China fishing deal seen as preliminary to more talks
CABINET Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles called a 2016 verbal agreement on fishing rights at Reed Bank between President Rodrigo R. Duterte and China’s Xi Jinping a preliminary step to a more formalized deal, as members of the government aired conflicting positions on the validity of the arrangement.
DoLE hoping security of tenure bill signed by SONA
LABOR Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said he expressed to Malacañang his support for the Security of Tenure (SoT) Bill, which he expects to be signed before President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) later this month.
DoLE to manage database on foreign workers; over P4B expected from POGOs
THE DATABASE of foreign workers in the Philippines will be managed by the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) as the government tax machine tightened its grip on foreign workers, with the online gaming industry alone expected to generate about P4.4 billion in withholding taxes.
Cagayan de Oro port’s new terminal expected to be launched July 15 — DoTr
THE new passenger terminal building at the Port of Cagayan de Oro is set for inauguration in less than two weeks, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) said.
Italy offers investment aid to develop Bangsamoro
THE ITALIAN government has offered public and private assistance for the development of the Bangsamoro Region, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said.
Ocean conservation effort warrants new gov’t department, experts say
A NEW GOVERNMENT department is needed to manage and conserve ocean resources, which is too big a job for the agriculture-focused agencies currently tasked with protecting the country’s seas, experts said.
Government debt rises 1.7% in May on peso weakness, bond issues
OUTSTANDING government debt rose month-on-month in May driven by fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and an increase in foreign loans after two issues of government bonds, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said.
Story telling in data science
What is data storytelling?
The underperformance doomsday scenario
After years of debate and wrangling among legislators, workers’ associations and employer groups, the Security of Tenure (SOT) bill is now on the desk of President Rodrigo R. Duterte for signing. The bill seems sure to become law since the president himself declared it a priority based on his campaign promises.
Regulating Vaping
The Department of Health (DoH) is moving ahead of Congress to further guide the “vaping” industry by putting it practically at par with the cigarettes and tobacco industry. While imposing a tax on electronic cigarettes is still off the table, with Congress adjourning before a bill on this matter was passed, the use of e-cigarettes is being further regulated through executive fiat.
Inflation in transportation sector
I regularly write on the monthly inflation rates of East Asian economies, and since 2018 until May 2019, the Philippines has been the “inflation valedictorian” of the region because our inflation rate is nearly two to five times those of our neighbors.
The way you were
THE PAST is a country we may have lived in and sometimes too hard to resist revisiting especially when we used to be at the top of it. Is it the default mode of old people, no longer in their prime not just in age but in status, to keep going back to the past?
Hong Kong protesters score Pyrrhic victory
HONG KONG -- Hong Kong protesters triumphantly took over the city’s legislature, but there is little to celebrate. Amid another march against a controversial extradition plan, a furious faction broke into the empty building on Monday night and trashed it, deepening a crisis for Chief Executive Carrie Lam. The violence will weaken some of the movement’s support, spook big business and could give Beijing a pretext to dig in.
Northport edges Columbian, closes in on playoff incentive
THE NORTHPORT Batang Pier moved a step closer to notching a playoff incentive in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup after outlasting the Columbian Dyip, 110-108, on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Kyrgios, Nadal set to renew ‘salty’ rivalry
LONDON -- It was the “super salty” blockbuster clash tennis fans around the world wanted to see and Nick Kyrgios and Rafael Nadal duly obliged on Tuesday by setting up a second round showdown at Wimbledon.
Gilas Youth ends group phase sans a win
THE rough campaign of Gilas Pilipinas Youth at the FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup continued on Wednesday morning (Manila time) after it absorbed a 92-64 shellacking from Russia to finish the classification phase winless.
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Murray/Williams dream team is on as Serena says yes
LONDON -- Andy Murray wanted it, the British fans were desperate for it and the media were working themselves into a frenzy about it and on Tuesday it was confirmed that Serena Williams had said yes.
Ronald Nonles tops Bangkok chess competition
KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato bet Ronald Nonles, a former Colegio de San Juan de Letran standout, ruled the just-concluded Big Rook Chess Festival 2019 Under 2200 section, Standard competition held at the Assumption Association, Rama IV in Phra Khanong, Bangkok, Thailand last Sunday.
New Girl’s Junior Champion
Vic Glysen Derotas, who plays for Nazareth School of National University, is the new Philippine Junior Champion, Girls Division. Unlike the competition in the Boys Division where there was a stern battle for the gold medal which lasted till the last day and hour of the competition, here in the Girls Division Derotas scored seven wins and gave up just one draw to clinch the title one round before the end. She was awarded the title of Woman National Master by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (FIDE).
Warriors rebooting
Of all the handshake accords that went through within the first six hours of free agency in the National Basketball Association, the Warriors’ deal with the Nets (later expanded to include the Timberwolves) was, perhaps, the most mind-boggling. To be sure, they scrambled to create value out of Kevin Durant’s departure; they didn’t want their erstwhile top dog to leave without any compensation in return. Even as the decision made sense on paper, however, it came at a cost, and a not inconsiderable one that, if nothing else, formally marked the end of its dynasty.
PSEi closes flat as investors await inflation data
THE MAIN INDEX ended mostly unchanged on Wednesday as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of the inflation report at the end of the week.
Peso weakens further
THE PESO weakened further against the dollar on Wednesday as market participants await economic data to be released later this week.
Another Davao City rep floated for speakership
HUGPONG NG Pagbabago (HNP), a regional party led by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, endorsed another Davao City congressman, 3rd District Rep. Isidro T. Ungab, for the House speaker race.
Angara seeks probe on PhilHealth to protect UHC funds
A SENATE investigation on the “ghost dialysis” claims involving the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), among other concerns, has been formally sought in a resolution filed by Senator Juan Edgardo M. Angara.
SC dismisses petition of Rhema Foundation
THE SUPREME Court (SC) has dismissed the petition of a foundation that donated to the controversial Kapa-Community Ministry International, Inc., which is currently under probe for allegedly running an investment scam.
Nationwide round-up
THE ARMED Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday assured that state security forces do not have any plan of staging a coup d’ etat soon.
DENR lifts closure order on Irisan dumpsite, gives Baguio City until Dec 31 for...
THE DEPARTMENT of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has lifted the June 26 cease and desist (CDO) order against the Irisan dumpsite in Baguio City, with several conditions, including a Dec. 31 deadline for the conversion of the site into an ecological park.
No increase in MWSS water allocation yet despite Angat level improvement
THE NATIONAL Water Resources Board (NWRB) on Wednesday said it will maintain its water allocation to Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage (MWSS) at 36 cubic meters per second (CMS) to help in first improving the water level in Angat Dam.
Caguio asks: How do we prosecute past Chinese vessel intrusions?
“AREN’T YOU asking for the impossible?” This was the question posed by Associate Justice Alfredo Benjami S. Caguioa to the petitioners for Writ of Kalikasan for the protection of the Philippine territory in the exclusive economic zone and filing of criminal complaints against Chinese fishermen found poaching in the area.
Zamboanga City gov’t devolves garbage collection task to barangays
PREPARATIONS ARE underway for barangays to take responsibility of garbage collection in Zamboanga City as provided under a local solid waste management ordinance passed in 2016.
Nation at a Glance — (07/04/19)
News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.
PHL firms’ confidence eases, still highest
BUSINESSMEN in the Philippines have turned out to be the most bullish globally, according to a press statement released on Tuesday by P&A Grant Thornton that summarized findings of Grant Thornton’s International Business Report (IBR) for the first half, even as net optimism was down one and nine points from 2018’s first and second semesters, respectively.
Which economies are business leaders most optimistic about over the next twelve months?
BUSINESSMEN in the Philippines have turned out to be the most bullish globally, according to a press statement released on Tuesday by P&A Grant Thornton that summarized findings of Grant Thornton’s International Business Report (IBR) for the first half, even as net optimism was down one and nine points from 2018’s first and second semesters, respectively.
Professionals exempt from business permit fees for offices, clinics
PROFESSIONALS are now exempted from paying fees to obtain business permits for the operation of their offices or clinics under a new circular of the Department of Finance (DoF).
Reorganization of leadership at DICT under way
A REORGANIZATION of senior officials is under way at the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), said newly appointed Secretary Gregorio B. Honasan II, who assumed office on Tuesday.
Factories faltered worldwide in June; Sino-US trade truce fails to brighten outlook
LONDON/TOKYO -- Factory activity shrank across much of Europe and Asia in June while growth in manufacturing cooled in the United States, keeping the world’s policy makers under pressure to avert a recession amid a US-China trade war.
Stock exchange ends 1st half with 7% rise
THE Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) finished the first half of 2019 with gains of 7.1%, propped up by net inflows from foreign investors as well as improvements in the economy during the period.
Megawide expects income growth to be flat this year
DIVERSIFIED engineering conglomerate Megawide Construction Corp. sees flat net income growth for 2019, as it expects lower contributions from its airport business.
ABS-CBN dominates nationwide TV ratings — Kantar Media
ABS-CBN Corp. reported leading nationwide television ratings in June with an average audience share of 44% during the period, besting its rival GMA Network, Inc.
SEC issues advisory vs Requiza Poultry, Unlishop
THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has advised the public to be cautious in dealing with Requiza Agricultural Products Trading (Requiza Poultry) and Unlishop E-commerce Advertising Company (Unlishop) since neither are allowed to solicit investments.
AirAsia partners with cloud applications provider Workday
AS part of its transition into a travel tech company, Asia’s largest budget carrier AirAsia Group Bhd. recently partnered with enterprise cloud applications provider Workday Human Capital Management (HCM) to manage its employee data, including career information, technical skills, and trainings.
Sta. Lucia to develop 97-hectare community in Davao
STA. LUCIA Land, Inc. (SLI) will be developing a 97-hectare property in Davao City into a masterplanned community.
Inspiration from the outdoors and lessons from a National Artist
PAINTINGS by National Artists Arturo Luz, Fernando Amorsolo, and Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera hang on the walls along the entrance hallway of Ivan Acuña’s apartment in Mandaluyong. In his living room, more of his painting collection is stacked on the floor. Across them are pieces of Chinese porcelain displayed above cabinets against the window. The collection of paintings and cityscape view from his apartment are where he draws inspiration for his own abstract paintings.
Landlords are big winners as the Philippines bets on continued Chinese gaming boom
MANILA — Tessie, her husband and their adult son recently vacated their home of 37 years in a Manila suburb to make way for some unfamiliar tenants — 20 Chinese nationals.
Gov’t makes full award of 3-year T-bonds
THE GOVERNMENT fully awarded the fresh three-year Treasury bonds (T-bond) it offered on Tuesday on the back of strong demand from the market due to additional liquidity from recent cuts to banks’ reserve requirement ratio (RRR).
