Philippines morning news for July 16

Philippines morning news for July 16
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Philippines morning news

Palace junks UNHRC resolution, calls it an affront to PH sovereignty
No resolution endorsed by a small faction in the United Nations rights body would weaken the government’s resolve to protect the people from the threats of illegal drugs and criminality, Malacañang declared last night.
— Tempo

Health officials issue national dengue alert
HEALTH OFFICIALS issued a national dengue alert after cases of the viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes peaked to more than 100,000 as of June, a record since 2016.
— BusinessWorld Online

Teachers to Duterte: Act on pay hike now
A week before President Rodrigo Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona), more than 200 teachers’ groups filed a resolution on Monday in Malacañang, urging him to finally back up his longtime pledge to increase their salaries.
— Inquirer.net

3 areas under Signal No. 1 due to Tropical Depression Falcon
Three areas in Luzon were placed under Signal No. 1 late Monday night, July 15, due to Tropical Depression Falcon.
— Rappler

PH won’t provide drug war docs if UNHRC report ‘just fishing expedition’
Malacañang won’t let the Philippines’ security agencies provide documents about the government’s campaign against illegal drugs to the United Nations (UN) rights body if it “feels” suspicious about the group’s intentions.
— Rappler

Protesters Storm Chinese Consulate over South China Sea
Philippine protesters, including some members of the nation’s Congress, surrounded the Chinese consulate in Manila and burned Chinese flags to protest Beijing’s disregard for the 2016 international tribunal ruling finding the Communist Party’s colonization of the South China Sea, which turned three years old Friday.
— Spratly Islands

Overseas Filipino remittances rise to $13.7 billion in January-May 2019
Personal remittances of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) rose to $2.9 billion in May 2019, 5.5% higher than the $2.7 billion during the same month last year, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno said in a statement on Monday, July 15.
— Rappler

P159-billion deals dropped with NCR ecozone ban
THE national government has decided to let go of P159 billion worth of project proposals to develop 131 information- technology (IT) centers and parks in Metro Manila even if these were already approved by Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) board but have yet to be endorsed to the Office of the President.
— Business Mirror

Legal issues on high-yield investment schemes in the Philippines
HIGH-yield investment schemes are a hot topic nowadays in the Philippines.
— Business Mirror

Neda committee increases cost of Mindanao Railway by 130%
The National Economic and Development Authority Board’s Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee on July 10 approved the 130-percent increase in the cost of the Mindanao Railway Project Phase 1 or the Tagum-Davao-Digos segment.
— Manilastandard.net

CoA cites Agriculture dep’t over P4.88B in unliquidated fund transfers
THE Commission on Audit (CoA) said the Department of Agriculture (DA) had about P4.88 billion worth of unliquidated fund transfers to various agencies and nongovernment organizations in charge of implementing several projects for the department.
— BusinessWorld Online

Duterte’s war on drugs to remain unrelenting even with UNHRC reso on probe –Palace
The Philippines’ war on drugs would remain unrelenting despite the decision of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to conduct a probe into the deadly campaign, a top Malacañang official said Monday.
— GMA News

Philippines tightens rule on entry of foreign workers
The Philippine Government is considering additional requirement on foreigners intending to work in the country, according to the country’s Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE).
— Vietnamplus

SolGen says lawyers of fishermen in writ of kalikasan case may face disbarment
Solicitor General Jose Calida warned that lawyers of fishermen who asked the Supreme Court (SC) to order the government to protect the West Philippine Sea may face disbarment raps for supposedly keeping their clients in the dark about the real nature of the writ of kalikasan petition they filed.
— CNN Philippines

DOE order upholds perks for IPs hosting power development projects in their domain
The Department of Energy (DOE) has released a new circular aimed at guiding indigenous communities in accessing and utilizing the financial benefits from hosting power-generation facilities and/or energy resource development projects pursuant to the Energy Regulations (ER) 1-94 Program.
— Business Mirror

PNOC, Ratio Petroleum ink pact to explore for oil, gas resources in PHL
THE Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) and Ratio Petroleum Ltd. of Israel have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for them to explore and develop oil and gas resources in the Philippines.
— Business Mirror

Groups slam closure of over 50 Lumad schools
Various groups denounced the decision of the Department of Education (DepEd) to suspend the permit to operate of over 50 Lumad schools in Davao Region and challenged the agency to “stand by” its mandate to provide access to education for all.
— Manila Bulletin

Government crafting EO to rationalize port fees imposed on importers
TO better address the issues on port inefficiencies and high shipping rates, President Duterte will issue an executive order (EO) granting one government body the power to control fees and charges imposed by shipping lines on importers.
— Business Mirror

Nationwide protests set vs working conditions
Labor groups are gearing up for protest actions in different workplaces nationwide to express their dismay over deteriorating worker conditions under the Duterte administration.
— The Philippine Star

Economists eye minimal impact of slower China GDP on PH
Some economists have discounted a negative impact on the Philippines in the near term, of the slower second quarter growth of the Chinese economy this 2019.
— Philippine News Agency

DICT mulls scrapping common tower policy shares
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) may scrap plans of issuing a common tower policy as the agency finds its release unnecessary at the moment.
— The Philippine Star

DA sets up 50 community stores across BARMM
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is setting up 50 community stores across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), which is part of a 10-year effort to “change the lives” of the people in the region whose development was stunted by decades of conflict and bloodshed.
— Manila Bulletin

Philippines eyes HK help in campaign vs corruption
THE GOVERNMENT is exploring further cooperation with Hong Kong in its fight against corruption, following Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr.’s recent meeting with Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam.
— BusinessWorld Online

DOLE orders construction firm to stop work after man’s death
THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) issued a Work Stoppage Order (WSO) on Monday at a construction site of Momentum Construction and Development Corp. (MCDC) in Manila, where a worker was killed last Sunday.
— Business Mirror

Philippines among most violent places for civilians — NGO
The Philippines is a dangerous place for criminals and the corrupt, according to Malacañang, as it countered a report stating that the country is one of the most dangerous places in the world in terms of violence that target civilians.
— The Philippine Star

E-cigarette industry given until October to register with FDA
E-CIGARETTE and vaporizer (vape) businesses will have until October to register their establishments and products before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or face possible seizure of their goods.
— BusinessWorld Online

LTFRB firm on June 2020 deadline to complete jeepney modernization
THE government is intent on completing the jeepney fleet modernization program as scheduled, after the initial stages of the project started in 2017 resulted in only 4,000 modernized jeepneys taking to the roads.
— BusinessWorld Online

Cops tell SONA protesters: No jackets, backpacks
Police urged protesters who will join mass actions during President Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22 not to bring jackets and backpacks.
— The Philippine Star

Philippine Marines : Easier To Find Rebels Than Pangolins
“It’s easier to find rebels in these mountains than pangolins,” grunted a sergeant from the Philippine Marine Corps.
— Page One

Senators nix withdrawal from UN Human Rights Council
Senators warned against a possible Philippine withdrawal from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), an idea that Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. had floated, saying it could isolate the country.
— Inquirer.net

DOJ orders probe of escort services at NAIA
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra ordered the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to investigate the alleged escort service modus at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) which allows the illegal entry and exit of air passengers.
— GMA News

Most Pinoys want Chinese fishermen destroying West Philippine Sea resources arrested — SWS
Majority of Filipinos want the government to “arrest and prosecute” Chinese fishermen destroying the marine wealth in the West Philippine Sea, a new Social Weather Stations survey released Friday found.
— Spratly Islands

‘No illegal Chinese workers in ecozones’
THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) on Monday denied a Laguna province-based publication’s claim that there are illegal Chinese workers in its economic zones.
— The Manila Times

Philippines’ top senator chides Iceland for abortion, UN drugs war probe
The Philippines’ highest-ranking lawmaker said on Monday (Jul 15) a UN resolution to probe the country’s bloody war on drugs should be ignored, and its chief backer Iceland be investigated instead for human rights abuses in allowing abortion.
— CNA

Roque notes UN human rights council, a “toothless tiger,” can’t pass judgment or impose sanctions
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is not an international court which can impose sanctions on countries, says former presidential spokesperson and human rights lawyer Harry Roque.
— Eagle News

DOF releases draft IRR for Personal Property Security Act
THE Department of Finance (DOF) has released the draft implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for Republic Act 11057 or the “Personal Property Security Act” (PPSA) on its website, where stakeholders and interested parties may review and download the proposed IRR and provide online comments and suggestions.
— Sun Star

Sotto files bill punishing spread of fake news
SENATE President Vicente Sotto 3rd wants a law that will criminalize the creation and spread of “fake news.”
— The Manila Times

Duterte signs Student Fare Discount Act
President Duterte has signed into law the measure granting a 20 percent discount to students in all public forms of public transportation in the country.
— Tempo

Over 14,000 cops to be deployed for President’s SONA
THE NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will deploy 14,100 policemen around Metro Manila, with 9,000 cops and force multipliers to be assigned in Quezon City for the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22.
— BusinessWorld Online

Gov’t to deploy social welfare attaches abroad
The government will establish social welfare attachés abroad to extend assistance to overseas Filipino workers based on a new law signed by President Duterte.
— Tempo

Duterte signs ‘bawal bastos’ act penalizing cat-calling, other forms of harassment
President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law the measure penalizing wolf-whistling, cat-calling and other forms of harassment in public places due one’s sex, gender or sexual orientation.
— GMA News

Marine aviation training between PHL, US to take place this month
A military exercise between the Philippines and the United States that focuses on mutual defense, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief will take place in the country this month.
— GMA News

Over 100 former rebels in Compostela Valley given financial aid
More than 100 members of the New People’s Army who surrendered in Compostela Valley have received financial assistance from the government under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP).
— Philippine Information Agency

209 inmates freed, 508 cases resolved through Justice on Wheels
A total of 209 inmates walked to freedom from jails in this province after their cases were resolved under the Enhanced Justice on Wheels (EJOW) program.
— Philippine Information Agency

Non-life insurers to lobby vs minimum capital hike
THE NON-LIFE industry will lobby to prevent the increase of insurance firms’ minimum capital requirement to P1.3 billion by the end of 2022, the Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association (PIRA) said.
— BusinessWorld Online

Duterte to delegate running of SEA Games to POC, PSC
Allegations of corruption in the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games may have prompted President Duterte to task the government to host the SEA Games itself.
— Inquirer.net

Naga City activates TF to End Local Communist Armed Conflict
Pursuant to Executive Order No. 70 entitled “Institutionalizing the Whole-of-Nation Approach in attaining inclusive and Sustainable Peace, Creating a National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, and Directing the Adoption of a National Peace Framework” signed by His Excellency, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte on Dec. 4, 2018, the Naga City Police Office (NCPO) has been tasked by the higher headquarters to activate the City Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (CTF-ELCAC) in the city.
— Philippine Information Agency

 

Feature photo WorldSkills Thailand

This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on World Youth Skills Day, July 15.

 

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.

 

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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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