February 14, 2023
How minimum wages compared across regions in January
Source: BusinessWorld
Tightening to 'run for longer' in PH
The Manila Times, February 14, 2023
The Philippine monetary authorities "will be aggressive" in tackling inflation, and a 50-basis-point (bps) rate hike could be announced this Thursday, Moody's Analytics said...
Nomura raises PHL GDP forecast for 2023, 2024
BusinessWorld, February 14, 2023
Keisha B. Ta-asan
Nomura Holdings, Inc. has raised its Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) growth estimates for this year and 2024, though these were still below the government’s forecast...
'China broke maritime laws'
The Manila Times, February 14, 2023
Franco Jose C. Baroña
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday accused China of breaking maritime laws after a Chinese coast guard vessel flashed a military-grade laser at a PCG ship that temporarily blinded the Filipino crew last February 6 off Ayungin Shoal in the PCG spokesman Commodore Armand Balilo said the Chinese ship violated the regulations on dangerous maneuvers...
January vehicle sales climb by 42%
BusinessWorld, February 14, 2023
Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
Vehicle sales in the Philippines surged by 42% in January, driven by strong demand for passenger cars and commercial vehicles...
SC asked: Void approval of Maharlika fund bill
The Manila Times, February 14, 2023
Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino
Makabayan bloc lawmakers joined other personalities in filing a petition asking the Supreme Court to void the certification as urgent of the Maharlika fund bill and its approval by the House of Representatives...
Charter change not a priority for Marcos but lawmakers to continue discussions
BusinessWorld, February 13, 2023
John Victor D. Ordoñez
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. cast aside the urgency of changing the 1987 Constitution, saying it is not a priority of his administration as some lawmakers push for amendments to supposedly allow more foreign investments...
First legal challenge to Maharlika bill filed in SC
Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 14, 2023
Julie M. Aurelio, Tina G. Santos
The Makabayan bloc on Monday filed in the Supreme Court a petition seeking to declare as unconstitutional and void President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s certification of the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) bill as urgent and its approval on third or final reading by the House of Representatives...
Senate eyeing approval of Maharlika fund, mandatory ROTC, 10 other priority bills by June
Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 13, 2023
Daniza Fernandez
The Senate is eyeing to approve the Maharlika Investment Fund and the mandatory Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) bills by June...
QC to launch one-stop registration of market stall owners
Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 14, 2023
John Eric Mendoza
Quezon City will launch this month its Market One-Stop Shop (MOSS) for stall owners in the eight public markets that it owns...
Microsoft ChatGPT-Powered Bing Search Engine Will Launch Soon
Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 14, 2023
Dale Arasa
Google has been the numero uno search engine of the world, but an unlikely contender may take over with the power of AI...
‘Consumer-to-consumer’ online transactions need protection — groups
BusinessWorld, February 13, 2023
Patricia B. Mirasol
Consumer groups said the proposed law that seeks to protect online customers and merchants should also cover consumer-to-consumer transactions...
StoreHub adds tool designed to drive repeat sales for local partners
BusinessWorld, February 13, 2023
Brontë H. Lacsamana
Technology startup StoreHub, which helps retailers and restaurants automate, introduced on Monday its new tool StoreHub Engage that is designed to help business owners generate more repeat sales and build customer loyalty...
Govt working to boost PH access to Europe
The Manila Times, February 14, 2023
Jenica Faye Garcia
Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said on Monday that the government remained committed to boosting the Philippines' foothold in Europe through the country's free trade agreements (FTAs) with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member states comprising of Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland...
AFP tells China to restrain forces in the West Philippine Sea
Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 14, 2023
Frances Mangosing
The Armed Forces of the Philippines said the Chinese government should “restrain its forces” from committing “provocative acts that will endanger lives” in the West Philippine Sea, after a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel last week pointed a laser at a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship, temporarily blinding some of its crew members...
China’s harassment of PCG using laser ‘provocative, unsafe’ — US
Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 14, 2023
Daniza Fernandez
China’s harassment of a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel using a “military-grade” laser is “provocative and unsafe,” the United States (US) said on Tuesday (Manila time)...
US backs Philippines in laser dispute with China
Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 14, 2023
Reuters
The United States on Monday said it stood with the Philippines after Manila accused China’s coast guard of using a laser to try to disrupt a resupply mission to troops in the South China Sea...
Philippine Coast Guard accuses China of blocking resupply ship
BusinessWorld, February 13, 2023
Alyssa Nicole O. Tan
The Philippine Coast Guard on Monday accused China of trying to block a resupply ship at the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, prompting lawmakers to seek more joint patrols with security allies to deter China’s militarization of the waterway...
US holds drills in South China Sea amid tensions with China
The Manila Times, February 14, 2023
Associated Press
The United States Navy and Marine Corps are holding joint exercises in the South China Sea at a time of heightened tensions with Beijing over the shooting down of a suspected Chinese spy balloon...
New Russian offensive underway in Ukraine, says Nato
Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 14, 2023
Reuters
The eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut was facing heavy artillery fire as the Nato chief backed reports from local officials that a major new Russian offensive had begun, days before the first anniversary of Moscow’s invasion...
Storm lashes New Zealand; power cut, flights grounded
The Manila Times, February 14, 2023
Agence France-Presse
Tens of thousands of homes in New Zealand were without electricity and hundreds of flights were canceled on Monday as a tropical storm lashed the north of the country...
UN chief says Syria’s Assad agrees to expand UN aid access from Turkey
Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 14, 2023
Reuters
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has agreed to allow UN aid deliveries to opposition-held northwest Syria through two border crossings from Turkey for three months, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday...
Oil prices fall after additional U.S. crude reserve release announced
Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 14, 2023
Reuters
Oil prices fell in early Asian trade on Tuesday after the U.S. government said it will release more crude from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) and on other reports that more supply is coming into the market...
Death toll in Turkey, Syria quake tops 33,000; Turkey starts legal action against builders
Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 13, 2023
Reuters
Rescuers pulled more survivors from the rubble on Sunday, nearly a week after one of the worst earthquakes to hit Turkey and Syria, as Turkish authorities sought to maintain order across the disaster zone and began legal action over building collapses...
Pentagon says latest shootdowns stem from more cautious stance
BusinessWorld, February 13, 2023
Bloomberg
The decision to shoot down three aerial objects in recent days stemmed from a decision to pay closer attention to North American skies and take a more cautious stance toward intrusions after US forces brought down an alleged Chinese spy balloon on Feb. 4, the Pentagon said...
US tells citizens to leave Russia immediately
BusinessWorld, February 13, 2023
Reuters
The United States has told its citizens to leave Russia immediately due to the war in Ukraine and the risk of arbitrary arrest or harassment by Russian law enforcement agencies...
Woman pulled alive from rubble in Turkey a week after major earthquake
BusinessWorld, February 13, 2023
Reuters
Rescuers pulled a woman alive from the rubble of a collapsed building in Turkey on Monday, broadcaster CNN Turk reported, a week after a major earthquake struck Turkey and Syria killing more than 33,000 people...
Explosions rock Gaza, Israel says it hit Hamas rocket factory
BusinessWorld, February 13, 2023
Reuters
Several explosions rocked the Gaza Strip early on Monday, according to a Reuters witness, as Israel’s military said it attacked an underground site used by the Palestinian enclave’s Hamas Islamists to manufacture rockets...
Russian arms supplies to India worth $13B in past 5 years – news agencies
BusinessWorld, February 13, 2023
Reuters
Russian supplied India with around $13 billion of arms during the past five years, and New Delhi has orders placed with Moscow for weapons and military equipment exceeding $10 billion, Russian state news agencies reported late on Sunday...
Congress to pass Maharlika bill, 9 others before June 2 — Palace
BusinessWorld, February 14, 2023
Beatriz Marie D. Cruz
The propsed Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) is one of the 10 priority legislative measures to be approved by Congress by June, according to the Palace...
DoTr to award remaining subway contracts by Q3
BusinessWorld, February 14, 2023
Justine Irish D. Tabile
The Department of Transportation (DoTr) is planning to award the remaining three contract packages of the Metro Manila Subway Project by the third quarter...
President: EDCA sites won't raise tensions
The Manila Times, February 14, 2023
Bernadette E. Tamayo
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said the Philippines will see to it that giving the United States military access to four new bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) will not be seen as a "provocation" that could further heighten tension in the South China Sea...
DBM seeks to capacitate LGUs for effective devolution
The Manila Times, February 14, 2023
Niña Myka Pauline Arceo
The Department of Budget Management (DBM) will help equip local government units (LGUs) in the process of devolution of government services until full implementation...
PSA: More institutions seen accepting ePhilIDs
The Manila Times, February 14, 2023
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) expects more public and private institutions to recognize the digital national IDs as a valid proof of identity for those wanting to avail of government services or conduct transactions...
Charter change not a priority for Marcos
The Manila Times, February 14, 2023
Bernadette E. Tamayo
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said Charter change is not his priority because he believes that his administration's economic agenda can be pursued without amending the Constitution...
DePEd, DOH, DSWD urged to fight student suicide, bullying
Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 14, 2023
Jane Bautista, Marlon Ramos
The extent of bullying and suicide cases among students continues to upset the government, civil society, and health experts so much that they want to scale up interventions to address the problem...
Run after STL operators in P5-B shortfall, PCSO told
Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 14, 2023
Melvin Gascon
Senators urged Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) officials on Monday to run after Small Town Lottery (STL) operators who failed to pay the government P5 billion — its guaranteed share of their revenues between 2016 and 2020...
Bulacan moves to protect poultry farms from bird flu
Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 14, 2023
Carmela Reyes-Estrope
Commercial and backyard poultry farms in the province of Bulacan have started taking measures to prevent being hit by the highly pathogenic avian influenza or bird flu T after a commercial farm in Sta. Maria town lost at least P6.2 million due to the disease, officials said on Monday...
Marriages surged in 2021 with easing quarantine
BusinessWorld, February 13, 2023
Abigail Marie Pelea Yraola
Registered marriages rose sharply in 2021 as quarantine measures eased, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said in a report on Monday...
Marcos: Increased US access to bases not meant to worsen tensions
BusinessWorld, February 13, 2023
John Victor D. Ordoñez
Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Sunday said the government’s decision to give the United States access to four more military bases is not meant to increase tensions in the South China Sea...
Philippine cops arrest 8,183 drug suspects
BusinessWorld, February 13, 2023
John Victor D. Ordoñez
Philippine police arrested 8,183 drug suspects in 6,044 illegal drug operations from the start of the year to Feb. 11, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Monday...
PH vehicle sales revved up by 42.1% in January
Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 14, 2023
Alden M. Monzon
Vehicle sales in the Philippines surged by 42.1 percent in January, marking a solid start for the local automotive industry this year, following a strong finish in 2022 when sales grew by more than a third...
Manila Water unit inks 25-year deal with Davao industrial developer
BusinessWorld, February 14, 2023
Ashley Erika O. Jose
A unit of Manila Water Co., Inc. has signed a 25-year partnership with Damosa Land, Inc. to develop and manage water facilities for an industrial estate, the east zone water concessionaire said on Monday...
Clark Airport operator records 72% profit rise
BusinessWorld, February 14, 2023
Justine Irish D. Tabile
Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) on Monday said its net income last year rose by 72.3% to P438.75 million from P254.72 million a year earlier as it booked higher revenues...
BTr raises P 14.6B from T-bills; rates continue to decline
Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 14, 2023
Alden M. Monzon
The national government raised P14.6 billion out of the planned P15 billion from the issuance of Treasury bills, at yields lower than the prevailing rates on the secondary market...
ASEAN trade show generates over P100M in sales leads for Philippine tourism industry
BusinessWorld, February 13, 2023
Brontë H. Lacsamana
The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) said a regional trade show generated over P100 million in sales leads for 16 exhibitors from the Philippine tourism industry...
PHL, EFTA partners working to improve trade deal utilization
BusinessWorld, February 13, 2023
Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
The Philippines said it and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) are working to improve utilization of their free trade agreement (FTA), which were 31% for the Philippines and 30% for the four-member EFTA bloc in 2020...
PSALM offers co-ops 90 MW in uncommitted capacity
BusinessWorld, February 13, 2023
Beatriz Marie D. Cruz
The Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) told a House committee that it can make available to Luzon electric cooperatives 90 megawatts (MW) worth of uncontracted power...