Philippines Morning News For August 16, 2019

Philippines firm in South China Sea arbitral victory vs China
The Philippines remains firm in its victory against China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea and would push for talks to settle the maritime dispute, a Malacañang official said Thursday.
— ABS-CBN News

Gov’t urged to turn to PPP for infra program as absorptive capacity issue remains
With the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program seen at risk of failing to meet its goals as major infrastructure agencies continue to underspend their budgets, an economist urged the government to turn to the traditional public-private partnership (PPP) mode of rolling out big-ticket projects.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

PH, US to establish, operate P520M state-of-art counterterrorism training center
The Philippines and the United States have signed an agreement to establish a P520 million state-of-the-art regional counterterrorism training center in Cavite.
— Inquirer.net

Former environment secretary Gina Lopez dies
Former environment secretary Regina Paz “Gina” L. Lopez has died. She was 65.
— Rappler

Philippines Pushing Back Against Chinese Militia South China Sea Presence
The Philippines have begun to push back against the strong and sustained presence of Beijing’s paramilitary ships in the South China Sea, calling the deployment of Chinese militia ships in huge numbers a threat.
— Spratly Islands

State of calamity in Cagayan Valley towns due to dengue
Three towns in Cagayan Valley have been placed under a state of calamity due to a surge in dengue cases.
— The Philippine Star

Philippines closes part of Boracay beach for up to 72 hours after tourist allows kid to poop near shoreline
A portion of Boracay’s shoreline had been closed since Wednesday (Aug 14) to conduct a 48- to 72-hour clean-up after a foreign tourist supposedly let her child defecate in its waters, tourism chief Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.
— The Straits Times

Non-action of former DOTC,LTO officials on IT agreement caused gov’t P1.562B in unrealized income
Former officials of the Department of Transportation and Communications and the Land Transportation Office caused the government to lose P1.562 billion in unrealized revenues from a proposed revenue-sharing agreement with an information technology provider from 2006 to 2018.
— Manila Bulletin

$2.3-billion June remittance biggest drop in a year
FILIPINO migrant workers sent less money back home in June this year, compared to the volume of remittances they sent in the same month 2018, marking the largest decline of overseas Filipino workers’ (OFW) cash transfers in a year.
— Business Mirror

BCDA inks SEA Games self-driving cars deal
The contract for the first deployment of driverless cars in Asia for a major international event was signed on Tuesday between the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and Coast Autonomous Llc.
— Business Mirror

Gov’t utilizes 93% of NCAs as of end-July
State agencies sped up the utilization of funds as of end-July this year following the implementation of the 2019 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said yesterday.
— The Philippine Star

Cam to ‘spill beans’ on PCSO corruption
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Director Sandra Cam on Thursday said she was ready to “spill the beans” on the supposed corruption in the agency.
— The Manila Times

DOF to ask Senate to restore original excise tax hike version
THE Department of Finance (DOF) on Thursday said it will ask the help of the Senate to ensure timely passage of its original version of Package 2 Plus B of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP), which covers additional excise taxes on alcohol products, heated tobacco and vapor products.
— Business Mirror

COA flags UP for P2-B budget realignment
The Commission on Audit (COA) has called out the University of the Philippines (UP) central administration for the questionable realignment of P2.177-billion unspent budget from previous years, intended to finance the operations of its campuses and for modernization of facilities and equipment.
— The Philippine Star

DENR to issue temporary order against waste imports
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will soon come out with an administrative order that would impose a three-month moratorium on waste-related imports, following the longstanding controversies on waste imported by the country.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

DOT starts fight vs exploitation of women, children by tourists
THE Department of Tourism (DOT) on Tuesday moved to combat sex trafficking of minors and the exploitation of women by tourists.
— Business Mirror

OWWA sets aside P1 billion for rebate program
THE Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) on Thursday announced it has allocated P1 billion to fund its rebate program for its first batch of qualified long-time members.
— Business Mirror

Palace insists Rappler coverage ban allowed
Malacañang reiterated on Thursday President Rodrigo Duterte’s coverage ban on news site Rappler does not violate any law, describing covering the Palace as a “privilege, not a right.
— Philippine News Agency

PHL natural-gas output hits 83,026 MMcf, says DOE
THE country’s natural-gas output from January to August 7 this year stood at 83,026 million standard cubic feet (MMcf), bringing the total production since 1994 to 2,176,589 billion cubic feet (Bcf).
— Business Mirror

DOF to tap Middle East, Opec for cheaper power in Barmm
THE Department of Finance (DOF) plans to tap funding from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) and other Middle East countries to provide cheaper electricity for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm).
— Business Mirror

‘Manufacturing feeling the heat of trade war’
THE Philippine manufacturing sector is now feeling the adverse impact of the trade face-off between the world’s economic giants, the United States and China, an economist said on Thursday.
— Business Mirror

House to probe rise of Pogos amid security, labor concerns
Lawmakers on Thursday called for a House investigation of the proliferation of Philippine offshore gaming operation (Pogo) sites manned largely by Chinese citizens, citing national security and labor concerns.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

PHL fisheries production slightly higher in April-June–PSA report
The country’s fisheries output in the second quarter grew slightly to 1.139 million metric tons, from 1.134 MMT recorded last year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said in a report.
— Business Mirror

Palace: Unauthorized passage of Chinese warships not an act of friendship
Malacañang on Thursday expressed concern over the passage of five more Chinese warships in Philippine waters, saying this could be the subject of another diplomatic protest.
— CNN Philippines

Sugar funding to follow the law, but reform needed to curb underspending — Villar
SENATOR Cynthia A. Villar said the funds set aside for sugar industry development have been poorly utilized, but added she still backs a budget of P2 billion for 2020.
— BusinessWorld Online

Lower required capital for foreign retailers to impact SMEs
Retail industry players have reiterated their opposition to the measure to reduce the minimum capitalization for foreign retailers intending to put up operations in the country, noting the need to protect the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from foreign counterparts.
— Philippine News Agency

Philippines losing banana experts
The Philippines is losing its banana experts to its Southeast Asian neighbors after being pirated by other players in the region who have sought to become a significant force in the global banana trade.
— Fresh Plaza

GSIS allots P40 million for El Niño victims in Aborlan
State pension fund Government Service Insurance System is allocating P40 million for its active members and old-age pensioners in Aborlan, Palawan who have been affected by El Niño. The deadline of application is Sept. 4, 2019.
— Manilastandard.net

NLEx Corp. investing P7.7b to ease Luzon congestion
NLEx Corp. said Thursday it is investing P7.7 billion to help alleviate the traffic congestion in Metro Manila and key areas of North Luzon Expressway and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.
— Manilastandard.net

PAO lawyers accuse Acosta of using Dengvaxia cases to get ‘extra funds’
A group of lawyers from the Public Attorney’s Office have asked the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate PAO chief Persida Acosta and forensics expert Erwin Erfe for allegedly using the Dengvaxia controversy to overstock office supplies and obtain extra funds.
— Rappler

Casinos in PH magnet for crime gangs, says PNP report
The Philippine National Police recorded at least 52 cases of kidnapping linked to casinos since 2017.
— Inquirer.net

Iloilo City taps PPP Center to assist in three projects
ILOILO City has signed an agreement with the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center for assistance in three projects that it plans to offer as PPPs.
— BusinessWorld Online

Gov’t to keep telling ‘true numbers’ in drug war: Andanar
The national government will continue telling the people about the “actual and honest efforts” in solving the drug problem in the country, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar said on Thursday.
— Philippine News Agency

Students in protest as PUP conducts random drug testing
Authorities on Thursday started conducting random drug testing at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Manila, much to the surprise and apprehension of students who opposed the move and claimed they were not informed about it.
— GMA News

54IB appeals for cooperation for speedy resolution of HR advocate’s shooting
The Philippine Army here enjoins the public to help resolve the shooting incident of a human rights advocate in Lagawe town last week.
— Philippine Information Agency

Villar urges Landbank to ease loan process for sugar farmers
Senator Cynthia Villar on Thursday, August 15, asked the Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) to relax the loan process for farmers.
— Rappler

Guevarra leaves PAO forensic lab probe to Ombudsman
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Thursday, August 15, that he will leave it to the Office of the Ombudsman to look into the legality of the creation of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) forensics laboratory.
— Rappler

Piñol wants repeal of Marcos-era ban on mature coco export
New Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa) Chairman Emmanuel Piñol said Thursday, August 15, he has asked Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to help in lifting a Marcos-era law prohibiting the export of mature coconuts.
— Rappler

Sotto files bill allowing plea bargaining even to small-time drug offenders
SENATE President Vicente Sotto 3rd wants a law that will allow plea bargaining agreement for small-time drug offenders.
— The Manila Times

Task force seeks to end armed conflict in Zambo Norte
The Army’s 97th Infantry Battalion based in this town sent off its “Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) Teams” as part of the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTFELCAC) that is activated in Dipolog City on Thursday.
— Philippine News Agency

Anti-red tape body declares ‘automatic approval’ of pending TNVS applications
The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) on Tuesday, August 13, ordered the automatic approval of all pending completed transportation network vehicle services (TNVS) applications.
— Rappler

Feature photo Janwen

This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on the current dengue epidemic.

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 August 16 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on August 16, 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.