Philippines morning news for May 22

Philippines morning news for May 22
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Philippines morning news

Neda committee changes scopes of 3 infra projects
The National Economic and Development Authority Board’s Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee chaired by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III approved on May 17 the changes in three infrastructure projects.
— Manilastandard.net

Watchdogs file complaint vs Comelec officials over alleged election anomalies
Poll watchdogs filed an administrative complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against Commission on Elections officials and executives of tech provider Smartmatic over alleged anomalies in this year’s midterm elections.
— The Philippine Star

South China Sea: US Destroyer Conducts Freedom of Navigation Operation Near Scarborough Shoal
On Sunday, a U.S. Navy warship conducted a freedom of navigation operation near a feature claimed by China, the Philippines, and Taiwan.
— Spratly Islands

Palace: Canada has tapped shipment company for retrieval of garbage “sooner than later”
Canada has tapped a shipping company to recover the garbage that was shipped to the Philippines six years ago.
— Eagle News

Chinese ships leave broken reefs in West PH Sea after ‘destructive’ clam harvest — report
CHINESE vessels left trails of broken reefs in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) following a resumption of clam harvesting activities in the last six months, a Washington-based think-tank reported.
— The Manila Times

Government eyes satellite tech to run after SME tax cheats
Small businesses will soon have nowhere to hide from the taxman as the government intends to utilize satellite technology to run after all tax cheats, according to a report released by the Tokyo-based Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI).
— Business Mirror

House opposition leader urges Senate to reject PSA amendment, federalism, death penalty revival
The leader of the Magnificent 7 on Tuesday urged senators on Monday to reject the proposed the amendments to the Public Service Act, federalism and revival of the death penalty, which were prioritized for consideration in the last few session days of the 17th Congress.
— Business Mirror

Banks almost halved over 20-year period — BSP
The country’s banking industry continued to undergo major consolidation as the number of banks fell by almost half to 571 from 996 over a 20-year period, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
— The Philippine Star

Former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales barred from entering Hong Kong
Malacañang has asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to provide assistance to former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales who was held by immigration authorities at the Hong Kong airport.
— Tempo

Iloilo resumes financial aid after election ban
The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) on Tuesday said it can now disburse Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS).
— Philippine News Agency

NSA, DND ‘studying’ issue on Huawei Android restrictions
President Rodrigo Duterte will wait for recommendations from National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and the defense department on matters concerning Google’s decision to bar Chinese smartphone company Huawei from some updates to the Android operating system.
— Philippine News Agency

More than 800 NFA employees to lose jobs by June
The rice tariffication law removed the regulatory powers of the National Food Authority (NFA), resulting in the need to retrench hundreds of employees.
— CNN Philippines

NFA Iloilo puts up 11 palay buying stations
The National Food Authority (NFA) has 11 buying stations strategically located in the different areas of the provinces of Iloilo and Guimaras to ensure that farmers can avail of the government’s incentives and support price for palay.
— Philippine Information Agency

Gov’t targets to increase microinsurance coverage
THE GOVERNMENT targets to increase the number of individuals covered by microinsurance in the country to 50 million by 2022 from the current 39.8 million, a Finance official said.
— BusinessWorld Online

‘House won’t be Palace rubber stamp’ — Castro
House Majority Leader Fredenil Castro has denied that the lower chamber would become Malacaang’s rubber stamp in the coming 18th Congress.
— Inquirer.net

Manufacturers say higher safeguard duty on cement to cure ‘serious injury’
LOCAL manufacturers are asking the government to raise the safeguard duty on cement to remedy the serious injury they suffered due to the surge in imports over the past years.
— Business Mirror

Manila among top cities friendly to start-ups
MANILA has one of the most conducive start-up ecosystems in the world, as it ranked high in multiple categories of a report assessing the environment for new enterprises.
— Business Mirror

Miaa remits P3.4 billion to national government, highest in history
THE country’s premier airport remitted to the national coffers some P3.42 billion, a record-breaking fiscal performance from January to December 2018.
— Business Mirror

PEZA chief addresses talks she is at risk of losing post for opposition to tax perk revamp
THERE IS TALK in the foreign business community that the head of the government’s economic zone promotion agency is at risk of losing her job due to a drop in committed investments and her opposition to the Finance department’s push to remove tax incentives deemed redundant.
— BusinessWorld Online

FDA says vinegar using synthetic acetic acid liable for ‘mislabeling’
THE Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will revoke the registration of vinegar makers found to have used synthetic acetic acid for “misdeclaration,” amid reports that some brands synthesized their ingredients rather than use natural materials like sugarcane.
— BusinessWorld Online

29 arrested for drugs in Metro Manila
At least 29 persons were arrested for drugs in Metro Manila over the past two days.
— The Philippine Star

Gov’t strengthens drive vs illicit cigarette
The Department of Finance looks at a revitalized initiative against illicit cigarettes amid continued proliferation of the product.
— Malaya

6 die as jeep falls off cliff in Albay
Six persons died while 18 others were injured when a jeep fell into a ravine in Libon, Albay yesterday afternoon.
— The Philippine Star

China to train PH engineers in shipbuilding research
The Philippine Register of Shipping (PRS) and China’s Harbin Engineering University Ship Equipment & Technology Co. Ltd. (Heuship) aim to strengthen their collaboration and cooperation by training filipino engineers and naval architects on maritime research and engineering.
— The Manila Times

China’s fishing ban in South China Sea against Philippine sovereignty – Palace
China-imposed fishing moratorium in the South China Sea, which includes the West Philippine Sea, is against the sovereignty of the Philippines.
— Inquirer.net

Philippine, Australian troops train together in urban warfare
Australian and Philippine troops are training in urban warfare as part of greater defense cooperation between the two countries, which have already been holding maritime drills together.
— The Philippine Star

Auditors flag P7-M worth of OSG travels
Foreign travels in the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) in 2018 worth P7.128 million were found to have violated audit rules, the Commission on Audit (COA) said.
— Rappler

Palace: American think-tank report on return of Chinese clam-harvesting fleets to S. China Sea needs validation
The Palace on Tuesday, May 21, said the report by an American think-tank that said Chinese clam-harvesting fleets have returned to the South China Sea still needs to be validated.
— Eagle News

COMELEC postpones proclamation of incoming senators
The Commission on Elections deferred the planned proclamation of incoming senators on Tuesday.
— CNN Philippines

Gov’t targets 50-M Filipinos for micro insurance coverage by 2022
The government targets to place 11 million more Filipinos under microinsurance coverage in the next four years to provide protection and financial security especially in times of calamities.
— Philippine News Agency

Korean shipbuilder to launch Philippines’ first missile-capable frigate on May 23
Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) is set to launch the first of two missile-capable frigates of the Philippine Navy on Thursday, May 23.
— Inquirer.net

PHL reaffirms desire for deeper economic ties with South Korea
The Philippine government has reaffirmed its desire to deepen its economic ties with South Korea, the Department of Finance (DOF) said Tuesday.
— GMA

Environment group stages die-in protest for return of trash to Canada
Environmental justice activists staged a die-in protest outside the Canadian Embassy in Makati City on Tuesday to dramatize their call for the return of the 69 container vans of rotting garbage languishing in the Philippines since 2013 to Canada.
— Manila Bulletin

Privacy commission probes 48 lending firms
Some 48 lending companies are under investigation by the National Privacy Commission (NPC) after 485 borrowers filed formal charges of harassment for publicly shaming them using their contacts to seek payments of their loans.
— Manila Bulletin

Number of Bacolod condo units sold in 2018 up by 93%
The number of condominium units sold in this city in 2018 increased by 93 percent, according to the latest report of real property services firm, Colliers International Philippines.
— Philippine News Agency

Marawi residents allowed to return starting July: Task force
Displaced residents of Marawi City in certain areas of ground zero may start returning to their homes in July for repair works, as the debris clearing operations have been moving smoothly despite previous legal constraints, the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) said on Monday.
— Philippine News Agency

DMCI, Japan’s Taisei team up for infra deals
DMCI Holdings Inc. is teaming up with Japan’s Taisei Corp. for other big-ticket infrastructure projects in the country financed by Japan International Cooperation Agency.
— Manilastandard.net

Indonesian escapes drug smuggling conviction in the Philippines
An Indonesian convicted in the Philippines in 2012 for drug trafficking has returned home after years of ensuing court hearings, the Foreign Ministry announced on Monday, after an appeals court recently overturned her life sentence.
— The Jakarta Post

DOE hosts the 7th ASEAN Nuclear Energy Cooperation Sub-sector Network
In line with the Philippines’ chairmanship of the ASEAN Nuclear Energy Cooperation Sub-Sector Network (NEC-SSN), the Department of Energy (DOE) hosted a two-day event from 20 to 21 May 2019 to tackle Good Practices on Regional Cooperation in Nuclear Security.
— Philippine Information Agency

House opposition blocs poised to lose members
The two opposition blocs at the House of Representatives are poised to lose some members in the upcoming 18th Congress, further reducing their number to go up against the so-called supermajority in the chamber composed mostly of allies of President Rodrigo Duterte.
— GMA News

PHL can’t question China on holding Morales at Hong Kong airport
Former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales’ complaint for crimes against humanity against Chinese President Xi Jinping must have been a factor in her getting held by immigration authorities in Hong Kong, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has said.
— GMA News

RCC tackles LGU concerns on competitiveness
The Cordillera Regional Competitiveness Committee, through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), recently conducted its 2019 1st semester meeting to tackle issues and concerns raised during the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) regional and provincial workshops.
— Philippine Information Agency

Poll-related cases filed in Western Visayas
The police regional director of Western Visayas (Region 6) on Tuesday assured that cases of vote buying during the recent mid-term elections were filed against offenders in the towns of Iloilo Province and in Negros Occidental.Brig.
— Philippine News Agency

NegOcc village exec nabbed for unlicensed guns, ammos
A village councilor in Talisay City, Negros Occidental was arrested by police operatives at his residence on Tuesday morning for allegedly possessing unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
— Philippine News Agency

DFA to assist Morales, family after HK travel ban
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will extend assistance to former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales after she was detained at the Hong Kong airport on Tuesday.
— Philippine News Agency

Comelec officials face raps for ‘serious dishonesty and gross neglect of duty’
POLL watchdogs filed a complaint against Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials for “serious dishonesty and gross neglect of duty.”
— The Manila Times

Sotto to call for meeting of ‘new Senate’ to thresh out committee chairmanships
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Tuesday he will call for a meeting of the new Senate after the proclamation of winning candidates to thresh out the issue on committee chairmanships.
— GMA News

PVO taps students’ research on meat handling, processes
Results of the study of Animal Science students from the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos are now being used to develop meat handling techniques and processes.
— Philippine Information Agency

CBCP mulls new framework to combat HIV
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said a new framework can help fight the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
— Philippine Information Agency

 

Feature photo Philippine Beekeeping

This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo acknowledges World Bee Day, May 20.

 

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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