Philippines Morning News For November 19, 2019

IMF keeps 2019 GDP forecast
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has kept its economic growth forecast for the Philippines at 5.7 percent this year and revised upward the 2020 outlook to 6.3 percent — from 6.2 percent previously — on the back of better government spending and easing of monetary policy.
— Manila Times

Grab slapped with P23.45-M fine
THE Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has slapped Grab Philippines with a financial penalty amounting to P23.45 million for breaching its pricing commitments.
— Manila Times

Effects of rice tariffication hindered by abusive traders: CabSec
Unscrupulous traders may be one of the reasons why farmers cannot feel the full effects of the Rice Tariffication Law, a Palace official said on Monday.
— Philippine News Agency

DOH-12 to put up more public vaccination sites vs. polio
The Department of Health (DOH) in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) will establish additional vaccination sites in public places and convergence areas in connection with the upcoming Mindanao-wide polio mass immunization campaign.
— Philippine News Agency

Malacañang says no order to suspend rice importation
After President Rodrigo Duterte reportedly gave a verbal order to suspend the importation of rice, Malacañang clarified on Monday, November 18, that no order had been given to the agriculture department to do so.
— Rappler

House approves bill extending validity of 2019 budget
The House of Representatives gave the green light to the bill that would extend the shelf life of the current P3.757-trillion budget for 2019 until December 31, 2020.
— Rappler

100,000 Maranao sign petition to halt planned military camps in Marawi
More than 100,000 people from Marawi City and Lanao del Sur province signed a petition asking President Rodrigo Duterte to halt the government’s plan to build new military camps in the war-ravaged city.
— Rappler

Typhoon Ramon shifts toward Babuyan Group of Islands
What’s the weather like in your area? Tweet us at @rapplerdotcom .
— Rappler

This gov’t will be known for ‘Build, Build, Build’
IT is now three years and six months since the start of the Duterte administration. It immediately launched new programs led by a drive on illegal drugs along with regional economic development programs, with emphasis on the President’s home region of Mindanao, along with his all-out push for a Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
— Tempo

Congestion crushing the life out of the country
ACCORDING to the news over the weekend, Malacañang is “studying” the latest genius non-solution to “solve” the traffic crisis, the implementation of a voluntary four-day workweek for the balance of the holiday season for non-critical government personnel and the private sector.
— Manila Times

MWSS approves Wawa project
THE Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) has given the green light to the Wawa Dam project intended to provide additional water supply to residents in Metro Manila and adjacent areas.
— Manila Times

Robredo’s anti-drug czar post not a Cabinet position –Palace
Vice President Leni Robredo’s co-chairmanship of the Inter-agency Council on Anti-Illegal Drugs does not carry with it a Cabinet rank, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said on Monday night.
— GMA Network

Air Force joins drive vs. NPA’s campus recruitment
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) in Eastern Visayas is reaching out to campuses in a bid to shield students from recruitment activities of the New People’s Army (NPA).
— Philippine News Agency

Gasoline prices up, diesel down on November 19
Oil companies will be adjusting prices effective on Tuesday, November 19, as market forces place upward pressure on gasoline .
— Rappler

Youth groups to stage Nov 21 protest in defense of academic freedom
Several youth leaders on Monday announced a nationwide walkout of students on November 21 to defend academic freedom and democratic rights.
— GMA Network

House passes bill requiring gov’t hospitals to put up Malasakit Centers
The House of Representatives gave its nod to the bill that would require government-run hospitals to establish and give annual funds to Malasakit Centers.
— Rappler

Lanao del Sur, Marawi voters ask Comelec to hold special elections
Vilma*, 49, is sure she remembers it clearly: it was around noon of election day on Monday, May 13, when men stood by the gates of a precinct in Bayang, Lanao del Sur, handing voters money for them to shade specific names on the ballot.
— Rappler

Case vs Albayalde, 13 policemen behind 2013 Pampanga raid deemed submitted for resolution
The criminal complaint filed against former Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde and 13 policemen behind the 2013 irregular raid in Mexico, Pampanga is now deemed submitted for resolution.
— Eagle News

Lawmakers refute ‘misguided’ Calida: Gov’t can tax POGOs
Lawmakers disputed Solicitor General Jose Calida’s opinion that the multi-billion Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) cannot be taxed by the government.
— Rappler

PNP set to fire 3 officials in P5-M body camera extortion case
Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge Lieutenant General Archie Gamboa is one step away from dismissing the 3 procurement police officials accused of extorting P5 million from an aspiring supplier for thousands of body-worn police cameras.
— Rappler

Central Luzon State University grad tops November 2019 Agrisulturist Licensure Exams
At least 5,538 out of 13, 492 passed the Agriculturist Licensure Examination administered early November 2019, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced.
— GMA Network

PSEi down on profit taking
Investors sold off their positions on Monday as they await the next move of the United States and China regarding their trade negotiations.
— Manila Times

ERC denies Meralco bid to extend supply deal
THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has rejected Manila Electric Co.’s (Meralco) application to extend its supply deal with a unit of AboitizPower Corp. until December 2022.
— Manila Times

Bayan Muna solon afraid of evidence on links to communist group –AFP spox
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday said it was not surpised that Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate declined their offer to dialogue on the recent raids of the offices of militant groups.
— GMA Network

Palace thanks Filipinos for ‘excellent’ net optimism score
Although fewer Filipinos expect their lives to improve in the next 12 months, Malacañang is still grateful that the net personal optimism score classified by an independent pollster remained “excellent”.
— Philippine News Agency

Robredo eyes separate rehab facility for drug pushers
Vice President Leni Robredo is eyeing more resources for rehabilitation facilities to separate the drug users from the pushers.
— GMA Network

Rocco Nacino on returning to MMFF: I’m enjoying the moment
Rocco Nacino makes a return to the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) this year with TBA Studios’ Write About Love, and this time, he’s more relaxed about being part of the film festival.
— Rappler

Child marriage a ‘fundamental human rights violation’ – congresswoman
Bagong Henerasyon Representative Bernadette Herrera said the practice of child marriage in the Philippines is a fundamental human rights violation that must be stopped.
— Rappler

#HandsOffKule: UP student groups hit attempted ‘surveillance’ of Philippine Collegian
Student groups from University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman slammed attacks of intimidation against the Philippine Collegian, the official student publication of UP Diliman, after it reported that a man attempted to enter its office on Saturday night, November 16.
— Rappler

Subscribing to IPOs can now be done via smartphones
The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) launched a mobile application for its initial public offering (IPO) subscription platform, making it easier for regular investors to get into maiden offerings.
— Rappler

House panel OKs bill slapping 5% franchise tax, 25% income tax on POGOs
The House committee on ways and means approved the bill that would impose new taxes on the revenues generated by Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) and their service providers.
— Rappler

LOOK: PNP just got new helicopter and drone fleets
In a boost to its surveillance, firepower, and mobility, the Philippine National Police (PNP) obtained 5 helicopters, a fleet of drones, land vehicles, and a stockpile of firearms worth P3 billion.
— Rappler

Patts graduate tops November 2019 Aeronautical Engineer Licensure Exams
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) has announced that 340 out of 525 sucessfully hurdled the Aeronautical Engineer Licensure Examination given in Manila earlier this month.
— GMA Network

Magnitude 5.9 earthquake hits Bukidnon
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake hit Bukidnon on Monday night, November 18, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
— Rappler

Construction of P35-M TESDA-12 regional office starts
Construction works have started for the PHP35-million regional office building of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-Region 12 (Soccsksargen) in Koronadal City.
— Philippine News Agency

PH to access ADB loan for El Nido, Coron rehab: DOT
The Philippine government is tapping financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to fund its rehabilitation efforts in El Nido and Coron in Palawan, a ranking official of the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Monday.
— Philippine News Agency

Duterte to continue riding motorcycles despite painful fall, illnesses
President Rodrigo Duterte said he would still ride motorcycles even after an accident in October caused him enough pain to cut short his official trip to Japan.
— GMA Network

More scholarships for mango processing competencies eyed
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Secretary Isidro Lapena is confident more schools and enrollees would benefit from the new Competency Standards (CS)
— Philippine News Agency

It will be a problem if Cayetano doesn’t honor term deal, Duterte says
The administration will have a problem in its hands if Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano decides to turn his back on the term-sharing agreement that President Rodrigo Duterte brokered between him and Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco before the 18th Congress convened earlier this year.
— GMA Network

Baguio hosts 66th Mine Safety & Environment confab
The city will once again host the annual Mine Safety and Environment Conference from November 19 to 22 to be attended by more than a thousand mining stakeholders and other related industry players.
— Philippine Information Agency

Official broadcasters vow ‘world-class coverage’ of SEA Games 2019
Official broadcasters of the 30th Southeast Asian Games, 5 and Cignal, launched the Sama-sama sa SEA Games campaign that aims to provide the most comprehensive, up-to-date, and in-depth coverage on free-to-air, pay TV, and digital platforms.
— Rappler

Drilon questions P50-million ‘kaldero’ for 2019 SEA Games
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon questioned why the government prioritized spending P50 million on an oversized kaldero (cauldron) that would be used for the torch lighting ceremony during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games .
— Rappler

Feature photo Action Against Hunger Philippines
This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on World Toilet Day, November 19.

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).

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Philippines morning news for November 19 added by John Le Fevre on November 19, 2019
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John Le Fevre

Thailand editor at AEC News Today

John is an Australian national with more than 40 years experience as a journalist, photographer, videographer, and copy editor.

He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia, with stints in the Middle East, the USA, and England.

He has covered major world events including Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, the 1991 pillage in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Bangkok political protests.

In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.

Prior to AEC News Today he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.

In the mid-80s and early 90s he owned JLF Promotions, the largest above and below the line marketing and PR firm servicing the high-technology industry in Australia. It was sold in 1995.