Philippines slips a spot to 54th in 2019 democracy index
The Philippines slid one spot in the 2019 democracy index of think tank Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and was classified as a “flawed democracy” for the 14th year in a row.
— GMA Network
Duterte signs new taxes on alcohol, e-cigarettes into law
President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law a measure that would increase taxes on alcohol and e-cigarettes.
— Rappler
Philippines DOH declares dengue epidemic ‘over’, more than 400K cases reported in 2019
After a “bad dengue year in 2019”, Philippines health officials have declared the epidemic “over”. Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III made the announcement today.
— Outbreak News Today
PTFoMS to launch twin-tack drive to end impunity
To mark the beginning of a fresh chapter in safeguarding press freedom in the country, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) has introduced a new approach in the campaign to end impunity by combining the twin efforts of ensuring the delivery of justice for victims of attacks and promoting the professional and economic welfare of journalists.
— Philippine News Agency
TWG raises biker cap to 21,000 per motorcycle taxi firm
After facing a couple of temporary restraining orders (TRO) against the controversial biker cap of the motorcycle taxi pilot run, the overseeing technical working group (TWG) has now agreed to raise the cap from 13,000 to 21,000 per provider.
— Rappler
Taal Volcano emitted no ash on Wednesday but eruption threat remains–PHIVOLCS
Taal Volcano has emitted no ash since 5 a.m. on Wednesday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has said.
— GMA Network
PSA: GDP only reached 6% in July-September
THE Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Wednesday revised downward the country’s economic growth figure in the third quarter of 2019, making it harder for the government to hit its growth target for the year.
— Manila Times
Now you can look for evacuees, evacuation centers through this app
A one-stop mobile application that allows people to locate evacuees and check out information about evacuation centers around the restive Taal Volcano has been launched.
— GMA Network
Duterte wins De Lima habeas data case at Supreme Court
President Rodrigo Duterte won a Supreme Court case yet again, as the en banc unanimously denied Senator Leila de Lima’s petition for a writ of habeas data against him.
— Rappler
Angkas to withdraw court petition vs TWG studying motorcycle taxis
Angkas on Wednesday, Jan. 22, said it was withdrawing the petition it filed in court against the Inter-Agency Technical Working Group studying motorcycle taxis.
— Eagle News
Teary-eyed evacuees’ appeal: Allow us to fish in Taal Lake again
Evacuees barred from returning to their lakeside villages in Batangas could not stop their tears on Wednesday, January 22, as they urged lawmakers to help them go back to fishing in the lake around the restive Taal Volcano.
— Rappler
Philippines residents refuse to leave volcano danger zones
Despite repeated warnings that the Philippines’s Taal volcano could erupt at any time, some people are still refusing to leave the danger zones.
— Aljazeera
Filipino investigators to join probe on Kuwait OFW’s killing
The Kuwaiti government will allow Philippine authorities to join the investigation on the murder of Filipina domestic worker Jeanelyn Villavende, a top Kuwaiti official said.
— Inquirer.net
Lea Salonga, other talents back 1-million signature campaign for ABS-CBN
Kapamilya talents showed their support for a signature campaign backing ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal launched by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.
— InterAksyon
7 of 10 Filipinos want ban on single-use plastics
Seven in 10 Filipinos want single-use plastics to be banned at all times, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released yesterday.
— The Philippine Star
Gov’t uncovers fly-by-night online gaming operators
The Philippines has uncovered some fly-by-night online gaming operators that sprout in the metropolis and then close shop as soon as they receive funds from mainland China—an indication that some of these entities were being used to launder “dirty” money.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer
Oil firms hike excise taxes in 500 stations
The country’s oil companies have already started increasing excise taxes on petroleum products being retailed at the pumps starting this week – and the stations that already implemented now hover at roughly 500 stations.
— Manila Bulletin
Philippines raises 1.2 billion euros from bond sale
The Philippines on Wednesday raised 1.2 billion euros from its first overseas bond sale for the year, officials said, as the government sought to fund an ongoing infrastructure overhaul and social welfare programs.
— ABS-CBN News
Government lends P225 million to Cotabato farmers
Government released P225.615 million to small farmers in the rice-producing Cotabato provinces in an interest-free regime to cushion the impact of the drop in low farm-gate prices in the second semester last year.
— Business Mirror
Philippines oil production slips in 2019
Philippine oil production fell in 2019 as two oil fields offshore northwest Palawan shut down.
— The Philippine Star
DOH: Face mask prices should stay steady amid coronavirus scare
Face mask prices should stay steady while the Philippines takes precautions against the novel coronavirus that has killed nine people and infected over 400 in China.
— Manila Bulletin
Potential ABS-CBN shutdown a loss for Filipino audiences and culture too, scholars note
Broadcast network ABS-CBN faces the possibility of having to shut down indefinitely if a bill to renew its franchise is not passed into law before March—a prospect that President Rodrigo Duterte has hinted at if not virtually guaranteed.
— The Philippine Star
Bato dela Rosa says Purisima should be held liable for SAF 44 deaths
Senator Ronald dela Rosa is standing by the report of the Philippine National Police-Board of Inquiry on the Mamasapano massacre despite the Sandiganbayan’s decision to acquit former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima and ex-PNP Special Action Force chief Getulio Napeñas of graft and usurpation charges.
— GMA Network
Japan court sentences 2 Filipinas via remote interpreting for the first time
A Japanese court handed down suspended sentences to two women from the Philippines on Monday, January 20, for violating Japan’s immigration law, using a video link system to communicate with an interpreter from a different court for the first time.
— Rappler
Duque: Still many blindspots in ‘novel coronavirus’
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said much is still unknown regarding the novel coronavirus or 2019 nCoV, allaying fears that the new virus that has caused illness in China is certainly as threatening as the viruses that caused SARS and MERS epidemics years ago.
— Rappler
Makati allots P441 million for elderly services
The Makati City government has earmarked P440.9 million in this year’s budget to provide services to its 85,000 elderly residents.
— The Philippine Star
CebuPac calls on HK flight passengers to get checked for flu-like symptoms
Budget airline Cebu Pacific on Thursday, January 23, urged passengers of a January 22 flight from Hong Kong to Manila to seek medical attention if they experience flu-like symptoms.
— Rappler
Farm output growth slight in Q4
THE country’s agriculture production only rose by 0.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019, the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Wednesday, with the Department of Agriculture (DA) attributing the marginal growth to the African swine fever (ASF) and natural disasters that struck the country during the period.
— Manila Times
2 cops sacked over jailbreak in Bacolod
The commander Police Station 3 here and his deputy police chief were relieved from their posts effective January 17, 2020, following the jailbreak two weeks ago.
— Tempo
Sandigan chief: Purisima, Napeñas should be tried for usurpation in SAF 44 deaths
Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima and ex-PNP Special Action Forces (SAF) chief Getulio Napeñas are liable for usurpation of official functions over the deaths of 44 SAF commandos as a result of an anti-terrorist police operation in January 2015, Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang said.
— GMA Network
Provincial Task Force to extend checkpoints as preventive measures of ASF entry in SoLeyte
Southern Leyte through its Provincial African Swine Fever (ASF) Task Force will extend the installation of checkpoints in identified border-municipalities in the province to avoid the entry of ASF-related …
— Philippine Information Agency
House adopts reso targeted at helping Taal victims during Batangas session
The House of Representatives on Wednesday adopted two resolutions targeted at helping individuals and communities affected by the recent eruption of Taal Volcano in their relief, rehabilitation, livelihood and development.
— GMA Network
FHM fails to convince SC to void Manila s anti-obscenity ordinance
Men’s magazine FHM has failed to get the Supreme Court (SC) to declare as void Manila’s anti-obscenity ordinance, a measure that one of the dissenting justices says may have a chilling effect on free expression.
— GMA Network
DOH Caraga to strengthen measures vs polio
With the recent launching of the second round of the “Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio” on January 20, the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga vowed to reach the 95 percent target coverage in the region through its intensified measures.
— Philippine Information Agency
Decongestion of EDSA inevitable, says DPWH s Villar
Public Works Secretary Mark Villar expressed confidence on Wednesday that the government would be able to ease traffic in Metro Manila given the projects lined up for completion.
— GMA Network
DOTr refutes MRT3 ‘suicide bomber’ post, says it was security test
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) refuted a post claiming that a suicide bomber was at a Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT3) station, saying it was only a penetration test conducted by the Philippine National Police.
— Rappler
Dela Rosa confirms U.S. visa canceled
Senator Ronald Bato dela Rosa confirmed on Wednesday, January 22, that his US visa has been canceled .
— Rappler
Oversight body proposed for Marawi rehab issues
Security and local government officials have proposed the creation of oversight committees to promote transparency and alignment of operations in relation to the rehabilitation of Marawi City.
— Philippine News Agency
PNP undergoes revamp; Cascolan named PNP s No. 2 man
Police Lieutenant General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan has been designated as second-in-command of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the PNP Public Information Office said Wednesday.
— GMA Network
Ex-DOF exec found guilty of graft, falsification
The Sandiganbayan has convicted a former Department of Finance (DOF) official of graft and falsification of public documents for granting P1.75 million in tax credits to an unqualified company.
— GMA Network
El Nido, Palawan Named As One Of ‘Best Solo Travel Destinations’ In 2020
HuffPost cited El Nido in Palawan as one of this year’s top 50 best solo travel destinations.
— Philippine News
Philippine agriculture again misses growth target in 2019
Philippine agriculture continued to post dismal growth in 2019, as natural calamities and the African swine fever spread in Luzon.
— Rappler
‘Death of patronage politics’: Vico Sotto regularizes 53 Pasig gov’t employees
Citing his campaign promise to end patronage politics in his city, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto announced that he has regularized 53 qualified city hall employees who had been contractual workers for decades – one for as long as 43 years.
— Rappler
Any constitutional amendment must be for the good of the people
SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said that he would only support constitutional amendments if these changes are for the good of the Filipino people.
— Manila Times
5 in 10 Pinoys expect Duterte to deliver most of his promises – SWS
More than half of Filipinos believe that President Rodrigo Duterte will fulfill most, if not all, of his campaign promises, according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.
— Manila Times
Batangas governor says classes may resume soon in areas not on lockdown
Classes may resume soon in areas that are not on lockdown due to the restive Taal Volcano, according to Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas.
— Rappler
P202-M infra proposals seen to boost tourism in Caraga
The Department of Tourism in the Caraga Region (DOT-13) said on Wednesday proposals to develop more tourism sites in various provinces would further boost the tourism industry in the area.
— Philippine News Agency
DOST’s SETUP assists 50 Cordillera MSMEs in 2019
The Department of Science and Technology, in recognition of the significant contribution of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in community development and the country’s economy, continues to prioritize the provision of assistance to MSMEs through its Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program or SETUP.
— Philippine Information Agency
Funeral home waives fees for dad who died amid Taal eruption
Filipinas Funeral Homes , the funeral parlor which charged a family of Taal Volcano evacuees P70,500 for the burial of their father, has reduced the family’s balance to zero.
— Rappler
DOLE-Bicol reports more regularized workers in 2019
Intensified inspection of workplaces by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional office here to safeguard workers from labor law violations led to an increased number of regularized workers last year, the top DOLE official in Bicol said on Wednesday.
— Philippine News Agency
Pimentel wants Angkas CEO declared ‘persona non grata’
Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III has called on the Senate to declare as “persona non grata” Angkas chief executive officer (CEO) Angeline Tham, who he claimed committed “high-handed, arrogant and irresponsible acts.”
— Inquirer.net
Public urged to stop jokes vs persons with autism
STOP using the word “autistic” as a slang for jokes or insults, an advocate urged in a pledge rite.
— Sun Star
Cebu City mayor commends PNP for peaceful Sinulog
Mayor Edgar Labella here has commended the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the peaceful celebration of Sinulog 2020.
— Philippine News Agency
House OKs release of additional funds for Taal victims
The House of Representatives has adopted two resolutions that will pave the way for a supplemental budget and immediate release of funds to assist the Taal victims.
— CNN Philippines
Two Chinese nationals arrested for allegedly operating sex den in Makati City
Two Chinese nationals have been arrested last week after it was discovered that they were allegedly operating a brothel largely servicing their compatriots in Makati City, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced yesterday.
— Coconuts Manila
Albay to send hygiene trucks, water purifying machine to Batangas
At least two water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) trucks and a water purifying machine will be sent to Batangas province to benefit thousands of Taal Volcano eruption victims, the Albay Public Safety Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) said on Wednesday.
— Philippine News Agency
5 abducted Indon fishermen taken to Sulu: Westmincom
The military’s Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) has confirmed that the five Indonesian fishermen seized on January 16 off Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia, were taken to the province of Sulu.
— Philippine News Agency
Chinese kid from Wuhan now recovering, says DOH
The five-year-old child from Wuhan who is under investigation by the Department of Health (DOH) is now on the road to recovery, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has said.
— GMA Network
Batangas solons file bill allocating P30-B supplement budget for Taal relief
Lawmakers from Batangas province on Wednesday filed a bill seeking to allocate a P30-billion supplemental budget for relief and rehabilitation efforts to aid the victims of the Taal Volcation eruption.
— GMA Network
PRRD makes a historic visit, distributes aids to 262 former rebels in Leyte
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is set to make history as the first ever Philippine President to step foot in San Isidro, as per Mayor Remedio Veloso.
— Philippine Information Agency
US ambassador “inspired by strength, resilience” of Taal evacuees, bares P5.1M relief assistance
(Eagle News) – United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said he is “inspired by the strength and resilience” of the families affected by the Taal Volcano eruption who were forced to evacuate their homes, as he announced that the US government is sending P5.1 million or $100,000 in relief assistance for those affected by the Taal volcano eruption.
— Eagle News
SC upholds seafarer’s right to post-employment medical checkup
The Supreme Court has granted the disability claim of a seafarer against his recruitment company and its foreign principal – a ruling that upheld seafarers’ right to demand from their employers a fully-paid post-employment medical examination.
— Rappler
PH targets 38 Olympians for Tokyo 2020
With 6 months to go before the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Team Philippines is working towards supporting more national athletes who are seeking to qualify for the quadrennial meet in Japan.
— Rappler
Duterte one-on-one with Panelo postponed due to pressing matters
A one-on-one interview between presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo and President Rodrigo Duterte that had been scheduled to take place on Wednesday afternoon has been postponed to January 28, Malacañang said.
— GMA Network
Reward awaits for those who report turtle nesting site in Ilocos Sur
Residents in Ilocos Sur who report a turtle nesting site to local officials will be given a monetary reward through the provincial government’s Marine Turtle Protection Program.
— Philippine Information Agency
WATCH: Anxious villagers plead against lockdown of areas near Taal Volcano
Anxious residents of Barangay Janopol Occidental in Tanauan City, Batangas, pleaded with police and soldiers at a checkpoint going into their village on Wednesday morning, January 22. They were asking for a reprieve from a total lockdown that they said caught them by surprise.
— Rappler
Isko Moreno surprises longtime city hall employee with new house
When he was called to come up on stage during their flag ceremony at the Manila City Hall on Monday, January 20, Melchor Duka didn’t have any idea that he would be getting a new house.
— Rappler
Feature photo Jerome Austria Abuan
This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on the Taal volcano eruption.
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 January 23 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on
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Stella-maris Ewudolu
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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