US, ASEAN tackle China
THE UNITED STATES and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) want international law to be followed, “not the unilateral actions by China,” in resolving the maritime disputes in the South China Sea, Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan said.
170 illegal online gaming operators nabbed
THE PHILIPPINE Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has intensified the crackdown against illegal online gaming operators, saying it has raided some 170 establishments operating without licenses as of the first semester.
Cayetano to UN: Philippines ‘on track’ in antidrug campaign
THE PHILIPPINES is “on track” in providing reforms to prevent the country from becoming a “narco-state” while remaining committed to the rule of law and human rights, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano told world leaders at the 73rd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York last Saturday.
PHL ‘to extend assistance’ to Indonesia
MALACAÑANG in a statement on Sunday said,“We join the people of Indonesia in offering our prayers to the hundreds who died after a powerful 7.4 earthquake and tsunami hit Central Sulawesi last Friday.”
DILG backs task force vs Reds
THE DEPARTMENT of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has expressed support for the proposal of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to have a multi-agency task force that would address the communist insurgency.
Iloilo City council to seek participation in House hearing on power supply franchise
THE ILOILO City council wants the voice of stakeholders heard in the ongoing deliberations in the House of Representatives for the license of the city’s power supply distributor.
Storm Kong-Rey expected to strengthen while in PHL area this week
TROPICAL STORM Kong-Rey, which was still 1,445 kilometers east of the Visayas on Sunday morning, is expected to enter the Philippine area between Monday...
Cebu provincial execs say trans-axial highway will solve traffic, bring more inclusive development
OFFICIALS OF Cebu province and engineers said the national government should look into the long-standing Cebu Trans-Axial Highway Development Project (CTDP) because it will...
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Hundreds, including soldiers, lost money to pyramid rent-a-car scam in Mindanao
HUNDREDS, INCLUDING army and police personnel, who got duped into investing in what turned out as a multi-million pyramid rent-a-car and money market business...
Draw a not-so-favorable result for Jerwin — analyst
THE sixth title defense of the International Boxing Federation super flyweight title of Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas on Saturday (Manila time) against Mexican Alejandro Santiago Barrios ended in a split draw, a verdict that left both camps disappointed, and one local fight analyst viewing it as a “hit” to the Filipino champion.
Philippine women’s chess team held seeded England to share 23rd place
THE Philippine women’s team seeks to sustain its impressive showing as it clashes with 15th seed Spain tonight in the sixth round of the 43rd World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia.
Perpetual dominates Lyceum in 94th NCAA junior chessfest
PERPETUAL Help downed Lyceum of the Philippines University, 3-1, in the finals to clinch a historic first juniors’ championship in the 94th NCAA chess competition at the Malayan High School of Science Lobby in Otis, Manila over the weekend.
Vive l’ambiance as France embraces Ryder Cup
PARIS -- Any lingering concerns about why the Ryder Cup has come to France, a country with precious little golfing tradition, were put to bed amid memorable scenes on a remarkable first day of competition at Le Golf National on Friday.
Turkey cries foul after fourth failure to host Euro 2024 tournament
ANKARA -- Turkish newspapers slammed UEFA’s choice of Germany to host the Euro 2024 soccer tournament, saying the country’s fourth failed bid was a stab in the back by Europe’s soccer bosses.
Ronaldo lawyers to sue Der Spiegel over ‘illegal’ report
LISBON -- Lawyers for Cristiano Ronaldo said on Friday they would sue German magazine Der Spiegel after it published “blatantly illegal” accusations by an American woman who alleges she was raped by the Portuguese soccer star in 2009.
IBO champion Michael Dasmariñas vs Plange non-title bout finishes in draw
SINGAPORE -- Ringstar Boxing, Asia’s fastest growing sports media property, just staged its biggest boxing match to date, with ‘Roar of Singapore V -- The Kings of Lion City,’ which took place at Marina Bay Sands last Saturday, Sept. 29 and was seen all over the world via its broadcast partners.
Hertha Berlin shocks Bayern Munich for first win in 9 years
BERLIN -- Hertha Berlin stunned leaders Bayern Munich 2-0 on Friday for their first win over them in nine years that snapped the champions’ unbeaten run this season and moved the Berliners joint top in the Bundesliga.
Woods spotty Ryder numbers
Tiger Woods has had a complicated relationship with the Ryder Cup. Fresh off a historic victory at the 1997 Masters, he was envisioned to go 5-0 in his first taste of golf’s premier biennial competition. Instead, he did no better than post a 1-3-1 slate, and so shocking was his pedestrian showing that it shared headlines with living legend Seve Ballesteros’ victorious valedictory in Valderrama. Since then, his performances have been spotty at best, fueling the contention that he’s dominant as a lone wolf, but reduced to a cub when forced to be in a pack.
Fundamentals remain sound despite downgrades — Pernia
THE GOVERNMENT is still bullish on economic growth prospects despite downgrades to the economic outlook issued by multilateral institutions and ratings agencies.
DTI touts TRABAHO bill’s ₱5-B training fund amid job-loss fears
THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said workers from the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry will receive aid in upgrading their skills from a P5 billion fund to be set up under the latest tax reform legislation.
Energy dep’t to identify competitive areas for renewable projects
THE Department of Energy (DoE) has issued a circular that seeks to identify what it calls competitive renewable energy zones (CREZ), which will become the guide in directing the country’s power transmission development to reach areas with potential indigenous energy resources.
Maternity leave bill bicam targets ratification before Congress recess
THE Bicameral Conference Committee tasked to reconcile versions of the increased paid maternity leave bill will begin its work on Monday with a target to ratify the bill ahead of the congressional break.
Flood-control study for Central Luzon to start by Oct. 11
THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is expected to launch a feasibility study for the Pampanga Delta Development Program (PDDP) by Oct. 11, Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said.
DoF may tap Israel for agri-economics training
THE GOVERNMENT hopes to set up an exchange program with Israel for Finance department officials, the Department of Finance (DoF) said in a statement over the weekend.
Revenue growth in financial inclusion
Traditionally, banks operating in emerging markets (EMs), including the Philippines, did not consider financially excluded individuals as profitable target customer segments. These financially-excluded sectors included micro and small to medium enterprises (MSMEs).
‘Weaponized’ Incentives and TRAIN 2
Most of the time, when passions are high it is because conflicting greeds are involved. Some rare times, when passions are high it is because conflicting principles are involved. Among the promontories of contention in the proposed TRAIN 2 or its TRABAHO version is the shift from gross income taxation and other “forever incentives” to net income taxation (e.g., CIT) and time-bound incentives for PEZA locators. Since the government is switching policy lanes, this question is a propos: “Is the old system broke?” By “broke” it means wasteful.
Improving passenger convenience and safety, innovation vs regulation
People are rational, they seek convenience and safety for themselves, their families and friends. Thus, if it is very inconvenient and unsafe to take multiple rides from house to work and vice versa, say tricycle from house and village, jeepney or bus, MRT/LRT, jeep again to office, repeat the 4 rides going back home, then people would rather drive their cars or motorcycles even if they have to endure heavy traffic, high parking fees, and occasional street flooding during the rainy season.
What if most want political dynasties?
At last Wednesday’s forum at the University of the Philippines BGC, “Understanding Federalism and its Implications (Part Two), two of the most knowledgeable speakers on Federalism, Dr. Ronald U. Mendoza, Dean, Ateneo School of Government, and Atty. Florin T. Hilbay, Associate Professor, University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law, lectured to members and guests of the sponsors: the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), with the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) and Judicial Reform Initiative (JRI).
2022 elections will decide Philippine history’s heroes and villains
August and September usually mark the peak of the Marcos martial law debates.
IMF cuts Philippine growth forecast for 2018 amid new challenges
THE INTERNATIONAL Monetary Fund (IMF) lowered its gross domestic product (GDP) growth projection for the Philippines this year, amid downside risks from “rising inflation, continued rapid credit growth, higher US interest rates and US dollar, volatile capital flows, and trade tensions.”
BSP sees Sept inflation at 6.8%
THE BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) expects inflation to have further accelerated in September, due to higher oil and food prices, it said in a statement on Friday.
Money supply, bank lending growth slow in Aug
GROWTH in both money supply and bank lending slowed down in August, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said on Friday.
PLDT expands deal with Amdocs
PLDT Inc. said on Friday it signed a new agreement with US-based Amdocs to manage and automate the telecommunications giant’s information technology (IT) operations.
Aboitiz bags original proponent status for Bohol airport
THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) granted original proponent status to Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. (AIC) for the operations, maintenance, and future expansion of the New Bohol International Airport in Panglao, the company said on Friday.
Antonio-led Revolution Precrafted expands in Zimbabwe
REVOLUTION Precrafted Properties, Ltd. will start producing prefabricated medical pop-up structures in Zimbabwe after it signed a non-exclusive dealership agreement with investment firm African Tsaleach Private Ltd., the company said on Friday.
Apo Land open to independent investigation of landslide
APO LAND and Quarry Corp. (ALQC) said on Friday it is allowing geologists and experts to conduct independent investigation of the landslide in Naga, Cebu, a day after Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said the company’s quarry operations will remain suspended.
MWSS evaluating options if water concessionaires win SC case
THE Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) is evaluating its options, including returning to negotiations, should the Supreme Court (SC) decide in favor of Metro Manila’s two water concessionaires that their corporate income tax (CIT) is an expense that can be passed on to consumers.
National debt rises to P7.1 trillion after yen bond issue
THE national government’s outstanding debt rose to P7.10 trillion in August after the government issued yen bonds, with the value of external liabilities rising due to peso’s depreciation.
Malacañang defends Duterte’s remarks on EJKs
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte’s latest statement that his only “sin” was extrajudicial killings should not be taken seriously, Palace officials said on Friday.
Trillanes to return home after arrest deferred
SENATOR Antonio F. Trillanes IV announced on Friday he will leave the Senate premises and return home Saturday morning after a Makati court deferred its resolution on the Department of Justice’s (DoJ) warrant of arrest plea against the senator in connection with his amnesty revocation.
Boracay to reopen Oct. 26
THE tourist island of Boracay is set to reopen on Oct. 26, but its full rehabilitation will be completed in two years, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Eduardo M. Año said.
No voter registration extension, says Comelec
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Friday that voter registration will not be extended beyond the deadline on Saturday, Sept. 29.
CJ nominations to open on Sept. 29
By Vann Marlo M. Villegas
NOMINATIONS for the position of Chief Justice will start on Saturday, Sept. 29, Justice Secretary and Judicial and Bar Council...
US, PH strengthens military alliance
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the US Indo-Pacific Command signed an agreement yesterday which aims to strengthen the defense and security cooperation between the two countries.
NPC to tap white hat hackers to secure ID system
THE National Privacy Commission (NPC) has tapped white hat hackers to help secure the government’s central database platform on information on all citizens and resident aliens.
