Philippines morning news for April 17

Philippines morning news for April 17
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Philippines morning news

GDP growth at below 6% in Q1–expert
THE Philippine economy is projected to have slowed to a below 6-percent expansion in the first quarter of the year on slower capital formation and lower government consumption.
— Business Mirror

2019 budget cut down to P3.66 trillion after veto
MALACAÑANG on Tuesday said the P95.3-billion allocations President Rodrigo R. Duterte vetoed in the original P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019 were found to be “unconstitutional.”
— BusinessWorld Online

February remittances rise 1.5% to $2.3 billion
THE steady stream of remittances is seen to provide the necessary support to the country’s growth through sustained fuel to local household consumption.
— Business Mirror

Veto message: ‘Rider’ items unconstitutional
ALTHOUGH the P95.3-billion vetoed items in the 2019 budget law were first tagged as simply being outside the President’s priority projects, Malacañang said on Tuesday that President Duterte vetoed certain appropriations under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) because these are “riders” that violate the Constitution.
— Business Mirror

$13.75 M transferred to Marcos victims’ fund
A New York court has released the $13.75 million that will be used for the upcoming fund distribution to victims of human rights violations during the martial law period.
— The Philippine Star

DoH records 1,400 new measles cases
The Department of Health (DoH) has yet to lift the measles outbreak status of five regions, as it validated 1,406 new measles cases in these areas from March 31 to April 5, 2019.
— The Manila Times

Court defers Ressa arraignment on cyber libel case
A Manila court postponed yesterday the arraignment of Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa in connection with the cyber libel case filed against her by businessman Wilfredo Keng.
— The Philippine Star

NFA shores up inventory with domestic palay procurement of 1.26 million bags as of April 12
THE National Food Authority (NFA) said Tuesday that its purchases of palay, or unmilled rice, amounted to 593,123 bags during the month as of April 12, bringing its running total for the year to 1.26 million bags.
— BusinessWorld Online

Agri dep’t may limit pork, poultry imports amid overflowing cold storage
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said that it is looking to “rationalize” the importation program for both hog and poultry due to high levels of inventory in cold storage, beginning with a study to determine the market’s capacity to absorb imports amid demands for greater protection for growers.
— BusinessWorld Online

Government to probe income, taxes of foreigners working in Pogos
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) plans to audit the remittances by foreign nationals working in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) to ensure they are remitting the correct amount of taxes to the national government.
— Business Mirror

ADB provided $1.751 billion to PHL in 2018
THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) said it provided $1.751 billion to the Philippines in 2018, consisting of loans, grants, technical assistance and co-financing, mainly to expand the country’s infrastructures.
— BusinessWorld Online

Philippines eyes better ease of doing business ranking
The Philippines is pushing for more regulatory reforms in a bid to improve in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
— Rappler

DOF dispels ‘misapprehensions’ over $62-M China loan
The Department of Finance (DOF) dispelled the “misapprehensions” over a possible Chinese takeover of the Philippines’ patrimonial assets.
— Manila Bulletin

DoF backs veto of P95-b projects
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III expressed full support to President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to veto P95.3 billion worth of appropriations for public works outside the programmed priorities of the national budget.
— Manilastandard.net

As it ramps up spending, Philippines urged to broaden tax base
The Philippine government’s plan to ramp up spending on public goods and services, especially infrastructure, should be coupled with measures to bolster tax collection, UK-based Oxford Economics said.
— Inquirer.net

‘Biggest investment’: Nestle Philippines pledges US$52mn CAPEX investments to strengthen local production
Nestle Philippines has pledged will continue to place priority on its local manufacturing capabilities after opening a new ready-to drink plant in the country, with the firm revealing an annual CAPEX investment of some PHP2.7bn (US$52mn) on expansions and upgrades.
— FoodNavigator-Asia

Philippines: Sumifru workers vow to carry on the fight
Hundreds of banana workers remained on strike against Japanese banana firm Sumifru Philippines Corporation for its unfair labor practices and the company’s push for government’s immediate intervention on different attacks against the striking workers.
— Fresh Plaza

Davao peace council seeks closure of 11 NPA-linked schools
The City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) has formally asked the Department of Education to revoke the permits of at least 11 tribal schools previously linked to the communist guerrilla movement.
Philippine News Agency

PHL Navy sends off contingent to join International Fleet Review in China
The Philippine Navy dispatched on Monday the amphibious warfare vessel BRP Tarlac (LD601) to join the International Fleet Review in Qingdao, China.
— GMA News

[BREAKING] Manila Water chief operating officer resigns
Manila Water Co. Inc. on Tuesday said it has accepted the resignation of Geodino V. Carpio as chief operating officer who served the company for 22 years.
— Eleven/ ANN

PEZA pushes township as economic zone model
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) will introduce a new concept of ecozone development that would address the demands of locators for smart and integrated sites for their operations.
— Malaya

Online child abuse top cybercrime in Philippines
Filipino children have a massive presence in the internet and online child abuse is the leading cybercrime in the Philippines, according to the United Nations children’s agency.
— The Philippine Star

Most OFWs want to stay in Libya despite civil war
Most of the thousand Filipinos working in Libya preferred to stay put even though renewed fighting between rival factions in the Libyan civil war reached the capital Tripoli last week.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

PHP5-B of RCEF to go to rice farm mechanization
Bulk of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) will be used to modernize rice farms and support the government’s goal of increasing the sector’s productivity, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said.
— PTV News

Agriculture dep’t hoping to get Japan to ease 100% banana testing regime
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) hopes to meet with the Japanese government to seek an easing of its 100% testing regime for Philippine banana imports, after inspectors found unacceptable levels of chemical residue in one shipment last year.
— BusinessWorld Online

Amendments sought to Marcos-era EO barring export of mature coconuts
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is proposing to amend an executive order that bans the export of unprocessed mature coconut, as a measure to address low copra prices.
— BusinessWorld Online

Manila Water COO steps down
STILL reeling from the water crisis that hit about 1.2 million households in Metro Manila under his watch, the chief operating officer of the Manila Water Co has stepped down
— The Manila Times

Palawan fishermen sue Duterte gov’t for West PH Sea neglect
Palawan fishermen and farmers want to hold members of the Duterte Cabinet accountable for its “neglect” in enforcing Philippine laws to protect the maritime environments in West Philippine Sea territories.
— Rappler

BOC adopts stricter policy on import of completely-built vehicles
A vehicle importation monitoring office in Cebu on Tuesday said the Bureau of Customs (BOC) is now strictly scrutinizing all shipments of completely-built motor vehicles to ensure verification of proper value and correct valuation for payment of customs duties and taxes.
— Philippine News Agency

BOI okays P8.5-B paper production facility in Bulacan
The Board of Investments (BOI) announced Tuesday that it has approved the PHP8.5-billion project of United Pulp and Paper Co., Inc. (UPPC).UPPC’s project entails the establishment of a paper machine line facility in Calumpit, Bulacan, which targets to manufacture 220,000 tons of …
— Philippine News Agency

DOTr: LRT Line 2 East Extension project now 60 percent complete
The Light Rail Transit Line 2 East Extension project is now 60 percent complete. The Department of Transportation made the announcement as the ceremonial track-laying and installation of electromechanical systems were held on Tuesday, April 16.
— Eagle News

Maynilad reminds customers to store water ahead of scheduled service interruptions
Water concessionaire Maynilad has reminded its customers to store water ahead of the “water network enhancement activities” scheduled in the upcoming holidays that will result in service interruptions.
— Eagle News

Palace: China’s harvesting of Scarborough clams an affront to PHL sovereignty
Malacañang on Tuesday took exception to China’s extraction of giant clams at Scarborough Shoal, calling it an “affront” to the country’s sovereignty.
— GMA News

PNP to Comelec: Remove security escorts of politicians on narco-list
The Philippine National Police on Tuesday, April 16, asked the Commission on Elections to remove the security escorts of poll candidates on President Rodrigo Duterte’s narco-list.
— Eagle News

Holy Week Processions 2019: Solemn Processions This Holy Wednesday
Traditionally, there are these solemn processions held every Holy Wednesday, the fourth day of the Holy Week.
— Philippine News

AboitizPower begins operating coal plant in Toledo, Cebu
A subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) started commercial operations of its coal power plant on Tuesday, April 16, delivering energy from the first of two 170-megawatt (MW) baseload units in Toledo City, Cebu.
— Rappler

Over 50K passengers flock to ports on 2nd day of Holy Week exodus
Tens of thousands more passengers flock in ports nationwide and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) units across the country are now on heightened alert, the second day of the Holy Week exodus.
— Philippine News Agency

PH media face ‘oppressive, alarming’ conditions – global group
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) sent a 3-member mission to the Philippines to meet with government officials about the oppressive conditions that journalists face in the country.
— Rappler

Egco calls out CPJ depiction of PH media situation as ‘twisted, unjust, unfair’
The head of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) on Tuesday has called out the findings of the Committee to Protect Journalists’ mission to the Philippines, saying it painted a bleak and biased picture of the state of press freedom in the country.
— Inquirer.net

Former rebels get E-CLIP housing in Bukidnon
Around 70 former rebels (FRs) who surrendered to the 8th Infantry (Dependable) Battalion, 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division, Philippine Army were among the beneficiaries of the housing project from the National Housing Authority (NHA) as part of their …
— Philippine Information Agency

Bayan Muna fears power rate hike due to numerous red, yellow power alerts
The dubious and numerous red and yellow power alerts that have been issued on the Luzon Grid would result to a power rate hike affecting consumers, Bayan Muna warned.
— GMA News

Philippines ‘saddened, bothered’ by Notre-Dame fire
The Philippines voiced its grief on Tuesday, April 16, after a fire hit the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, as the nation sent its solidarity with the people of France.
— Rappler

Catanduanes local government to reward outstanding village peace councils
Acting Catanduanes Governor Shirley A. Abundo has issued an executive order creating the Provincial Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Awards Committee.
— Philippine Information Agency

Additional 500 Central Luzon cops deployed for Holy Week
Additional police personnel were dispatched to various areas in Central Luzon in anticipation of the influx of people this Holy Week.
— Philippine News Agency

PHL must step up efforts to improve Filipinas’ reproductive rights — UNFPA
While a lot has been achieved in the past few decades to improve reproductive health and rights in the Philippines, there is still much to do, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said.
— GMA News

Bayan Muna protests possible Meralco rate hike
Members of the party-list Bayan Muna staged a protest Tuesday outside the Manila Electric Corporation (Meralco) office in Kamuning, Quezon City to denounce the possible rate hike that they said is due to issues hounding the Luzon grid.
— Inquirer.net

Spartan Race to kick off Southeast Asian series in Batangas
Spartan Race Philippines will kick off the first leg of its Spartan 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Regional Series in the Lipa-Malvar area in Batangas on May 3 and 4.
— Rappler

Philippines: Banana coop to supply Eastern Europe
Small banana farmers cooperatives and associations from the Philippines have been tapped by the government to supply Cavendish bananas in Eastern European (EEU) countries, and Russia in particular.
— Fresh Plaza

BDO Foundation builds training center for Mindanao youth
Hundreds of disadvantaged and out-of-school youth in Mindanao are expected to benefit from a new technical-vocational training center built by BDO Foundation at the Don Bosco Training Center in Mati City, Davao Oriental.
— Manilastandard.net

Summer Diseases Prevention Advised By DOH
The Department of Health advises the public to be aware of summer diseases that may be prevalent this coming Holy Week.
— Philippine News

DFA checking with PHL Embassy in Paris if there are Filipinos affected by Notre Dame fire
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is monitoring developments regarding the fire that destroyed the centuries old historic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, and checking if there were any Filipinos affected by the incident.
— Eagle News

Utility firms, Quezon City gov’t agree to simplify transactions
Shorter transaction periods are seen for utility firms in Quezon City, especially with the processing and approval of permits needed for construction of facilities within the city.
— Rappler

Inconsistent markings on seized drugs prompts acquittal of alleged shabu seller
The Supreme Court (SC) has acquitted a man previously convicted of illegal drug sale after it emerged there were discrepancies in the marking of the shabu allegedly seized from him.
— GMA News

 

Feature photo Catholics&Cultures

This week’s Philippines Morning News feature photo acknowledges Good Friday, April 19. We wish all of our Philippines readers a safe, healthy, and enjoyable Easter.

 

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.

 

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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.

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