Philippines morning news for December 17

Philippines morning news for December 17
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Philippines morning news

Charges readied vs foreign vessel over ‘damage’ to corals
The municipal government of Bolinao is ready to file charges against the owner of a foreign vessel that ran aground off the coastal waters of Barangay Patar last week.
— The Philippine Star

Davao del Sur quake toll hits three amid hunt for survivors
The death toll from the powerful quake that hit the southern Philippines climbed to three Monday as rescuers used heavy equipment and their bare hands to hunt for survivors in a collapsed building.
— Eagle News

Rappler journalist Ressa launches defence in Philippine libel case
Philippine journalist Maria Ressa said on Monday (Dec 16) she would not be silenced as she launched her defence against a libel charge that press advocates call an attempt to curb her news site’s critical coverage of President Rodrigo Duterte.
— CNA

Senate okays higher ‘sin’ taxes to bankroll universal health care
THE Senate, working overtime Monday night, passed on third and final reading higher rates for so-called sin taxes on alcoholic beverages, heated tobacco products and vapor products to help bridge the funding gap for the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law.
— Business Mirror

Remittances increased 8% to $2.67 billion in October
Money sent home by Filipinos working overseas increased 8 percent in October to $2.67 billion, the fastest expansion this year, from $2.47 billion a year ago, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Monday.
— Manilastandard.net

DBM: 99% of 2019 budget released
The national government has released almost 99 percent of the P3.662 trillion 2019 budget as of end-November to support agencies’ programs and projects, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) reported yesterday.
— The Philippine Star

Close to 1,000 aftershocks rock Mindanao after 6.9 quake
Close to 1,000 aftershocks were so far recorded, following the powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake that rocked parts of Mindanao on December 15.
— Tempo

House panel OKs gov’t workers’ pay hike by 2020; urgent passage sought
The House appropriations committee swiftly approved on Monday the consolidated bill increasing the salary of government employees by 2020.
— Inquirer.net

World’s 1st dengue drug, made by Pinoys
THE first anti-dengue medicine in the world may be available by end of next year.
— Business Mirror

Government should search entire reality about SEA Video games and no longer accept superficialities – The Manila Instances
IF the federal government and the general public are to get a correct and optimistic image of the not too long ago concluded 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Video games, the submit mortem and inquiry should no longer forestall at superficial wondering.
— Sports News Blogdady

Marcos family gets away with paying P200 billion in ‘ill-gotten wealth’
Considered one of the mother cases of the Marcos forfeiture cases, the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan dismissed on Monday, December 16, Civil Case No. 0002 allowing the entire Marcos family to evade paying P200 billion in alleged ill-gotten wealth to the government.
— Rappler

80 Maguindanao massacre suspects still at large
More than 10 years after the brutal death of 58 people in what is now infamously known as the Maguindanao massacre, more or less 80 respondents are yet to be accounted by government’s law enforcement agencies.
— Tempo

4.3-magnitude quake hits Davao del Sur
A 4.3-magnitude earthquake struck Davao del Sur on Tuesday, Dec. 17.
— Eagle News

Workforce to be ramped up for Industry 4.0
THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with two other government agencies to prepare the country’s labor sector for future production requirements in the manufacturing industry in light of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0).
— Manila Times

Gov’t fast-tracks environment permits for infrastructure
THE DEPARTMENT of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has streamlined the process for acquiring environmental compliance certificates (ECCs) for projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program.
— BusinessWorld

Infrastructure slowdown dents state capital spending
THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT’S capital spending slipped in October as spending on infrastructure declined, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) reported on Monday.
— BusinessWorld

DTI signs MOU with other gov’t agencies in preparation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution
The Department of Trade & Industry recently signed two (2) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with other government agencies in preparation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
— Philippine Information Agency

Sotto to take up ‘questionable’ budget items with ES Medialdea
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Monday he will take up Senator Panfilo Lacson’s concerns about the P4.1-trillion proposed 2020 national budget with the executive department and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.
— GMA Network

Sotto law allows Rappler to protect source in cyber libel case
Republic Act No. 11458 or the Sotto law allows Rappler to keep its source confidential in the cyber libel trial at the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC).
— Rappler

Robredo defers release of drug war report
Vice President Leni Robredo deferred the release of her report on the drug war, following the 6.9-magnitude quake that struck Davao del Sur.
— Eagle News

Remittances seen as among peso’s boost this year
The Philippine peso is expected to receive a boost from the strong inflows of remittances this year, but the situation can reverse next year on projected improvement of imports.
— Philippine News Agency

Duterte won’t divulge net worth, Palace says
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte won’t release a copy of his net worth statement to the public, the presidential palace said on Monday, raising questions about his administration’s policy on honesty and openness.
— BusinessWorld

2-day calamity leave bill filed in House
A bill seeking to grant a two-day special emergency leave for all workers in the public and private sector directly affected by natural calamities has been filed at the House of Representatives.
— Philippine News Agency

Bacolod City crime volume down 34.6% as of Nov. 2019
The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has reported a decrease of 34.59 percent in the total crime volume here from January to November this year compared to the same period in 2018.
— Philippine News Agency

Lower House approves on final reading bill lowering optional retirement age to 56 for gov’t employees
The optional retirement age for government employees could soon be changed from 60 to 56.
— Eagle News

Keng camp tries to pin down Maria Ressa in Rappler cyber libel case
Does the buck stop with her? was a question asked by prosecution counsel Ryan Cruz on Monday, December 16, referring to Rappler CEO Maria Ressa as the cyberlibel trial winds down at the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC).
— Rappler

Duterte orders 24/7 aid for quake victims
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered concerned government agencies to provide help to quake victims 24/7 “to make sure that everyone is safe and are ready for possible aftershocks,” Malacañang said on Monday.
— Manila Times

Maynilad, Manila Water bankruptcy feared if extension talks fail
Maynilad Water Services and Manila Water may declare bankruptcy if they do not find a solution with the government over the extension of their concession agreement until 2037.
— Rappler

Poor financial planning afflicts OFW families
Recipients of remittances in the Philippines run out of money because of poor financial planning and expenses made on non-essential luxury items, according to UniTeller, a US-based international payment company.
— Manilastandard.net

Philippines hunts for survivors after quake levels trade building
Rescue teams in the southern Philippines searched for signs of life on Monday in a collapsed shopping centre after a powerful earthquake that killed at least three people and wounded dozens more.
— CNA

Belmonte: ASF contained in QC, P16.9M cash aid given to local hog raisers
The city government has contained the African Swine Fever (ASF) virus with no new positive blood tests reported since Nov. 13 and no ASF-related death in the past 30 days, Mayor Joy Belmonte assured the public on Monday.
— Philippine Information Agency

Senate OKs on 3rd reading separate facility for high-level heinous crimes convicts
Voting 21-0, the Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill seeking the establishment of separate facility for high-level heinous crime offenders.
— GMA Network

Netflix flexes ‘largest drone show’ in PH to promote ‘6 Underground’
Netflix Philippines is celebrating the launch of Michael Bay’s big blockbuster film, 6 Underground , starring Ryan Reynolds, with a drone show of epic proportions.
— Rappler

Duterte slams Winnie Monsod for column patronizing admin’s anti-poverty campaign
President Rodrigo Duterte slammed economist Winnie Monsod for her column that analyzed the recent poverty statistics released by the government.
— GMA Network

Husband of kidnapped Chinese woman claims she is back home
The husband of the Chinese woman who was recently kidnapped in Makati City is now claiming that his wife has returned to their house, Makati police said.
— Rappler

2 Pangasinan cities top competitiveness ranking in Ilocos
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has recognized Dagupan City and San Carlos City as among the top component cities in overall competitiveness in the Ilocos region based on the results of the 2019 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI).
— Philippine News Agency

Gamboa asks senators not to put too much limit on proposed Body-worn Camera Act
Philippine National Police officer-in-charge Police Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa asked senators on Monday not to premise the crafting of the law on the use of body cameras on alleged extrajudicial killings in the country.
— GMA Network

Farmers get 120,000 hectares of land under agrarian reform
THE government of President Rodrigo R. Duterte has given out more than 120,000 hectares of land for agrarian purposes, according to the presidential palace.
— BusinessWorld

PAGASA – Last Cyclone Of The Year Still Possible During Holidays
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), a tropical cyclone might enter the country in the following days.
— Philippine News

Expect More Aftershocks After 6.9 Magnitude Quake Says Phivolcs
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology (Phivolcs) warned residents of Davao del Sur to expect more aftershocks following the 6.9 magnitude quake.
— Philippine News

Over reliance on technology vs cyber threats warned
Businesses should not overly rely on technology to fight cyber threats, rather they should focus on skills development of manpower to interpret risks and implement measures to prevent attacks.
— Manila Bulletin

Euro 6-compliant jeeps to start plying Metro Manila roads soon
Euro 6-compliant modern jeepneys will soon ply the streets of Metro Manila after a transport group expressed its plan to roll out at least 500 of these environment-friendly vehicles in the first half of 2020.
— Philippine News Agency

Quake damages 16 houses, structures in Sarangani
At least 16 houses and several other public structures in two municipalities in Sarangani province were reported damaged as a result of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that jolted parts of Mindanao on Sunday afternoon.
— Philippine News Agency

250 Dumaguete drug users qualify for community-based treatment
A total of 250 “persons using drugs” here have been assessed to be qualified for the community-based treatment and drug rehabilitation program of the government.
— Philippine News Agency

4 killed, 5 hurt in 9-vehicle smashup in Bulacan
Four persons were killed and five others were injured in a nine-vehicle smashup along MacArthur Highway in Barangay Biñang 1st in this town on Monday.
— Philippine News Agency

‘Nowhere to Go But UP’: Book on Fighting Maroons launched
From being cellar-dwellers in the UAAP, the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons have risen to become one of the collegiate league’s more formidable teams.
— Rappler

Over 3K Caraga workers regularized in 2019
A total of 3,268 workers in private companies in the Caraga Region were regularized for the year 2019, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-13) reported.
— Philippine News Agency

Zambo mayor backs Misuari’s appointment as special envoy
Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar of Zamboanga City announces her support on Monday (Dec. 16, 2019) to the appointment of Moro National Liberation Front founding chair Nur Misuari as Special Economic Envoy on Islamic Affairs to the Organization of Islamic Conference.
— Philippine News Agency

MMSU program boosts food sufficiency in Ilocos Norte
In just one year after its implementation in its main campus here, the state-run Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) CARES (Coordinated Agribusiness, Research, and Extension Strategies) program produced 26,621 kilos of fresh palay this season from 88 farmers, an impressive production debut to help sustain Ilocos Norte’s sufficiency in rice.
— Philippine News Agency

Female Philippine Eagle Rescued by Fishermen of Dampilan in Sarangani
Female Philippine Eagle was Rescued by Fishermen of Dampilan in Sarangani A female Philippine Eagle was rescued by fishermen of Dampilan, Lumatil, Maasim, Sarangani Province in the afternoon of December 13, 2019.
— Philippine News

PNP abandons practice of sealing cops’ gun muzzles during the holidays
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said that the organization would no longer seal the gun muzzles of their personnel during the holiday season.
— GMA Network

Palace tells Robredo to keep hands off water deals issue
Malacañang on Monday advised Vice President Leni Robredo not to engage in matters she allegedly had no knowledge of after she commented on the government’s actions against Metro Manila’s water firms.
— GMA Network

PNP to acquire over 17K Israeli-made assault rifles
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is set to acquire 17,048 new units of 5.56m Basic Assault Rifle amounting to PHP712,927,360 sourced from the 2019 General Appropriations Act, PNP officer-in-charge.
— Philippine News Agency

Gov’t workers should be happy with proposed salary hike: Palace
Malacañang welcomed the decision of the House appropriations committee to approve the consolidated bill increasing the salary of government employees by 2020.”
— Philippine News Agency

No major structural damage in GenSan from quake
No major damages were recorded in government and private buildings and other vital structures here in the wake of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that hit parts of Mindanao on Sunday afternoon.
— Philippine News Agency

DOT seeks update on Caraga tourism framework
Tourism stakeholders in Caraga Region convened for a two-day consultation workshop starting Monday in a bid to update its tourism strategic framework.
— Philippine News Agency

Palace: It’s Ombudsman’s job to release Duterte’s SALN to public
Malacañang on Monday insisted that President Rodrigo Duterte is not mandated to release a copy of his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) to the public.
— GMA Network

LRT-2 cuts operating hours on eve of Christmas, New Year
Operating hours of the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) will be reduced on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve to allow the train service’s workers to celebrate the holidays.
— Philippine News Agency

BSP warns Ilonggos vs. fake bills this holiday season
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in Iloilo reminded the public on Monday to be vigilant against counterfeit bank notes that might be introduced into circulation this holiday season.
— Philippine News Agency

Palace questions NPA sincerity in holding peace talks
The Palace on Monday, Dec. 16, questioned the sincerity of the New People’s Army following the Eastern Samar attack that saw at least two people killed.
— Eagle News

PCUP to hold Mega Job Fair
In celebration of the Urban Poor Solidarity Week, the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) will hold a Mega Job Fair.
— Philippine Information Agency

PNP on alert for possible attacks during CPP anniversary
The Philippine National Police (PNP) was on alert for possible activities by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army during the CPP’s anniversary later this month.
— GMA Network

Buying tips for new Filipino wine drinkers
As more and more wine brands make their way to the Philippines, wine drinking becomes increasingly popular among Filipinos. However, given the countless wine choices available, it’s easy to get lost when you’re a new wine drinker.
— Rappler

With the 30th Southeast Asian Games all over, including the shouting…
The 30th Southeast Asian Games duration became a golden feat for me in the same way with how the athletes dedicated every ounce of their blood, sweat and tears to get their medals — be it gold, silver or bronze — and bring honor to their respective countries.
— Manila Bulletin

Philippines, France eye enhanced maritime defense pact
The Philippines is eyeing another agreement with France to strengthen maritime defense cooperation.
— The Philippine Star

Filipino Teachers Are Learning to Teach Mandarin. The Program Is Partly Funded By China
Since Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s ascent to power in 2016, his administration has overseen a significant shift in the country’s foreign policy, particularly a pivot from the United States towards China.
— Vice

 

Feature photo Philippine News Agency

This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on International Migrants Day, December 18.

 

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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