Philippines Morning News For September 26

Trillanes returns to Senate after posting bail
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuesday returned to the Senate after posting a PHP200,000 bail in connection with the arrest warrant earlier issued by a Makati court over his participation in the 2007 Manila Peninsula siege.
— Philippine News Agency

PCIC allots P1.65-B aid for typhoon-hit farmers
The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) will release about P1.65 billion worth of insurance to farmers whose crops, particularly rice and corn, were badly hit by typhoon “Ompong,” its top official said on Tuesday.
— The Manila Times

Q4 borrowings down to P270B
The national government’s domestic borrowing program is set at P270 billion for the fourth quarter of this year, P30 billion lower than the third quarter program.
— Malaya

Arrest of Trillanes aimed at silencing Duterte’s critics – Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch, an international nongovernmental organization, slammed the Duterte administration on Tuesday over the arrest of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on what it labeled as “trumped-up charges” of rebellion in connection with the 2007 Manila Peninsula seige.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

P662.5M released for calamity fund
THE DEPARTMENT of Budget and Management (DBM) has released an additional P662.5 million to the Quick Response Fund (QRF) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the victims of recent calamities, Malacañang announced on Tuesday, Sept. 25.
— BusinessWorld Online

Philippines finally sets terms of third telco selection
The Philippines’ telecoms ministry and regulator has finally published the formal terms of the selection process for the market’s third operator.
— Telecomasia.net

Duterte’s approval, trust ratings fall to lowest
President Rodrigo Duterte’s public approval and trust ratings fell to their lowest in September, according to a Pulse Asia Research, Incorporated survey released on Tuesday, September 25.
— Philippines Magazine

Government to miss agriculture growth target for 2018
The Department of Agriculture (DA) expects to miss its output growth target of four percent this year due to the damage inflicted by Typhoon Ompong.
— The Philippine Star

Duterte certifies anti-endo bill as urgent
President Rodrigo Duterte has certified as urgent the Security of Tenure Bill in a bid to give more job security to Filipino workers by prohibiting the practice of contractualization and labor-only contracting, Malacañang said on Tuesday.
— The Manila Times

COA finds anomalies in Supreme Court’s purchase of P7.9-M computers
The Supreme Court’s P7.9-million worth of computer purchases violated several provisions of the procurement law, the Commission on Audit (COA) said.
— Rappler

Malaysia-Philippines trade to grow by double digits
Bilateral trade between Malaysia and the Philippines is expected to continue recording double-digit growth this year, said Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Dr Ong Kian Ming.
— The Edge Markets

Munti donates P5m to Marawi scholarship fund
As a humanitarian response to fill critical gaps and provide for the educational needs of displaced students of Marawi City, the Muntinlupa City government is extending scholarship grants to residents of the war-torn city amounting to P5 million.
— Manilastandard.net

Marawi rebuilding delays could drive recruitment of more ‘enemies of the state’
A Philippines military commander says ongoing delays in rebuilding the city of Marawi, which was destroyed during five months of combat against Islamic State-inspired militants, could see the recruitment of more “enemies of the state”.
— ABC News

PAL bags four-star rating from US-based APEX
PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) said it has been awarded a four-star rating by US-based aviation group Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) for its inflight service, seats and cabin products.
— BusinessWorld Online

Other ASEAN citizens live longer than Filipinos
How does Filipinos’ health compare with that of citizens in other ASEAN countries?
— Rappler

ASEAN parliamentarians denounce Trillanes’ arrest, hit Duterte’s move to silence critics
A group of parliamentarians from the Southeast Asia on Tuesday has condemned the arrest order issued by the Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) against embattled Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV following Malacañang’s recent revocation of his amnesty grant.
— Politiko

PNP monitoring groups plotting to oust PRRD
The Philippine National Police (PNP) continues to monitor some groups plotting moves to unseat President Rodrigo Duterte.
— Northbound Philippines

Marina aims for ‘ambitious’ zero-incident goal by 2025
The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) aims to reduce the number of maritime incidents to zero by 2025, as it crafts a comprehensive safety action plan that will address issues pertaining to maritime safety in the Philippines.
— Business Mirror

What we can learn from other Asian cities to save a decaying Manila
At 6:30 a.m. on Dec. 1, 2016, my 9-year old labrador retriever, Anya, suffered cardiac arrest as I was fixing breakfast. Panicking, my friend and I hurried to the nearest clinic a couple of kilometers away.
— The Nation

PH ranks last in mobile video quality
The Philippines has a long way to go in terms of delivering high-quality mobile video services, based on a crowdsourced survey conducted by OpenSignal, a wireless mapping company based in the United Kingdom.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

PRRD issues order removing non-tariff barriers for agri products
President Rodrigo Duterte has signed an administrative order removing non-tariff barriers and streamlining administrative procedures on the importation of basic agricultural commodities.
— Philippine News Agency

Books still VAT exempt under tax reform package, says Finance official
ooks will remain exempt from the value added tax (VAT) under the second package of tax reforms being pushed by the government, an official of the Department of Finance said.
— ABS-CBN

Gatchalian sponsors bill to manage resources at PH Rise
The Philippines may eventually become an energy exporting powerhouse to rival even the most powerful oil-producing nations.
— Manila Bulletin

IPOPHL reports ‘significant strides’ to cut red tape, comply with ease of doing business law
The country’s intellectual property agency is now rolling out set of reforms on cutting red tape as mandated by the ease of doing business (EODB) law.
— Business Mirror

Labor chief estimates NCR floor wage hike at no less than P20
BUSINESSES in Metro Manila may have to pay their minimum wage workers at least P20 more per day — roughly the same increment under the prevailing wage order — once the National Capital Region (NCR) gets new rates next month, the Labor chief said on Tuesday.
— BusinessWorld Online

Aboitiz ‘likely buyer’ of Ayala’s $1-B coal plant assets
Listed firm Aboitiz Power Corporation is inching closer as the “likely buyer” of the US$1.0 billion worth of asset representing 50-percent equity that has been set on sell-down by the Ayala Group on its coal-fired power facilities.
— Manila Bulletin

Sotto files Senate bill proposing to lower age of criminal responsibility to 13 from 15
SENATE President Vicente Sotto 3rd wants to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 13 years old amid the rise in the number of crimes committed by minors.
— The Manila Times

Major infra projects turning Bulacan into next growth area: PCCI
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country’s largest business organization, sees Bulacan benefiting from major infrastructure projects, specifically those that connect the province to Metro Manila and other areas in Luzon.
— Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Solar Philippines’ 4,550-MW projects set for grid impact study
THE Department of Energy (DoE) has cleared 12 power development projects in August, including six under Solar Philippines Commercial Rooftop Projects, Inc., to conduct a study on their possible impact on the country’s power transmission grid.
— BusinessWorld Online

Feature photo U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific

This week’s morning news feature photo acknowledges World Rabies Day, September 28.

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 September 26 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on September 26, 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.