March 4, 2022
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Philippines seen to suffer biggest GDP cut in Asia
Philippine Star, March 4, 2022
Lawrence Agcaoili
The Philippines will incur the biggest reduction in gross domestic product (GDP) in Asia at 0.4 percentage point as global oil prices continue to soar following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, JP Morgan Chase & Co. said...
Duterte: Include nuclear power in PH energy mix
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 4, 2022
Dempsey Reyes, Jerome Aning and Tonette Orejas
President Rodrigo Duterte has signed an executive order to include nuclear power in the country’s energy mix and look into the reopening of the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP)...
Relief for consumers: No more 12% VAT in water bill
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 4, 2022
Karl R. Ocampo
Customers of Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Co. Inc. can expect a reduction in their monthly water bills beginning this March following the changes in the concession agreements of the two private utility providers...
PH spending-to-GDP ratio hits record 24.1 percent
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 3, 2022
Ben O. de Vera
The Philippines’ annual expenditure effort, or the share of spending on public goods and services to the economy, reached a historic high of 24.1 percent in 2021 as the government spent more to fight the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic...
Agencies efficiently used budget in January
The Manila Times, March 4, 2022
Mayvelin U. Caraballo
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) data showed on Wednesday that national government agencies used their funds more efficiently in January 2021 than they did a year before...
Fertilizer deal hits snag as prices soar
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 4, 2022
Jordeene B. Lagare
Steep global prices, exacerbated by logistic problems and the worsening Russia-Ukraine crisis, are hampering government efforts to sign a fertilizer supply deal with other countries...
Health protocol violators increase
Philippine Star, March 4, 2022
Neil Jayson Servallos
Health protocol violations in Metro Manila have increased, especially in areas under granular lockdown, following the transition of the region to Alert Level 1, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said yesterday...
2022 ‘critical’ for PHL growth to outpace debt
BusinessMirror, March 3, 2022
Bernadette D. Nicolas
Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said this year will be a “critical” time for the country as it needed to outgrow its debt by stimulating robust economic growth...
BSP presses Agri-Agra law amendments
The Manila Times, March 4, 2022
Mayvelin U. Caraballo
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is hopeful that lawmakers will prioritize the passage of amendments to the Agri-Agra law before a new government takes over later this year...
NAIA to hike inbound cap to 10,000
The Manila Times, March 4, 2022
Ben Gines Jr.
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has increased its inbound passenger arrival capacity from 5,000 to 10,000 in anticipation of the influx of arriving passengers as the National Capital Region (NCR) and several areas in the country shift from a more relaxed Alert Level 1 status...
COVID-19 vax cards not a requirement for mall entry in Alert Level 1 areas — DILG
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 3, 2022
Cathrine Gonzales
A COVID-19 vaccination card is not a requirement for entry to malls in areas under Alert Level 1, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) clarified on Thursday...
Oil deregulation review faces tight window –lawmakers
BusinessMirror, March 3, 2022
Butch Fernandez
Senate President Vicente Sotto III is open to calls for Congress to revisit the oil deregulation law despite the very tight schedule of the 18th Congress, as government scrambles to ease the impact of surging world oil prices amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict...
Flag exclusive internet deals of developers–PCC to public
BusinessMirror, March 3, 2022
Tyrone Jasper C. Piad
The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) urged aggrieved residents to come forward and report if their property developers are offering exclusive Internet deals, preventing them from subscribing to other service providers...
Alert Level 1 perks: COVID vax cards not required in entering malls but…
Manila Bulletin, March 3, 2022
Chito Chavez
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) clarified Thursday, March 3, that coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination cards are no longer required in entering malls in Alert Level 1 areas...
SEC issues rules on removing directors
BusinessMirror, March 3, 2022
VG Cabuag
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has tightened the rules governing the disqualification and removal of directors, trustees, and officers of corporations...
Oil deregulation review faces tight window –lawmakers
BusinessMirror, March 3, 2022
Butch Fernandez
Senate President Vicente Sotto III is open to calls for Congress to revisit the oil deregulation law despite the very tight schedule of the 18th Congress, as government scrambles to ease the impact of surging world oil prices amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict...
SEC cracks whip on securities fraud (3)
Daily Tribune, March 4, 2022
Maria Romero
Regulator Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) monitors lending and financing companies regularly in compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, as it seeks to protect borrowers from abusive, unethical and illegal lenders...
More countries added to Globe’s 5G roaming service
Philippine Star, March 4, 2022
Richmond Mercurio
Globe Telecom Inc. has further widened its 5G roaming footprint with the addition of the Netherlands, Bahrain, and New Zealand...
804,000 more doses of Pfizer’s anti-COVID jab for kids arrive in PH
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 3, 2022
Daniza Fernandez
The country has received an additional 804,000 doses of Pfizer’s pediatric COVID-19 vaccine...
PH joins 140 nations in deploring Russia’s ‘aggression against Ukraine’
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 3, 2022
Christia Marie Ramos
The Philippines has joined 140 other nations in deploring Russia’s “aggression against Ukraine.”...
PHL one of 3 countries with more female sole proprietors than men
BusinessMirror, March 4, 2022
Cai Ordinario
The Philippines is one of only three countries where female sole proprietors exceeded males, based on data from the World Bank...
PHL to seek ADB loan for Bataan-Cavite bridge
BusinessWorld, March 3, 2022
Arjay L. Balinbin
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said on Thursday that it will seek financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to fund the civil works of the P175.7-billion Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge...
BSP to tie up with DFA to help OFWs in Russia with remittances
BusinessMirror, March 3, 2022
Bianca Cuaresma
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is looking to work with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to put up temporary measures to help Filipino migrant workers in Russia send money back home...
BI reports 40% jump in international passenger arrivals in February
BusinessMirror, March 3, 2022
Joel R. San Juan
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has recorded a more than 40-percent increase in the number of travelers who arrived in February compared to the previous month following the reopening of the country’s borders on February 10 amid the steady decrease in the number of Covid-19 cases...
Seafaring jobs seen at risk if PHL drops ball on training standards
BusinessWorld, March 3, 2022
Alyssa Nicole O. Tan
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) must properly implement international training standards in compliance with European Union (EU) requirements in order to preserve about 30,000 seafarers’ jobs, a Senator said...
Putin digs in as evacuation corridors agreed in Ukraine
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 4, 2022
Agence France-Presse
Russia's invasion of Ukraine is “going to plan”, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday despite fierce resistance and deepening international isolation, as Kyiv won precious agreement from Moscow on a humanitarian corridor for terrified civilians to flee...
WHO fears more vulnerable refugees could flee Ukraine as conflict escalates
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 4, 2022
Reuters
The next wave of refugees to flee Ukraine are likely to be even more vulnerable to illness and economic hardship than the 1 million people who have already left to escape the Russian invasion, a senior World Health Organization official told Reuters on Thursday...
War collateral damage: 1M refugees flee Ukraine
Manila Standard, March 4, 2022
Agence France-Presse
One million refugees have fled Ukraine in the week since Russia’s invasion, the United Nations said Thursday, warning that unless the conflict ended immediately, millions more were likely to flee...
Ukraine, Russia agree on need for evacuation corridors as war rages
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 4, 2022
Reuters
Russia and Ukraine have agreed on the need to set up humanitarian corridors and a possible ceasefire around them for fleeing civilians, both sides said after talks on Thursday, in their first sign of progress on any issue since the invasion...
ICC to start probe into war crimes in Ukraine
The Manila Times, March 4, 2022
Agence France-Presse
The International Criminal Court's (ICC) chief prosecutor said Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) an active probe into possible war crimes in Ukraine "will immediately proceed" after his office received the backing of 39 countries...
China: Request to delay Ukraine invasion a lie
The Manila Times, March 4, 2022
Associated Press
China on Thursday denounced a report that it asked Russia to delay invading Ukraine until after the Beijing Winter Olympics as "fake news" and a "very despicable" attempt to divert attention and shift blame over the conflict...
Gas and aluminum hit fresh records; oil, wheat soar on supply turmoil
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 4, 2022
Reuters
Commodity prices surged still higher on Thursday as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine disrupted global raw material flows, sending gas, coal, and aluminum to record peaks while crude oil and wheat scaled multi-year highs...
War is (still) doing insane things to the commodities markets
Philippine Star, March 4, 2022
Merkado Barkada
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has injected a huge amount of uncertainty into the commodities market, particularly in those things that are produced by both countries, including coal, nickel, corn, wheat, iron, oil, natural gas, aluminum, and wheat...
Facebook, multiple media sites partially down in Russia: AFP, NGO
ABS-CBN News, March 4, 2022
Agence France-Presse
Facebook and multiple media websites were partially inaccessible in Russia on Friday, as authorities crack down on critical voices as fighting escalates in Ukraine...
New US sanctions target Russia’s pro-Putin oligarchs
Manila Standard, March 4, 2022
Agence France-Presse
The United States imposed sanctions on the ultra-wealthy Russian oligarchs at the heart of President Vladimir Putin’s regime Thursday in the latest ratcheting up of pressure on the Kremlin to halt its invasion of Ukraine...
Russia seizes key southern Ukraine city after week of war
The Manila Times, March 3, 2022
Agence France-Presse
Russian troops have seized Kherson, the first major Ukrainian city to fall in a devastating week-old war that has already created one million refugees...
Sulu Sultanate ‘overjoyed’
Daily Tribune, March 4, 2022
John Henry Dodson
Leaders of the Royal House of Sulu are meeting to strategize and map out their next moves after a French arbitral court awarded the descendants of the Sultan of Sulu $14.9 billion over the alleged non-payment by Malaysia of lease money from an agreement dating back to 1878...
Pressure grows on Biden to ban US imports of Russian oil
Rappler, March 4, 2022
Reuters
A bipartisan group of US senators introduced a bill on Thursday, March 3, to ban US imports of Russian oil, saying the shipments could be replaced by boosting output in North America and other places...
Europe’s largest nuclear power plant on fire after Russian attack
Rappler, March 4, 2022
Reuters
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, the largest of its kind in Europe, was on fire early on Friday, March 4, after an attack by Russian troops, the mayor of the nearby town of Energodar said...
Philippines now on France travel green list
GMA News, March 4, 2022
The Philippines is now on the green list for travel to France, the French Embassy said Friday, noting that fully vaccinated Filipinos can enter the country with no restrictions while those who are not vaccinated only need a pre-departure negative test...
France's Macron fears 'worst to come' after call with Putin
ABS-CBN News, March 4, 2022
Agence France-Presse
French President Emmanuel Macron believes "the worst is to come" in Ukraine after a phone call with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin who appears intent on seizing "the whole" of the country, an aide to the French leader said...
CHEd scholarship applications on hold due to budget lack
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 4, 2022
Jane Bautista
The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) has suspended freshman applications for its scholarship program, citing “budget inadequacy.”...
Visayas, Mindanao cities low risk for Covid
The Manila Times, March 4, 2022
Red Mendoza
OCTA Research said on Thursday that most cities in the Visayas and Mindanao are now considered low risk for Covid-19, except for Iloilo City and Cagayan de Oro City...
'Party list system stolen from poor’
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 4, 2022
Dona Z. Pazzibugan
Far from representing marginalized sectors, the majority of the 177 party list groups seeking at least one sectoral seat in the House of Representatives in the May 9 elections are linked to powerful interest groups, according to the poll watchdog Kontra Daya...
Government to spend P180M for 2 surveys on PHL business and industry, health
BusinessMirror, March 4, 2022
Cai Ordinario
The national government will be spending some P179.9 million to conduct two surveys on the state of Philippine business and industry as well as in health, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)...
Govt seeks additional doses, faster delivery of vaccines for kids 5-11
CNN Philippines, March 3, 2022
CNN Philippines Staff
The country is seeking to fast-track the delivery of COVID-19 shots for children aged 5 to 11 in time for the reopening of in-person classes, a health official said Thursday...
6 key Mindanao cities at low risk for COVID-19 — OCTA
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 3, 2022
Cathrine Gonzales
Six highly-urbanized cities (HUCs) in Mindanao are currently at low risk status for COVID-19, while Cagayan de Oro remains at moderate risk, independent analytics group OCTA Research said Thursday...
DOH reminds PUVs to limit capacity to just 100%
CNN Philippines, March 4, 2022
Willie Casas
The Department of Health (DOH) expressed concern on Thursday over the capacity of public utility vehicles (PUVs) under COVID-19 quarantine Alert Level 1...
YouTube restricts viewing of People Power anthem
Philippine Star, March 4, 2022
Video sharing platform YouTube has imposed restrictions on the viewing of a video of the People Power Revolution anthem “Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo,” barring users under 18 from watching it...
Terrorists killed in Lanao del Sur ops rise to 7
Philippine Star, March 4, 2022
Roel Pareno
The number of Islamic State-linked Dawlah Islamiya-Maute terrorist group members killed in a military offensive in Maguing, Lanao del Sur on Tuesday has climbed to seven...
It takes a village: Batak students and their struggles in distance learning
Philippine Star, March 3, 2022
Romar Miranda
Roxanne Bagarang, a 16-year-old Grade 4 student, use to traverse four kilometers a day just to attend classes...
Energy department floats proposal to ‘stagger’ fuel price increases
BusinessWorld, March 3, 2022
Marielle C. Lucenio
The Department of Energy (DoE) said it will propose to oil companies next week a scheme to “stagger” any increases in fuel prices, in order to cushion the blow on consumers...
Public transport asked not to go over 100% capacity to avoid Covid spread
The Manila Times, March 3, 2022
Red Mendoza
Three days after Metro Manila and 38 other areas were de-escalated to Alert Level 1, a senior health official warned against overcrowding in public transportation that could lead to a spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19)...
PH ready to accept Ukrainian refugees — DOJ
Manila Bulletin, March 3, 2022
Jeffrey Damicog
Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra on Thursday morning, March 3, said that Ukranians who will seek refuge in the Philippines will be accepted for humanitarian reasons...
Producer price index up in Jan
The Manila Times, March 4, 2022
Anna Leah E. Gonzales
The producer price index (PPI) for manufacturing maintained its upward trend in January, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said...
ARTA to base EODB study on WB report
The Manila Times, March 4, 2022
Anna Leah E. Gonzales
The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) said the World Bank's Business Enabling Environment (BEE) report will be used as the basis for the localized ease of doing business report (EODB) survey...
High oil prices, PH economic rebound seen to weaken peso
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 4, 2022
Ben O. de Vera
Investment banking giant Goldman Sachs expects the peso to weaken amid skyrocketing global oil prices wrought by the Ukraine-Russia war plus the Philippines’ economic rebound entailing more imports...
Citi exec upbeat about PH prospects
The Manila Times, March 4, 2022
Mayvelin U. Caraballo
The head of Citi's local unit is optimistic about the Philippines' economic prospects, forecasting a growth rebound to pre-pandemic levels this year...
LPG price up by P7.95 in March
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 4, 2022
Karl R. Ocampo
Market monitoring by the Department of Energy (DOE) showed that the latest increase brought the three-month total to P11.95 per kilo. This translates to a hefty increase of P131.45 for the standard 11-kilogram cylinder...
Nonbanking financial firms’ assets hit P9.7T as of Q3 2021
Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 4, 2022
Ronnel W. Domingo
Total assets of nonbanking financial corporations, including several government firms, stood at P9.7 trillion as of the third quarter of 2021, about half of the P18.9-trillion annualized gross domestic product of the Philippines at that time...
New oil price hike set: P2-3/L
Manila Standard, March 4, 2022
Alena Mae S. Flores
Pump prices are expected to go up by P2 to P3 per liter next week, as a transport group petitioned the government for a 66 percent increase in the minimum jeepney fare, from the current P9 to P15...
MRT-LRT Grand Central Station targeted to open in July 2022
CNN Philippines, March 3, 2022
CNN Philippines Staff
The Department of Transportation aims to start the operations of the MRT-LRT Grand Central Station by July this year...
Sugar supply woes add to inflation pressure
Philippine Star, March 4, 2022
Louise Maureen Simeon
The current supply problem on local sugar may cause further pressure on the already threatened inflation if solutions are not provided...
Hybrid work seen as instrumental during reopening of economy
BusinessWorld, March 4, 2022
Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
Hybrid work arrangements will give employees the flexibility to adjust to changing office expectations as quarantine settings ease to Alert Level 1 this month, JobStreet Philippines said...
Stocks rise on earnings optimism
Philippine Star, March 4, 2022
Iris Gonzales
Local stocks rebounded anew yesterday, highlighting the volatile nature of equities, despite continued tensions as a result of Russia’s war against Ukraine...
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