March 22, 2022
PHL in an ideal position to fully reopen the economy
Business Mirror, March 22, 2022
Manny Villar
The Philippines is in a prime position to fully reopen the economy with what is happening in the rest of Asia. It can take advantage of the economic slack in most of East Asia, where daily Covid-19 cases are still high. South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Indonesia are not yet close to containing the infection rate compared to the Philippines...
Philippine returns to international debt market with $500 million bonds
Philippine Star, March 22, 2022
Elijah Felice Rosales
The Philippines returned to the international debt market for the first time this year by offering global and green bonds to boost the government’s budget for pandemic recovery...
Moody's retains Phl invest grade
Daily Tribune, March 22, 2022
TDT
Credit watchdog Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s) affirmed a Baa2 grade to the dollar-denominated global bond offerings of the country including tranches maturing in 2027, 2032 and 2047...
10.7 million Filipino families rate themselves as poor
Philippine Star, March 22, 2022
Michael Punongbayan
Forty-three percent or an estimated 10.7 million Filipinos believe they are poor, a 2021 Fourth Quarter survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed...
Cyberattacks pose clear and present danger to PHL
Business World, March 22, 2022
Arjay L. Balinbin
As cyberattacks surge around the world, the Philippines is still at the “infancy” stage in terms of cybersecurity, raising worries over the government and private sector’s ability to handle present and future cyberthreats...
Duterte orders P200 subsidy for poor raised to P500
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 22, 2022
Jordeene B. Lagare and Leila B. Salaverria
Saying the P200 monthly cash subsidy for low-income families was “too small,” President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday directed the Department of Finance to raise this to P500...
Consumers get relief as oil firms cut down prices of fuel
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 22, 2022
Karl R. Ocampo and Tina G. Santos
Consumers are finally getting some relief after 11 weeks of uninterrupted fuel price increases that started in January this year...
Duterte signs law allowing full foreign ownership of key sectors like telcos
Philippine Star, March 21, 2022
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday signed into law the Public Service Act, which would ease restrictions on foreign investments in key industries...
DOLE favors 4-day workweek in private, public sectors
Manila Bulletin, March 22, 2022
Faith Argosino
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Monday, March 21, that it favors the recommendation to implement a four-day workweek set up for workers in private and public sectors amid the increasing prices of oil products and commodities...
Labor group demands scrapping of Oil Deregulation Law
Manila Bulletin, March 21, 2022
Charie Mae F. Abarca
Labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) conducted a transport strike in Negros Occidental as part of its protest in junking the Oil Deregulation Law amid the bigtime and continuous oil price hikes in the country...
Probe of Chinese sea incursions sought
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 22, 2022
Julie M. Aurelio
Militant lawmakers have sought a congressional inquiry into the recent incursion by a Chinese spy vessel into Philippine waters as they slammed it as a “flagrant violation” of the country’s national sovereignty and security...
ASEAN peace envoy meets Myanmar junta; opponents deride visit as ‘shameful’
Rappler, March 22, 2022
Reuters
A Southeast Asian peace envoy met Myanmar’s military rulers on Monday, March 21, on his first trip to the crisis-hit country, a visit opposition groups denounced for showing deference to the leaders of last year’s coup and disdain for the will of the people...
Ukraine rejects ultimatums as conflict intensifies
Rappler, March 22, 2022
Reuters
Ukraine said on Monday, March 21, it would not obey ultimatums from Russia after Moscow demanded it stop defending besieged Mariupol, where hundreds of thousands of civilians are suffering through Russian bombardments laying waste to their city...
Russia halts Japan peace treaty talks over sanctions
Rappler, March 22, 2022
Reuters
Russia has withdrawn from peace treaty talks with Japan and frozen joint economic projects related to the disputed Kuril islands due to sanctions imposed by Tokyo over Ukraine, the Russian foreign ministry said on Monday, March 21...
'China has fully militarized isles'
The Manila Times, March 22, 2022
China has fully militarized at least three of several islands it built in the disputed South China Sea, arming them with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile systems, laser and jamming equipment and fighter jets in an increasingly aggressive move that threatens all nations operating nearby, a top US military commander said Sunday...
COVID SCIENCE: Most unvaccinated children lack antibodies after COVID
ABS-CBN News, March 22, 2022
Nancy Lapid, Reuters
Most children and adolescents do not have COVID-19 antibodies in their blood after recovering from a SARS-CoV-2 infection, new data has confirmed...
Russian court bans Instagram, Facebook as 'extremist'
ABS-CBN News, March 22, 2022
Agence France-Presse
A Moscow court on Monday banned Facebook and Instagram as "extremist" organizations, after authorities accused US tech giant Meta of tolerating "Russophobia" during the conflict in Ukraine...
'Perfect storm': Europe COVID-19 rise due to fewer curbs, subvariant
Philippine Star, March 22, 2022
Daniel Lawler and Isabelle Tourne, Reuters
COVID-19 is again surging in Western Europe due to a "perfect storm" of governments lifting restrictions, waning immunity and the more contagious BA.2 Omicron subvariant, experts said Monday...
Berlin concert draws 10,000 in solidarity with Ukraine
Business World, March 22, 2022
Reuters
Some 10,000 people attended a concert in solidarity with Ukraine in Berlin on Sunday, police said, with the crowd waving Ukrainian flags or holding banners with slogans opposing the Russian invasion...
Eyeing China, Japan breaks with past for strong Ukraine response
Manila Standard, March 22, 2022
Agence France-Presse
Japan has broken with years of precedent in its tough response to the Ukraine invasion, and the conflict could reshape Tokyo’s defence strategy as it confronts China’s regional ambitions, analysts say...
WHO sounds alarm on TB fight funds
Manila Standard, March 22, 2022
Agence France-Presse
The world is spending nowhere near enough to revive the fight against tuberculosis after the COVID-19 crisis wiped out years of progress, the WHO said Monday...
Zelenskyy to Europe: Stop all trade with Moscow
Manila Standard, March 22, 2022
Agence France-Presse
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on European leaders on Monday to cease all trade with Russia in an effort to pressure Moscow to halt its nearly month-long military assault on his country...
Globe warns vs cell broadcaster use for disinformation
Philippine Star, March 22, 2022
Richmond Mercurio
Globe Telecom Inc. has cautioned the public against messages coming from illegally used cell broadcasters...
Metro Manila closer to very low COVID-19 risk status – OCTA
Philippine Star, March 22, 2022
Michael Punongbayan
Metro Manila’s COVID-19 threat level continues to inch closer to the very low risk category although the drop in the number of cases slowed down in the past week, the OCTA Research Group announced yesterday...
Duterte completes liberal economic agenda
Rappler, March 21, 2022
Ralf Rivas
President Rodrigo Duterte solidified his economic managers’ liberal agenda of further opening up the Philippine economy to foreigners without amending the Constitution...
Over 14,000 schools ready for limited face-to-face classes —DepEd exec
GMA News, March 22, 2022
Joviland Rita
More than 14,000 schools nationwide are ready to hold limited face-to-face classes amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Department of Education (DepEd) Assistant Secretary Malcolm Garma said on Tuesday...
DOH logs 3,572 new Covid cases from March 14 to 20
Business Mirror, March 22, 2022
Claudeth Mocon- Ciriaco
A total of 3,572 new Covid-19 cases were logged by the Department of Health (DOH) from March 14 to March 20, 2022, an average of 510 new cases per day or lower by 13 percent as compared to the cases on March 7 to 13...
Duterte raises monthly 'ayuda' to P500, says P200 'too small'
Manila Bulletin, March 21, 2022
Alexandria Dennise San Juan
President Duterte said he already ordered the Department of Finance (DOF) to increase the amount of monthly subsidy for poor families from P200 to P500 per household in lieu of suspending excise tax amid rising oil prices...
Vaccines not strong enough for herd immunity – expert
The Manila Times, March 22, 2022
Franco Jose C. Barona
An infectious diseases expert said that with the kind of vaccines available, herd immunity against Covid-19 will never be achieved...
PH still very low risk for Covid
The Manila Times, March 22, 2022
Franco Jose C. Barona
The Philippines remains a very low risk for Covid-19, OCTA Research said on Monday...
Sanctions eyed on bets snubbing debates
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 22, 2022
Dona Z. Pazzibugan
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will discuss other sanctions for candidates who will snub the next round of its presidential and vice presidential debates, according to Comelec Chair Saidamen Pangarungan...
Make health insurance free for students, gov’t urged
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 22, 2022
Jane Bautista
With more colleges and universities in areas under Alert Level 1 set to hold in-person classes, students face various challenges, including the mandatory health insurance coverage imposed by the government...
Share prices tumble below 7,000 level
Philippine Star, March 22, 2022
Iris Gonzales
Share prices opened the week on a sour note with the main composite index falling below the 7,000 mark yesterday as oil prices climbed once more and investors digested the recent interest rate hike of the US Federal Reserve...
Shipping rates to increase by an average of 25%
Philippine Star, March 22, 2022
Richmond Mercurio
Cargo shipping rates are set to increase by an average of 25 percent, as ship owners seek to cushion the impact of soaring fuel prices on their operations...
BSP seen raising inflation target
Philippine Star, March 22, 2022
Louise Maureen Simeon
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is expected to upgrade its inflation forecast for the year as oil prices soar, but it will be in no rush to move toward normalization...
Business groups back call for return to work place
Business Mirror, March 21, 2022
VG Cabuag
Property developers, retailers and restaurant operators and other business groups are backing the government’s call for the return to workplace of their employees, mainly the business process outsourcing firms, saying this is a “significant step” towards the post-pandemic normalcy...
Fuel retailers cut pump prices for 1st time in 2022
Business World, March 22, 2022
Marielle C. Lucenio
Fuel retailers on Tuesday implemented a rollback in the prices of gasoline, diesel and kerosene, ending 11 straight weeks of steadily rising pump prices...
PH to offer 5-, 10-, 25-dollar bonds
The Manila Times, March 22, 2022
Anna Leah E. Gonzales
The Philippine government will offer benchmark-sized dollar bonds in three tranches...
PHL shipping companies start increasing freight rates
Business Mirror, March 22, 2022
Arjay L. Balinbin
Some shipping companies have started hiking their freight fees, the Philippine Liner Shipping Association (PLSA) said, noting that the industry is currently in survival mode due to the rising fuel prices...
Remittances from Filipinos abroad expected to rise by 4% in ’22
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 22, 2022
Ronnel W. Domingo
Global payments firm WorldRemit Ltd. is gearing up for an anticipated rise in remittance flows to the Philippines as economies around the world reopen, offering more digital options for sending funds...
Additional 13 PH ports readied for global trade recovery
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 22, 2022
Tyrone Jasper C. Piad
At least 13 new port projects across the country are expected to begin operations before July amid the anticipated pick up in shipping demand and the return of global trade...
Moody’s unit expects BSP to keep rates at record low
Manila Standard, March 22, 2022
Julito G. Rada
Moody’s Analytics, a subsidiary of Moody’s Corp., said Monday it expects the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to maintain the policy interest rate at a record low of 2 percent in its meeting Thursday, as inflation remained manageable in the first two months of the year...
Skyway opens gate to buses, vans
Daily Tribune, March 22, 2022
TDT
Starting 1 April, public utility buses and closed van delivery trucks will again be able to use the elevated Skyway system, paving the way for faster, more efficient commutes and transport of goods between northern and southern Metro Manila...