Philippines morning news for June 17

Philippines morning news for June 17
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Philippines morning newsPH moves notch higher in world competitiveness
The Philippines just moved up one spot to 45th place this year from 46th last year among 63 countries ranked for their overall competitiveness and ability to generate prosperity with little improvement on major indicators, according to the World Competitiveness Ranking 2020 (WCR) conducted by the Swiss-based Institute for Management Development’s (IMD) Business School.
— Manila Bulletin

Population density making COVID-19 fight tougher — Palace spox Roque
Population density is making the fight against COVID-19 more challenging, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Tuesday.
— GMA Network

Several Philippine areas see increase in active COVID-19 cases
Aside from Cebu City, a number of other areas in the Philippines are experiencing an increase in coronavirus cases.
— ABS-CBN News (video)

Ressa, Santos conviction 4th time journalists sentenced to jail for online libel –DOJ
The conviction of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and former Rappler researcher Reynaldo Santos, Jr. is the fourth time journalists were sentenced to years in prison over online libel, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
— GMA Network

Philippines reports 364 new coronavirus cases, five new deaths
The Philippines’ health ministry reported 364 new coronavirus infections and five more deaths on Tuesday, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 26,781 and fatalities to 1,103.
— CNA

COVID-19 Cases swamp Cebu City hospitals
The tragic deaths of a foreigner and a barangay chair while they waited for hours for urgent medical attention illustrated this city’s lack of capacity to provide critical care for new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients, which had prompted President Duterte to put it back under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

All systems go for resumption of ‘Build, Build, Build’ projects
The government is ready for the resumption of all big-ticket projects under its “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) health crisis, Malacañang said on Tuesday.
— Philippine News Agency

Government quota keeps 14 OFWs stranded in Amsterdam airport — labor group
A labor group on Tuesday said 14 Overseas Filipino Workers are stranded in Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport after they were denied return to the country by the government.
— Philippine Star

DOH to recalibrate UHC implementation amid drop in sin tax collections
The Department of Health (DOH) will be coordinating with the economic managers of the government for guidance on how to adjust the budgetary requirements for the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) law given the decreasing sin tax collections amid the pandemic, according to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Tuesday.
— GMA Network

Duterte: Back to ECQ for Cebu City, Metro Manila still in GCQ
Cebu City is now back under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) amid its soaring new coronavirus cases.
— Business Mirror

PEZA registers P29.5-B investments in Jan-May
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) registered PHP29.5 billion worth of projects in the first five months of the year despite the coronavirus pandemic.
— Philippine News Agency

Public safety priority over tourism, says Zambo city’s Mayor Climaco
Mayor Beng Climaco is concerned over the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the city’s tourism industry, however she believes that during this time, public safety must be the priority.
— Philippine Information Agency

DOH proposes P182-B budget in 2021 for UHC implementation
The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday proposed a P182 billion budget for 2021 to implement the Universal Health Care (UHC) law and to prepare the health system for emerging infectious diseases like COVID-19.
— GMA Network

Additional oil import duty, imposed as pandemic response, nets govt P1.21 billion
THE government has so far collected a total of P1.21 billion from the temporary imposition of additional 10 percent duty on all oil importation since May.
— Business Mirror

DOST OKs testing melatonin as COVID treatment
The government has allowed 260 patients from 24 hospitals in the country to participate in the World Health Organization (WHO)’s solidarity trials as it pushed for cooperation in finding a vaccine and treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) here and abroad.
— Philippine Star

House eyes P58 billion for tourism sector recovery
The House of Representatives is eyeing a P58-billion fund for recovery of the country’s tourism industry from recession caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
— Philippine Star

Philippines secures P75.5-billion loan from Japan
THE governments of the Philippines and Japan on Tuesday signed two loan agreements worth P75.5 billion (around 154 billion yen) for two major infrastructure projects in the Visayas and Mindanao.
— BusinessWorld Online

Peza urges Palace to okay 71 ecozone proclamations, gain P76-billion investments
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) is calling on President Duterte to approve the proclamation papers of 71 economic zones pending before his office that would result in over P76 billion worth of investments.
— Business Mirror

U.S. senators warn verdict vs Ressa sets ‘dangerous precedent’
United States senators criticized a Manila Regional Trial Court’s decision to convict Rappler CEO Maria Ressa over cyber libel, warning the guilty verdict set “dangerous precedents” for democracy and press freedom in the Philippines.
— Rappler

Diversification of energy resources to support resiliency
Not overly relying on one or two specific resources will help countries to be more energy resilient, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Southeast Asia Department principal climate change specialist Toru Kubo said Tuesday.
— Philippine News Agency

784 governors, mayors endorse anti-terror bill approval
A total of 784 local chief executives have expressed support for the anti-terror bill, Malacañang announced yesterday.
— Philippine Star

665 Filipinos return from Barbados, UAE
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday welcomed 665 overseas Filipinos (OFs) aboard two separate flights at the Clark International Airport (CRK) in Pampanga.The repatriates arrived via Philippine Airlines Flight PR8117 and Emirates Flight EK2572.
— Philippine News Agency

Lawmaker to PhilHealth: Settle P18 billion bill
State-owned Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has been urged to settle at least P18 billion in unpaid reimbursement claims of accredited hospitals nationwide.
— Philippine Star

Duterte wants biz sector’s advice for fast economic recovery
President Rodrigo Duterte would meet with the business community to ensure the early recovery of the Philippine economy from the crisis driven by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), Malacañang said on Tuesday.
— Philippine News Agency

Rights group asks DOJ to recommend veto of anti-terror bill
Human rights group Karapatan on Tuesday called on the Department of Justice to recommend the veto of the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which is feared to infringe on people’s basic rights and fundamental freedoms.
— Philippine Star

PhilHealth sees fund deficit until 2024, moves to postpone expansion of primary care benefit
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Tuesday said it projects to have a fund deficit in the next four years based on the current COVID-19 scenario.
— GMA Network

Malacañang backs plan to tax Pinoy online businesses despite criticisms
The law may be harsh, but it is the law. Malacañang Palace yesterday expressed support for the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) plan to tax online businesses despite widespread criticism, saying that doing so is just following the law.
— Coconuts Philippines

Citing tremendous losses, Zamboanga businesses plead for MGCQ in city
After losing around P3 billion due to the coronavirus lockdown, the business community in Zamboanga City is appealing to the national Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease to relax the classification of the southern port city to modified general community quarantine.
— Philstar

Voluntary premium payment for OFWs could compromise National Health Insurance Program –PhilHealth chief
Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) president Ricardo Morales on Tuesday said making the payment of contributions for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) voluntary may “compromise” the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) as provided under the Universal Health Care Act.
— GMA Network

Innovative, flexible training needed to upskill labor force: NEDA
Following the latest results of the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) labor force survey (LFS), more innovative and flexible learning programs are needed to respond to the challenges of preserving and creating jobs amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said.
— Philippine News Agency

27 resorts, hotels in Bacolod, NegOcc get nod to operate
The Department of Tourism (DOT) 6 (Western Visayas) has issued a certificate of authority to operate 27 accommodation establishments in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City effective June 15.
— Philippine News Agency

Ressa had no involvement in Keng story, says Rappler exec
Rappler chief Maria Ressa had no hand in the news website s 2012 story about businessman Wilfredo Keng for which she was convicted of cyber libel, the head of the company s investigative desk said Tuesday.
— GMA Network

After ruling vs Ressa, uploaded old print articles vulnerable to cyber libel
Years-old print articles that had been digitized are feared to now be vulnerable to cyber libel because of a Manila court’s interpretation of the law in convicting Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and former researcher-writer Reynaldo Santos Jr.
— Rappler

Philippine office demand up 34% despite lockdown
DEMAND for office space grew 34% during the lockdown as the information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) industry continued to expand, going against expectations as many businesses suspended operations during the period.
— BusinessWorld Online

January to May rice imports reaches 1MMT–data
The country’s rice imports from January to May has reached over 1 million metric tons (MMT) as private traders brought in over 300,000 metric tons (MT) of staple in May alone, latest government data showed.
— Business Mirror

Quezon City expands protection programs as cases of local violence among women breaches 300
Quezon City is set to buttress its current protection programs for women and children after the number of reports of violence against women in the city breached the 300-mark on Tuesday, the city’s public information office said.
— Philstar

Over 6,000 Filipinos overseas positive for coronavirus
The number of Filipinos abroad confirmed to have the coronavirus topped the 6,000-mark after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) recorded 455 more Filipinos who tested positive for the virus on Tuesday, June 16.
— Rappler

Only 2 psychiatrists in PH Army despite mental health risks faced by soldiers
There are only 2 psychiatrists currently working in the Philippine Army despite the possible mental health conditions soldiers may suffer.
— GMA Network

Aquino’s contested cyber libel law gets new claws in ruling vs Rappler
A lower court ruling convicting Rappler journalists of cyber libel has given new claws to a law that was already opposed even by dissenting Supreme Court justices during the time of former president Benigno Noynoy Aquino in 2012.
— Rappler

Filipinos have a high interest, but low trust in news – report
Filipinos have a high interest in the news and value independent journalism, but have low trust in news and are concerned about misinformation.
— Rappler

DOH to MGCQ, GCQ areas: Strictly observe minimum health standards
Department of Health (DOH) once again reminded Central Luzon residents to strictly observe minimum health standards as restrictions continue to ease.
— Philippine Information Agency

Philippines eyes to raise P400B from loans for COVID-19 recovery efforts
The Philippines will borrow at least P400 billion to support the COVID-19 economic recovery efforts, an official of the Department of Finance said Tuesday.
— GMA Network

PhilHealth extends payment of contributions for self-paying members to June 30
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Tuesday, June 16, said payment of contributions for self-paying members is extended until June 30.
— Rappler

Lawmakers oppose proposal to delay universal health care law implementation
For Senator Risa Hontiveros and Quezon City Representative Angelita Tan, the coronavirus pandemic is the best time to strengthen the implementation of the universal health care law.
— Rappler

Zambo City IBT to fine distancing violators
As the Zamboanga City Integrated Bus Terminal (ZC-IBT) here strictly implements the minimum health standards and social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the management is warning passengers on fines should they violate the protocols while in the IBT premises.
— Philippine Information Agency

Small businesses urged to register with BIR
Small business owners are encouraged to register with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) not because the government merely wants to collect taxes but for them to be accounted for and be included in its programs for the sector.
— Philippine News Agency

Lawyers question republication, prescription aspects of cyber libel
The government’s cyber libel case against Rappler CEO Maria Ressa was largely perceived in the legal community as a test case on the libel provision in Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, that had been upheld as constitutional in 2014.
— Philippine Star

After setbacks, PH Navy completes Middle East, India, Sri Lanka mission
Originally meant to save Filipinos from impending war in the Middle East, the sailors, marines, and reservists of Naval Task Force 82 instead dealt with a pandemic, a super cyclone, and fire in the engine room.
— Rappler

PNP forms ‘care group’ of psychologists amid growing fears of quarantine stress, burnout
The Philippine National Police is putting together an auxiliary corps of personnel trained in psychology to address concerns of mental wellness within its ranks, it announced Tuesday.
— Philippine Star

Media watchdog: Freedom of expression a ‘personal challenge’ to all Filipinos
Filipinos must consider and discuss the implications of the cyber libel conviction of Rappler CEO and executive editor Maria Ressa and former researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr, the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) said on Tuesday, June 16.
— Rappler

DLSU drops part-time teacher after Facebook post about sexual violence
After widespread clamor from the student body to investigate the matter, De La Salle University cut ties with a part-time faculty member after he posted a “misogynistic” message on Facebook.
— Rappler

Mining firms fund 1st molecular testing lab in Caraga
Several mining firms in Caraga Region have pooled their resources together to establish the area’s first Molecular Testing Laboratory (MTL) for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
— Philippine News Agency

Over 150K OFWs so far get P10-K cash aid from DOLE
More than 150,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have benefitted from the cash assistance under the Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
— Philippine News Agency

34,000+ teachers in ZamPen told to join remote teaching webinars
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is inviting all teachers in the Zamboanga Peninsula to attend a series of free webinars to prepare them for remote teaching before the opening of classes.
— Philippine Information Agency

Subdivision guards have no authority to take visitors’ licenses — PNP
Village security personnel of housing subdivisions are no longer allowed to take the driver’s licenses of visiting motorists before letting them in, a unit of the Philippine National Police said.
— Philstar

IATF allows transit of lawyers of persons arrested for quarantine violations
The government’s task force on the coronavirus pandemic has allowed the transit of lawyers representing persons who were arrested while the government is imposing the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
— Philippine Star

PBA suspends, fines Baldwin P75,000 for ‘detrimental’ comments
The PBA has fined TNT KaTropa assistant coach Tab Baldwin P75,000 along with a three-game suspension on Tuesday, June 16 due to “his comments against the league,” per an official statement.
— Rappler

 

 

Feature photo PNB Global Remit
This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on International Day of Family Remittances, June 16.

 

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).

 

 

About Philippines morning news.

Philippines morning news roundup is the most comprehensive hand-curated selection of Philippines English language news headlines published. Each weekday we scour hundreds of local and international news sites and websites to find the most recent Philippines English language news today.

We filter our the dull, the boring, the repetitive, and the click-bait and package all of the Philippines daily news that you need to know to start your day into an easy to read, time saving format of Philippines news headlines and first paragraphs before 8.15am Manila time.

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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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