26 Filipinos in Japan, 1 Filipino in UAE confirmed to have COVID-19
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed that the total number of Filipinos overseas who had been infected with the dreaded coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has now reached 27.
— Eagle News
Pangasinan town to implement plastic ban starting March 1
The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Bani will implement ban on single use plastics and styrofoams in the municipality starting March 1 this year to reduce cost on operations and maintenance for waste disposal.
— Philippine Information Agency
Over 25,000 stranded Filipinos hope to return to Hong Kong amid coronavirus crisis
Tales of misery continue for more than 25,000 stranded Filipinos who hope to return to Hong Kong for work as the Philippine government remains firm on its ban on travelers coming to and from China, Hong Kong, and Macau.
— Rappler
Visitor arrivals climbed 15% to 8.26 million in 2019—DOT
International visitor arrivals in the Philippines climbed 15.2 percent in 2019 to hit a record 8.26 million from 7.16 million in 2018, the Department of Tourism said Monday.
— Manilastandard.net
OFW remittances hit record high of $33.5 billion in 2019
Despite political uncertainties across the globe, personal remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) reached a record high of $33.5 billion in 2019, 3.9% higher than the $32.2 billion recorded in 2018.
— Rappler
PHL gov’t finalizing evacuation plans for Filipinos aboard Japan cruise ship amid rising COVID-19 cases
The Philippine government is now studying the evacuation plans for Filipinos on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan amid the rising number of confirmed coronavirus cases on the ship.
— Eagle News
PCC hikes minimum value for mandatory merger review
The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has raised the minimum value for businesses to notify the antitrust body on their merger and acquisition (M&A) deals.
— Philippine News Agency
Neda: Fast approval of infra projects sustainable
THE National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said the government will be able to sustain the fast approval of infrastructure projects.
— Business Mirror
Death squad disrupters: Filipina patrols help keep drug killings at bay
Late each night, a dozen women chat and share a meal before hitting the narrow streets of a Manila suburb where a death squad once roamed.
— Reuters
P13.43B allotted to fund completion of 4,810 classrooms nationwide
Over 4,000 classrooms nationwide will soon be completed to address the country’s classroom shortage.
— Business Mirror
NEA warns of possible rotating blackouts
The National Electrification Administration (NEA) wants all electric cooperatives (ECs) to prepare for the summer months as it warns of possible rotating blackouts lasting up to an hour.
— The Philippine Star
Philippines festival to push new local fintech innovations
The Philippines is all set to cement its role as the next hotbed for fintech and tech innovation with all the necessary ingredients to tech up already present in the Southeast Asian country.
— OpenGov
House panel approves 6 measures declaring 13 sites as protected areas
The House Committee on Natural Resources has approved six bills declaring 13 sites in eight provinces as protected areas that are closed to commercial and large-scale exploitation.
— Business Mirror
Fuel marking volume breaches 3 billion liters — DOF
The volume of fuel products marked by the government has breached the three-billion liter mark this month, the Department of Finance (DOF) said over the weekend.
— The Philippine Star
Kids seated on adults’ laps a violation of Seat Belt Law – LTO
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) warned the public that children 6 years old and younger were not allowed to sit on the laps of adults seated in the front of a vehicle under the Seat Belt Law.
— GMA Network
Cayetano stalls ABS-CBN franchise hearing, slams election coverage
Despite calls from fellow lawmakers and media groups, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano finds no urgency to tackle the bills seeking to renew for another 25 years the franchise of ABS-CBN, as he accused the media network of alleged unfair election coverage in 2010 and 2016.
— Rappler
Duterte signs EO imposing price cap on certain medicines
President Rodrigo Duterte signed on Monday, February 17, an executive order that would regulate the prices of certain drugs and medicines.
— Rappler
Sotto: Senate planned petition on VFA termination won t put it in a head-to-head with Palace
Senate President Vicente Sotto III expressed confidence Monday that their plan to seek clarification from the Supreme Court on the role of the chamber in the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement will not put them in a head-to-head with Malacañang.
— GMA Network
Police sue Cebu optometrist over Facebook post claiming patient died of coronavirus
The Philippine National Police (PNP) filed charges against an optometrist here in Cebu for allegedly posting on Facebook unverified information related to the novel coronavirus.
— Rappler
Duterte writes Xi ‘letter of solidarity’ amid novel coronavirus epidemic
President Rodrigo Duterte has written Chinese President Xi Jinping a letter expressing his support for China amid the outbreak of the novel coronavirus , Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said on Monday, February 17.
— Rappler
Hontiveros: Unscrupulous immigration personnel receiving money from some Chinese POGO workers arriving in PHL
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday, Feb. 17, accused some immigration personnel of receiving money from arriving Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations Chinese workers.
— Eagle News
3 Mandaue rivers off-limits as DOH tests poliovirus in waters
Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes on Monday declared the three major rivers in the city as off-limits to residents after the Department of Health (DOH) tested water samples from the Butuanon River which turned out positive of poliovirus.”
— Philippine News Agency
All set for PHL’s push for domestic tourism
THE number of local tourists is expected to spike next month as the government launches its initiatives to “arrest and to cushion” the effects of the slowdown in tourist arrivals from the travel ban in some countries due to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).
— Business Mirror
ADF reduces footprint in potential Philippines ‘caliphate’
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has scaled back its presence in the Philippines, two years after Islamic State affiliated rebels executed a bloody siege of Marawi that left 1100 dead.
— 9News
PH Immigration to deport Russian woman wanted for fraud
A Russian woman wanted by authorities in her country for large-scale fraud is set to be deported, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday said.
— UNTV News
AirAsia to resume flights between PHL, Taiwan this week
AirAsia on Monday, Feb. 17, said it would resume its flights to Taiwan this week. In an advisory, AirAsia said flights from Manila to Taiwan will resume on Thursday, February 20.
— Eagle News
Optometrist faces raps for spreading fake news on Covid-19
The Philippine National Police (PNP) lived up to its promise to double its efforts against misinformation as it filed criminal charges against an optometrist who has been allegedly spreading fake news about the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) on social media.
— Philippine News Agency
BOC-Cebu denies holding shipment of face masks
The Bureau of Customs-Port of Cebu on Monday denied a report it is holding shipments of surgical masks at the Cebu International Port (CIP) yard amid the global scare of the new coronavirus strain.
— Philippine News Agency
DA vows for climate-resilient agri-fishery sector
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has committed to strongly pursue climate-resilient agricultural technologies and systems to sustain productivity, ensure more income of farmers and fisherfolk, and attain food security in the country.
— Manila Times
2 hurt in shooting during GenSan road clearing drive
A job order worker of the city government and a bystander were wounded after an unidentified gunman opened fire during a road clearing operation here Sunday evening.
— Philippine News Agency
Zambo health office clears 24 PUMs for Covid-19
The City Health Office (CHO) has just cleared 24 persons under monitoring (PUM) for the Coronavirus disease-2019 (Covid-19) since January in this city.
— Philippine News Agency
Baguio goes after vapers: fine, community service, or blood donation?
One vaper was caught at T. Alonzo Street in Baguio City last February 3 by barangay tanods (village watchmen).
— Rappler
Franchise not license for a network to do whatever it wants –Cayetano
A franchise granted to a media network is not a license to do whatever it wants with its airtime, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said.
— GMA Network
LOOK: How syndicates, airport officials split P10,000 bribe from POGO workers
Senator Risa Hontiveros, citing evidence from an informant, revealed in a Senate hearing how airport officials split bribes from Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) who pay them to glide through immigration processes.
— Rappler
Nograles assures Duterte’s support to electric coops vs privatization
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles assured that President Rodrigo Duterte supports electric cooperatives in serving the community with a lower price of electricity compared to private companies.
— Philippine Information Agency
Duterte slated for island-hopping amid COVID scare
President Duterte will travel around the country to boost the tourism industry amid concerns over the threat of the novel coronavirus in the Philippines.
— Tempo
Some Chinese arrivals get VIP treatment at airport immigration
A video released by Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday showing the apparent VIP treatment being enjoyed by some Chinese nationals entering the Philippines has sparked controversy.
— GMA Network
Ex-Philhealth chief to DoH; Domingo is new FDA head
President Duterte has appointed a new batch of government officials. Among them were former Philippine Health Insurance Corp. acting president Roy Ferrer as Health Assistant Secretary and Undersecretary Rolando Enrique Domingo as new Director General of the Food and Drug Administration.
— Tempo
House OKs bill providing stiffer penalties vs. child abuse
The House of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading the measure imposing stiffer penalties for child abuse, exploitation and discrimination.
— GMA Network
Lagman opposes House measure urging a provisional permit for ABS-CBN
Albay Representative Edcel Lagman on Monday opposed a proposal for Congress to pass a measure urging the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to grant ABS-CBN Corporation a provisional permit to operate pending the renewal of its franchise.
— GMA Network
2 Makati cops fired over alleged ‘transgender profiling’
Two Makati cops were fired Monday, February 17, after they engaged in alleged “transgender profiling,” an act caught on video that circulated online on Friday, February 14.
— Rappler
Senate presses House to act on ABS-CBN franchise renewal
Even without the House of Representatives moving on the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN Corporation, the Senate is set to tackle it.
— Rappler
At least 91 solons signed reso for House panel action on ABS-CBN franchise bills –Lagman
At least 91 congressmen have already signed the resolution urging the House Committee on Legislative Franchises to immediately act on the pending bills seeking to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN Corporation, Albay Representative Edcel Lagman said Monday.
— GMA Network
PRRD may change his mind about Espenido
President Rodrigo Duterte’s position that Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido is not involved in the illegal drug trade could still change depending on intelligence information given to him, Malacañang said on Monday.
— Philippine News Agency
1,385 drug users, 41 HVTs nabbed in Bicol in 2019
The government war against illegal drugs in 2019 resulted in the arrest of 1,385 users and 41 high-value target (HVT) pushers in various police-initiated drug stings across the region, the Bicol top cop has said.
— Philippine News Agency
COA tells Makati City gov’t to pay balance of Hilmarc’s 2013 contract
The Commission on Audit (COA) ordered the Makati City government to pay private contractor Hilmarc’s Construction Corporation (HCC) P53.2 million – an amount representing the balance of a 2013 contract to work on Makati City Hall 2’s air conditioning system.
— Rappler
Senate OKs Good Manners and Right Conduct bill
The Senate has approved the bill making Good Manners and Right Conduct a core subject under the K-to-12 curriculum and be taught to all public and private elementary and high school students.
— Tempo
Briones rebuffs report that 70,000 Bicol learners can t read
Education Secretary Leonor Briones on Monday took exception to a newspaper report said more than 70,000 elementary students in Bicol could not read in both English and Filipino.
— GMA Network
PH gov’t sends care packages to Filipinos quarantined on Japan cruise ship
The Philippine government provided care packages to the 538 Filipinos still quarantined on the Japanese cruise ship Diamond Princess due to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) scare.
— Rappler
3 killed in fire near Mandaue City Hall
At least 3 people were killed after a fire razed 15 houses on Zamora Street near Mandaue City hall early morning at around 2 am on Monday, February 17.
— Rappler
SoCot guv seeks expansion of provincial hospital
South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. is pushing for another major expansion of the provincial hospital in Koronadal City to further address its overcrowding problem.
— Philippine News Agency
Pork meat, by-products removed from Dumaguete store shelves
The Asian Swine Fever (ASF) Joint Task Force in Negros Oriental continues to monitor and visit grocery stores and other establishments to ensure that pork by-products, such as canned goods manufactured in Luzon or Mindanao are taken down from the shelves.
— Philippine News Agency
Feature photo Zuellig Family Foundation
This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on International Mother Language Day, February 21.
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 February 18 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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