Philippines Morning News For December 31, 2018

‘Usman’ leaves at least 59 dead, 18 missing
Regional authorities said at least 59 people are dead in the Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas in the wake of Tropical Depression Usman, which downgraded to a low-pressure area after making landfall in Eastern Samar Saturday morning.
— CNN Philippines

PH’s net external liability up 20.5% to $34.4 billion
The country’s international investment position (IIP) as of end-September 2018 had a net external liability position of $34.4 billion, 20.5 percent higher than the previous quarter’s $28.5 billion, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported over the weekend.
— Manila Bulletin

Government sets P360-billion borrowings in first quarter 2019
The national government plans to raise P360 billion through the issuance of Treasury bonds (T-bonds) and Treasury bills (T-bill) in the first quarter of 2019, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) announced yesterday.
— The Philippine Star

Govt expects inflation to ease from peak
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III assured the public that “the cycle of elevated inflation has peaked” and will subside over the next few months following the measures that the government put in place to address the supply problems on rice and other food items.
— Manilastandard.net

New Year whammy: Fuel taxes going up
Brace yourselves for the impact of higher taxes on fuel on New Year’s Day.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Philippines home prices decline in 3rd quarter as rates climb
Philippine home prices declined in the third quarter from the prior three months, reversing a short-lived rebound as interest rates increased.
— Free Malaysia Today

‘Usman’ leaves PHP2.73-M initial agri damage in CamSur, Samar
The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Sunday reported a PHP2.73-million initial damage to agricultural products caused by Tropical Depression Usman which is now downgraded to a low-pressure area (LPA).
— Philippine News Agency

3 Bicol provinces under state of calamity due to Usman
Three provinces in the Bicol Region were placed under a state of calamity on Sunday, December 30, due to heavy rain caused by Tropical Depression Usman.
— Rappler

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte under fire for saying he ‘touched’ maid
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte drew outrage Sunday after saying he “touched” his maid when he was a teenager, with women’s rights groups accusing him of attempted rape and encouraging sexual abuse.
— Hindustan Times

FFW seeks end to political dynasties as election nears
THE Federation of Free Workers (FFW) has called for an end to political dynasties as 2019 elections draw near.
— Business Mirror

PH poised to become aerospace manufacturing and MRO hub in Asia
Asia is poised to be the world’s largest travel market in the next 20 years and the Philippines intends to be the region’s next aerospace manufacturing as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) hub.
— Manila Bulletin

NEDA: Japan still Philippines’ top ODA provider
Japan remained as the Philippines’ biggest source of official development assistance (ODA) as of the third quarter of 2018, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said on Friday, December 28.
— Rappler

P44B needed to attain DA irrigation target
About P44 billion is needed by the Department of Agriculture (DA) over the remaining years of the Duterte administration to achieve a plan to irrigate 500,000 hectares of agricultural land.
— The Manila Times

Senate asked to probe P20-B CCTV deal with Chinese firms
Sen. Leila de Lima has filed a resolution seeking a Senate inquiry into the Philippines’ P20-billion deal with China to install 12,000 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in Metro Manila and Davao City.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

PH is not an ideal location for new mineral processing plants – Bravo
President Rodrigo Duterte once identified industrialization as one of the top policy directions for the mining sector, something that Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu has supported since day one of his appointment.
— Manila Bulletin

Jobless rate falls in 2018 but underemployment up
Fewer Filipinos were without jobs this year but the number of those looking for more work increased, data released by the government showed.
— The Manila Times

Salary increase on the horizon in 2019
This 2019, the overall forecast for salary increase here in the Philippines is at 6 percent, according to “Compensation Planning for 2019,” the study by global human resources consulting firm Mercer.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

MSMEs exhorted to explore opportunities in halal market
THE government has urged micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to take advantage of the huge under-tapped opportunities in the multitrillion-dollar global halal market.
— Business Mirror

Customs hits target revenues in 2018
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) hit its collection target for 2018, with revenues reaching P585.542 billion, based on preliminary numbers.
— Rappler

MINDANAO 2018: In Philippines-China relations, Davao City gets special attention
Davao City took centerstage in China’s diplomatic efforts in 2018 with proposed infrastructure projects and investments, direct flights, and the opening of a Chinese Consulate General in the city where President Rodrigo Duterte served as mayor for 22 years.
— Minda News

Losing 3rd telco bidder pursues case vs Mislatel
TierOne Communications, a member of the Singson-backed Sear consortium, is still gunning for the third telco slot as it pursues a dispute with winning bidder Mindanao Islamic Telephone Co. Inc. (Mislatel).
— The Manila Time

More than 600K nabbed for violating MM laws
More than 600,000 violators of various ordinances in Metro Manila have been nabbed since June, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, Director Guillermo Eleazar said Sunday.
— Philippine News Agency

Okada cancels balloon drop event amid public criticism
Okada Manila has cancelled plans to drop 130,000 balloons to welcome the new year amid public criticism that this would cause environmental problems, the casino resort operator said Sunday.
— ABS-CBN News

DA builds up plan to export Mindanao veggies to Singapore
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has said it is ramping up efforts to develop the vegetable areas in Mindanao, particularly in Bukidnon, as the agency is exploring possibilities to export local vegetables to Singapore.
— The Manila Times

Troll armies wage ‘history war’ to push Marcos comeback
Inside a small theater tucked in a quiet alley in Quezon City, an audience composed mostly of millennials meets Hector, a man who makes a living spreading memes and other online clickbaits in a bid to twist or sugarcoat the martial law narrative of the Marcos regime, whose “survivors” ironically included his own mother, a victim of human rights abuses.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

46 fireworks injuries leading up to New Year’s Eve: DOH
The Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 46 fireworks-related injuries (FWRIs) a day ahead of New Year’s Eve revelry.
— Philippine News Agency

Feature photo Presidential Communications Operations Office

This week’s morning news photo focuses on the death, pain, and loss that typically occurs at this time of year on Asean roads due to drunk driving, speeding, and a failure to wear protective helmets when travelling on motorbikes.

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 December 31 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on December 31, 2018
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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.