Philippines Morning News For October 22, 2019

Infra spending down to P59.3B in August
The delayed approval of this year’s national budget and the election ban on spending dragged state expenditure for infrastructure and capital outlay in August, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said on Monday.
— Manila Times

China top source of PH imports, including pollution
In 2019, the Philippines imported at least $2 billion worth of goods from China, which was Manila’s top source of imported items, among them induction furnaces that are used to produce steel.
— Inquirer.net

600 private hospitals threaten to cut ties with PhilHealth over unpaid claims
Around 600 members of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPi) threatened that they will not renew their PhilHealth accreditation in 2020 due to unpaid claims amounting to billions of pesos.
— GMA Network

De Lima: Duterte admin should now admit it ‘miserably failed’ in drug war
The Duterte administration should admit that it has “miserably failed” in stopping the scourge of illegal drugs in the country, Senator Leila de Lima said as she echoed the call of an international rights group to put an end to the Philippine drug war.
— CDN

Philippine retirement system among worst in the world
The retirement or pension system of the Philippines is the 4th lowest out of 36 countries, according to the 2019 Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index.
— Rappler

China crackdown on online gambling seen slowing Chinese arrivals in PH
The arrival of Chinese nationals into the Philippines may suffer a slowdown as China enforces a ban on online gambling although Japanese and South Korean tourists were likely to make up for the decline, according to a report by the Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank).
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Former Philippines chief drugs fighter faces drug charges
The former head of the Philippines national police force is facing a criminal complaint in relation to the alleged resale of confiscated drugs.
— BBC News

PGH workers decry P456-M budget cut
Employees of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) decried yesterday the P456 million reduction in its proposed budget for next year.
— The Philippine Star

Death toll due to Mindanao quake rises to 7; number of injured also increased to 215 — NDRRMC
The number of persons killed due to the magnitude 6.3 quake that struck Mindanao on Oct. 16 rose to 7, while those injured rose to 215, according to the latest report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
— Eagle News

Infra damage in Mindanao quake reaches P86-M: DPWH
Infrastructure damage from last week’s strong earthquake in Mindanao has so far reached PHP86 million, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported on Monday.
— Philippine News Agency

More ‘family time’ urged amid rise in suicide cases
The Iloilo Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) is encouraging Ilonggos to allot more time for their families.
— Philippine News Agency

Govt borrowings down in Aug – BTr
Borrowings made by the national government dropped to P76.52 billion in August, as it borrowed less from domestic and foreign sources, according to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr).
— Manila Times

Tokyo calls out Manila over delayed rice tariff notice
TOKYO has called the attention of Manila to the delay in its notification of bound rates for rice imports following its implementation of a law that removed import caps on the staple.
— Business Mirror

Government to borrow $3.5 billion from offshore markets
The government is planning to raise $3.5 billion next year through commercial borrowings in offshore markets, according to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr).
— The Philippine Star

Top investment official from Philippines urges S. Korea to consider country as manufacturing base
Philippine Board of Investments Gov. Napoleon Concepcion urged South Korean companies to consider the Philippines as a manufacturing base, rather than a market for finished goods, on the grounds that doing so will boost synergy between the two countries.
— The Korea Herald

11 business groups back CITIRA
Eleven business groups and economic think tanks on Monday threw their support behind the proposed Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Rationalization Act, saying this will make the local market more competitive.
— Manilastandard.net

Mislatel-AFP deal compromises PH security, Ridon says
An infrastructure-oriented thinktank is disappointed with Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana’s preference to approve a co-location deal between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the China-linked telco Mislatel.
— Politiko

Australian man arrested in Philippines over deadly shooting
A 52-year-old Australian man has been arrested in the Philippines, accused of shooting dead another Australian man and a local woman.
— 9News (video)

PH is country with fastest growing HIV cases – UNAIDS
The Philippines has been ranked as the country with the fastest growing number of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) cases in the world, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) bared Monday.
— Manila Bulletin

26 online lenders closed for data privacy code breaches
THE National Privacy Commission (NPC) on Monday ordered the shutdown of 26 online lending firms for breaching the data privacy code by publicly shaming borrowers who fail to pay their dues on time.
— Business Mirror

PNP dismisses 6 ‘ninja cops’
Six police officers or “ninja cops” allegedly involved in the questionable anti-drug operation in Antipolo City in May this year were dismissed from service, Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa, Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge revealed on Monday.
— Inquirer.net

Ecozone authority readies inputs to corporate tax reform bill
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority said Monday it would submit to lawmakers and cabinet agencies this week its inputs to the second trance of tax reforms, as it sought to keep foreign investors in the country.
— ABS-CBN News (video)

Tree plantations, laws promoting FDI seen needed for wood industry
THE Philippines could be a leading supplier of wood if the industry were opened up to investment in tree farming as an alternative to cutting down standing forests, the Philippine Wood Producers Association (PWPA) said.
— BusinessWorld Online

T-bills auction: Treasury awards only P12 billion of P20 billion
THE Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) awarded only P12 billion of its P20-billion offer in its latest auction for Treasury bills (T-bills).
— Business Mirror

Philippine Army bags silver at world’s toughest patrolling test
A Philippine Army team has bagged the silver medal at the recently concluded Exercise Cambrian Patrol in Wales, United Kingdom.
— Inquirer.net

Consumers’ group asks court to lift injunction on DTI order regulating unsafe glass products
A consumers’ group has asked a regional court to dismiss the petition seeking to nullify a Department of Trade and Industry’s administrative order against unsafe and substandard glass products.
— Inquirer.net

Farm lobby threatens lawsuits to force rice duties
AN agribusiness association said it will sue to force the government to impose safeguard duties against imported rice, contending that the safeguard duty investigation process was improperly terminated.
— BusinessWorld Online

90% of LRT-1 Cavite extension right of way acquired — LRMC
LIGHT RAIL Manila Corp. (LRMC), operator of Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), said 90% of the right of way for the Phase 1 of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project has been acquired.
— BusinessWorld Online

DOST, Italy to partner on liver research
A region in Italy, through its Accademia Nazionale delle Scienze, has offered a partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in liver research, Secretary Fortunato dela Peña said over the weekend.
— Philippine News Agency

Thai firm eyes LNG investment in PH
Thai firm Electricity Generating Public Company Limited (EGCO) is eyeing to invest in a floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) facility for the importation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) into the country.
— Manila Bulletin

Eating out, personal care help decelerate PH inflation rate
Philippines’ inflation rate continues to decelerate since peaking to 6.7 percent in September and October 2018, with Filipinos’ love for food and dining out as well as personal care keeping the overall inflation afloat as of September 2019.
— Philippine News Agency

Marawi siege survivors secure P40 million loans
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has extended close to P40 million in loans to more than 800 victims of the Marawi siege as part of the government’s rolling program to rebuild the Islamic town.
— Business Mirror

Ex-Bohol mayor gets 22 years for graft, estafa
For failing to liquidate his cash advances and pocketing money intended for a tarsier preservation program amounting to P1.18 million, former Corella, Bohol mayor Vito Rapal has been sentenced to up to 22 years in prison.
— The Philippine Star

Año recommends Cascolan, Eleazar, Gamboa to Duterte for PNP chief post
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año has recommended three police officials to the post of Philippine National Police chief to President Rodrigo Duterte.
— Eagle News

Former Muslim rebels get P100M in assistance
THE LABOR department will give P100 million to former Muslim rebels as part of the government’s normalization efforts in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
— BusinessWorld

DTI underscores sustainability in barangay rounds for SMEs
THE DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Iloilo province has so far covered 78 barangays with 8,714 participants in its capacity-building program for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) outside the urban areas.
— BusinessWorld

Duterte off to Japan for Emperor Naruhito’s enthronement
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday left for Tokyo to attend the enthronement ceremony for Japan’s Emperor Naruhito.
— GMA Network

SWS: Fewer families consider themselves ‘poor’ in Q3 2019
Fewer families considered themselves “poor” and “food-poor,” according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.
— GMA Network

Cops hunt Ozamiz Group members after Cebu mall heist
Police authorities are now hunting down the three remaining members of the Ozamiz Group involved in a robbery at J Centre Mall in Mandaue City on Saturday night.
— Philippine News Agency

Eligible households to replace 25,600 delisted beneficiaries
A total of 25,697 accounts of ineligible beneficiaries of conditional cash transfer under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development will be awarded to poor families in Bicol region.
— Philippine Information Agency

Random drug tests for PUV drivers ahead of Undas 2019
To keep both travelers and motorists safe during Undas, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) is activating on Tuesday, October 22, Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Undas, which will include random drug testing for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and conductors before they leave their terminals.
— Rappler

NPA continues to lose members, supporters to government
Six full-time members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and 106 Milisyang Bayan surrendered to government authorities while 52 supporters from the Tigwahanon tribe in San Fernando, Bukidnon cut ties with the communist group on Monday.
— Philippine Information Agency

Feature photo UN in the Philippines

This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on United Nations Day, October 24.

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 22 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on October 22, 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.