April 20, 2022
IMF hikes 2022 PH GDP forecast to 6.5%
Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 20, 2022
Ben O. de Vera
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has slightly hiked its 2022 gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for the Philippines to 6.5 percent, even as it expects headline inflation to hit the upper end of the government’s target band of manageable price hikes...
No local Omicron XE yet — DoH
Daily Tribune, April 20, 2022
Jom Garner
The Department of Health (DoH) on Tuesday said there were no reports yet of the “Omicron XE” variant of Covid-19 being found in the Philippines. The strain is a recombination of two Omicron sub-variants...
Japan credit watcher keeps PH investment rating
Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 20, 2022
Ronnel W. Domingo
Japan-based credit watcher Rating and Investment Information, Inc. (R&I) maintained the Philippines government’s credit rating at BBB+—two notches above the minimum investment grade —with a “stable” outlook. The rating is likely to remain so over the near term...
State infrastructure spending down 16.3% to P90B; timing of payables cited
BusinessMirror, April 20, 2022
Bernadette D. Nicolas
State infrastructure spending as of end-February dropped by 16.3 percent to P90 billion, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)...
DepEd: We’re just following IATF guidelines on teachers
Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 20, 2022
Jane Bautista
The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday defended its policy making on-site reporting mandatory for teachers, saying it was just complying with the order of the national government...
G20 cites PH as ‘exemplary country’ for vax efforts
Manila Standard, April 20, 2022
Willie Casas
The Group of Twenty (G20) has recognized the Philippines as an “example country” in the acceleration of pandemic vaccine deployment, National Task Force against COVID-19 chief Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. has said...
Govt eyes rollout of 2nd booster in ‘one to two weeks’ – DOH
CNN Philippines, April 19, 2022
CNN Philippines
The government is eyeing to start the rollout of the second COVID-19 booster shot for select sectors “in one to two weeks,” the Department of Health (DOH) disclosed on Tuesday...
Laws creating new hospitals signed
Philippine Star, April 20, 2022
Alexis Romero
President Duterte has signed into law three measures establishing new hospitals...
Senators mull over option to override veto of mandatory SIM card registration bill
BusinessMirror, April 20, 2022
Butch Fernandez
Senators are mulling over options to override the Palace veto of the mandatory SIM card registration bill even as Malacañang signaled it will review proposals to salvage it, given the legislators’ argument that it is needed urgently to stop the use of mobile phones for terrorism and fraud...
CSC outlines employment options for EO 138 devolution ‘casualties’
BusinessMirror, April 19, 2022
Samuel Medenilla
Regular government workers who may be affected by the looming devolution of more government functions under Executive Order (EO) No. 138 will not face immediate permanent jobs loss, according to the Civil Service Commission (CSC)...
Govt now allows partial deployment of OFWs to Ethiopia
CNN Philippines, April 19, 2022
CNN Philippines Staff
The government has partially lifted the deployment ban to Ethiopia, Malacañang said Tuesday. Acting presidential spokesperson Sec. Martin Andanar said the decision came after the crisis alert level in the East African country was downgraded from 4 to 2...
Manila Water, SG firms collaborate on water technology
Philippine Star, April 20, 2022
Louise Maureen Simeon
Ayala-led Manila Water Co. Inc. will work with Singaporean firms to improve water technologies in its serviced areas...
DTI to U.S.: Accept PHL pineapples
BusinessMirror, April 20, 2022
The Department of Trade and Industry is urging Washington to allow the export of pineapples to mainland America...
PH, US to strengthen economic partnership
The Manila Times, April 20, 2022
Anna Leah E. Gonzales
The Philippines and the United States have agreed to further deepen their economic partnership, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said...
US vows ‘ironclad’ security to PH, govt eyes oil probe anew in WPS
Manila Standard, April 20, 2022
United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin affirmed America’s commitment to Philippine security when he met with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana at the Pentagon on Tuesday, Manila time...
PHL seeking to join US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework
BusinessWorld, April 19, 2022
Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
The Philippines is seeking to join the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) organized by the US, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)...
USTR raises concern on proliferation of fake goods for sale at Greenhills Shopping Center
BusinessMirror, April 19, 2022
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has raised concerns over the continued inclusion of Manila’s Greenhills Shopping Center on the Notorious Markets List...
MDT commitments cover all
PHL assets in SCS–Austin
BusinessMirror, April 19, 2022
Rene Acosta
Washington, for the nth time, has assured Manila that an attack on any assets of the Philippine military and even public vessels in South China Sea are covered by its Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines...
World Bank says war to cut global growth, boosts financing target
BusinessWorld, April 20, 2022
Reuters
The World Bank is reducing its global growth forecast for 2022 by nearly a full percentage point, to 3.2% from 4.1%, due to the impacts from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, World Bank President David Malpass said on Monday...
IMF cuts global growth forecast due to ‘seismic waves’ from Russia’s war in Ukraine
Rappler, April 20, 2022
Reuters
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday, April 19, slashed its forecast for global economic growth by nearly a full percentage point, citing Russia’s war in Ukraine, and warning that inflation was now a “clear and present danger” for many countries...
US, Britain, Canada pledge artillery for Ukraine
Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 20, 2022
Reuters
The leaders of the United States, Britain and Canada pledged on Tuesday to send more artillery weaponry to Ukraine in the face of an all-out Russian assault on that country’s East...
Kyiv says Russia aims to grab land, crush Ukraine’s armed forces
Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 19, 2022
Reuters
The aim of Russia’s new military offensive in east Ukraine is to grab land, establish an overground link between territories in the east and Crimea, and crush Ukraine’s armed forces, Ukraine’s defense ministry said on Tuesday...
UN to debate move to limit veto power of Security Council permanent members
The Manila Times, April 19, 2022
Agence France-Presse
Liechtenstein is to convene the UN General Assembly on Tuesday to debate a draft resolution — backed by Washington — requiring the five permanent members of the Security Council to justify their use of the veto...
Russia unleashes offensive into east Ukraine
The Manila Times, April 19, 2022
Agence France-Presse
President Vladimir Putin has said he launched the military operation on February 24 to save Russian speakers in Ukraine from a "genocide" carried out by a "neo-Nazi" regime...
WHO launches traditional medicine hub in India
GMA News, April 20, 2022
Robin Millard, Agence France-Presse
The World Health Organization (WHO) launched its Global Centre for Traditional Medicine at a site in India on Tuesday, aimed at unlocking its potential by blending ancient practices with modern science. The World Health Organization (WHO) launched its Global Centre for Traditional Medicine at a site in India on Tuesday, aimed at unlocking its potential by blending ancient practices with modern science...
European countries call for end to Jerusalem unrest at UN Security Council
GMA News, April 20, 2022
Five European countries called Tuesday for an end to clashes in Jerusalem following a weekend of violence surrounding a holy site, in a joint statement issued after an emergency closed-door UN Security Council session...
Israel hits Gaza after rocket attack as Jerusalem tensions spike
Philippine Star, April 19, 2022
Paul Raymond, Agence France-Presse
Israel carried out its first air strikes on the Gaza Strip in months early Tuesday in response to a rocket fired from the Palestinian enclave as tensions soar after a weekend of violence around a Jerusalem holy site...
Up to 20,000 mercenaries in Ukraine: European official
ABS-CBN News, April 20, 2022
Agence France-Presse
Up to 20,000 mercenaries from the Russian private military company the Wagner Group as well as from Syria and Libya are fighting alongside Moscow's forces in Ukraine, a European official said Tuesday...
Unvaccinated children hospitalized at twice the rate during Omicron surge — US study
GMA News, April 20, 2022
Amruta Khandekar, Reuters
Hospitalization rates for unvaccinated children ages 5 to 11 were twice as high as among those who were vaccinated during the record COVID-19 surge caused by the Omicron variant, according to a US study released on Tuesday...
Crisis-hit Sri Lanka, India revive talks to link electric grids
Rappler, April 19, 2022
Reuters
India and Sri Lanka have resumed talks on linking their electricity grids, officials told Reuters on Tuesday, April 19, a step that could aid New Delhi’s goal of reducing China’s influence on the island nation, now grappling with a severe economic crisis...
Indigenous lands block Brazil deforestation —study
GMA News, April 19, 2022
Brazil's indigenous reservations have acted as a barrier against deforestation over the past three decades, although destruction of the Amazon rainforest has accelerated recently under President Jair Bolsonaro, according to a study published Tuesday...
Putin gives honorary title to Russian brigade accused of war crimes in Bucha
CNN Philippines, April 20, 2022
Hannah Ritchie, Masha Angelova and Rob Picheta, CNN
A brigade accused of committing war crimes in the Ukrainian town of Bucha has been awarded an honorary title by Russian President Vladimir Putin...
90 million fully vaccinated by June 30 unlikely – NVOC
Philippine Star, April 20, 2022
Sheila Crisostomo
The National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) admitted yesterday that the target of fully vaccinating some 90 million Filipinos by June 30 will not likely be achieved...
DOE seeks Cabinet cluster OK for West Philippine Sea oil exploration
Philippine Star, April 20, 2022
Helen Flores
The Department of Energy (DOE) has asked the Cabinet security, justice and peace coordinating cluster to immediately allow oil exploration activities in the West Philippine Sea, Malacañang said yesterday...
Comelec starts deploying ballots
Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 20, 2022
Dona Z. Pazzibugan
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has started deploying ballots to be used for the May 9, 2022 national and local elections as scheduled...
Rising COVID cases noted in 14 areas—DOH
Manila Standard, April 20, 2022
Willie Casas
COVID-19 cases are rising again in 14 areas under Alert Level 1, with Cavite, Manila and Quezon City registering the highest number of new infections, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday...
5 Metro Manila cities record zero new COVID cases on April 19 — Octa
Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 20, 2022
Christia Marie Ramos
With 24 COVID-19 cases, Pasay City has the most number of recently recorded infections within the National Capital Region (NCR) while five other cities logged no additional coronavirus cases, according to an OCTA fellow...
Schools may open Aug. 22 with expanded in-person class
Manila Standard, April 20, 2022
Academic year 2022-2023 may open on August 22, a Monday, with more schools holding limited in-person classes alongside distance learning, if plans of the Department of Education go through...
Comelec withholds P90M Smartmatic fee
The Manila Times, April 20, 2022
Javier Joe Ismael
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan on Tuesday, April 19, told the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation that the poll body has decided to withhold a P90-million payment for the services of Smartmatic, its automated elections technology provider, whose data were allegedly breached...
DFA exec pins ‘pre-shaded’ ballots on human error
Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 20, 2022
Melvin Gascon
A series of “human errors” made by consulate personnel handling official ballots for overseas absentee voting (OAV) has caused what was earlier reported as “pre-shaded” ballots, an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) told the Senate on Tuesday...
No-proc, destab may force Rody to stay
Daily Tribune, April 20, 2022
Mj Blancaflor, Jom Garner and Gab Villegas
President Rodrigo Duterte may be forced to stay in office past his term if forces would come out to destabilize the country and try to stop the proclamation of new leaders elected on 9 May this year...
Pay up, DU30 cries out over ‘Agaton’
Daily Tribune, April 20, 2022
MJ Blancaflor
Following the onslaught of typhoon “Agaton,” President Rodrigo Duterte renewed his call for rich countries to pay developing nations like the Philippines for climate change-induced catastrophes...
DOH observes increase of Covid-19 cases in 14 areas under Alert Level 1
Manila Bulletin, April 19, 2022
Dhel Nazario
The Department of Health (DOH) is seeing a gradual increase of Covid-19 cases in 14 areas under Alert Level 1...
DOH bares 6 vaccine brands approved for 2nd booster shot
Manila Bulletin, April 19, 2022
Dhel Nazario
Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Sputnik Light, and Janssen vaccines have been approved for the administration of the second booster shot, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Tuesday, April 19...
BOP back at surplus, hits $495 million in January-March
BusinessMirror, April 20, 2022
Bianca Cuaresma
The country’s transactions with the rest of the world reverted to a surplus in the first quarter of the year, after a positive performance in March, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported...
Agaton agricultural damage balloons to P1.4 billion
Philippine Star, April 20, 2022
Louise Maureen Simeon
Damage to the agriculture sector in areas battered by Tropical Storm Agaton has increased to P1.4 billion...
PAL to restore prepandemic domestic capacity by Q4
Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 20, 2022
Tyrone Jasper C. Piad
Philippine Airlines (PAL) is pinning its hopes on the fourth quarter push—a period when passenger volume is expected to surge amid the holidays—to fully restore its domestic capacity this year...
Agriculture trade recovers in 2021
The Manila Times, April 20, 2022
Eireene Jairee Gomez
Trade in agricultural goods rebounded last year, expanding by 19.8 percent following a 7.1-percent contraction in 2020, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported on Monday...
Philippines fishing job losses among biggest in region
Philippine Star, April 20, 2022
Louise Maureen Simeon
The Philippines suffered one of the biggest decline in employment in the fishing sector in 2020 in Southeast Asia amid restrictions and as the pandemic dampen demand for seafood commodities...
Reopening talks lift stock index back to 7,000
Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 20, 2022
Miguel R. Camus
The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) closed above 7,000 on Tuesday as investors weighed a proposal by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) to further reopen the economy...
PLDT sells, leases back its cell sites in P77-B deal
Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 20, 2022
Tyrone Jasper C. Piad
PLDT Inc. clinched a landmark P77-billion sale and leaseback agreement for its 5,907 telecom towers on Tuesday as it seeks to cut its debts while pushing for better connectivity for customers...
TUCP files petition for P820 daily minimum wage in Central Luzon
BusinessWorld April 19, 2022
Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Tuesday filed a petition seeking to increase the daily minimum wage in Central Luzon to P820 from P420, in line with petitions filed with other regional wage boards...