Philippines Morning News For June 22

Philippines Jeepney Phase-out Gains Pace: Get on board a ‘Busney’ (video)
To some they are a colourful symbol of the Philippines. To others they are an essential form of low-cost transportation.
— AEC News Today (video)

Joma: Reds ready to oust Duterte
THE Duterte administration has suspended informal talks with communist rebels to give way to a three-month review of all previous agreements, prompting another angry response from Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison, who said guerillas were ready to oust the President anytime.
— The Manila Times

Peza investment pledges fell 58.6% in first 4 months
Investment pledges registered by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) dropped by 58.6 percent in the first four months of the year, as a top official said investors felt they were not protected under the current business climate.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Pag-IBIG housing loan payment now as low as P2K/mo.
Disbursement of socialized housing loans by Pag-IBIG Fund rose 26 percent in the first five months of the year to P 3.995 billion from P3.165 billion in the same period last year, the Fund said in a statement.
— Malaya

NGCP starts P52-billion project for Visayas-Mindanao interconnection
The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) has begun construction of the P52-billion project connecting the Visayas and Mindanao power grids, which will strengthen the country’s transmission network and boost employment opportunities for host communities.
— The Philippine Star

Malacañang signs ‘Balik Scientist’ bill into law
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has signed into law the Balik Scientist Act, which offers incentives for eligible technology workers seeking to work in the Philippines.
— BusinessWorld Online

Robredo rejects joint exploration with China
Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo has rejected President Rodrigo Duterte’s proposal to jointly explore the West Philippine Sea (WPS) with China.
— The Manila Times

PDEA distributes P189M worth of equipment to its field personnel
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Thursday distributed some P189 million worth of equipment to its field personnel to aid them in their continuing battle against illegal drug personalities.
— Manila Bulletin

Govt gives Soccsksargen farmers P168-million agri equipment
MORE than 500 farmers from Soccsksargen received farm machines and postharvest facilities worth P168 million from the Department of Agriculture (DA) as part of the government’s mechanization program to hike their output.
— Business Mirror

Duterte signs Philippine Mental Health law
President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the landmark Mental Health Law, which would provide affordable and accessible mental health services for Filipinos.
— Rappler

Philippines ‘sitting on a timebomb’ as inquiry urged into political killings
A human rights activist branded a terrorist by the Philippine government has urged the international community to support an independent investigation into political killings in the country.
— The Guardian

Dutch bust ‘made-to-order’ PHL child sex gang
With the help of Australian officers, a Dutch policeman, who has been specially stationed in Manila to clampdown on child sex tourism, rescued 18 children in recent days offered for online sex shows by their families, police said in a statement.
— Philippines Magazine

PHILIPPINES TO PRODUCE DRINKING WATER FROM SUNLIGHT AND AIR
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is collaborating with Zero Mass Water, Inc. (ZMW) and the Philippine National Electrification Administration (NEA) to improve access to quality drinking water in urban and remote areas of the Philippines through the use of a new technology that produces drinking water from sunlight and air.
— WaterWorld

Philippine business groups ready to support federal government
Major business groups said Thursday they are ready to support a shift to a federal form of government if it will boost the economy.
— Manilastandard.net

PH to have force projection capabilities with diesel-electric subs
Having a small squadron of diesel-electric submarines will give the Philippines force projection capabilities.
— Update Philippines

Manila, New Delhi work to develop pharmaceutical industry in PH
With improving Philippine-Indian bilateral relations since President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to New Delhi, the two countries continue discussions on improving the country’s pharmaceutical industry, Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Jaideep Mazumdar said.
— Philippine News Agency

Labor groups slam, employers back trade chief’s ‘minimal’ wage hike
Labor groups on Thursday denounced Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez for saying that any wage increase should be “minimal” to avoid increasing production costs and consumer prices.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

PAL petitions regulator to approve fuel surcharge of up to P405 on local flights
Philippine Airlines asked the government to approve a fuel surcharge of up to P405 on domestic flights to offset the costlier jet fuel prices.
— Manilastandard.net

MICC clears 23 mines, fails 4 others
A government panel cleared 23 of 27 Philippine mines that were assessed for compliance with state regulations, the Department of Finance (DOF) confirmed yesterday, easing uncertainty about potential supply disruptions at the world’s No. 2 nickel ore supplier.
— Manila Bulletin

National ICT Summit to showcase Philippine Government’s ICT projects and digital transformation
With the theme, “Empowering the Filipino through Digital Transformation”, the NICT Summit will showcase various government ICT projects that provide efficient services to Filipinos.
— Open Gov

Concom taps Congress to lift foreign equity limits in new charter
The new federal constitution drafted by Malacañang’s consultative committee will allow Congress to pass a law liberalizing the Philippine economy to attract more foreign investments, its chairman said Thursday.
— ABS-CBN

Roque says PH will not follow US withdrawal from UNHRC
After the United States (US) withdrew from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the Philippine government said that it will not follow this move.
— Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Filipinos can now easily access Bitcoin Cash—Coins.ph adds BCH support to their wallet
As the needs of the underserved and unbanked in countries like the Philippines becomes ever more so glaringly obvious, it’s good to know that some companies are making the effort to ensure the blockchain revolution leaves no one behind.
— CoinGeek

Feature photo uusc4all

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