Government borrowing rises 4.15% in February
GOVERNMENT borrowing grew slightly in February driven by the issue of bonds and bills, the Bureau of the Treasury said.
— BusinessWorld Online
14 farmers killed in Philippine police ‘massacre’: activists
Rights groups on Sunday condemned what they called a “massacre” of 14 farmers by police in the central Philippines as authorities defended the incident as a legitimate operation against suspected communist rebels.
— The Nation
Maria Ressa’s arrest a ‘warning’ to journalists, says Robredo
Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday said the second arrest of Rappler chief executive Maria Ressa last Friday looked like a “warning” for journalists who criticize the administration.
— Inquirer.net
EU to probe allegations of aid diverted to Philippine rebels
The European Union said Saturday it would investigate allegations that its aid funds were being funnelled to Philippine communist guerrillas waging a decades-old insurgency that has killed thousands.
— The Nation
Bank lending posts 13.7% expansion in Feb.; money supply (M3) at P11.5 trillion
Big banks’ outstanding loans increased by 13.7 percent year-on-year in February, a slower pace of growth compared to 15.3 percent in January, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said.
— Manila Bulletin
BOI-approved investments up 60% to P243 B in Q1
Approved investments by the Board of Investments (BOI) recovered from a slowdown in the first two months, rising 60 percent in the first quarter, driven by projects in energy, manufacturing, and information and communications technology (ICT).
— The Philippine Star
US flags growing deficit in goods trade with PHL
THE United States’ goods trade deficit with the Philippines widened by more than a fifth last year, according to the US 2019 National Trade Estimates (NTE) report which largely reiterated concerns raised by Washington on trade barriers put up by the Philippine government.
— BusinessWorld Online
120 international hotels set to invest P23b in PH
More than 100 international hotel chains are expected to invest over P23 billion in the Philippines in the next three years, according to the Philippine Franchise Association.
— Manilastandard.net
Residential property prices inch up in Q4 2018 – BSP
Residential property prices in the Philippines posted a 0.5% year-on-year increase in the last quarter of 2018, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
— Rappler
Agricultural damage climbs to P4.35 billion amid El Niño
Agricultural damage caused by the weak El Niño further went up to P4.35 billion as of Sunday, March 31, according to the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Operations Center of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
— Rappler
BSP confident inflation back to below 4% in March
THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is certain that inflation continued to have fallen back to below 4 percent in March this year, as lower food prices will continue to mitigate the upside pressures of other key commodities during the period.
— Business Mirror
Philippines net external liability position widens to $48.8 B in Q4
The country’s net external liability position widened in the last quarter of 2018 due to the rise in foreign investment inflows, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
— The Philippine Star
Shortage in vaccines may swell rabies cases
THE Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) has sounded the alarm over a possible spike in the country’s rabies cases this year or the next as the government suffers from a shortage in animal and human rabies vaccines.
— Business Mirror
PHL to launch its official National Halal Logo
THE Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Board (PHEDPB), led by Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, convened for the approval of the design and guidelines of the Philippine Halal Logo on March 19, 2019, at the Board of Investments Building, Makati City.
— Business Mirror
Households with savings up in Q1
More Filipino households set aside their money for savings in the first quarter, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
— The Philippine Star
CLI mulls P2.5-B loan for Davao Global Township
Cebu Landmasters, Inc. (CLI), through its joint venture firm YHEST Realty and Development Corp., is looking at borrowing P2.5 billion for the first phase of its P33-billion Davao Global Township project.
— BusinessWorld Online
Hog inventory at 12.709M heads in January–PSA
The country’s swine population as of January 1 rose by 1.42 percent to 12.709 million heads, from last year’s 12.604 million, due to the increase in the number of sows and growers, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
— Business Mirror
Cavite government eyes P200B from bonds to help finance airport
THE PROVINCIAL government of Cavite said it is now looking at a bond float to help finance construction of a $10-billion airport at Sangley Point.
— BusinessWorld Online
U.S. urges Philippines to let Rappler ‘operate freely’
The United States on Friday, March 29, urged the Philippines to quickly resolve a case against arrested journalist Maria Ressa and allow her and news site Rappler to operate freely.
— Rappler
EU to audit funds given to NGO with alleged communist links
The European Union (EU) said on Saturday, March 30, that it will audit the funds it has given to a Filipino non-governmental organization in April, to verify the claim of the Philippine government that the NGO is a front of the Communist Party of the …
— Rappler
Duterte gov’t hit over China vessels near Pag-asa
Senatorial candidate Gary Alejano criticized the Duterte administration on Saturday, March 30, for its failure to act on his warnings about the presence of Chinese vessels near Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea.
— Rappler
Philippines housing crisis: Filipinos need affordable homes
The International Monetary Fund expects the Philippines to become the fastest-growing economy in Southeast Asia.
— Aljazeera
PH, U.S. to kick off ‘Balikatan’ 2019 on Monday
The Philippines and U.S. are set to hold the annual “Balikatan” exercise, with over 7,000 troops expected to join the bilateral military event.
— CNN Philippines
30 undocumented OFWs bound for Middle East intercepted at NAIA
Thirty undocumented Filipino workers bound for the Middle East were barred from leaving the country by Immigration officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
— CNN Philippines
OFWs in Japan to get better pay under new law
Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Japan employed under the country’s new specified skilled worker residency law will receive better pay, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) secretary Silvestre Bello III said.
— Inquirer.net
Iloilo’s ‘mermaid’ women turn beach trash into wearable art
It’s become a familiar sight to see tourists leaving bottles by the beach shore for the waves to take, and discarded pieces of plastic and slippers peeking out from the sand.
— Rappler
NWRB: Water for irrigation reduced to reserve supply for Metro Manila
Angat Dam water allocation for irrigation has been reduced from 40 cubic meters per second to 35 m3/s to reserve more supply for Metro Manila, National Water Resources Board executive director said on Sunday.
— GMA News
DILG urges LGUs to support DOH measles vaccination campaign
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) encouraged the local government units (LGUs) to be its proactive partners in the conduct of nationwide immunization campaign to address the measles outbreak.
— Philippine News Agency
DDB to have ‘scientific study’ on extent of drug problem
The Dangerous Drugs Board said Saturday it is ready to commence a scientific study to determine the real nature and extent of the illegal drugs problem in the Philippines.
— GMA News
Drilon insists politicians, celebs on narco list should be charged first
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Sunday insisted that government officials and celebrities who are on the narco list should have been charged first before their names were released.
— GMA News
Negros Oriental police ops ‘legitimate’: PNP
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday defended the police operations that resulted in the killing of 14 people and the arrest of 15 others in Negros Oriental on Saturday.
— Philippine News Agency
Don’t turn Negros into a ‘killing field,’ bishop urges gov’t
Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos City asked on Sunday the government to probe the killing of 14 farmers in Negros Oriental during police-military operations in search of loose firearms.
— Inquirer.net
We won’t fall into a debt trap: Dominguez
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III on Sunday reassured the public that the Philippines will not fall into a “debt trap” to any other country as the government expands its infrastructure investments through concessional loan financing from its development partners.
— Philippine News Agency
Nograles says Facebook rules must be followed
A Cabinet official on Saturday shrugged off the report that Facebook has taken down 200 pages and accounts linked to Nic Gabunada, President Rodrigo Duterte’s social media campaign manager in the 2016 elections.
— GMA News
Controversial retired colonel to head anti-insurgency office
President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Allen Capuyan, a retired colonel once linked to shabu smuggling, as head of an office to end communist insurgency.
— Rappler
Controversies stall MET Theater restoration
What has been billed as the biggest restoration project of a built heritage in the country could be collapsing under the weight of its own expectations and because of infighting.
— Inquirer.net
Zambales celebrates thriving mango industry
Clad in colorful mango-inspired costumes, street dancers on Sunday took to the streets for the annual province-wide festival that celebrates the local thriving mango industry.
— Philippine News Agency
Poll gun ban ops net 76 firearms in Soccsksargen
Police units in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) confiscated at least 76 firearms in nearly three months in line with the implementation of the election gun ban.
— Philippine News Agency
CSC urges public to report corrupt, inefficient gov’t employees
A Civil Service Commission official urged the public to report corrupt and inefficient government employees after a CSC probe showed erring employees in five regions.
— GMA News
A National Artist’s view: folklore vs ‘fakelore’
There is no plan, no systematic approach to revive our rich cultural heritage. Widespread Americanization has led to a distorted educated consciousness. Much of research is written in English.
— Inquirer.net
Cyberattack vs alternative media traced to PH-based attacker
Swedish nonprofit Qurium Media Foundation, which provides rapid response services for media groups and civil society organizations, released a report on Friday, March 29, detailing how they assessed the distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks that hit alternative media groups in the Philippines.
— Rappler
Cost of LPG goes up but gasoline, diesel, kerosene to go down
The tide seems to have turned in favor of motorists as oil executives announce a modest rollback in pump prices scheduled to come into effect on Tuesday, but homeowners will be biting their lips as the price of cooking gas is headed in the opposite direction.
— Philippine News Agency
AFP says it is looking into candidates with links to NPA
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday said it is now looking into any politicians running in the midterm polls with supposed links to the New People’s Army (NPA).
— GMA News
Feature photo World Heath Organization Philippines
This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo acknowledges World Health Day, April 7.
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.
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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