Philippines morning news for March 5

Philippines morning news for March 5
Advertisement
Online English lessons

Philippines morning newsGovernment debt rose to P7.5 trillion as of January
The government’s outstanding debt surged P768 billion or 11.4 percent to P7.494 trillion as of end-January from P6.726 trillion a year ago, data from the Bureau of Treasury show.
— Manilastandard.net

Construction begins on Manila subway in bid to curb billions in losses (video)
Construction of the Philippines first underground railway system commenced last Wednesday (Feb 27) with Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade and representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) conducting an official ground breaking ceremony.
— AEC News Today (video)

NFA ends regulatory function; rice liberalization begins
Filipinos can expect more imported rice to enter the country as the law liberalizing the local rice industry takes effect today.
— The Philippine Star

More competition in services sectors to add P26.8 billion to PHL’s GDP–World Bank
IF the government can encourage greater competition in the services sectors, the economy could see an addition of at least 0.2 percentage points to GDP growth annually, according to a World Bank study.
— Business Mirror

GDP growth to pick up as inflation slows
THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY can be expected to grow faster this quarter and for the full year as slowing inflation spurs consumer spending, while state infrastructure spending and private construction should be able to sustain “their elevated trajectory,” according to separate analyses released on Monday.
— BusinessWorld Online

NEDA final hurdle for Mindanao railway before China ODA
THE DEPARTMENT of Transportation (DoTr) said it expects to make significant progress in securing official development assistance (ODA) from China for the Mindanao Railway Project this month.
— BusinessWorld Online

Measles cases go past 16,000, deaths at 261 — DOH
MANILA, Philippines — The number ofmeasles cases reported nationwide has climbed to 16,349 with 261 people dying after contracting the disease, as of March 2, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.
— Inquirer.net

Philippines’ budget secretary named central bank governor
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday appointed his budget secretary as the governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
— Reuters

Dutch and US groups show interest in Philippine shipyard rescue
The Philippines’ largest shipyard, which collapsed in January with $1.3 billion in debt, has attracted interest from Dutch and U.S. shipbuilders, amid political opposition to a Chinese takeover.
— Hellenic Shipping News

In Philippines, Pompeo Offers Major Alliance Assurance on South China Sea
Following the disappointing U.S.-North Korea summit meeting in Hanoi, which ended without any notable result, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo jetted off to Manila, where he offered a long-sought as
— The Diplomat

PH among top countries with highest increase in measles cases – Unicef
The Philippines was among the top countries which had the highest increase in measles cases recorded as of February 2019, the United Nation’s children agency (Unicef) said as it warned global cases of measles have been surging to “alarmingly high levels.”
— Rappler

SBMA releases P222-million shares to 8 neighbors
The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority has released its revenue shares to neighboring local government units, this time in the amount of P222.13 million for the second semester 2018 dividends.
— Manilastandard.net

Indonesia to help rebuild Marawi City grand mosque
The government of Indonesia plans to help in the rebuilding a grand mosque in Marawi City which was destroyed by a five-month war in 2017, Indonesia Vice President Jasuf Kalla said.
— Philippine News Agency

Iloilo SP urged to prioritize approval of P3.7-B exec budget
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. is urging the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) to set aside politics and prioritize the welfare of Ilonggos by passing the 2019 PHP3.7-billion executive budget.
— Philippine News Agency

NHA gives P5-M aid to ‘Rosita’ victims
The National Housing Authority (NHA) on Monday provided financial aid worth PHP5 million for the victims of Typhoon Rosita in two towns of Mountain Province.
— Philippine News Agency

Cabinet men called to Senate probe on ‘Build, Build, Build’
MEMBERS of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs are poised to grill ranking Duterte administration officials on March 5 on the “status, sustainability and risks” of multibillion-peso projects lined up under Malacañang’s massive “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) program, as well as the preferred mode of financing to bankroll the Palace-backed projects.
— Business Mirror

More than 200 NPA rebels, supporters surrendered to gov’t last month due to localized peace talks, says DILG
More than 230 rebels and supporters of the New People’s Army recently returned to the fold of law because of localized peace talks, according to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
— Eagle News

Philippines 8th with low gender gap, says WEF
The Philippines has landed in eight place among the top 10 countries with low gender gap or, according to the World Economic Forum, the top 10 best countries to be a woman.
— Manilastandard.net

‘Removing restricting regulations to help PH’
REMOVING restrictive regulations and unequal and discretionary application of policies could improve productivity and add at least 0.2 percentage points to the Philippines’ gross domestic product annually, a World Bank economist said on Monday.
— The Manila Times

No slow night after Customs confiscates 1,500 live tortoises
CUSTOMS agents announced they foiled an attempt to smuggle into the country about 1,500 live tortoises on Saturday night.
— Business Mirror

Philippines: Activists Protest against Chinese Blocking Fishing Boats
Activists on Monday protested outside the Chinese embassy over reports of its boats chasing away Filipino fishermen from a string of sandbars close to a Philippine-occupied island in the South China Sea.
— Bener News

Duterte signs law mandating PhilHealth coverage for all PWDs
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has signed into law a measure that requires the government to automatically enroll all persons with disabilities (PWDs) into the National Health Insurance Program.
— BusinessWorld Online

Duterte says Abu Sayyaf threat driving away investments
The threat posed by local terrorist group Abu Sayyaf is driving away investors, President Rodrigo Duterte said, as he warned that the Philippines would not rise if it fails to address its security issues.
— The Philippine Star

Monster PHL: Filipino workers better off in work-life balance than SEA neighbors
FILIPINO workers are better off than their Southeast Asian counterparts in terms of work-life balance, online career and recruitment firm Monster Philippines reported.
— Business Mirror

Tesda issues 20 training regulations to address job-skills mismatches in critical industries
THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) on Monday announced the promulgation of 20 new and amended training regulations (TRs) in Automotive, Construction, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and Tourism to strengthen industry-academe linkages to address any skills-job mismatches in critical sectors.
— Business Mirror

Palace firm on release of narco list
Malacañang is standing by its decision to allow the release of the names of candidates allegedly involved in illegal drugs despite criticism it would violate the right to be presumed innocent.
— The Philippine Star

“Philippine produce dominates banana import market in China”
The banana market is an important market in China, where the annual production volume of bananas is huge.
— Fresh Plaza

Libya clears 7 Pinoy seamen in fuel smuggling case
The Libyan High Court has acquitted 7 Filipino seafarers earlier sentenced to 4 years in prison on fuel smuggling charges, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday.
— ABS-CBN News

Philippines: Fill the Nutrient Gap – Summary Report
Malnutrition is widespread across the Philippines. There has been little progress in addressing undernutrition, and overnutrition has emerged as a serious concern.
— Reliefweb

Iloilo City gets P14.2-M sports equipment from PSC
Iloilo City received some PHP14.27 million worth of sports equipment donated by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) following its successful hosting of the Visayas qualifying leg of the 2019 Batang Pinoy games.
— Philippine News Agency

Bill to compensate housewives filed
Housewives, the stay-at-home mothers who work all day raising their children and taking care of their husbands, or women who are out of the labor force and are commonly considered “unproductive” should now be compensated for their contribution to society, according to a bill filed in the House of Representatives.
— Manilastandard.net

PNP chief warns possible revocation of ACT members’ licenses
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said it considers asking the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to revoke the licenses of members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) which is allegedly linked to communist rebels.
— Philippine News Agency

Duterte claims ‘Otso Diretso’ candidates ‘heading straight to hell’
Straight to hell – that’s where the senatorial candidates of the opposition Otso Diretso (Straight Eight) are headed, according to President Duterte.
— The Philippine Star

DOLE scales back deployment of Filipino skilled workers
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has scaled back the deployment of skilled Filipino workers to foreign countries after it noticed the dwindling number of laborers in the country.
— GMA News

DOE sees stable power supply despite El Niño
The Department of Energy (DOE) expects stable power supply during the summer months despite the El Niño phenomenon, with additional capacities planned to be injected during the period.
— The Philippine Star

More Filipinos seeking intellectual property protection
The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) reported Monday that applications for intellectual property protection significantly increased in 2018.
— Philippine News Agency

Workers’ rights lawyer Joe Sayas Jr. wins PH Presidential Award
Lawyer Joe Sayas Jr., who has rendered more than a quarter of a century of service championing the cause of the working class, was recently awarded the 2018 Presidential Awards in Malacaang for 25 “outstanding” overseas Filipinos and foreign-based organizations.
— Inquirer.net

Customs moves to speed up action on flagged shipments
THE BUREAU of Customs (BoC) will be setting up a special desk that will track alerted shipments, as the agency intensifies its watch on illegal imports.
— BusinessWorld Online

300 Filipino nurses, caregivers needed in Japan
Over 300 Filipino nurses and caregivers are needed in Japan, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration announced yesterday.
— The Philippine Star

Fisherfolks receive agri-fishery inputs from Surigao del Norte LGU
The members of the 18 fisherfolk associations received gill nets from the local government unit (LGU) of Surigao del Norte through the Provincial Agriculture Office which aims to improve the fishery sector in the locality.
— Philippine Information Agency

DENR will care for turtles if…
If China doesn’t take back the 1,529 turtles seized at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it would care for them “until they die.”
— Inquirer.net

Barangay intel agents tracking criminals
Local Government Undersecretary Martin Dio revealed to this writer the activation of more than 44,000 barangay antidrug abuse councils (Badac) nationwide in fighting criminality and drugs.
— Inquirer.net

ACT asks CA to reconsider dismissal of petition vs PNP
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) on Monday asked the Court of Appeals (CA) to rule on their petition against the Philippine National Police (PNP) for it alleged “profiling” of their members based on the merits and not on technicalities.
— Inquirer.net

DepEd, local dental society extend free dental services to schoolkids in far-flung South Leyte villages
DepEd Southern Leyte Division, in close coordination with the Southern Leyte Dental Society extends free dental health care services in celebration of the National Oral Health Care Month serving indigent school children in selected municipalities in the province.
— Philippine Information Agency

PMI heats up program to convert smokers
Philip Morris International (PMI), the owner of Marlboro brands, is heating up its multibillion dollar program to end the tobacco smoke by introducing better alternatives to cigarettes consumed by Filipino smokers.
— Manila Bulletin

DENR, San Miguel Corp. ink partnership to rehabilitate Tullahan River
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and San Miguel Corporation (SMC) on Monday signed a deal to fund the project that aims to clean up one of the filthiest rivers in the country.
— CNN Philippines

 

Feature photo Brian Evans

 

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.

 

The following two tabs change content below.

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.

Support independent media by sharing using these tools. Do not steal our content

Make a comment

Your email address will not be published.