Philippines Morning News For December 12, 2019

Bicam approves P4.1-trillion 2020 national budget
The bicameral conference committee on Wednesday, December 11, approved the panel report on the proposed P4.1-trillion national budget for 2020.
— Rappler

Scrapping economic restrictions in Charter pushed
The Inter-Agency Task Force Constitutional Reform (CORE) has received the support of the Department of Finance (DOF) in pushing for the removal of economic restrictions in the Constitution including the ban on foreign investments in some industries.
— Manila Bulletin

Global slowdown spoils Duterte’s 8% GDP growth dream
The country’s economic growth is unlikely to hit an all-time high of 8% anytime soon, as global forces slap President Rodrigo Duterte’s economic team with a reality check.
— Rappler

‘Worth it’: Philippines reclaims SEA Games 2019 overall championship
For the first time in 14 years, the Philippines emerged as the overall champion of the Southeast Asian Games.
— Rappler

Lacson boycotts signing of budget bicam report over last-minute P83.2B ‘insertion’
SEN. Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday objected to the alleged last-minute insertion of P83.219 billion in the proposed P4.1 trillion 2020 national budget and boycotted the signing of a bicameral conference committee report.
— Manila Times

Despite kidnappings, PHL ‘very much’ safe for tourists –DOT chief
The Philippines remains to be a safe place for tourists despite an increase in kidnapping cases mostly involving Chinese nationals, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said on Wednesday.
— GMA Network

Economic team lowers 2019 growth goal to 6-6.5%
Economic managers on Wednesday trimmed the range of growth target to 6 to 6.5 percent this year, and 6.5 to 7.5 percent for 2021-2022 partly due to fiscal prudence.
— Philippine News Agency

Govt launches anti-drug war documentary ‘Gramo’
THE government on Wednesday launched a documentary film tackling President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on illegal drugs, amid human rights concerns about the surge of alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) in the country.
— Manila Times

Duterte’s 2018 SALN still secret 7 months after deadline – PCIJ report
Despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s vow of transparency, his own Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) for 2018 is yet to be disclosed to the public by the government more than 7 months after it was supposed to be submitted.
— Rappler

Locsin jokes rising sea levels are the solution to China’s ‘illegal’ structures
Foreign Affairs Secretary Tedoro “Teddy Boy” Locsin, Jr. on Wednesday shared how he once poked fun at the country’s sea dispute with China in one of the meetings of the United Nations Security Council.
— CNN Philippines

Bono: ‘No compromise’ on human rights
U2 frontman Bono said Tuesday there must be no compromise on human rights, in a rebuke of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ahead of the Irish rockers’ first Manila concert.
— The Asean Post

ADB maintains PH’s 2019, 2020 growth forecast
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has maintained its economic outlook for the Philippines this year and next year even after the economy picked up steam in the third quarter.
— Philippine News Agency

Rappler animated film about Filipina jailed with her baby wins Best Documentary Award
The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) chooses the Rappler animated film, Imprisoned: Raising my baby behind bars winner for the Best Documentary on Migration in the 2019 Migration Advocacy and Media (MAM) Awards.
— Rappler

Climate change a human rights issue: CHR
Climate change is a human rights issue, the country’s independent rights body said Wednesday after it ruled that carbon majors or large fossil fuel companies are “morally responsible” to invest in clean energy.
— ABS-CBN News

Lacson: Proposed national budget for 2020 not pork-free
The proposed national budget for 2020 is still not pork-free.
— Eagle News

Gov’t poised to beat anti-poverty goal by 2022
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte’s government can lift more people out of poverty than originally targeted by the end of his six-year term in 2022, one of his economic managers said on Wednesday.
— BusinessWorld

Aquino stayed at Makati Med ICU for security reasons
Former president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Makati Medical Center on Monday, December 9, but his spokesperson Abigail Valte said this should be no cause for alarm.
— Rappler

DTI scored for flip-flopping policy on steelmaking technology
SteelAsia Manufacturing Corp., the country’s largest rebar manufacturer with ambitions for an integrated steel production, has criticized the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for seemingly flip-flopping in its policy on steelmaking technologies.
— Manila Bulletin

Duterte won’t allow 2020 budget cut for family planning
President Rodrigo Duterte will not allow Congress to slash the proposed 2020 allocation for the implementation of family planning program, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said on Wednesday.
— Philippine News Agency

SC junks ABS-CBN’s bid to get P127-million damages from TV5, Revillame
THE Supreme Court has denied the bid of television network ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. to seek P127 million in damages for copyright infringement from television host Willie Revillame and ABC Development Corp. or TV5.
— Business Mirror

ADB approves $23.3-m loan to antitrust body
The Philippine Competition Commission secured a six-year project from the Asian Development Bank to boost the country’s competitive environment, narrow the gap on competition expertise in the country and build a domestic knowledge base for the effective implementation of the competition law.
— Manilastandard.net

DBCC proposes P4.64 trillion national budget for 2021
The inter-agency Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) has pegged at P4.64 trillion the proposed national budget for 2021, which will be used to fund the government’s priority programs, including anti-poverty and peace-building projects.
— The Philippine Star

PH needs an attitude change toward ‘creative industries’
TRADE Secretary Ramon Lopez would like to see the Philippines become the “top creative economy” in Southeast Asia by 2030.
— Manila Times

MWSS revokes extension of Maynilad, Manila Water concession contracts to 2037
The Metropolitan Waterworks Sewerage System has revoked the extension of the water concessionaire contracts with “onerous” provisions until 2037.
— Eagle News

Maynilad on revoked extension of deal: ‘Very grave concern’
Maynilad Water Services and Manila Water denounced the scrapping of the resolution extending their concession agreement with the government, a move that means the deal will end in 2022.
— Rappler

Husband, friend of kidnapped POGO employee now persons of interest — police
MAKATI police on Wednesday identified the husband of a kidnapped Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) employee in Makati City as one of two persons of interest (POI). Maj. Gideon Ines, chief of the Makati police investigation unit, identified the POI as Chen Tangbin, husband of victim Zhou Mei. The other POI is Zhu Jianwei. All […]
— Manila Times

Kidnapping cases up in 2019 due to POGOs, casinos –police
The number of kidnapping cases in the country is on the rise with Chinese nationals being involved in more than half of the cases, according to the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG).
— GMA Network

PCOO documentary shows ups and downs of Duterte’s drug war
The ups and downs of the Duterte administration’s crackdown on illegal drugs will be shown in a documentary to be aired on state-run PTV-4 at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
— Philippine News Agency

NegOcc stores told to pull out pork products from Luzon, abroad
The Negros Occidental provincial government, through its African swine fever (ASF) Task Force, has ordered 43 establishments to dispose of all pork products coming from Luzon and identified ASF-hit countries.
— Philippine News Agency

PH Navy launches web app to monitor procurements
The Philippine Navy on Wednesday, December 11, launched a web application designed to help monitor the progress of its projects and procurements in an effort to promote transparency and prevent corruption.
— Rappler

Reds agreed to 90% of what Duterte asked, resume peace talks –Bello
Leaders of the National Democratic Front have agreed to a resumption of its peace talks with the Philippine government, the chief negotiator with communist rebels said on Wednesday.
— GMA Network

MinDA, DavOr join hands to protect ‘million-dollar tree’
The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and the provincial government here agreed on Tuesday (December 10), to start the Agarwood Protection and Propagation Program to save the province’s fabled “million-dollar” tree.
— Philippine News Agency

Farmers receive P3B worth of rice seeds
MORE than 300,000 bags of inbred seeds worth P3 billion have been given out to 46 provinces under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), the Agriculture department said on Wednesday.
— BusinessWorld

341,757 households graduate from 4Ps: DSWD
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said some 341,757 households were already delisted from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) due to attrition or those whose households no longer have eligible children for monitoring.
— Philippine News Agency

Private firms have until Dec. 24 to give 13th-month pay: DOLE
Private sector employers have until Christmas Eve to release the 13th-month pay of their workers, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Wednesday.
— Philippine News Agency

Hiring of foreign workers learning opportunity for PH
An official of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) sees the employment of foreign workers in the country as an opportunity to learn from other nations.
— Philippine News Agency

SEC issues guidelines on revival of expired corporations
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has started accepting applications for the revival of expired corporations pursuant to Republic Act 11232, or the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines.
— Philippine News Agency

PCG bans double berthing of watercrafts in Pasig River
Double berthing of watercrafts will no longer be allowed in Pasig River and West Breakwater of South Harbor to give way for the seamless operations of the Cavite – Manila Ferry Services and Pasig River Ferry Services.
— Tempo

BI tightens watch on kidnap groups
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has been closely watching the country’s air and sea ports against foreign kidnap groups, Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete assured on Wednesday.
— Tempo

Legally yes, realistically no: Duterte’s powers to take over water operations
President Rodrigo Duterte can legally take over water operations, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Wednesday, December 11, even as he admits that the government is unlikely to be capable of taking over now.
— Rappler

‘Pamukaw’ to bring back barangay-based tribes
Nine barangay-based tribes will be featured in the “Pamukaw” on December 14, 2019, that will signal the start of the Dinagyang season.
— Philippine Information Agency

Duterte respects human rights — Andanar
President Rodrigo Duterte has shown respect for human rights through various initiatives in his first three years in office, a Malacañang official said Wednesday.
— GMA Network

Court junks election protest vs Rizal town vice mayor
The San Mateo Regional Trial Court dismissed an election protest filed by Cecilio Hernandez, former mayor of Rodriguez, Rizal, against pastor-turned-politician Anecito Lirazan.
— Rappler

Resumption of talks with communists likely, says Bello
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Wednesday said peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF), the communists’ political arm, may resume soon.
— GMA Network

74% of MILF fighters already decommissioned –gov’t
The second phase of the decommissioning of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants exceeded its target after 74% of fighters withdrew from service, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) said Monday.
— GMA Network

‘CV to be free of insurgency by end of 2021’ – NICA
The National Intelligence Coordinating Authority (NICA-7) believes Central Visayas will be rid of insurgency by the end of 2021.
— Philippine Information Agency

CHR reminds remaining Martial Law claimants to claim checks before Dec. 31
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Wednesday released an advisory urging the remaining eligible claimants of financial reparation under the Republic Act 10368 or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013 to submit their pending requirements before the available fund expires on December 31.
— GMA Network

Duterte vows gov’t support to dependents of fallen soldiers, policemen
President Rodrigo Duterte has assured dependents of fallen soldiers and policemen that they will receive the support they need.
— GMA Network

Lifting of martial law will boost Davao City economy – Sara
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on Tuesday, December 10, said the decision of her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, to end martial law in the island of Mindanao was a welcome development that could prove to be beneficial for the economy of this city.
— Rappler

Carlos Yulo to receive P3.2 million as Duterte gives SEA Games 2019 bonus
Star gymnast Carlos Yulo is set to receive a total of P3.2 million cash bonus as President Rodrigo Duterte awards additional incentives to Filipino medalists in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games .
— Rappler

Maguindanao ex-village chairman slain in Cotabato City
Unidentified gunmen shot and killed on Wednesday afternoon a former village chair of the Maguindanao town of Shariff Saydona Mustapha while he was inside an “Ukay-Ukay” (second-hand clothing) store in the city.
— Philippine News Agency

Ilocos Norte Christmas caravan benefits poor families
Reaching out to the poorest of the poor communities in the province of Ilocos Norte, Capitol workers, led by Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc, are distributing noche buena packages, medicines and school supplies to selected beneficiaries.
— Philippine News Agency

DSWD7: P1.6M in aid already given to ex-rebels in CV
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 7 revealed that around P1.6 million worth of financial and livelihood assistance has already been extended by their office for rebel returnees.
— Philippine Information Agency

Counterflow at Kawit’s Zeus interchange to start Dec. 16
The Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX), managed by the Road Infrastructure Arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation with its subsidiary Cavitex Infrastructure Corporation (CIC), will start implementing its counterflow scheme along the Zeus Interchange every Monday, from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m., effective December 16.
— Philippine News Agency

Cebu province dad seeks penalty vs. drivers of stalled vehicles
Citing on-road vehicle breakdowns as among the reasons for traffic gridlocks, a member of Cebu Provincial Board (PB) has pushed for a measure that seeks to penalize motorists whose broken down cars disrupt traffic flow in the provincial highways.
— Philippine News Agency

Bacolod City Council OKs P40,000 bonus for each qualified city gov’t employee
The Bacolod City Council yesterday approved P48 million as an additional bonus for some 1,200 qualified city government employees.
— Tempo

NOCPPO unveils ‘Ang Pahayag’ newsletter
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) scaled up its information dissemination drive with the unveiling of its official quarterly newsletter dubbed as ‘Ang Pahayag’.
— Philippine Information Agency

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Philippines morning news for December 12 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on December 12, 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.