Philippines morning news for August 22

Philippines morning news for August 22
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Philippines morning news

DA tightens swill feeding ban as mystery disease kills hogs
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is keen on disallowing the sale of swill feeds, which experts suspect as one of the possible causes of the abnormal hog deaths in backyard farms recently.
— Business Mirror

Government borrowings surge in 6 months
The national government’s borrowings surged by more than 82 percent to P840.84 billion in the first six months from P460.82 billion a year ago due to the higher volume of domestic and external securities issued during the period, according to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr).
— The Philippine Star

‘Lift Dengvaxia ban, but no mass vaccination’
An infectious disease expert from the University of the Philippines-Manila recommended yesterday the lifting of the ban on the use of Dengvaxia vaccine in private clinics, saying there is a testing tool available in the country to detect previous dengue infections.
— The Philippine Star

Senators renew bid to scrap travel tax
Three senators have renewed their call for the scrapping of travel tax.
— Manila Bulletin

China urges Philippines to ban online gambling
China has said it hopes the Philippines will ban online gaming to support its crackdown on cross-border gambling, which it said foreign criminals had used to embezzle funds and illegally recruit workers.
— Reuters

DA warns against buying pork as part of ‘biosecurity protocols’
The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday warned the public at large of the risk of buying pork after some farms in Rizal were placed under quarantine due to a “suspected disease.”
— GMA News

FDA to start licensing e-cigarette industry in December
THE Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will start accepting license applications for e-cigarette and vape businesses in December, allowing for a transition period after the July release of regulations for the industry.
— BusinessWorld Online

Duterte insists he will raise Hague ruling: ‘Don’t control my mouth’
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte sounded determined to raise the historic 2016 Hague ruling with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his upcoming visit to China later this month.
— Rappler

DA implements quarantine in areas affected by swine deaths, to get lab test results in 2 weeks to 3 months
The Department of Agriculture (DA) will still know in two weeks to three months the cause of increased swine deaths in backyard farms in some areas, as the department continues to not disclose these places with unexplained swine deaths.
— Eagle News

AFP official: No need for foreign vessels to seek permission under UNCLOS
An official from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday said it is not required for foreign vessels to seek permission when passing through territorial waters based on what is stated in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
— GMA News

DA says no outbreak of African swine fever in Philippines
The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Wednesday there is no outbreak of African swine fever in the country, after confirming that there have been incidents of hog mortality in some areas.
— Inquirer.net

Gov’t to push for passage of bill defining PH maritime zones
The government will push for the passage of a measure intended to define maritime zones under Philippine jurisdiction, a senior Palace official said Wednesday.
— Inquirer.net

‘Ineng’ intensifies to a tropical storm, landfall unlikely
Ineng intensified into a tropical storm from a tropical depression, weather officials reported Wednesday.
— CNN Philippines

‘Economic cost from alcohol to hit P256B’
THE economic cost of alcohol consumption could reach P256 billion by 2022, according to the Department of Finance (DoF).
— The Manila Times

Oil investors still keen on West Philippine Sea
The Energy Department said the West Philippine Sea continues to receive strong interest from international oil and gas companies such as Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. and NWP Ventures.
— Manilastandard.net

Over 10 departments face budget cuts
MORE than 10 departments are set to face possible budget cuts next year, including the Departments of Health (DOH), Trade and Industry (DTI), Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
— Business Mirror

‘Duterte’s P19.1-B drug purchase a right move, prevents DOH spoilage’
SENATE President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Wednesday backed President Duterte’s decision to buy P19.1 billion worth of drugs and vaccines, the bulk of which—estimated at 80 percent—will be distributed to provincial health centers “to avoid spoilage.”
— Business Mirror

P1.56-B project to boost dairy goat farming
THE National Dairy Authority (NDA), an agency under the Department of Agriculture (DA), said it has P1.56 billion in funding to level up dairy goat farming in the Philippines.
— The Manila Times

Agriculture department evades questions as pigs die in Luzon
Farmers in several areas in Luzon have reported that their pigs have suffered from loss of appetite, vomiting, and even sudden death.
— Rappler

DOTr-MRT3 blames previous maintenance provider for revenue losses
The Department of Transportation-Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (DOTr-MRT3) said it prioritized passenger safety over maximizing revenue, even as it blamed the years of neglect, bad maintenance practices, and mismanagement of the Busan Universal Rail Incorporated (BURI) for the persistent problems of the light rail system.
— Rappler

113 deaths due to leptospirosis since January 2019
The Department of Health (DOH) has recorded 113 deaths due to leptospirosis from January 1 to August 3 this year, from a total of 981 cases all over the country.
— Rappler

FOI bill, changes to Human Security Act among Duterte Cabinet’s priority bills
As the government gears up for the next full Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles listed down some bills the Duterte Cabinet wants passed during the 18th Congress’ 1st regular session.
— Rappler

Let PHL, China discuss arbitration ruling or not talk at all –Duterte
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said that he would rather cancel his bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping if he would be prevented from raising the arbitration ruling that in 2016 upheld the country’s claims in the West Philippine Sea.
— GMA News

Iligan placed under state of calamity due to dengue
The local government here declared on Tuesday a state of calamity following the alarming increase of dengue cases in the city.
— Philippine News Agency

LGUs embark on massive road clearing ops
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s road-clearing directive has gained the support, not just of the local government units all over the country, but also from local constituents who believe that there is no appropriate time but now to finally impose strict compliance to get rid of road obstructions, either for ease of movement or to address traffic congestion.
— Philippine Information Agency

160 solons meet ahead of 2020 budget deliberations
Despite being a holiday, around 160 House members met on Wednesday to talk about how they will conduct their deliberations on the proposed P4.1-trillion national budget for 2020.
— GMA News

Mirror Ninoy’s life, Duterte urges youth, gov’t workers
President Duterte yesterday urged government workers and the youth to be inspired by the life of the late Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. as a public servant who served with honor, integrity, and purpose. Duterte cited important role of Aquino in restoring democracy in the country.
— Tempo

QC eyes lease of national gov’t properties for displaced vendors, barangay halls
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte called on national government agencies to provide local governments with relocation sites for vendors and barangay halls displaced in the course of implementing the directive of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to reclaim public roads .
— Rappler

Cardema claims he paid P2 million to congresswoman for Guanzon’s vote to accredit Duterte Youth partylist
Former National Youth Commission Chair Ronald Cardema on Wednesday, Aug. 21, claimed he paid a congresswoman P2 million so Commission on Elections Commissioner Rowena Guanzon would vote to accredit the Duterte Youth party-list.
— Eagle News

PH urged to allow nurses deployment to Libya
The Libyan government has asked the Philippines to consider the deployment of more nurses and other Filipino workers to the Mediterranean state, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday.
— Philippine News Agency

Aurora residents urged to practice ‘4S’ vs. dengue
The Provincial Health Office (PHO) is urging residents in this province to follow the “4S” strategy against dengue as cases of the mosquito-borne viral illness reached a total of 1,234 from January to August 13 this year.
— Philippine News Agency

Duterte blames ‘atribida lady’ for gov’t failure to address EDSA traffic
President Rodrigo Duterte said that he abandoned a proposal to give him emergency powers to address EDSA traffic due to a woman in public service who supposedly thinks that all elected and government officials are corrupt.
— GMA News

DoF makes pitch for ‘superior’ new corporate incentives
THE Department of Finance (DoF) said the next round of tax reform will offer companies “superior” incentives, and dismissed worries about the new regime as “fear-mongering.”
— BusinessWorld Online

DTI not keen on higher safeguard duty on cement
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is not inclined to impose a safeguard duty on cement higher than the P12 recommended by the Tariff Commission (TC), as well as to put price caps on the commodity while a review of the latter’s findings is currently being undertaken.
— The Philippine Star

PHL telcos seen having edge in 5G launch race
NETWORK providers in the Philippines have an edge against their regional peers to launch fifth generation (5G) technology faster, technology firm Ericsson, Inc. said.
— BusinessWorld Online

SEC approves merger of RCBC and thrift bank unit
The Securities and Exchange Commission approved the merger between Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. and subsidiary RCBC Savings Bank.
— BusinessWorld Online

Amid CITIRA issues, exporters readying exit plans — PEZA
Japanese firm Cebu Mitsumi Inc. has dropped its plan to expand operations in the Philippines, opting instead to invest in Cambodia, due to concerns on the proposed changes in the incentives regime being pushed under the second package of the government’s tax reform program, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said.
— The Philippine Star

DOE crafts smart grid framework
The Department of Energy (DOE) is paving the pathway for Philippine power utilities to elevate service quality as well as equipment and asset deployments into the latitude of smart grid developments.
— Manila Bulletin

JICA turns over new power distribution equipment to NEA
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has turned over new equipment to the National Electrification Administration (NEA) as part of a grant to support the energy sector in Mindanao’s conflict-affected areas.
— The Philippine Star

Mimaropa wage board okays P1K-hike for HSW
HOUSEHOLD service workers (HSW) in Mimaropa region will be getting an additional P1,000 on their next pay day.
— Business Mirror

Huge gaps in mobile broadband speeds seen across 5 PHL cities
THERE is a huge disparity among five Philippine cities in terms of mobile broadband speeds and it comes as no surprise that Manila gained the top spot in a crowdsourced list.
— Business Mirror

PH to keep relying on coal for energy
COAL will stay as the leading source of energy in the Philippines amid the government’s continued push for renewable energy (RE), according to a unit of the Fitch Group.
— The Manila Times

POGO slowdown seen triggering ‘healthy’ property correction
THE licensing freeze on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) as well as China’s planned crackdown on online gaming will reduce the attractiveness of the Philippines as an investment destination, and will lead to an easing in property prices, analysts said.
— BusinessWorld Online

DoH reports 62% drop in leptospirosis cases
THE DEPARTMENT of Health (DoH) reported a 62% drop in leptospirosis cases nationwide from January to August 3 this year with 981 patients recorded from 2,618 in the same period last year.
— BusinessWorld Online

Prosecuting wildlife criminals still daunting challenge to gov’t
An unassuming house with high walls in Pasay City has been a longtime target of environmental law enforcers.
— Inquirer.net

Cops set up office near casinos amid rising cases of kidnapping
The Philippine National Police-Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) has put up satellite offices near casinos nationwide in the wake of increasing incidents of abduction.
— Inquirer.net

Hanjin seen to get new investor by end of 2019
Before the year ends, officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) are hoping that the financially-troubled Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC) Philippines will finally get its white knight.
— Rappler

COA urges legal action for non-remittance of P412-M bonuses to sugar workers
The Commission on Audit wants the Department of Labor and Employment to file legal action against sugar millers and planters found to have intentionally withheld from sugar farmers and workers their Cash Bonus Fund that has ballooned to P412,838,799.55.
— Manila Bulletin

COA: Over P400-M cash bonus for sugar farmers unremitted, undistributed
The Commission on Audit (COA) has bared that P412, 838,799.55-worth of cash bonuses remained unremitted and undistributed to sugar farmers as of 2018, partly due to the Department of Labor and Employment’s (Dole) lack of public announcements on the benefits.
— Inquirer.net

Filipino women not moving up the ladder fast
Businesses in the Philippines are taking measures to improve or preserve the gender balance in leadership roles. According to a recent report, ‘Women in Business’ by Grant Thornton International Ltd., female executives in senior management positions in Philippine companies dropped to 37.5 percent in 2019 down from 47 percent in 2018.
— The Asean Post

Antonio Sanchez killed 2 others, but those have no legal bearing on his release
Convicted rapist and murderer Antonio Sanchez killed two more people – a father and son – aside from the University of the Philippines (UPLB) Los Baños students; but that will have no legal bearing on his release because the revised penal code states the maximum prison time shall not exceed 40 years.
— Rappler

Japan and China eyeing further development partnerships with Davao City
Two big countries in Asia have now signified their interest in putting up an industrial park in the City as confirmed by the Chairman of the Committee of International Relations of the City Council.
— Davao Today

Call to action urged to address adolescent pregnancy in PH
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), together with the Department of Education (DepEd), the Center for Health Solutions and Innovations (CHSI), the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) and other non-governmental partners, faith-based leaders and youth leaders gathered for consultation to develop a call to action to address adolescent pregnancy in the country.
— Manila Bulletin

College professors decry threats of police, military intrusion in schools
On the 36th year of Ninoy Aquino assassination – which fueled the anti-dictatorship movement former president Ferdinand Marcos’ martial law period, professors from Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU), Far Eastern University (FEU), University of the Philippines (UP) -Diliman, UP-Manila and University of Santo Tomas (UST), among other universities, expressed their concern on threats of intrusion initiated the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
— Manila Bulletin

 

Feature photo PCOO/ Albert Alcain

This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, August 21.

 

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).

 

About Philippines morning news.

Philippines morning news roundup is the most comprehensive hand-curated selection of Philippines English language news headlines published. Each weekday we scour hundreds of local and international news sites and websites to find the most recent Philippines English language news today.

We filter our the dull, the boring, the repetitive, and the click-bait and package all of the Philippines daily news that you need to know to start your day into an easy to read, time saving format of Philippines news headlines and first paragraphs before 8.15am Manila time.

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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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