Philippines morning news for May 1

Philippines morning news for May 1
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Philippines morning newsEconomy likely grew ‘above 6%’ in Q1
The Philippine economy likely grew slightly above the lower end of the administration’s target in the first three-months of the year after the national government operated under a re-enacted budget, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said yesterday.
— Manila Bulletin

Philippines records over 31,000 measles cases since January
The Philippines recorded a total of 31,056 measles cases since January this year, the Philippine Department of Health (DOH) said on Tuesday, adding that the outbreak was almost over as the number of cases was on a downward trend.
— Xinhuanet

Philippines police to launch probe on Huawei spying claims, despite country’s welcoming stance
The Philippine National Police (PNP) will probe claims that Beijing could use Huawei for spying, its top law enforcement officer has said, in a rare deviation from the Southeast Asian country’s welcoming stance toward the Chinese tech giant.
— South China Morning Post

TV, newspaper journalists join Rappler petition vs Duterte coverage ban
Journalists from competing news outfits showed solidarity on Tuesday, April 30, as 41 reporters, columnists, and anchors from different media organizations filed a petition for intervention asking the Supreme Court (SC) to end President Rodrigo Duterte’scoverage ban against Rappler and its reporters and correspondents.
— Rappler

Ceza clinches $3.9-billion infrastructure, manufacturing investments in China Belt and Road Forum
The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (Ceza) has scored big in the Second Belt and Road Forum, as it secured $3.9 billion of Chinese investments on infrastructure and manufacturing projects.
— Business Mirror

Labor leader says 7,000 protesters out on the streets on May 1
Expect the streets of Cebu to be filled with at least 7,000 individuals coming from various groups and multi-sectoral progressive unions on Wednesday, May 1, to commemorate Labor Day.
— CDN

DFA denies warning gov’t over partnering with Huawei
The Department of Foreign Affairs denied that it has warned the Duterte administration over entering into partnerships with Chinese telecom giant Huawei.
— The Philippine Star

China Telecom formally signs Philippines JV agreement
China Telecom has formally signed the agreement to create Mislatel, the joint venture that will become the Philippines’ third mobile operator, committing to invest $5.4 billion in the venture.
— telecomasia.net

Philippine unionists exchange war of words with police ahead of Labour Day protests
Philippine unionists have clashed with the police in a war of accusations ahead of Wednesday’s Labour Day protests in several cities, where some 100,000 demonstrators – half of whom will gather at the presidential palace in Manila – will march to demand an increase to the minimum wage, among other issues.
— South China Morning Post

Nueva Vizcaya moves to siphon funds from 3 big power firms
The provincial government here will be opening two bank accounts to siphon fund benefits from power generating companies operating in the province.
— Manilastandard.net

Bridge burning bridges: Why the China-funded Binondo-Intramuros structure is controversial
It is unclear where a bridge symbolizing the fusion of two cultures—or ties of two states—is leading, as its construction faces opposition from local and international organizations and from some government agencies.
— The Philippine Star

PHL told to stop safeguard probe on float glass imports
THE European Union (EU) has demanded that the Philippines end its safeguard investigation on float glass imports, saying it is not the appropriate measure that will resolve the surge in the import of the commodity.
— Business Mirror

COMELEC warns voters they can be jailed for selling votes
This is the warning of Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Spokesperson James Jimenez, with the likelihood vote buying happening as candidate ramp up their campaign less than two weeks before the midterm elections.
— CNN Philippines

ADB gets ‘strategy’ inputs from Visayas
Various stakeholders from Cebu and the entire Visayas region want the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to focus its development assistance on investments in infrastructure, skills development of local workers, and strong engagement with the local private sector, the Manila-based lender said.
— Manila Bulletin

Cebu Pacific to cut 10 flights per day in May
Amid the massive flight cancellations affecting thousands of passengers, budget carrier Cebu Pacific announced Tuesday it will cut “approximately 10 flights a day” in May.
— CNN Philippines

SEC issues social and sustainability bond guidelines
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has released its guidelines on the issuance of social and sustainability bonds in line with the standards of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
— Manila Bulletin

Duterte signs EO setting up inter-agency cluster, guidelines for normalization process in Bangsamoro region
THE EXECUTIVE Order (EO) setting up an inter-cabinet cluster mechanism for the “timely” implementation of the normalization program in the new Bangsamoro region has been signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
— BusinessWorld Online

Unions push for passage of bill banning ‘endo’ before Congress adjourns
LABOR LEADERS renewed their call to legislators and lawmakers to finally pass the Security of Tenure (SoT) Bill before the Congress adjourns late next month.
— BusinessWorld Online

Philippines, Asean join disaster risk insurance facility
Member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) including the Philippines are joining Japan in the establishment of a disaster risk insurance facility to build the financial resilience against climate and disaster risks.
— The Philippine Star

S&P upgrades Philippine debt rating
S&P GLOBAL RATINGS has raised the Philippines’ credit rating by a notch, citing above-average growth and strong external and fiscal position which have boosted the country’s economic profile.
— BusinessWorld Online

ECOP dampens pay hike hopes
The Employers Confederation of the Philippines and the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines are on a collision course over the latter’s petition for a P710 increase in wages of workers in Metro Manila as the country marks Labor Day, a holiday in honor of working people.
— Manilstandard.net

Water, power supply woes affect PH sustainable dev’t goals: NEDA
The water and energy supply problems hounding Metro Manila are not just inconvenient. They are also threatening sustainable development goals, inflation, and economic growth.
— ABS-CBN News

SEC eyes five-year grace period for higher float
THE SECURITIES and Exchange Commission (SEC) is looking at giving listed firms five years to comply with the planned increase in minimum public ownership (MPO), a senior regulatory official told reporters on Tuesday.
— BusinessWorld Online

BSP to hold fun run to promote clean note policy
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)-Dagupan Branch is set to conduct a fun run activity on May 18 at the Capitol Baywalk in Lingayen town to raise the awareness of the public on Clean Note Policy and Coin Recirculation Program of the government.
— Philippine Information Agency

Measles cases going down–DOH
“It is probably safer to assume that the number of measles cases is going down in many areas but we need to validate our figures,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III told reporters during the celebration of World Immunization Week in Manila.
— Manilastandard.net

Malacañang to let wage boards decide on hike petitions
Malacañang will let the regional wage boards to decide on the petitions seeking to increase the minimum daily wage.
— GMA News

Maynilad services affected by algae proliferation in Laguna Lake
MAYNILAD WATER Services, Inc. said its customers in the cities of Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Imus and Bacoor will experience low water pressure to no water supply until May 14 due to “reduced water production brought about by unusual algae proliferation” in Laguna Lake.
— BusinessWorld Online

Rody creates inter-agency cluster to hasten MILF ‘decommissioning’
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the creation of an Inter-Cabinet Cluster Mechanism on Normalization to ensure the “timely, appropriate, and efficient delivery” of the decommissioning program under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, documents released by the Palace showed Tuesday.
— Manilastandard.net

‘Make tobacco a dangerous drug’
If there’s an endgame in the campaign against smoking, it will be to classify tobacco as a dangerous drug so the country will no longer export tobacco grown by farmers, who can invest instead in other high-value crops, according to an advocacy group.
— Inquirer.net

Producer prices up 3.6% in March
The Producer Price Index (PPI) for the manufacturing sector increased to 3.6 percent in March, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Tuesday.
— The Manila Times

ADB future programs for PHL to focus on social assistance, flood control
THE ASIAN Development Bank (ADB) said it operations in the Philippines between 2020 and 2022 will focus on social assistance, education and flood control among others.
— BusinessWorld Online

PNP nets nearly 5K persons in election anti-crime drive
THE PNP has arrested a total of 4,839 individuals from the start of the election period last January 13 up to April 29 in line with its heightened anti-crime campaign for the May midterm elections.
— Malaya

Baguio contractors urged to make infra quake-resilient
The City Building and Architects Office (CBAO) on Tuesday called on engineers and builders to design structures that can withstand an intensity 8 earthquake.
— Philippine News Agency

DFA Huawei memo a routine info relay: Abella
A ranking official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the internal memorandum on foreign governments banning Huawei devices is a routine information relay to relevant government agencies in the Philippines.
— Philippine News Agency

Murder rap on Sagay massacre transferred to DOJ Manila
Prosecutors from the Department of Justice in Manila are now handling the multiple murder complaints in connection with the killing of nine sugarcane farmers in Sagay City, Negros Occidental in October last year.
— GMA News

Malacanang backs probe on illegal foreign doctors
Malacanang expressed support Tuesday to the plan of Senator Richard Gordon to investigate a syndicate that allegedly facilitates the entry and employment of foreign doctors who practice medicine as medical consultants in certain hospitals even without the necessary permits.
— GMA News

National Heritage Month: Pondering what we’ve lost–and how to save what remains
The past few years, the rate of destruction of heritage structures has escalated and continues to do so for a variety of reasons, leaving cultural preservation groups like Icomos (International Council on Monuments and Sites) Philippines and the Heritage Conservation Society (HCS), two of the country’s primary built heritage conservation advocates, with nothing short of dust in their hands.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Airlines scale down flights to Boracay
AS the government limits the number of tourists to Boracay island, some local airlines are looking at other tourist destinations to drive passenger growth this summer.
— BusinessWorld Online

IPP REVIEW-What’s Behind the Philippines’ Scientific Expedition to the Spratlys?
Amidst a “standoff” between China and the Philippines near a disputed feature in the Spratlys, the Philippines is undertaking a government-sponsored marine scientific expedition to the area.
— Spratly Islands

Military, police overrun NPA lair in Mindoro
Two successive military offensives by troops of the 4th and 76th Infantry Battalions (IBs), along with Mindoro police, on Sunday overrun a New People’s Army (NPA) lair in Sitio Masay, Barangay Monteclaro, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.
— Philippine News Agency

Sandigan orders ex-Eastern Samar mayor to return travel expenses
The Sandiganbayan has ordered former Llorente, Eastern Samar Mayor Tito Balois Codoy Jr. to return to the government his travel expenses worth P81,954.04 following the approval of his plea bargaining proposal.
— GMA News

Federal Land invests in earthquake technology for new BGC property
Federal Land Incorporated highlighted the use of Nippon Steel Engineering Group’s technology to absorb earthquake shocks in its new residential project in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.
— Rappler

Duterte orders gov’t agencies to implement Bangsamoro normalization process
President Rodrigo Duterte has issued an executive order to efficiently implement the normalization process for former Moro combatants and other vulnerable sectors in the new Bangsamoro region.
— Rappler

Discards as art pieces
A twisting maze of tiny buildings crafted from discarded cardboard boxes is the heart of an eye-catching art piece in the Philippines highlighting the humble material’s value to millions of people.
— Manilastandard.net

Church labor group seeks end to contractualization
The lack of government’s will to end contractualization has allowed workers to be exploited to the maximum level, the Church People-Workers Solidarity (CWS) said.
— GMA News

HK-based firm sees high gold demand in PH
Hong Kong-based company J. Rotbart & Co. expects an increasing demand for gold in the Philippines, comprising almost a fourth of its global portfolio, as more Filipinos opt for new investments amid robust economic growth.
— Philippine News Agency

MMDA to close Marcos Bridge for 8 months
The Marcos Bridge in Marikina City will be closed to motorists for eight months due to rehabilitation works, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced on Tuesday.
— Philippine News Agency

Mimaropa’s economic growth continues to accelerate
PSA Mimaropa Regional Director Leni R. Rioflorido confirms the final results of Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of Mimaropa during the News Conference on the 2018 Regional Economy of Mimaropa held at Tamaraw Hall, Provincial Capitol, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.
— Philippine Information Agency

Pantawid Pasada subsidy on hold due to election ban
Distribution of Pantawid Pasada Program (PPP) fuel cards subsidy to the public utility jeepney (PUJ) operators in Central Visayas is momentarily stopped while the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is yet to rule on its exemption from the election ban, an official said Monday.
— Philippine News Agency

El Nido’s beaches in Palawan recognized as ‘best in the world’
Fascinating and beautiful beaches today are located in the town of El Nido, in northern Palawan.
— Philippine Information Agency

Ateneo dean welcomes PNP response to their study on Duterte drug war
The dean of the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG) on Tuesday welcomed the response of Philippine National Police (PNP) to their study on the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
— GMA News

Duque: Rise of dengue cases in PHL in 2019 not directly related to Dengvaxia scare
The rise in the number of reported dengue cases in the Philippines in 2019 cannot be directly attributed to the Dengvaxia controversy, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Tuesday.
— GMA News

Fluor JV completes offshore modules for South China Sea project
The COOEC-Fluor Heavy Industries (COOEC-Fluor) fabrication yard, a joint venture (JV) between COOEC and Fluor, has completed building offshore modules for CNOOC’s gas field development project in the South China Sea.
— Spratly Islands

Makabayan bloc asks Supreme Court to void Meralco bill deposits
The Makabayan bloc on Tuesday, April 30, asked the Supreme Court (SC) to stop the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) from charging bill deposits from their consumers.
— Rappler

Ex-QC officials, Manor Hotel owners appeal conviction over 2001 hotel fire
Two former Quezon City government officials and the owners of the Manor Hotel appealed their graft conviction over a hotel fire that claimed the lives of 74 people in 2001.
— Rappler

 

Feature photo Bong Santisteban/ Rappler

This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo acknowledges World Press Freedom Day, May 3.

 

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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