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Nationwide Round-Up

Duterte has no intention to hold on to power, says Roque

MALACAÑANG ON Thursday denied speculations that President Rodrigo R. Duterte will run as a transition president in tandem with former senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos, Jr., who lost the vice-presidential race in 2016.
“Kung gusto po ni Presidenteng manatili sa posisyon, hindi na niya sana hiningi sa Consultative Committee (ConCom) na maglagay ng Transitory Provision na ang transition leader dapat ihalal (If the President wants to stay in power, he would not have asked the Consultative Committee to put a provision that the transition leader should be elected,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said when sought for comment during a press briefing at the Palace on Thursday afternoon, July 19.
“It would have been easy for him to stay in office, simply by hanging on to the office. Because the original Transitory Provision provided that he will be the transition leader,” he added.
Mr. Roque also quoted the President as saying, “I will not have any hand in no-el (no elections)” move.
But if there is going to be a people’s initiative to postpone next year’s midterm elections, Mr. Roque said, the President would abide by the voting public’s decision.
Mr. Roque also dismissed claims that federalism is being used to remove Vice-President Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo from office.
“Wala pong katuturan iyan (that is nonsense),” he said, noting that the administration has not concerned itself with the political career of Ms. Robredo, who is chair of the opposition Liberal Party.
The ConCom’s draft federal constitution states that the president and the vice-president should step down from power on June 30, 2022 to make way for transition leaders. — Arjay L. Balinbin

US pledges $26.5M for counter-terrorism in the Philippines

THE UNITED States has pledged $26.5 million (about P1.418 billion) worth of assistance for Philippines law enforcement agencies to counter terrorism through “non-military rule-of-law approaches.” In a statement on Thursday, the US Embassy in Manila said the grant will cover the following:
• training, equipment, and other support to build comprehensive law enforcement capacity within a rule of law framework to deny terrorist operations, funding, and movement;
• investigate and prosecute terrorism cases; and
• counter radicalization to violence and violent extremism.
“Our joint efforts to confront shared threats to the peace and security of both of our countries is another powerful example of the depth and breadth of our relationship as friends, partners, and allies,” US Ambassador Sung Y. Kim said. — Camille A. Aguinaldo

Local gov’t leaders express support to talks with NPAs on the ground

A halfway house for rebel returnees in Davao Oriental built through the initiative of the local government. — DAVAO ORIENTAL GOVT FB PAGE

LOCAL GOVERNMENT unit (LGUs) leaders have expressed support for the localized peace talks with communist rebels, according to the according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). “We have received good feedback from LGUs as they expressed their willingness to play a more significant role in ending hostilities in their respective localities. In particular, the League of Cities of the Philippines and the Philippine Councilor’s League (PCL) has expressed support for this initiative,” DILG OIC-Secretary Eduardo M. Año said in a statement Thursday. “(W)e are pursuing localized peace talks to allow our brothers and sisters in the mountains to rejoin mainstream Philippine society. If Joma Sison (Jose Maria C.) and his minions give up on peace, we will instead talk to all the NPA (New People’s Army) ground units that are sincere in their desire to talk peace,” he said. The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Mr. Año also said that local government officials “are in a better position to engage in talks with the communist rebels in their area and possibly recommend solutions to address these problems on the local level”. An executive order, to be signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, containing the guidelines for the local talks is being finalize. The DILG is also preparing for the reintegration of former rebels through the construction of more halfway houses around the country.

Aganan Bridge

THE P161-million Aganan Bridge, linking the municipalities of Maasin and Alimodian in Iloilo, is now in the final stages of construction and could be opened by August, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways-Region 6 (DPWH-6). “If weather permits, the public will be able to utilize this bridge by August 2018. This will provide vital link to the towns of Maasin and Alimodian, providing access to Iloilo City and other towns in the central Iloilo,” DPWH-6 Regional Director Wenceslao M. Leaño, Jr. said in a statement.

5,500 Iloilo voters urge PET to uphold 25% voting threshold

A GROUP of voters claiming to have 5,500 members from Ilolilo petitioned the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) on Thursday to uphold a 25% voting threshold in the ongoing election recount between Vice-President Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo and losing candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. “Our votes will be disengranchised and our voices will not be heard if the PET continues to insist on using the 50 % threshold in the manual recount of votes,” the group said in a statement released by actress Cynthia Patag. Ms. Robredo on April 19 urged the PET to reverse its April 10 decision to impose a 50% voting threshold in the recount. This was countered by Solicitor-General Jose C. Calida, who insisted voters would not be disenfranchised by the court’s decision. — Dane Angelo M. Enerio

Troops sent to Lianga evacuation site as standard procedure, military says

THE MILITARY has confirmed that soldiers have been deployed to an evacuation center in Lianga, Surigao del Sur, where more than 1,500 members of indigenous peoples (IPs) have fled in response to soldiers in their communities. Volunteers who have been working with the IPs and were with them when they left their communities had been reporting since Wednesday that police and military personnel had been deployed around the Barangay Diatagon Gymnasium and had prevented the entry of aid from the Catholic Diocese of Tandag. Soldiers in Diatagon have set up an Incident Command Post (ICP), Capt. Rodulfo Cordero Jr. of the 401st Infantry Brigade’s Civil-Military Operations battalion said Thursday, adding this is standard procedure for natural disasters and similar situations. According to National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council guidelines, ICPs are where relief operations are coordinated. Mr. Cordero said the local governments of Lianga and Barangay Diatagon are in charge of operations and the police and military are there to provide security. — PHILSTAR
>> See the full story on https://goo.gl/GhhmzS

Stricter baggage inspection at Cebu bus terminal after firearms intercepted

BAGGAGE INSPECTION procedures at the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT), managed by the provincial government, will now be stricter after three gunrunners with 40 unregistered .45 caliber pistols were caught last weekend by the Philippine Coast Guard. The suspects loaded the illegal firearms on a bus at the CSBT and were on board a boat bound for Dapitan City in Mindanao. CSBT administrator Joey Herrera, in a statement from the Cebu provincial government, asked the riding public “to bear with the strict protocol enforced by the security guards” to avoid a repeat of the incident.
See related story on Illegal firearms intercepted in Samboan, Cebu port

Wage hike in Central Visayas takes effect Aug. 3

THE P10 to P52 increase for minimum wage earners in the private sector in Central Visayas will take effect on Aug. 3, according to Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-Region 7 (RTWPB-7) chairman Alvin M. Villamor. RTWPB-7, in its order, stated that in line with the trust to rationalize the wage structure and in consideration of the changes in the employment structure in the region, the board agreed to sub-classify the non-agriculture wages and simplify the agriculture wages classification. The order emphasized that not covered by the provisions are household or domestic workers, persons in the personal service of another and workers of establishments registered under the Barangay Micro Business Enterprises with valid Certificates of Authority. Central Visayas covers the provinces of Cebu (including Cebu City) Bohol, Negros Occidental, and Siquijor. — The Freeman
>> See the full story on https://goo.gl/Zzx2Vu

Nation at a Glance — (07/20/18)

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

AirAsia announces $30-billion deal for 100 Airbus planes

Sepang, Malaysia — Malaysian budget airline AirAsia Thursday announced an additional order of 34 Airbus A330neo planes, bringing the total value of its expanded 100-plane order to $30 billion as it sets its sights on European routes.
The first delivery of the fuel-efficient widebody jets will arrive towards the end of 2019 and will allow the airline to take on longer non-stop routes to Europe, AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes said at a media event.
These will be used by its long-haul arm, AirAsia X, replacing its older first-generation A330s.
“We can now start the London route… This plane allows us to fly to Brazil, Namibia and anywhere we want,” he said.
The Kuala Lumpur-London route was dropped in 2012 due to low demand and high fuel prices.
“We lobbied hard for the A330neo after seeing the success of the A320neo, and working closely with Airbus, we have arrived at an aircraft that we are confident will allow us to expand our low fares offering beyond Asia Pacific to the rest of the world,” AirAsia X chief executive Kamarudin Meranun said.
The deal makes AirAsia the biggest Asian customer of European aviation giant Airbus, which has been locked in a tight battle for dominance with US rival Boeing. — AFP

Oil trades below $69 as investors weigh mixed inventories report

Oil traded below $69 a barrel as investors tried to gauge demand growth in the world’s biggest economy following conflicting data on US stockpiles.
Futures in New York were little changed Thursday after rebounding 1 percent in the previous session from a 1.5% drop. Prices have been wavering after government data showed a surprise gain in nationwide crude inventories, while gasoline held in U.S. storage tanks dropped by the most since May on the back of robust fuel demand. Meanwhile, an OPEC committee meeting provided little insight on how output quotas will be split between the group.
Oil has lost about 7% this month over concern an escalating trade conflict between the US and China could jeopardize global economic growth and energy demand. While worries remain over potential supply losses in Venezuela and Iran as well as sporadic disruptions in Libya, investors are waiting to see how an agreement reached last month by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allied producers to raise output will impact global oil supplies.
“Refinery utilization rates in the US have been kept at almost full capacity and it will gradually fall with planned maintenance, which will lead to a build-up in overall crude stockpiles, while gasoline and distillate inventories shrink,” Lim Jaekyun, a commodities analyst at KB Securities Co., said by phone in Seoul. “OPEC has been seen raising output since June and this will slowly resolve risks we see on the supply side.” — Bloomberg

PSEi slides in thin trading

Stock prices slumped on Thursday, July 19, amid thin trading as investors stayed on the sidelines due to lack of leads.
The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) gave up 0.85% or 63.50 points to close at 7,387.87, immediately reversing the previous session’s gains. The broader all shares index also lost 0.67% or 30.07 points to 4,462.44.
“I’m waiting for market catalyst to bring back the action to at least year-to-date average volume or more. And I don’t expect much market demand until earnings start to trickle in the next few weeks,” IB Gimenez Securities, Inc. Research Head Joylin F. Telagen said in a text message.
The services counter was the lone sub-index that managed to stay afloat yesterday, albeit at a mere 0.03% increase or 0.4 points to 1,451.16. The rest declined, led by holding firms which dropped 1.5% or 109.38 points to 7,197.93, followed by mining and oil that slipped 0.76% or 74.30 points to 9,665.99.
Property went down 0.62% or 22.60 points to 3,622.38; financials slipped 0.46% or 8.49 points to 1,826.48; while industrial declined 0.21% or 22.29 points to 10,528.20.
Some 672.72 million issues switched hands, valued at P3.69 billion, slowing down from Wednesday’s P4.25-billion turnover.
Decliners prevailed for the day at 117, versus 72 stocks that advanced and 46 others that remained unchanged.
Out of the 20 most actively traded stocks, 13 declined, including Ayala Corp. (down 2.96% to P950), Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company (down 0.36% to P69.50), SM Investments Corp. (down 1.1% to P900), and GT Capital Holdings, Inc. (down 4.13% to P929).
The same list showed only five stocks in positive territory, led by third telco aspirants Transpacific Broadband Group Int’l. Inc., which jumped 5.88% to 54 centavos and EasyCall Communications Philippines, Inc. up 18.61% to P32.50. — Arra B. Francia

Asia stocks fall on trade war fears

Hong Kong — Asian markets mostly fell Thursday, July 19, as the US Federal Reserve chief’s upbeat assessment of the economy failed to allay concerns about a global trade war.
In his second day of congressional testimony on Wednesday, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell expressed optimism over the US economy.
But he warned that the spiralling global trade row was having a negative impact on companies in the US.
“We hear from our extensive network of business contacts a rising chorus of concerns,” he said.
US President Donald Trump has imposed steep tariffs on products from China worth tens of billions of dollars, and has threatened to target hundreds of billions more, on top of import taxes on steel and aluminium that have angered allies such as the EU.
“Powell was pretty straightforward on the risks from the trade policy uncertainty though he tried to stay out of the political debate,” said Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at AxiTrader.
The Fed chief said US businesses were already being hurt by reciprocal tariffs on key products, pointing out: “The bottom line is a more protectionist economy is less competitive, less productive.”
However, he also said that if Trump’s trade policy resulted in lower tariffs, that would be good for the US economy.
Hong Kong closed down 0.4% while Shanghai was 0.5% lower. Seoul fell 0.3% and Tokyo edged down 0.1 percent, snapping a four-day winning streak.
“Profit-taking emerged after four days of gains,” said Hikaru Sato, senior technical analyst at Daiwa Securities.
“But the decline was limited due to a weak yen and gains in US shares,” Sato told AFP.
Sydney gained 0.3% while Singapore rose one percent.
In a sign of worsening tensions over the trade dispute, a senior economic adviser to Trump attacked Chinese President Xi Jinping for blocking an agreement to resolve the issue.
“I think Xi is holding the game up,” said Larry Kudlow, director of the White House National Economic Council. “I don’t think President Xi has any intention of following through on the discussions we’ve made.” — AFP

Tourist arrivals in the Philippines hit record high in first half

Visitor arrivals for the first semester of 2018 reached an all-time high of 3,706,721, the Department of Tourism (DOT) reported on Thursday, July 19.
Citing data gathered by the agency’s Statistics, Economic Analysis and Information Management Division (SEAIMD), the DoT said foreign arrivals from January to June of 2018 registered a 10.40% growth against the 3,357,591 arrivals last year.
Arrivals for June 2018 reached 528,747, up by 11.35% compared to the 474,854 arrivals of the same month last year.
“The DOT’s continuous marketing promotions, aggressive actions to create new air routes and develop new tourism products, travel facilitation, and confidence in tourism investments drummed up the industry and resulted to this stellar performance. But I would like to emphasize that this will not be possible without the consolidated efforts of all stakeholders,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat was quoted as saying in a statement released by the DoT.
The Tourism chief is also optimistic that the target of 7.4 million tourist arrivals by the end of year is achievable.
“We are actually on track. We are halfway the year and we are exactly halfway of our National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) target arrivals.”

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