jandale Samillano sacrificed being away from home for several weeks to prepare for the grand finals of Negros Island’s premiere quiz bee on renewable energy, the environment, and climate change.
— Philippine News Agency
Bulacan town hosts ‘lechon’ fest to allay ASF scare
Local officials and members of the hog raisers association here hosted on Tuesday a “lechon” (roasted pig) festival in Barangay San Roque to show that pork products sold in the local markets are safe to eat.
— Philippine News Agency
Online prostitution lures more women, minors
Jeannette Ampog of Talikala (right) and Lory Pabuyag of Lawig Bubai, two NGOs helping prostituted women and children raise alarm on the increasing transactions of online prostitution.
— Philippine Information Agency
Robredo off to Sydney after SC defers action on Marcos’ poll protest
Vice President Leni Robredo is off to Sydney, Australia tonight, October 8, to attend an event hosted by the Australia-Philippines Business Council.
— GMA Network
Sotto: Drug-free PH ‘almost impossible,’ aim to be ‘drug resistant’ instead
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said on Tuesday, October 8, that aspiring for a drug-free Philippines is almost impossible and suggested to work on being drug resistant instead.
— Rappler
BSP to produce cards for National ID
THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will produce 116 million blank cards to be used by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) for the implementation of the National Identification System for the implementation of the National Identification System or PhilSys.
— Manila Times
31st MathSci Week slated Oct. 14-18
The University of the Philippines Los Baños Mathematical Sciences Society (UPLB MASS) proudly brings you the 31st Mathematical Sciences Week (MathSci Week) themed “Smart Solutions: Enhancing Risk Reduction Management to Build a More Disaster-Resilient Nation”.
— Philippine News Agency
Stallion Laguna to finally play night football at home
The most-awaited moment for Stallion Laguna after adopting the Biñan Football Stadium as home is finally here.
— Philippine News Agency
Feature photo Sulu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office
This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, October 13.
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).
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Philippines morning news for October 9 added by John Le Fevre on
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John Le Fevre
He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia, with stints in the Middle East, the USA, and England.
He has covered major world events including Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, the 1991 pillage in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Bangkok political protests.
In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.
Prior to AEC News Today he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.
In the mid-80s and early 90s he owned JLF Promotions, the largest above and below the line marketing and PR firm servicing the high-technology industry in Australia. It was sold in 1995.
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