PH trade deficit tops $41 billion in 2018
The Philippines’ trade gap increased by half last year as imports continued to outpace country’s exports, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed yesterday.
— Manila Bulletin
P75 billion Diokno ‘insertion’ ends up as lawmakers’ ‘pork barrel’
They quarreled over P75 billion in infrastructure funds in the proposed 2019 national budget, with Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno calling it a “budgetary adjustment” and his congressman-tormentor, Rolando Andaya Jr. of Camarines Sur, labeling it as Diokno’s “pork.”
— The Philippine Star
Rodrigo Duterte again channels late dictator Ferdinand Marcos by calling for Philippines’ name to be changed
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte will need to change the constitution to adopt a new name for the country, the Senate president said.
— South China Morning Post
P433 billion aid from Japan to improve peacekeeping, infrastructure
More Japanese-funded projects are expected to benefit Filipinos in the next three years, particularly those in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao, an official of the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.
— The Philippine Star
Infrastructure delay, high interest rates to weigh on capital formation — ING
CAPITAL FORMATION will likely hit a snag this year amid higher interest rates and delays in infrastructure projects, which in turn will pull growth below the state’s 7-8% goal.
— BusinessWorld Online
China tops Philippine import suppliers in December 2018
China was the Philippines’ biggest supplier of imports with 22.1 percent share of the total imports in December 2018, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Tuesday.
— Xinhua
Manila court orders DOJ to summon Joma in ‘terror tag’ plea
A Manila court hearing the government’s petition to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) as terrorist organizations has dropped more than 600 names in the original petition filed by the government against the rebel group.
— Philippine News Agency
Can Duterte call himself a Moro people’s president?
Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte made bringing peace to Mindanao a central issue on the campaign trail.
— Asean Today
IFC invests $75m in green bond issued by Philippines’ AC Energy
International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, committed an investment of $75 million in a green bond issued by AC Energy Finance International Limited and guaranteed by AC Energy, according to an official release.
— Deal Street Asia
Philippines’ wireless leader pushes on with Huawei 5G launch
The Philippines’ leading wireless provider Globe Telecom is on track to launch its Huawei Technologies-backed 5G service in the next quarter, despite growing security concerns related to the Chinese telecom equipment supplier.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Nueva Vizcaya tourist arrivals up 10% in 2018
Tourist arrivals in this province have increased by 10 percent in 2018 compared to 2017, local tourism officials revealed.
— Manilastandard.net
With Autonomy in the Southern Philippines, Muslim Rebels Must Learn How to Govern
In the fragile west of the Philippines’ war-ravaged southern island of Mindanao, voters in recent weeks overwhelmingly approved an historic peace accord aimed at ending five decades of bloody separatist conflict.
— World Politics Review
NEDA-11 pushes for P40-B Davao airport upgrade
The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA)-11 is pushing for a PHP40.57-billion budget for the Davao International Airport development project.
— Philippine News Agency
Israel firm offers P44-billion solar irrigation
The Agriculture Department and a major Israeli agro-industrial company will soon start formal negotiations to construct 6,200 units of solar-powered irrigation systems worth P44 billion.
— Manilastandard.net
Election-hitched plant shutdowns may trigger power rate hikes anew
The hitches to be triggered by the forthcoming May 2019 elections on the scheduling of power plant shutdowns in the country may spark off electricity rate hikes again for Filipino consumers.
— Manila Bulletin
PH mission, UN body to tackle involuntary disappearances
A Philippine delegation will engage with the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (UN WGEID) during its 117th Session in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina on February 11-15 to discuss cases of alleged enforced or involuntary disappearances attributed to the Philippines from 1975 to 2012.
— Philippine News Agency
Asia’s biggest 4-in-1 franchising event set in March
With a two-day conference featuring 70 subject matter experts and an international expo showcasing more than 700 homegrown and international brands, this year’s Franchise Asia Philippines (FAPHL) reasserts its position as the biggest franchising event in the Asia-Pacific region.
— Manila Bulletin
Court allows Daraga mayor to post ₱3-M bail for firearms possession case
A local court has allowed detained Daraga, Albay Mayor Carlwyn Baldo to post bail for charges of illegal possession of firearms.
— CNN Philippines
PNP bares 701 poll hotspots
A total of 701 cities and municipalities nationwide are now considered election hotspots for the May 13 midterm polls, according to the latest update released by the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday.
— The Manila Times
Hanjin rehab draws interest of three ‘major’ shipbuilders
THREE MAJOR shipbuilders have signaled interest in the rehabilitation of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines, Inc. by asking for meetings on the matter.
— BusinessWorld Online
Pork barrel scam behind them? Jinggoy, Bong Revilla kick off Senate bids
Two senators charged with plunder or graft for allegedly misusing their pork barrel are seeking a return to the Senate, and are counting on the support of President Rodrigo Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
— Rappler
Government, business sector split on cause of tempered exports data
WHAT is to blame for the tempered exports performance last year? For the government, it is the trade conflict between the United States and China.
— Business Mirror
Abolition of regional wage boards seen to cut distortions
THE Senate is poised to hold a series of public hearings in aid of remedial legislation creating a new National Wages and Productivity Commission to replace existing Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs).
— Business Mirror
Honestbee pushes virtual grocery carts in smartphone country Philippines
Tech executive Crystal Gonzalez plays late 90s jams on her Macbook as office workers in surrounding towers prepare to dive into the evening rush hour. By the time they get home, their groceries will be at their doorsteps.
— ABS-CBN News
Comelec exec: No gun ban exemptions for off-duty police officers
Members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who are not on duty are not exempted from the gun ban imposed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) during the election period, Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said Tuesday.
— GMA News
5.1-magnitude quake jolts Davao Occidental
-A 5.1-magnitude earthquake hit Davao Occidental on Tuesday, Feb. 12. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the quake struck 88 kilometers southeast of Sarangani at 4:01 p.m.
— Eagle News
#MeaslesOutbreak: Update On Measles Cases As Of February 12, 2019
Update on Cases of Measles in PH as of February 12, 2019 MEASLES – Here is an update on the cases of measles in the Philippines as of February 12, 2019 (Tuesday).
— Philippine News
How a Philippine regulator stymied DowDuPont’s global seed launch
A Philippine regulator poses an unexpected obstacle to DowDuPont’s launch of a new line of genetically engineered soybeans in the United States as the company challenges Bayer AG’s decades-long dominance of the US seed market.
— ABS-CBN News
Sri Lanka hiring hangmen, inspired by Philippines’ war on drugs
Sri Lanka began advertising for hangmen this week, as the country’s president pushes ahead with a hardline policy, modeled on the Philippines, to combat drug trafficking.
— Reuters
Veto power, override are sacrosanct
AFTER weeks of wrangling and horse-trading, Congress ratified on Friday the P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019 and sent it to President Rodrigo Duterte for his signature.
— The Manila Times
Statement of Islamic Society of the Philippines on Mindanao bombings
The Parhimpunan Sin Islam (Islamic Society of the Philippines) condemns in the strongest terms the dastardly act done to our people in Jolo, Sulu, and now, Zamboanga City.
— The Manila Times
Comelec reminds mall owners of ban on election propaganda in theaters
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has reminded mall owners about the prohibition on featuring election propaganda in their theaters.
— GMA News
BFAR trains local fisherfolks on lobster industry
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) tapped some local fisherfolks to operate a puerulus raft that will collect baby lobsters in lobster highway in the Leyte Gulf side of E. Samar.
— Philippine Information Agency
In photos: Japan donates bulletproof vests, ballistic shields, others to PNP
In these pictures released by the Office of the Chief of the Philippine National Police, Japan’s Ambassador to the Philippines Koji Hameda is seen turning over equipment donated by the Japanese government to the national police.
— Eagle News
Survey on drop in trust in vaccines: If not fake, a flawed poll
THE shrie-king claims that there has been a steep fall in Filipinos’ trust in vaccines is based on a poll that, if not fake, is deeply flawed. The article that …
— The Manila Times
Treasury fully awards seven-year bonds
THE government made a full award of the seven-year Treasury bonds (T-bond) it placed on the auction block on Tuesday, indicating strong investor demand for medium-term instruments.
— BusinessWorld Online
35 US schools to join education fair in Cebu
Thirty-five colleges and universities from the United States of America will participate in this year’s EducationUSA Fair at the Radisson Blu Hotel here on Feb. 28, 2019 from 1:00-4:00 pm.
— Philippine Information Agency
Philippines issues new rules on acquiring cryptocurrency assets
In a bid to effectively regulate and protect investors, a comprehensive set of new rules governing cryptocurrencies was recently unveiled by the Philippines, through the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA).
— OpenGov
Tax officers close down two Panglao resorts for understating income
The Bureau of Internal Revenue has shut down two resorts on Bohol province’s Panglao Island for under-declaring their income.
— Philippines Lifestyle News
House unanimously approves ONE Philippines Act on final reading
House Bill 3437, which seeks to provide for an on-line network establishment (ONE) policy for the country, was approved unanimously by the House of Representatives on the third and final reading, with 174 votes.
— OpenGov
PH to send trade mission to Russia
THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) is organizing a trade mission in hopes of penetrating the huge and previously unexplored market of Russia as well as other member countries of the Russian Federation.
— Mindanao Examiner
Zambo City dads okay construction of P50-M DRRM building
The City Council on Tuesday approved the proposal of the city government to construct a PHP50 million Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) building here.
— Philippine News Agency
Foreign student who threw taho at cop indicted for direct assault
The Office of the Prosecutor in Mandaluyong City found probable cause to indict for direct assault the foreign student who threw her cup of taho at a policeman guarding the Metro Rail Transit Line 3.
— Rappler
Report illegal campaign posters, Comelec urges
NETIZENS were urged by the Commission on Elections to report to them if they see the presence of prohibited campaign materials of senatorial candidates and party-list organizations.
— Tempo
Troops ordered to stop Reds from collecting campaign fees from bets
The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Tuesday called on soldiers to curb communists from extorting money especially this election season.
— GMA News
Review of Sida fund utilization pushed
Sugar industry stakeholders in the country called on the government to review the utilization of the Sugar Industry Development Act (Sida) fund amid concerns on a budget cut due to underspending.
— Sun Star
Philippines: Powerhouse of Beauty Pageants
“It’s our Superbowl. The level of support that Filipinos give the arena of pageantry is phenomenal,” 25-year-old beauty queen Catriona Gray explains.
–Asia Media International
Counting of votes should be done in public again
ARE we happy with the way the Comelec automated our election system? A survey some years back showed that some 70 percent of Filipinos were satisfied with the system.
— The Manila Times
Globe hikes capex to P63B
GLOBE TELECOM, Inc. is raising its capital expenditure (capex) by 45% to P63 billion (about $1.2 billion) this year as it continues to expand its network to address rising demand for data services.
— BusinessWorld Online
DICT to tweak common tower plan
THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is looking to fine-tune the shared telco infrastructure initiative.
— BusinessWorld Online
Mis-information clogs blood giving program
Chances are, somebody has already told you he can’t donate because he has a tattoo, an ear piercing, has high blood pressure, and that he has a championship game the next day.
— Philippine Information Agency
P1K LGU medical aid equals 3 months of SSS coverage
How much does a local government unit (LGU) dish out when a casual or contractual worker gets confined to a medical facility and pleads for help in the accumulated bills?
— Philippine Information Agency
Illegal posters scattered all over Metro Manila, provinces
The campaign period for the 2019 elections officially began on Tuesday, but it looks like many of the candidates for local and national posts have yet to learn how to follow the rules.
— GMA News
Election 2019: List of Areas Where Campaign Posters Are Prohibited
List of Areas Where Campaign Posters Are Not Allowed Here is the list of areas wherein campaign posters are prohibited since the official campaign has already begun for the upcoming May 2019 elections.
— Philippine News
December external trade in goods weakest in three years as exports, imports contract
Trade activity in December marked its weakest in three years, as exports and imports both declined.
— BusinessWorld Online
‘Name change requires Cha-Cha’
It is merely an idea, but the proposal to change the name of the Philippines to “Maharlika” is “interesting” enough to initiate a constitutional amendment, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Tuesday.
— Manilastandard.net
Honorary alumni discouraged from marching with adoptive classmates in PMA homecoming
The Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association Inc. has discouraged honorary members, some of whom are candidates in the May 2019 elections, from marching with their adoptive classmates during the PMA homecoming in Baguio City on Saturday.
— GMA News
46 San Antonio residents graduate from DSWD Tech-Voc Program
A total of 46 beneficiaries in San Antonio, Zambales complete Technical-Vocational trainings on Dressmaking and Beauty Care of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
— Philippine Information Agency
Palace declares Wednesday, Feb. 13, a special non-working holiday in Parañaque
Wednesday, Feb. 13, has been declared a special non-working holiday in Parañaque..
— Eagle News
Phinma invests P278M in Indonesian JV firm
PHINMA Corp. is investing P278 million in a joint venture company that will hold its education business in Indonesia.
— The Manila Times
Landbank loans to agri-fisheries hit P172.7B in 2018
Loans released by state-owned Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) to the agriculture and fisheries sector went up by 25 percent to P172.7 billion in 2018 from the figure posted the year before.
— The Manila Times
CleanGrid Partners Sets Out to Change the Way Sustainable Energy, Grid Electrification Is Done
Singapore’s CleanGrid Partners is out to make a difference in the world. Flush with USD60 million of investment capital (and more to come according to management) the new clean, sustainable energy development venture aims to bring the benefits of low- or zero-emissions electricity to the estimated, 100 million-plus people across Southeast Asia who lack reliable, affordable energy access.
— Solar Magazine
US, PH unveils new maritime facility
The United States and the Philippines have commissioned a new maritime training facility in Balagtas, Bulacan to support Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)’s mission of training its workforce and enhance maritime security.
— The Manila Times
Feature photo End Rabies Now
This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo acknowledges World Radio Day February 13.
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.
Philippines morning news for February 13 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on
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Stella-maris Ewudolu
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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