Philippines Morning News For February 14, 2020

JobStart Philippines: helping young Filipinos gain a wage
After struggling to find full-time employment for more than a year after graduating with a Bachelor of Technical Teachers’ Education degree, Jundelyn Baylosis Sato’s’ life changed in August 2017 when she walked in to her local government unit’s (LGU) Public Employment Service Office (PESO).
— AEC News Today

‘No chance for Phl to contain ASF’
Efforts of the Philippines to contain the African swine fever (ASF) may be futile as even developed countries continue to suffer from the disease, according to an industry source.
— The Philippine Star

At least 11 Filipinos on Japan cruise ship infected with coronavirus
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced a total of 11 Filipinos aboard a cruise ship quarantined off Yokohama, Japan, tested positive for the novel coronavirus as of Thursday, February 13.
— Rappler

‘Stop whining,’ Locsin says after PH sends notice of VFA termination
Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr on Thursday, February 13, agreed with calls to reject visiting forces agreements with other countries after the Duterte government signed its formal notice it was terminating the Philippines’ Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States.
— Rappler

Panelo contradicts Panelo: No Trump, Duterte phone call after all
Nearing the end of a jampacked week in Malacañang, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo committed another gaffe when he contradicted an earlier statement he made about President Rodrigo Duterte’s supposed scheduled phone call with US President Donald Trump.
— Rappler

PETA urges public to go vegan to prevent spread of killer diseases
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on Thursday urged the public to change their diet and go vegan to prevent the spread of killer diseases.
— GMA Network

MMDA recommends banning motorcycle taxis on national roads
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) recommended prohibiting motorcycle taxis from plying national roads, saying this would reduce the number of road accidents.
— Rappler

Palace: Travel ban may expand to other countries
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Thursday the Philippines was also open to impose a travel ban to other countries with confirmed cases of COVID-19.
— Manilastandard.net

DOLE ‘unofficially’ welcomes ILO group to probe alleged deaths in labor sector
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is preparing to accept a high-level mission from the International Labour Organization (ILO), which is expected to probe the alleged mass killing of local trade unionists.
— Business Mirror

Retired SC justice who upheld VFA in 2000 passes away at 87
Retired Supreme Court associate justice Arturo Buena, who penned the landmark ruling upholding the Philippines-United States Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) in 2000, died Thursday.
— GMA Network

441 patients probed for novel coronavirus in PH
The Department of Health (DOH) has probed a total of 441 patients for the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) as of Thursday, February 13.
— Rappler

Duterte free to attend Senate hearing on ABS-CBN franchise –Gatchalian
President Rodrigo Duterte may attend the hearing of the Senate when it tackles the application of ABS-CBN network for franchise extension, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said.
— GMA Network

Banana industry Philippines seeks government assistance amid Covid-19 scare
The Philipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) has called on the government to provide more assistance to the banana industry following the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) scare, which affected banana exports as the Chinese buyers have stopped ordering Philippine bananas.
— Fresh Plaza

Auctions seen to bring $20-B investments, lower RE costs in PH
A report from Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) shows that the Philippines could attract USD20-billion investments in renewable energy over the next decade through auctions while it will also lower the cost for consumers and industries.
— Philippine News Agency

Protective gear supply for health workers limited – DoH
The Department of Health has said that the availability of personal protective equipment for health workers is now limited amid the threat of the Covid-19.
— Tempo

Philippines says travel ban stays even as Taiwan plans countermeasures
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte rejected on Thursday (Feb 13) Taiwan’s appeal to lift a ban on its citizens visiting the country, saying his primary concern was the safety of Filipinos.
— CNA

ABS-CBN can apply for new franchise if SolGen wins SC case –Palace
ABS-CBN has the option to apply for a new franchise should the Supreme Court grant the Office of the Solicitor General s petition to forfeit the current license of the broadcast network, Malacañang said on Thursday.
— GMA Network

Top US commander warns Philippines rift could hurt terrorism fight
A top US commander on Thursday (Feb 13) warned ending a security pact with Philippines would hurt counter-terrorism efforts in the country’s restive south, putting him at odds with commander-in-chief Donald Trump.
— CNA

16 senators sign report legalizing motorcycle taxis
The Senate bill pushing for the inclusion of motorcycle taxis among public utility vehicles will soon be tackled at the chamber’s plenary.
— Rappler

No more military exercises with U.S. when VFA lapses – Lorenzana
After days of silence, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday, February 13, finally made a public statement on the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the US, saying Philippine and American forces will cease to have joint exercises after the repeal takes effect in 180 days, or 6 months.
— Rappler

Govt hunts fake news peddlers as PCOO pushes Covid-19 info
THE government does not see any problem moving forward with the repatriation and quarantine measures of overseas Filipino workers who were brought to the Philippines on Sunday from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19).
— Manila Times

Liquidity seen to allow airports withstand virus
THE strong liquidity position of airports in the Asia-Pacific region will enable them to withstand the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak that has forced several airlines to suspend their flights to and from China and its administrative regions, Moody’s Investors Service said.
— BusinessWorld

Corruption cases involving officials going down, PACC says
The involvement of government officials in corrupt activities appears to be on a downward trend, the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) chief said Tuesday.
— GMA Network

DPWH Quirino completes 93% infra projects in 2019
The Department of Public Works and Highways-Quirino District Engineering Office (DPWH-QDEO) completed its network development project along Cordon-Aurora Boundary Road (Isabela Boundary-Junction Dumabato) amounting to P50 million pesos.
— Philippine Information Agency

PACC not a duplicate of Ombudsman, commissioner says
The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) is not a mere duplicate of the Office of the Ombudsman because they have differing jurisdictions, its commissioner said Tuesday.
— GMA Network

Condition of PUI for Covid-19 in Pangasinan improving
The Provincial Health Office (PHO) has refuted misleading information circulating in social media about the condition of the first person under investigation (PUI) in Pangasinan due to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
— Philippine News Agency

Some officials fired over alleged corruption get new posts
Some government officials who were fired by President Rodrigo Duterte over alleged involvement in corruption later on got reappointed to a different post, Presidential Anti-Corruption Commissioner Manuelito Luna said.
— GMA Network

CTA grants P9-M tax refund to food firm Dole
The Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) has ruled in favor of the food firm Dole Fresh Fruit Company (DFFC) in a suit involving taxes paid by the company in 2013.
— Philippine News Agency

4 Chinese tourists released from Covid-19 quarantine in Sarangani
Health personnel in Sarangani province discharged on Thursday the four Chinese tourists who were placed under quarantine last week for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
— Philippine News Agency

Environment group lauds VFA termination, cites toxic waste U.S. troops left behind
An activist group welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s move to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the US, and called it a step towards exacting justice for all the environmental crimes the US government committed in the Philippines.
— Rappler

DOJ panel to assess if Bikoy can be gov’t witness in new sedition case
The Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecution panel said on Thursday, February 13, that it will assess whether to use the flip-flopping Peter Joemel Advincula, alias Bikoy, as government witness in the conspiracy to commit sedition case against opposition figure Antonio Trillanes IV.
— Rappler

Optional retirement doesn t mean cops on drug watchlist won t face charges –Palace
Policemen who have availed of optional retirement following their inclusion in the government s drug watchlist could still face prosecution, Malacañang said Thursday.
— GMA Network

Bello wants travel ban lifted for OFWs returning to Taiwan
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III wants the Duterte administration’s travel ban on Taiwan, which was imposed due to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), to be lifted for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who wish to return there.
— Rappler

How the DOJ will prove destabilization plot vs Duterte
In charging 11 people , including former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, of conspiracy to commit sedition, the Department of Justice (DOJ) will try to prove in court the repeated claims of the Duterte administration about the existence of a destabilization plot.
— Rappler

EcoWaste Coalition calls for government action on harmful cosmetics
The proliferation of hazard-laced cosmetics on Thursday drew deep concern from environmental group EcoWaste Coalition prompting it to ask concerned government agencies for swift action against the menace.
— Manila Bulletin

Manila set to slap import ban on German poultry products due to bird flu
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to slap a temporary import ban on poultry and poultry products from Germany after Berlin confirmed the outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a farm.
— Business Mirror

Students, pupils hold joint synchronized nationwide polls today
AS part of the agency’s goal toward information-technology integration, the Department of Education is set to conduct the nationwide synchronized supreme student government (SSG) and supreme pupil government (SPG) elections today, Friday, February 14, 2020.
— Business Mirror

No politics in Manila travel ban on Taiwan
Malacañang said the government’s decision to include Taiwan in its travel ban to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 was not politically motivated, stressing it was only implemented to secure the health and safety of the Filipinos.
— Tempo

Politics played no role in Trillanes indictment –DOJ
The lead prosecutor who indicted former senator Antonio Trillanes IV and 10 others for conspiracy to commit sedition said the decision to bring them to court was based on evidence they agreed to circulate malicious allegations against the president and his family.
— GMA Network

1 student dead, 7 others hurt as jeep rams group crossing pedestrian lane in Makati
A 13-year-old boy died while seven other minors were injured after a speeding jeep rammed a group of students crossing a pedestrian lane in Makati City on Thursday night.
— Eagle News

Palace says it welcomes US President Trump’s statement accepting President Duterte’s decision to end VFA
Malacanang said that it welcomes the statement of US President Donald Trump accepting President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
— Eagle News

Poe wants Senate to discuss ABS-CBN’s compliance with franchise terms
Senator Grace Poe wants the Senate committee on public services, which she chairs, to look into the operations of broadcast giant ABS-CBN to determine its compliance with its franchise terms.
— Rappler

PNP in the Ilocos intensifies drive against illegal gambling
The Philippine National Police (PNP) in the Ilocos enforces an intensified drive against illegal gambling upon the directive of the PNP Chief Archie Gamboa.
— Philippine Information Agency

Ilocos Sur creates inter-agency task force vs. COVID-19
The provincial government of Ilocos Sur created an inter-agency task force for the management of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases (EREID) that will spearhead the monitoring and implementation of control measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, including the deadly coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
— Philippine Information Agency

Duterte picks former SC Justice Chief Justice Bersamin to head GSIS
President Rodrigo Duterte has chosen former Supreme Court Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin to head the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), according to Senator Bong Go.
— GMA Network

Covid-19 prompts Pagcor to adopt new policy for financial aid
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) announced Thursday that it is implementing a “No Contact Application” policy for patients seeking financial medical assistance to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
— Philippine News Agency

Red Cross turns over houses to Ompong-displaced families in Cagayan
MORE than a year after the destruction of Typhoon “Ompong” (international name: “Mangkhut”), the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) enabled affected families in Cagayan get back their lives.
— Manila Times

Legislators regulate dredging along Cagayan River
The legislative department of the Provincial Government here has passed ordinance regulating the dredging activities along the Cagayan River. Vice Governor Melvin Vargas Jr. (right) discusses his projects and programs during the Tipon-Tipan program hosted by Oliver T. Baccay of PIA.
— Philippine Information Agency

PNP general who snatched reporter’s phone promoted again
MANILA, Philippines – Brigadier General Nolasco Bathan , the police official who snatched the phone of GMA veteran reporter Jun Veneracion during Traslacion 2020, has been promoted again in the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
— Rappler

Only 4.75% of learners in Bicol are struggling readers: DepEd
The Department of Education (DepEd) regional office here has reported that only a small percentage of young learners in Bicol are struggling readers.
— Philippine News Agency

Senior citizen gets P159-K retirement pay through DOLE program
A senior citizen who worked as a welder in a construction company for 21 years has received his retirement benefits through the Single Entry Approach (SEnA) program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
— Philippine News Agency

Feature photo Pinoy Scientists

This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on International Day of Women and Girls in Science, February 11.

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 February 14 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on February 14, 2020
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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.