January 31, 2023
Philippines’ freedom of expression ‘partially restricted’
Source: BusinessWorld
‘Development plan measured by its impact on lives’
BusinessMirror, January 31, 2023
Samuel P. Medenilla
More than economic targets, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the success of the 2023-2028 Philippine Development Plan (PDP) will be based on its impact on the lives of ordinary Filipinos...
Experts: PH economy recovering but additional maintenance needed
Philippine Star, January 30, 2023
Significant economic improvements in the Philippines that have been felt in 2022 state that among the major economies in the region that released their real GDP growth, the Philippine economy posted the second fastest growth after India but faster than Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and China...
Roadmap aims to bring PH back to ‘high-growth trajectory’
Philippine Daily Inquirer, January 31, 2023
Jerome Aning, Ronnel W. Domingo
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed an executive order (EO) approving the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) for the period of 2023-2028, setting the country’s economic roadmap during his presidency...
Flagship list weighs project readiness, job creation
BusinessMirror, January 31, 2023
Cai U. Ordinario
The “readiness” of projects as well as their contribution to the creation of high-quality jobs are among the criteria that the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) will use to parse the long list of infrastructure projects eyed for inclusion in the administration’s own “flagship” projects...
Serious problems hounding education system–VP Sara
BusinessMirror, January 31, 2023
Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte on Monday recognized that serious problems are hounding the Department of Education (DepEd), but vowed to take steps to accelerate the delivery of basic education facilities and services, take good care of learners and teachers...
Congress urged to reconsider bill on transport safety board
BusinessWorld, January 31, 2023
JIDT
Congress is being urged to approve a bill creating the Philippine Transportation Safety Board (PTSB), especially after technical glitches in the country’s air traffic system led to the shutdown of Philippine airspace earlier this month...
Neda gives long-stalled land use bill a new push
BusinesssMirror, January 31, 2023
Cai U. Ordinario
Passing the National Land Use Act (Nalua) would allow the country to make headway in Right of Way issues that need to be resolved to undertake infrastructure projects, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda)...
Bill seeks to raise taxes on non-essential goods, expands list
The Manila Times, January 31, 2023
Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino
A bill filed at the House of Representatives seeks to increase the tax rate for non-essential goods, as well as to expand the list of goods covered by the tax...
Bill seeks to exempt balikbayan boxes from duties
Philippine Daily Inquirer, January 31, 2023
Julie M. Aurelio
House constitutional amendments panel chair Rep. Rufus Rodriguez wants to exempt from all duties and taxes the “balikbayan” boxes sent by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and other Filipinos abroad to their families...
P5,000 cash aid to new graduates pushed
The Manila Times, January 31, 2023
Julie M. Aurelio
Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar is pushing for a P5,000 one-time cash aid to new graduates of tertiary institutions, colleges, universities, and training institutions while they are looking for work...
Marcos signs EO adopting dev’t plan
BusinessWorld, January 31, 2023
Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has signed an executive order (EO) adopting the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, which he said will help the country achieve its goal of becoming an upper middle-income economy by 2025...
SC voids SEC regulation on CPA accreditation
BusinessMirror, January 31, 2023
Joel R. San Juan
The Supreme Court has declared as unconstitutional the memorandum circulars issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requiring the accreditation of certified public accountants (CPA) acting as external auditors of corporations issuing registered securities and possessing secondary licenses.
Transport safety board bill pushed
Philippine Daily Inquirer, January 31, 2023
Alden M. Monzon
The Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines (JFC) is pressing lawmakers to pass the bill creating the Philippine Transportation Safety Board (PTSB)—a piece of legislation vetoed by President Marcos in July of last year—following the unintended shutdown at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) earlier this month...
LTO to digitalize issuance of traffic citation tickets
Philippine Star, January 31, 2023
Marc Jayson Cayabyab
The Land Transportation Office will deploy thousands of handheld devices to enforcers to digitalize the issuance of citation tickets to traffic violators, LTO chief Jose Arturo Tugade announced yesterday...
Chatting with AI to write academic essays
The Manila Times, January 31, 2023
Franchette Romjin Kim Miller
While browsing social media, I couldn't help but notice the recurring posts about artificial intelligence (AI) and its emergence. Indeed, it has affected various multimedia platforms. The first trend I noticed was the rise of AI-generated art content that has made its rounds in social media, particularly on my Facebook feeds...
Philippines urged to hold joint patrols to keep China at bay
BusinessWorld, January 31, 2023
Alyssa Nicole O. Tan
A Security expert on Tuesday accused China of trying to co-opt top Philippine politicians and business leaders to boost its maritime interests, calling for increased cooperation with the US and Australia to deflect the strategy...
Chinese firm eyes more infra projects in PH
Philippine Daily Inquirer, January 31, 2023
Jerome Aning
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday met with the top officials of the state-owned China Communications Construction Co. Ltd (CCCC), a major contractor of numerous projects for China’s Belt and Road Initiative...
For Asean countries, IMF sees slower global growth outweighing China reopening
Philippine Daily Inquirer, January 31, 2023
Reuters
International Monetary Fund’s chief economist said on Tuesday that Singapore and other Southeast Asian economies are seeing downgrades to their 2023 growth outlooks because slowing global growth will outweigh the positive impact from China’s economic reopening...
IMF lifts 2023 growth forecast with boost from China reopening
Philippine Star, January 31, 2023
Agence France Presse
Global growth is set to be higher than expected this year, the IMF said Monday, raising its forecast on surprisingly strong consumption and investment while China's lifting of zero-Covid restrictions provides another boost...
Schoolkids lost third of a year's learning to pandemic: study
Philippine Star, January 31, 2023
Agence France Presse
School-aged students lost more than a third of a year's worth of learning early on in the pandemic and have still not caught up, posing "a real problem for this generation," researchers warned on Monday...
Markets struggle before central bank rate decisions
Philippine Star, January 31, 2023
Agence France Presse
Stock markets wavered on Monday with central banks set to lift interest rates again later this week, as policymakers battle high inflation...
Oil steadies after falling on rate hike worries, Russian crude flows
Philippine Daily Inquirer, January 31, 2023
Reuters
Oil prices steadied in early Asian trade on Tuesday after falling by more than 2% in the previous session on the threat of further interest rate hikes and continued Russian crude flows...
WHO urges investment in neglected tropical diseases
Philippine Star, January 31, 2023
Robin Millard, Agence France Presse
The World Health Organization on Monday called for greater investment in combating neglected tropical diseases, which left more than 1.6 billion people, often in least-developed countries, requiring treatment in 2021...
US to increase weapons deployment to counter North Korea
The Manila Times, January 31, 2023
Associated Press
United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday that Washington would step up its deployment of advanced weapons, such as fighter jets and bombers, to the Korean Peninsula as it strengthens joint training and operational planning with South Korea in response to a growing North Korean nuclear threat...
Putin backs military training centers with Belarus
The Manila Times, January 31, 2023
Agence France Presse
President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday backed a plan to set up joint military training centers with Belarus, with fears mounting that Minsk could enter the war in Ukraine to fight with Moscow...
Japan Inc strives to lure skilled workers as inflation bites
BusinessWorld, January 31, 2023
Reuters
From inflation allowances to the reskilling of workers, firms in Japan are stepping up efforts to help employees fight rising prices and a labor crunch, even though some cannot afford pay hikes that do more than offset cost-push inflation...
COVAX to donate bivalent jabs to Philippines
Philippine Star, January 31, 2023
Rhodina Villanueva
The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday said the COVAX Facility has already committed to donate bivalent COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines...
PCCI: To draw investors, LGUs must act like Peza
BusinessMirror, January 31, 2023
Andrea E. San Juan
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President George T. Barcelon said the country’s local government units (LGUs) should have the “DNA” of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to promote inclusive growth in the country...
'Education sector needs a lot of fixing'
The Manila Times, January 31, 2023
Kristina Maralit
The lack of school facilities, rundown classrooms and slow training of teachers are among the most pressing concerns confronting the Department of Education (DepEd), Vice President and concurrent Education Secretary Sara Duterte said on Monday...
SIM registration hits nearly 27 million a month after rollout, says DICT
BusinessWorld, January 31, 2023
Arjay L. Balinbin
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said 26.64 million subscriber identity module (SIM) cards have been registered as of Jan. 28, or a month after the registration law was rolled out...
Senator: ICC probe will earn Marcos respect from world leaders
Philippine Daily Inquirer, January 31, 2023
Jerome Aning, Marlon Ramos
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. can earn the respect of his peers and prove his adherence to international law by cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC), Sen. Risa Hontiveros said on Monday, even as Department of Justice (DOJ) and Philippine National Police officials urged the court to respect the country’s sovereignty and judicial system...
Reconsider VAT refund, gov’t urged
Philippine Daily Inquirer, January 31, 2023
Jane Bautista, Marlon Ramos
The government should go easy on the proposal to allow foreign tourists to refund the value-added tax (VAT) on the goods they purchase during their travel in the Philippines, several senators said on Monday...
DOH warns against use of frozen eggs
The Manila Times, January 31, 2023
Red Mendoza
The Department of Health (DoH) has warned the public on the use of frozen eggs as substitutes for fresh eggs as it could pose health risks...
BNPP fund eyed to keep power in 1.3 million rural households
Philippine Daily Inquirer, January 31, 2023
Jordeene B. Lagare
The government is planning to tap P367 million in reimbursements for the upkeep of the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), along with subsidies and borrowings, to avert a looming power crisis that may affect more than 1.3 million rural households nationwide...
PH education woes not teachers’ fault, says VP Duterte
Philippine Daily Inquirer, January 31, 2023
Jane Bautista, Jerome Aning
Reporting on the state of education in the country, Vice President and concurrent Education Secretary Sara Duterte said on Monday that the education system had “failed” and “burdened” teachers...
After airport fiasco, JFC pitches transport safety board anew
BusinessMirror, January 31, 2023
Andrea E. San Juan
Following the recent incident involving the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the seven members of the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) joined by other business groups called on the House and Senate to reconsider the bill creating the Philippine Transportation Safety Board (PTSB) and approve the same in the 19th Congress...
USDA unit hails plan for ethanol blends
BusinessMirror, January 31, 2023
Jasper Y. Arcalas
The national government’s plan to allow higher ethanol blends of up to 20 percent on a voluntary basis would encourage local producers to expand their output and keep pump prices stable, according to an international agency...
Daily average COVID-19 cases fall by 36%
Philippine Daily Inquirer, January 31, 2023
Dona Z. Pazzibugan
The confirmed COVID-19 cases reported daily have fallen to less than 200 over the past week, said the Department of Health (DOH)...
Who is ‘Luffy’? BI baffled on true identity of robber among 17 Japanese detainees
BusinessMirror, January 31, 2023
Joel R. San Juan
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday admitted that the identity of a Japanese national tagged as a certain “Luffy” who reportedly behind a series of robberies in Japan has yet to be ascertained...
DOE maps out options to sustain NPC operation in off-grid areas
BusinessMirror, January 31, 2023
Lenie Lectura
Energy rationing, additional budget, tariff applications, and government borrowings are some of the solutions drawn up by the government to sustain the operations and ensure the continued delivery of power supply by the National Power Corporation (NPC) in off-grid areas...
Chinese construction firm vows $100-M infra works
BusinessMirror, January 31, 2023
Samuel P. Medenilla
Malacañang announced a major Chinese construction firm has pledged an estimated US$100 million worth of additional infrastructure investments in the country...
More reforms needed to lure foreign investors
The Manila Times, January 31, 2023
Niña Myka Pauline Arceo and Jenica Faye Garcia
Private sector representatives urged the government to focus on making the country more attractive to investments as the Marcos administration formally launched its 2023-2028 Philippine Development Plan (PDP)...
Gov’t fully awards T-bill offer as rates drop across all tenors
BusinessWorld, January 31, 2023
Aaron Michael C. Sy
The Government fully awarded the Treasury bills (T-bills) it auctioned off on Monday as rates went down across all tenors amid strong demand from the market...
Think tank says PHL may benefit from wealth fund, but flags political risks
BusinessWorld, January 31, 2023
Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson
The Philippines could benefit from the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) as long as the government can ensure that its first sovereign wealth fund (SWF) is independent and efficient, according to a report by the Milken Institute...
BSP eyes consumer price uptick in January
Philippine Star, January 31, 2023
Ramon Royandoyan
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is keeping its eyes peeled on consumer price growth at the start of 2023, as its projection left room for an uptick in January...
Fisheries output rises 2.2% in 2022
BusinessWorld, January 31, 2023
Sheldeen Joy Talavera
Fisheries output rose 2.2% led by the marine municipal fisheries and aquaculture segments, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said...
BoC exceeds January collection target
BusinessWorld, January 31, 2023
Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson
The Bureau of Customs (BoC) said it surpassed its collection target for January with revenue of P65.801 billion in the Jan. 1-27 period...
Investor wariness pulls stock market, peso down
The Manila Times, January 31, 2023
Ed Paolo Salting and Niña Myka Pauline Arceo
Both the peso and the stock market fell on Monday with investors said to be taking positions ahead of key data releases and policy decisions by the US and European central banks...
Hitachi Rail, Transport dep’t sign Malolos-Tutuban rail deal
BusinessWorld, January 31, 2023
Arjay L. Balinbin
The Department of Transportation and Hitachi Rail signed on Monday the electrical and mechanical systems and track works contract for the Manila-Bulacan segment of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project...