Philippines Morning News For January 3, 2020

Duterte to sign P4.1-T national budget Jan. 6
Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab confirmed on Thursday, January 2 that President Duterte will sign the proposed P4.1 trillion national budget for 2020 on Monday, January 6.
— Tempo

Full ban on plastic use starts in CdO
The local government here started enforcing Thursday a full ban of plastic use in all commercial establishments.
— Manilastandard.net

ABS-CBN case ‘not a press freedom issue’
THE grant of a legislative franchise is a “privilege” given at the discretion of the State, and the constitutional right to press freedom “does not apply” in the case of ABS-CBN, the chairman of House Committee on Legislative Franchises asserted on Thursday.
— Business Mirror

Ampatuans appeal guilty verdict in 2009 massacre
Murder convict Anwar Ampatuan Sr. and his two sons appealed the guilty verdict against them by a Quezon City court in connection with the massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao province a decade ago.
— BusinessWorld

Government debt declines to P7.7 trillion in end November
The country’s debt pile as of the end-November 2019 dropped by 2.5 percent to P7.71 trillion compared to P7.91 as of October 2019 as the government redeemed more matured securities than the volume it issued, according to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr).
— The Philippine Star

‘Roughly on track’: Less than 50% infrastructure spending met so far
THE Duterte administration, through the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Board, has approved less than half of the projects comprising its intended infrastructure spending in the medium term.
— Business Mirror

Pinay helper’s killing a test for Kuwait’s compliance to deal with Philippines –solon
The killing of Filipina domestic worker Jeanelyn Villavende will serve as a test for the Kuwaiti government’s compliance to the agreement it entered with the Philippines in protecting the welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), a lawmaker said Thursday.
— GMA Network

Philippines sets ‘partial’ deployment ban to Kuwait
The Philippine government set a partial deployment ban to Kuwait following the recent death of another overseas Filipino worker (OFW), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced on Thursday, January 2.
— Rappler

At least 7 dead in Pampanga road collision on New Year’s Day
At least 7 people were killed and over a dozen others injured in a road collision in Lubao town on New Year’s Day.
— Rappler

12 projects endorsed for Duterte’s approval
A total of 12 projects cumulatively worth P557.4 billion have been endorsed for the approval of the National Economic and Development Authority Board.
— The Philippine Star

House to ABS-CBN: You get fair shake
Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said Thursday he and other members of the House of Representatives will file a resolution calling for the immediate extension of ABS-CBN’s franchise.
— Manilastandard.net

Tax rates in South East Asia: Philippines has highest tax
Do you and your company know how much tax you are paying? Tax can be a complicated and tedious thing to navigate for both individuals and businesses.
— HRM Aisa

New orders boost PHL manufacturing sector in December–Think tank
The Philippine manufacturing sector ended 2019 on a high note as it registered a slight improvement in December, according to a report released by global think tank IHS Markit on Thursday.
— Business Mirror

SEC requires foreign firms to fully disclose ownership
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a draft memorandum circular, which requires foreign corporations to be more transparent in their ownership structure.
— The Philippine Star

DILG tells LGUs to prepare for possible water crisis in 2020
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has asked local government units (LGU) to expedite the issuance of permits related to water projects to avert a possible water crisis in 2020.
— Manila Bulletin

Modern Davao International Airport completed in 2028, per DOTr sked
THE new and modern Davao International Airport should be completed by 2028, an indicative time line from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) showed, as the unsolicited proposal was recently approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Investment Coordination Committee (ICC).
— Business Mirror

House urged to prioritize passage of food-waste reduction bill
To save more people from hunger this new year, the chairman of the House Committee on Economic Affairs on Thursday urged the leadership of the 18th Congress to immediately pass the House Bill 3370, or the proposed Food Waste Reduction Act when session resumes on January 20.
— Business Mirror

PH eyes ‘A’ debt rating in 2 years
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said more tax and economic reforms will help the Philippines secure the “A” credit rating in the next couple of years.
— Manilastandard.net

POGOs to remain demand driver of Metro Manila offices
METRO MANILA’S office space is expected to grow by 5% this year, with Makati City accounting for most of the supply, a property consultant said, while pointing to demand as continuing to be driven by offshore gaming operators.
— BusinessWorld

NEDA ICC okays ₱49-B Davao airport modernization
The National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee (NEDA-ICC) has recently approved the unsolicited proposal of Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corporation for the ₱48.9 billion modernization of the Davao International Airport.
— Manila Bulletin

DOJ resolves 2,350 petitions for review in 2019
THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has resolved more than 2,000 petitions for review in 2019, or more than four times higher compared to the petitions resolved in 2018.
— Business Mirror

DENR exec: Help us address Boracay Island garbage woes
AN official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has appealed to Boracay Island stakeholders for their support and cooperation in helping address the garbage problem gripping the country’s top tourism destination.
— Business Mirror

DOTr urges public to report stone-throwing vandals targeting PNR trains
A week after the Department of Transportation (DOTr) condemned the stone-throwing incidents involving Philippine National Railway (PNR) trains, another unit was victimized at Caloocan City on Wednesday (Jan. 1).
— Manila Bulletin

ABS-CBN owners’ options: Sell majority of its stocks or buy airtime from TV 5
Buy or sell. These are the two options ABS-CBN can choose from if its owners, the Lopez family, still want to continue as owners of the broadcast giant without getting Congress’ nod and President Duterte’s approval.
— Tempo

Search for 2020 Outstanding Government Workers opens
Do you know honest and hardworking government workers deserving of an award?
— Rappler

PRRD orders opening of Central Mindanao airport
President Rodrigo R. Duterte has ordered the immediate completion of the mothballed Central Mindanao Airport here and asked Senator Christopher Lawrence ” Bong” Go to source out funds for it.
— Philippine News Agency

Next AFP chief vows to crush ‘armed threats’
The next Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff vowed Thursday to “destroy armed threats” while incorporating “non-military” solutions to the country’s insurgency problem.
— Philippine News Agency

De Lima’s human rights not violated by VACC’s filing charges against her — PACC’s Jimenez
Dante Jimenez denied that Senator Leila De Lima’s human rights were violated when he filed charges against her in 2016 on behalf of the VACC.
— GMA Network

PH still ‘very diplomatic’ on cigar tax case vs Thailand
Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez has kept his cool as he sent a very diplomatic letter to his Thailand counterpart on hopes the fellow ASEAN will finally honor its obligation to comply with the ruling of the WTO to remove its discriminatory taxes on Philippine cigarettes.
— Manila Bulletin

No total signal shutdown during Sinulog 2020 events
The new chief of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) will not recommend a whole day total signal shutdown during the Sinulog 2020 festivities.
— Philippine News Agency

Villanueva: Consider permanent deployment ban if Kuwaiti gov’t fails to assure safety of OFWs
Senator Joel Villanueva said the government should consider a permanent ban on deployment of Filipino workers to Kuwait if the foreign government fails to guarantee their safety and security.
— GMA Network

Firecracker-related injuries climb to 288 –DOH
The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said it has so far recorded 288 cases of firecracker-related injuries amid the holiday festivities.
— GMA Network

GMA Network Release Teaser Trailer of PH Adaptation of ‘Voltes V’
Teaser Trailer of PH Adaptation of ‘Voltes V’ Has Been Released by GMA Network GMA Network has finally released the 1 (one) minute teaser trailer of PH adaptation of Japanese iconic anime ‘Voltes V’.
— Philippine News

Farmers seen to benefit from rice tarrification law
The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas appealed to local farmers and the public to give the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) a chance as farmers are seen to benefit from the measures that will be implemented as provided by the law.
— Philippine Information Agency

Eastmincom head is new AFP chief
Eastmincom head Filemon Santos is the new chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
— Eagle News

Duterte willing to review Kaliwa Dam project for onerous provisions –Panelo
President Rodrigo Duterte is willing to review the China-funded Kaliwa Dam project loan deal if indeed there are onerous provisions in the contract, spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Thursday.
— GMA Network

Solon urges Pinoys to lessen food waste
AAMBIS-OWA party-list Representative Sharon Garin on Thursday urged the public to lessen food waste as she renewed her call to pass the measure seeking to reduce leftovers through donations and recycling.
— GMA Network

Classes resume Jan. 6 – DepEd
Classes in public elementary and secondary schools nationwide will resume on Monday, January 6, the Department of Education (DepEd) said.
— Manila Times

DOH insists on total fireworks, firecracker ban amid injuries caused by legal ones
The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday pressed once again for the ban on firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices in the country as it underscored that even legal products caused injuries during the recent holiday celebrations.
— GMA Network

SEC OKs rules on securities transactions
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has cleared Capital Markets Integrity Corporation’s (CMIC) implementing guidelines on securities borrowing and lending (SBL) and short selling.
— Philippine News Agency

SC ‘probes’ Baguio judge’s order to release drunk cabbie
Supreme Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez on Thursday said his office is looking into reports that a Baguio City judge allegedly ordered the release of a taxi driver who figured in an altercation with a policeman.
— Philippine News Agency

Gamboa reiterates warning against use of recovered vehicles
Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge, Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa on Thursday reiterated an earlier directive against the use of recovered vehicles and motorcycles based on Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) No. 7.
— Philippine News Agency

ICC-CabCom endorses 12 projects for NEDA Board nod
The National Economic and Development Authority Board’s Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CabCom) recommended 12 projects amounting to PHP557.44 billion, excluding the amount for the unsolicited proposals, for NEDA Board approval.
— Philippine News Agency

Unregistered motorbancas not allowed to ferry passengers: PCG
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Central Visayas on Thursday urged motorbanca operators to refrain from ferrying passengers if they lacked clearance from the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).
— Philippine News Agency

SC admin looking into Baguio judge’s alleged meddling in drunk cabbie’s arrest
Court administrator Midas Marquez on Thursday said his office is already looking into the case of a Baguio judge who had allegedly interfered in the arrest of a drunk taxi driver on New Year’s Eve.
— GMA Network

Elderly woman dies in Basilan fire
A 90-year-old woman dies in a fire that razed seven houses Thursday (January 2), in Barangay Tabuk, Isabela City, Basilan province.
— Philippine News Agency

ISELCO-1 helps restore electricity in typhoon-stricken areas in Bicol Region
The Isabela Electric Cooperative (Iselco) – 1 based in Alicia town has sent its seven-man contingent to help the Bicol Region and its neighboring provinces to immediately restore electric power in the said areas.
— Philippine Information Agency

Zambo Peninsula New Year revelries generally peaceful: PRO-9
The Police Regional Office (PRO-9) said Thursday the New Year revelries had been generally peaceful in the Zamboanga Peninsula.
— Philippine News Agency

Zambo hospital records 1 ‘boga’, 1 stray bullet victims
The Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) has recorded one victim of “boga” and stray bullet during the New Year’s revelry here and in Isabela City, Basilan.
— Philippine News Agency

DOH’s anti-firecracker campaign comparatively successful –Panelo
With no deaths and lower number of injuries, Malacanang sees the Department of Health’s drive against firecrackers this year as relatively successful.
— GMA Network

CDO now ready to process biz permit renewals
The City Finance Department of the Cagayan de Oro City Hall is now ready to accept applications for the annual business permit renewal.
— Philippine Information Agency

Año says Duterte tasking him to supervise PNP not a punishment to cops
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año believes that President Rodrigo Duterte’s order for him to supervise the Philippine National Police (PNP) was not a form of punishment to the police organization.
— GMA Network

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This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on environmental concerns throughout Asean — toxic traffic congestion.

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 January 3 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on January 3, 2020
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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.