March 3, 2022
COVID-19 transition plan coming next week – Duque
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 3, 2022
Tina G. Santos
The government is targeting next week for the completion of a “very comprehensive” COVID-19 transition plan, according to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III...
Review of oil deregulation law sought
BusinessWorld, March 3, 2022
Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza
Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Wednesday urged Congress to review the country’s oil deregulation law in order to give the government the power to intervene in the event of a spike in oil prices...
Exiles get protection
Daily Tribune, March 3, 2022
Jom Garner
President Rodrigo Duterte has issued an Executive Order (EO) institutionalizing access to protection services for refugees, stateless persons, and asylum seekers...
Vax not required in face to face classes
Philippine Star, March 3, 2022
Romina Cabrera
Vaccination will not be required for learners as the Department of Education (DepEd) moves forward with the progressive expansion of face-to-face classes in the country...
‘Relax limits but shield MSME’
Daily Tribune, March 3, 2022
Raffy Ayeng
As the amended Public Service Act (PSA), which will allow foreigners to own 100 percent of companies in the telecommunications, transportation, and other public utilities, is only a signature of President Rodrigo Duterte away to become a full-pledge law, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said he totally supports it but the government should not forget protecting the welfare of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME)...
No forced COVID-19 jabs on kids – DepEd
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 3, 2022
Jane Bautista
Students at the basic education level are not required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to take part in in-person classes, the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Wednesday...
BSP tightens rules on e-money licenses
Philippine Star, March 3, 2022
Lawrence Agcaoili
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is tightening the guidelines for registration of banks and non-bank financial institutions venturing into electronic money services based on their size, complexity of operations and systemic importance...
Duterte signs EO protecting refugees, stateless persons
Philippine Star, March 3, 2022
Alexis Romero
President Duterte has signed an executive order institutionalizing efforts to protect refugees, stateless persons and asylum seekers to comply with the Philippines’ obligations under international agreements...
Duterte signs EO on nuclear energy
The Manila Times, March 3, 2022
Ben Gines Jr.
President Rodrigo Duterte has signed an executive order (EO) promoting the development of nuclear power in the country, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said on Wednesday...
SC asked to reconsider ruling on Anti-Terrorism Act
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 3, 2022
Marlon Ramos
Groups opposing the Anti-Terrorism Act pleaded with the Supreme Court on Wednesday to overturn its ruling that upheld the constitutionality of all but two sections of the country’s most challenged piece of legislation...
PCC flags SRP compliance on resellers
Manila Bulletin, March 2, 2022
Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat
The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) raised caution on manufacturers using compliance of their suggested retail price (SRP) as basis to supply or deny access to resellers stressing this may restrict competition and could be in violation of the competition law...
SEC caps interest rates, fees of lending firms
Manila Bulletin, March 2, 2022
James A. Loyola
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a memorandum circular that puts a cap on interest rates and other fees imposed by lending and financing companies, and their online lending platforms (OLPs)...
Telehealth offers Filipinos a lifeline amid pandemic
BusinessWorld, March 3, 2022
Arjay L. Balinbin
May I. Acuña, 37, and her family have been consulting a doctor online amid a coronavirus pandemic...
IP application process moves entirely online with issuance of electronic patent certificates
BusinessWorld, March 2, 2022
Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) said it launched an electronic certificate of patent program, known as Patent eCert, on Feb. 28 to bring the intellectual property (IP) registration process online from end to end...
Digital eye candy: Vending machine sells NFT art
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 3, 2022
Reuters
Digital art collecting platform Neon has launched the first in-person nonfungible token (NFT) vending machine in New York City, aiming to make online art pieces as easily available as soda or a candy bar...
SSS digital branches to help its pensioners use online platforms
BusinessWorld, March 3, 2022
J.P. Ibañez
The Social Security System (SSS) is rolling out digital branches to aid pensioners in using online portals and mobile applications...
Airlines move to soften impact of rising fuel prices on fares
BusinessWorld, March 3, 2022
Arjay L. Balinbin
Low-cost airlines in the Philippines said they continue to seek ways to mitigate the impact of the rising fuel prices — exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine conflict — on airfares...
Moody’s: Digital banks helping PH, region reach financial inclusion goal
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 3, 2022
Ronnel W. Domingo
Spurred by favorable regulatory frameworks, digital banks are sprouting in the Philippines and the rest of the region and are helping improve financial inclusion, according to Moody’s Investor Service...
Ukraine crisis threatens BSP’s dovish stance
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 3, 2022
Ronnel W. Domingo
The Russia-Ukraine conflict is driving inflation up globally and is threatening the dovish policy stance of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) from both external and internal fronts...
Palace seeks 'immediate' end to Ukraine war
The Manila Times, March 3, 2022
Kristina Maralit and Bernadette E. Tamayo
With most countries condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Malacañang on Wednesday said it is "praying for an early and peaceful resolution" to the conflict...
21 Pinoy seafarers evacuated from Ukraine reach Moldova
Philippine Star, March 3, 2022
Pia Lee Brago
The 21 Filipino seafarers of bulk carrier MV S-Breeze who were evacuated from Chornomosk, Ukraine, arrived in Moldova, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed yesterday...
Huawei eyeing digitalization partnerships in the Philippines
BusinessWorld, March 3, 2022
Brontë H. Lacsamana
Shenzhen-based multinational company Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. is looking to contribute to digitalization efforts in the Philippines through local partnerships...
PH, US discuss plans for Salaknib exercise
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 3, 2022
Jeannette I. Andrade
The United States Army Pacific (Usarpac) vice commander met on Tuesday with his Philippine counterpart to discuss final preparations for the joint Salaknib war games that start on Saturday...
PH joins calls for peaceful end to Ukraine-Russia conflict; plans to weather effects bared
Manila Bulletin, March 2, 2022
Argyll Cyrus Geducos
The Philippines has taken a stand on the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe and assured the public that measures are in place to weather the economic and trade effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine...
OFWs in Russia feel sanctions, can’t send remittances to PHL
BusinessMirror, March 2, 2022
Malou Talosig-Bartolome
Filipinos in Russia are starting to feel the economic sanctions imposed by the United States and other countries as penalty for invading Ukraine...
Putin’s war on Ukraine and impact on PH prices
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 2, 2022
Cristina Eloisa Baclig
After years of tension, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin announced a “military operation” in former Soviet state Ukraine during a surprise television announcement on Feb. 24...
IMF, World Bank to boost support for Ukraine
The Manila Times, March 3, 2022
Xinhua News Agency
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank announced on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) that they were working together to support Ukraine on the financing and policy fronts and increasing that support...
Oil tops $113, equities sink on war fears
The Manila Times, March 3, 2022
Agence France-Presse
Crude surged past $113 a barrel on Wednesday and equities sank, with investors growing increasingly fearful about the Ukraine war's impact on global energy supplies and the economic recovery...
UN General Assembly demands Russia withdraw from Ukraine
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 3, 2022
Agence France-Presse
The UN General Assembly on Wednesday overwhelmingly adopted a resolution that “demands” Russia “immediately” withdraw from Ukraine, in a powerful rebuke of Moscow’s invasion by a vast majority of the world’s nations...
COVID-19 has taken severe mental health toll: WHO
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 3, 2022
Agence France-Presse
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a dire toll on mental health, the WHO said Wednesday, indicating that cases of anxiety and depression had swelled by over 25 percent globally...
World Bank halts all programs in Russia, Belarus with immediate effect
ABS-CBN News, March 3, 2022
Reuters
The World Bank on Wednesday said it had stopped all programs in Russia and Belarus with immediate effect, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and "hostilities against the people of Ukraine"...
WHO recommends Merck COVID-19 pill for non-severe, at-risk patients
Philippine Star, March 3, 2022
The World Health Organization on Wednesday recommended an anti-COVID pill be taken by sufferers who have mild symptoms but are at high risk of hospitalization, such as older people or the unvaccinated...
EU bans 70% of Belarus exports to bloc with new sanctions over Ukraine invasion
Rappler, March 3, 2022
Reuters
The European Union has approved new sanctions against Belarus for its supporting role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, effectively banning about 70% of all imports from that country, the EU said on Wednesday, March 2...
Ukraine’s second city heavily bombed as UN assembly denounces Russia
Rappler, March 3, 2022
Reuters
Ukraine’s second biggest city, Kharkiv, suffered heavy bombardment on Wednesday, March 2, as Russia’s week-long invasion was denounced by the United Nations in a historic vote and dozens of countries referred Moscow to be probed for potential war crimes...
Spain to send grenade launchers and machine guns to Ukraine, minister says
ABS-CBN News, March 3, 2022
Reuters
Spain will send a shipment of offensive weapons and ammunition including grenade launchers and machine guns to Ukraine on Friday to help it repel the Russian invasion, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles said late on Wednesday...
Collective of US states investigate TikTok's impact on children
GMA News, March 3, 2022
A consortium of US states announced on Wednesday an investigation into TikTok's possible harms to young users of the platform, which has boomed in popularity especially among children...
Cost of fatal road crashes each year may hit $1.7 trillion–World Bank
BusinessMirror, March 2, 2022
Cai Ordinario
The cost of fatal road accidents can reach over a trillion dollars per year or 6 percent of the GDP of lower- to middle-income countries like the Philippines, according to World Bank Group experts...
UN: Climate change to uproot millions, especially in Asia
BusinessMirror, March 2, 2022
The Associated Press
The walls of Saifullah’s home in northern Jakarta are lined like tree rings, marking how high the floodwaters have reached each year — some more than four feet from the damp dirt floor...
Economic peril from Russia’s invasion ripples across globe
BusinessMirror, March 2, 2022
Paul Wiseman & David Mchugh/ AP Economics Writers
Moscow’s war on Ukraine and the ferocious financial backlash it’s unleashed are not only inflicting an economic catastrophe on President Vladimir Putin’s Russia. The repercussions are also menacing the global economy, shaking financial markets and making life more perilous for everyone from Uzbek migrant workers to European consumers to hungry Yemeni families...
Japan protests suspected air incursion by Russia
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 2, 2022
Agence France-Presse
Tokyo lodged a diplomatic protest with Moscow after scrambling fighter jets on Wednesday as a suspected Russian helicopter entered Japan’s northern airspace at a time of heightened tensions over Ukraine...
Ukrainians fighting on in biggest city yet claimed by Russia
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 2, 2022
Reuters
Ukrainians said they were fighting on in the southern port of Kherson, the first sizeable city Russia claimed to have seized, while Russian airstrikes and bombardment caused devastation in cities that Moscow’s bogged down forces have failed to capture...
Russian invasion of Ukraine upends international relations
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 2, 2022
Agence France-Presse
Russia’s war against Ukraine is a week old, but its consequences are already reverberating across the globe: it has upended international relations, left Moscow isolated, united a previously divided West, and raised the specter of a nuclear standoff...
Biden to celebrate West's unity against Russia in State of Union speech
Philippine Star, March 2, 2022
Sebastian Smith, Agence France-Presse
US President Joe Biden will tout Western unity against Russia's invasion of Ukraine in a State of the Union speech Tuesday where the dangerous crisis will overshadow domestic politics...
Dropping its neutrality tradition, Switzerland adopts EU sanctions against Russia
Philippine Star, March 2, 2022
Christophe Vogt, Agence France-Presse
Traditionally neutral Switzerland will adopt all the sanctions already imposed by the EU on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, including against President Vladimir Putin, Bern said Monday...
IT-BPO group wants more support from next administration
BusinessWorld, March 3, 2022
Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
The next administration should provide additional support and address issues to sustain the growth of the local information technology and business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) industry, according to the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP)...
‘Level 1’ still imposes fines, detention for health protocol breach
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 3, 2022
Dempsey Reyes and Dexter Cabalza
Authorities had their hands full on Day 1 of the “new normal,” accosting close to 22,000 people across the country — and fining or detaining over a tenth of them — for violating minimum health protocols and curfew ordinances...
OCTA: Hospital occupancy in Metro Manila close to lowest level
Philippine Star, March 3, 2022
Michael Punongbayan
Healthcare utilization rate in the National Capital Region is now comparable with the hospital occupancy during the “best week” of the COVID-19 situation in the NCR last December before cases surged due to the Omicron variant, independent analytics group OCTA Research reported yesterday...
Unvaxxed workers need periodic testing
The Manila Times, March 3, 2022
William Depasupil
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd said on Wednesday that unvaccinated workers reporting to work physically will be required to undergo Covid test every two weeks...
Lancet: Covid leaves thousands of below-5 PHL kids as orphans
BusinessMirror, March 2, 2022
Cai Ordinario
Thousands of Filipino children who have yet to celebrate their fifth birthday may have already experienced a devastating loss, such as losing a parent or guardian due to Covid-19, according to a study released by the Lancet.
DTI urged to make more use of price control powers
BusinessWorld, March 2, 2022
Jaspearl Emerald G. Tan
Groups representing small farmers and laborers said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) needs to use its power to keep prices in check, as authorized by the Price Act, in order for their constituents to better afford basic goods...
More bus trips in Luzon resume as curbs eased
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 3, 2022
Vincent Cabreza, Carmela Reyes-Estrope, Michael Jaucian and Mar Arguelles
Local transport companies have begun assessing their manpower and the condition of their buses and vans so they could reopen trips within the Cordillera region now that the provinces of Abra, Kalinga and Apayao are under the least restrictive Alert Level 1 along with this city, an official said...
DENR, water regulators ready contingency plans as Angat levels drop
BusinessWorld, March 2, 2022
Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it is working on contingency measures for the dry season amid low water levels at Angat Dam, and is currently considering water use efficiency measures, cloud seeding, increasing reliance on treated water, and tapping deep wells...
1.7 milion OFWs can vote starting April 10
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 2, 2022
Dona Z. Pazzibugan
The number of overseas Filipino voters has gone down by about 125,000 since the last elections three years ago. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said 1,697,215 Filipinos living abroad were registered to vote in the May 9 elections, compared to 1,822,173 registered overseas voters in 2019...
Tighter security, safety from sexualized attacks: Meta gears up for Halalan 2022
ABS-CBN News, March 2, 2022
Jessica Fenol
Meta, the operator of Facebook and other social apps, on Wednesday said it has made the safety and protection features on its platforms "stronger", especially for public figures, celebrities, journalists, women and others who are prone to online harassment in the run-up to Halalan 2022...
No Ukrainian citizen has sought asylum in Philippines so far — SOJ Guevarra
GMA News, March 3, 2022
No Ukrainian citizen has sought asylum in the Philippines yet, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Thursday...
Soaring pump prices could go even higher, says Energy dep’t
BusinessWorld, March 3, 2022
Marielle C. Lucenio with Reuters
The Energy department warned diesel and gasoline prices are expected to continue to climb, as a prolonged Russia-Ukraine crisis may see global crude prices hitting $120 per barrel...
Inflation offshoot from Ukraine war rattles PH stocks
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 3, 2022
Miguel R. Camus
The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) gave up gains from the previous session as the cheer over looser domestic COVID-19 restrictions faded and investors reexamined the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine...
RCBC estimates 6.5-7% GDP growth in Q1
The Manila Times, March 3, 2022
Mayvelin U. Caraballo
The Philippine economy is likely to grow 6.5 to 7 percent this quarter, listed Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. projected, but warned that higher oil prices due to Russia-Ukraine tensions is a key risk to expansion...
Duterte OKs P3-B transport, farm subsidies
BusinessMirror, March 2, 2022
Bernadette D. Nicolas
President Duterte approved the implementation of the P3-billion fuel subsidy and discounts for the transport sector, farmers, and fisherfolk amid the rising oil prices aggravated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine...
Peso projected to hit P52:$1
The Manila Times, March 3, 2022
Mayvelin U. Caraballo
Analysts anticipate that the Philippine peso will weaken against the US dollar this month due to rising interest rates in the United States and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis...
Factory gate prices surge by 4.7% in January
Philippine Star, March 3, 2022
Louise Maureen Simeon
Factory gate prices surged at the start of the year as increases were recorded in the majority of industry groups, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said...
‘More Jobs to follow herd immunity, economic reforms’
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 3, 2022
Ben O. de Vera
Expect jobs that were shed during the COVID-19 pandemic to resume with mass vaccination in full swing and once three economic liberalization measures pushed by President Duterte’s economic managers are in place, the Department of Finance (DOF) said on Wednesday...
Dar assures food security amid Ukraine crisis
The Manila Times, March 3, 2022
Eireene Jairee Gomez
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to implement adjustments on the country's food security programs to cushion the impact of global economic challenges and Russia-Ukraine crisis in the Philippines...
Banks to gain equity in PAL Holdings with debt swap
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 3, 2022
Miguel T. Camus
Local banking tycoons are riding it out with taipan Lucio Tan’s Philippine Airlines (PAL), taking front-row seats in the national carrier’s recovery as its newest shareholders...
PSEi wipes out gains as Russia steps up attacks on Ukraine
Philippine Star, March 3, 2022
Iris Gonzales
Stocks wiped out gains from the previous session, returning to negative territory yesterday, as investors continue to worry over the still unresolved conflict between Russia and Ukraine...
PHL not following through on ‘circular economy’ measures
BusinessWorld, March 2, 2022
Jenina P. Ibañez
The Philippines has ample legislation to facilitate a transition to a low-waste, circular economy, but has not managed to shepherd any of the measures to the implementation stage, the Asian Development Bank Institute said in a report...
Concepcion: Let economy recover before wage hike
BusinessWorld, March 2, 2022
Tyrone Jasper C. Piad
Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Maria A. Concepcion raised the need to allow the economy to recover first—as business activities have been generally muted in the past two years—before considering a wage hike...
Besides fuel, costlier meat products could hurt PHL consumers
BusinessWorld, March 2, 2022
Jasper Y. Arcalas
Filipino consumers already grappling with expensive fuel prices could face a new challenge: costlier processed meat products, as local manufacturers face tightening raw material supply due to constrained access to North American poultry products...
‘PHL needs other energy sources’
BusinessMirror, March 2, 2022
Lenie Lectura
The Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC), the governing body of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), stressed the need for supply diversification to address the country’s power supply concerns...
Loosened lockdowns create more jobs—DOF
Manila Bulletin, March 2, 2022
Chino S. Leyco
Further loosening of quarantine measures in the final month of last year ushered in 797,000 additional jobs, the Department of Finance (DOF) said...