Government debt swells to P7.9 T in May, a new record high
The national government’s debt pile rose to another record high of P7.916 trillion in May following the country’s return to the European and Chinese debt markets, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) reported yesterday.
— The Philippine Star
Duterte reminds AFP: Just ask if you want me to step down
While promising to provide all the needs of soldiers before the end of his term, President Rodrigo Duterte reminded the military that it did not need to resort to force to oust him.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer
Government starts taxing, sets database of alien labor
THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) are working on developing an interagency database of foreign nationals working in the country, to ensure they pay the correct amount of taxes to the Philippine government.
— Business Mirror
Malacañang fails to liquidate P10M of federalism fund
The Commission on Audit (COA) is further examining how Malacañang spent its funds for the federalism campaign, after auditors discovered unliquidated P10 million for activities and overspending on the hiring of staff worth P3.6 million.
— Rappler
DOH to vaccinate 9 million schoolchildren
In an effort to have children catch up on missed vaccinations, the Department of Health (DOH) relaunched its school-based immunization program on Wednesday, July 3, targeting to vaccinate some 9 million public school students nationwide.
— Rappler
Philippines: UN Rights Council can no longer stay silent on the killing of thousands
Myka, a 3-year old girl, is among the latest victims of President Rodrigo Duterte’s so-called war on drugs in the Philippines.
— Human Rights Watch (media release)
Cost of China damage to PH reefs: P33B a year
SHATTERED CORALS Fragile corals, living organisms that also provide shelter to fish and other marine creatures, take decades to grow but can be destroyed in mere seconds through harmful fishing methods by poachers and illegal fishermen.
— Spratly Islands
Italy offers investment aid to develop Bangsamoro
THE ITALIAN government has offered public and private assistance for the development of the Bangsamoro Region, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said.
— BusinessWorld Online
‘Solar panels to cut P24-billion government power bill’
SENATE President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto is batting for the installation of solar panels in state-owned buildings to reduce government’s P24-billion annual power bill.
— Business Mirror
PHL bans German meat for quarantine breach
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday formally banned all meat products from Germany—second top source of Philippine meat imports—after the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) discovered a major breach of quarantine protocol for African swine fever (ASF).
— Business Mirror
Duterte 8888 complaint hotline gets its own show, hosted by Panelo
A new show about President Rodrigo Duterte’s Citizens’ Complaint Hotline 8888 and the Presidential Complaint Center (PCC) premieres on July 11 on state-run People’s Television (PTV).
— Rappler
BSP to hasten Islamic banking rules
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will fast-track the issuance of regulations and rules for the development of Islamic finance in the country as soon as President Duterte approves and signs the Islamic Banking Law.
— Manila Bulletin
Del Rosario resigns from First Pacific
FORMER Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto del Rosario has resigned from his non-executive director’s post from the board of First Pacific Co., citing constraints to his role in the company from his “personal advocacies.”
— Business Mirror
Govt releases P395-M loans to power co-ops
THE National Electrification Administration (NEA) has released P395 million in financial assistance to electric cooperatives (ECs) in the Philippines to further improve electricity services to their respective member-consumer-owners.
— The Manila Times
PEZA seeks audit of tax incentives
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) is hiring an audit firm to conduct a performance audit of the tax incentives it granted to investors whether these have contributed to the economy or not.
— Manila Bulletin
Diokno banknotes launched
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Wednesday launched the banknotes bearing the name and signature of Governor Benjamin Diokno, who took his oath of office as the fifth head of the monetary authority on March 6.
— The Manila Times
10 slain in Luzon drug war
Ten persons were killed in anti-drug operations in Nueva Ecija, Bulacan and Laguna in the past two days.
— The Philippine Star
Over 260 fall ill due to alleged food poisoning at Marcos b-day party
More than 260 people were sent to various hospitals in Pasig and Mandaluyong possibly because of food poisoning. The victims all attended the 90th birthday celebration of former First Lady Imelda Marcos.
— CNN Philippines (video)
PNP Chief orders probe into death of 3-year-old girl killed in drug operations
Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde has ordered the investigation of the buy-bust operation that killed a 3-year-old girl.
— CNN Philippines
Armed attack on PH will trigger US obligations under defense treaty
A foreign armed attack on Philippine security forces will trigger the United States’ obligations under the Mutual Defense Treaty, US Ambassador to Manila Sung Kim said on Wednesday.
— ABS-CBN News
Lapid wants investment scams covered under economic sabotage
Senator Lito Lapid has filed a bill seeking to expand the coverage of economic sabotage to include those involved in investment scams.
— Rappler
Recto Bank incident ‘clear violation’ of int’l law – PH lead counsel
The sinking of a Filipino fishing boat by a Chinese ship in Recto Bank (Reed Bank) is a clear violation of international law, said the Philippines’ lead counsel in its case against China at The Hague.
— Rappler
Hearing on withdrawal of Mamasapano charges against ex-President Aquino set
The hearing on the proposed withdrawal of the graft and usurpation charges against former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III over the botched Mamasapano operations has been set for July 12, 2019 by the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division.
— Manila Bulletin
Philippines to probe Beijing’s alleged missile test in S. China Sea: Defense chief
The Philippines will investigate reports of a recent Chinese missile launch in the South China Sea, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Wednesday.
— ABS-CBN News
South China Sea claimants told: ‘Refrain from provocative unilateral actions’
Amid the reported Chinese missile test in the heavily contested South China Sea, United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim on Wednesday urged China and other country-claimants to “refrain from provocative unilateral actions” and “behave according to international practices and law.”
— Inquirer.net
DOH6 urges LGUs to intensify efforts against rabies
The Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD)-6 has called on local government units (LGUs) in Region 6 to intensify measures to prevent and control the spread of human and animal rabies in their respective localities.
— Philippine Information Agency
China missile test in South China Sea ‘disturbing’, says Pentagon
“Of course the Pentagon was aware of the Chinese missile launch from the man-made structures in the South China Sea near the Spratly Islands,” Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Dave Eastburn said.
— Spratly Islands
Health chief declares vaccination scare over
Parents’ aversion to having their children vaccinated due to the Dengvaxia scare is finally over, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
— Philippine Daily Inquirer
BOC: Over 600 shipping containers vanish from Port of Manila
Over 600 shipping containers suspected of containing high-value cargo the Port of Manila are missing.
— GMA News
Tighter security at Malaysia-Philippines border
Manila: Border safeguards are being worked out between Eastern Malaysia’s Sabah and Southern Philippines to ensure the safety of merchants and goods ahead of the planned resumption of barter trading in the area.
— Gulf News
Metro Manila, nearby provinces cope with 78% of usual water supply from Angat dam
Angat dam water level have been increasing in the past days hitting the 161 meter mark. Despite this, Metro Manila and nearby provinces will still only get 78% of the usual supply from the reservoir.
— CNN Philippines (video)
Sereno assails Duterte’s ‘outright’ rejection of the Constitution amid WPS issues
Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said Wednesday that President Rodrigo Duterte has himself committed what he assails the CPP-NPA for doing: “destroying institutions that make our journey as a democratic nation possible.”
— Inquirer.net
Zamboanga City drafts 10-year shelter plan
The city government is drafting a 10-year shelter plan that seeks to address the problem on informal settlers in this southern port city.
— Philippine News Agency
DTI boosts halal industry in Central Luzon
The promotion of halal industry in Central Luzon is set in motion as various stakeholders gathered here for the 2nd Philippine National Halal Conference.
— Philippine News Agency
Philippines slowly moving toward aging society: study
The Philippines is slowly aging, according to a study by state think-tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) released on Wednesday.
— Xinhuanet
Hong Kong police turning over 1,400 seized Philippine passports used as collateral for loans
Police are in the process of turning over some 1,400 seized passports to the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong after they were seized in a police raid on a company where they had been illegally used as collateral for loans by Filipino overseas workers.
— Coconuts Hong Kong
SEC issues cease-and-desist order against mining corp
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a cease-and-desist order against Alabel Maasim Mining (ALMAMICO) Corp. and related cooperatives for soliciting investments from the public without the necessary license and in a manner resembling a “Ponzi” scheme.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer
COA: Army yet to give out P47.6-M aid to soldiers hurt in Marawi
The Philippine Army has failed to distribute P47.6 million worth of financial assistance to Army personnel who were wounded in action during the Marawi siege from May to October 2017, the Commission on Audit (COA) said Friday.
— GMA News
Angara seeks probe on PhilHealth to protect UHC funds
A SENATE investigation on the “ghost dialysis” claims involving the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), among other concerns, has been formally sought in a resolution filed by Senator Juan Edgardo M. Angara.
— BusinessWorld Online
Palace to Duterte critics: “It’s absolutely fallacious to argue that the President is surrending PHL sovereignty”
Malacanang described as “fallacious” arguments made by critics of President Rodrigo Duterte that he was surrendering the country’s sovereignty by not pressing China to recognize and abide by the 2016 arbitral ruling on the South China Sea.
— Eagle News
Soldier killed, another hurt in Cotabato City gun attack
Police are in pursuit of motorcycle-riding gunmen who ambushed and killed an off-duty soldier and seriously injured his colleague along a busy intersection here on Tuesday.
— Philippine News Agency
1,378 Metro Manila cops suspended, 711 axed –NCRPO data
A total of 711 NCR police officers were dismissed, 1,378 suspended, and 190 demoted in the first three years of the Duterte administration, while 398 were exonerated, according to the National Captial Region Police Office.
— GMA News
PPA to launch ‘biggest’ port terminal building on July 15
The passenger terminal building (PTB) of the Port of Cagayan de Oro is ready for inauguration on July 15, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said Wednesday.
— Philippine News Agency
Fil-Am convicted for defrauding US gov’t
A Filipino-American and former Virginia state delegate was sentenced Tuesday to two-and-a-half years in prison for defrauding the United States federal government.
— Tempo
PSA-10 to hold survey on labor force, poverty indicators
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in Northern Mindanao is set to conduct the July 2019 Labor Force Survey (LFS) and the 2019 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey (APIS), July 8-31 across the region.
— Philippine Information Agency
Locsin to critics: Question cancellation of diplomatic passports before SC
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Wednesday asked the opponents of his move to cancel the courtesy diplomatic passports of former Filipino envoys to question his decision before the Supreme Court.
— GMA News
Philippine, Indonesian, Japanese coast guards hold pollution exercise
The coast guards of Philippines, Indonesia and Japan began Tuesday a joint exercise to address marine pollution, especially that caused by oil spills.
— The Mainichi
Globe partners with Aboitiz to build common towers
Globe Telecom has partnered with the Aboitiz Group and Frontier Tower Associates Philippines (FTAP) for the deployment of cell sites in Cebu, Davao, and Subic to support the common tower policy being implemented by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
— Philippine News Agency
CHR urges action as Philippines among ‘worst countries for workers’ anew
Being listed as one of the worst countries for workers for the third year in a row should prod the Philippines to take urgent action to protect laborers’ rights and to addressing workers’ grievances, the Commission on Human Rights said.
— The Philippine Star
FDA, DOH probe local brewery over alleged death from poisoning
The Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Health on Wednesday said they are investigating local liquor manufacturer Juan Brew after a woman allegedly died from methanol poisoning after drinking its gin.
— The Philippine Star
Brightcove Publishes Over-the-Top (OTT) TV Research with Insights on Adoption, Payment, and Advertising Preferences in the Philippines
Brightcove Inc. (NASDAQ: BCOV), the leading global provider of cloud services for video, today published its annual OTT TV market study for Asia, The 2019 Asia OTT Research Report, conducted with research partner YouGov, a global public opinion and data company.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)
DOH bans use of e-cigarettes, vapes in public
The Department of Health has banned the use of electronic cigarettes in public, with local government units to be tasked to apprehend violators.
— CNN Philippines
SEC stops two firms involved in Ponzi scheme
The Securities and Exchange Commission ordered Alabel Maasim Mining Corp., Alabel-Maasim Small Scale Mining Cooperative and Alabel-Maasim Credit Cooperative to stop soliciting investments from the public without the necessary license.
— Manilastandard.net
DOLE awards livelihood starter kits to child laborers’ families
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-10) awarded livelihood starter kits to 216 parents/guardians of child laborers regionwide under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP).
— Philippine Information Agency
Palace: Filing impeach raps not a crime, threatening Duterte with impeachment is
The mere filing of an impeachment complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte is not a crime, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Wednesday.
— Inquirer.net
First shipment of Argentine mandarins to the Philippines
Argentina has already sent its first shipment of mandarins to the Philippines.
— Fresh Plaza
Davao Sur gears for industrialization, tourism growth
Reelected Governor Douglas Cagas has committed to push for industrialization and a robust tourism in Davao del Sur.
— Philippine Information Agency
China tested missiles near Spratlys to show off military capability –maritime expert
A maritime law and affairs expert on Wednesday said that China’s missile tests in the South China are just to show off their military capability to other countries.
— GMA News
Death threats unfaze IP leaders in stand vs. NPA attacks
Despite getting death threats for “breaking their silence” on the atrocities of the communist terrorist groups (CTGs) in the Philippines, indigenous people’s (IP) leaders on Tuesday vowed to remain steadfast in rallying the international community to resist the armed insurgency movement’s narratives.
— Philippine News Agency
53 erring policemen complete reformation program
A total of 53 erring policemen have completed their 30-day reformation program.
— GMA News
NegOcc farm products fair promotes environment conservation
Various people’s organizations (POs) in Negros Occidental supported by the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) are selling agricultural products, mostly organic and naturally-grown, in a 15-day fair at the Capitol grounds here.
— Philippine News Agency
LBC launches Php 80 Pasabog Promo for cash on pick up transactions
LBC has terrific news for online sellers. LBC is launching the Cash on Pick-up (COP) P80 Pasabog Promo. Starting on June 1, 2019 until August 31, 2019, LBC will charge a fixed rate of only 80 pesos for LBC COP transactions of shipments up to 3 kgs.!
— Inquirer.net
US-based group conducts culinary training in Tacloban
Starting Tuesday, about 30 city residents will get the chance to hone their culinary skills through a nine-day training.
— Philippine News Agency
Avail of Taiwan travel deals at expo, Filipinos told
Filipinos are urged to take advantage of the recently announced extension of the Taiwan visa-free entry for the Philippines until 2020 and avail of travel deals at the July 4 Travel Madness Expo (TME) at the SMX Convention Center in Manila.
— Philippine News Agency
Poe files bill on social media awareness for elementary, high school students
Sen. Grace Poe has filed a bill seeking to make social media awareness a part of primary and secondary education in public and private schools. Poe filed Senate Bill No. 129 which seeks the inclusion of social media and its importance into the curriculum of primary and secondary levels of education in the country.
— Tempo
New bus route to spur economic dev’t in Soccsksargen
The city government of Kidapawan in North Cotabato province announced Wednesday the start of a bus route that will serve passengers of the Soccsksargen Region and Maguindanao province in the Bangsamoro autonomous region.
— Philippine News Agency
Hugpong endorses Davao City’s Isidro Ungab for House Speaker
The race for the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the 18th Congress just got tighter with the addition of another aspirant from Mindanao.
— Rappler
Countries concerned over China’s aggression in South China Sea, says US envoy
The United States’ top envoy to Manila on Wednesday called China’s recent missile launch in the disputed South China provocative and a violation of international law.
— GMA News
Quezon guv pushes development of remote towns
Newly-elected Governor Danilo Suarez has revealed his program to cascade more development projects to Quezon’s eastern Pacific seaboard towns and geographically isolated areas in a bid to spur economic development.
— Philippine News Agency
DENR lifts closure order on Irisan dumpsite, gives Baguio City until Dec 31 for conversion into eco-park
THE DEPARTMENT of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has lifted the June 26 cease and desist (CDO) order against the Irisan dumpsite in Baguio City, with several conditions, including a Dec. 31 deadline for the conversion of the site into an ecological park.
— BusinessWorld
Zamboanga City gov’t devolves garbage collection task to barangays
PREPARATIONS ARE underway for barangays to take responsibility of garbage collection in Zamboanga City as provided under a local solid waste management ordinance passed in 2016.
— BusinessWorld Online
Feature photo GreenPeace
This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on plastic waste throughout Asean.
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 July 4 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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