Fresh from Japan, Duterte visits wake of Nene Pimentel
President Rodrigo Duterte visited late Tuesday night the wake of former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. at Heritage Park in Taguig City.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News

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Duterte presence in Emperor’s enthronement to boost PH-Japan ties
President Rodrigo Duterte’s attendance to the enthronement rites for Japanese Emperor Naruhito will further enhance the relations between Manila and Tokyo, Malacañang said on Tuesday.
Philippine News Agency, GMA News

PRRD cuts short Japan trip due to ‘unbearable’ back pain
President Rodrigo R. Duterte is cutting short his official visit to Japan due to “unbearable pain” in his back after he figured in a minor motorcycle accident last week, Malacañang said on Tuesday.
Philippine News Agency, Manila Bulletin, Rappler

Duterte appears on Facebook video, informs public of fall, pain
As he headed back home from a shortened trip to Japan, President Duterte admitted that he was feeling some pain after falling off a motorcycle last week.
Manila Bulletin

Analyst's take on Duterte's trip to Japan for Emperor's enthronement
GMA Network’s resident political analyst Richard Heydarian on Tuesday gave his insights on President Rodrigo Duterte's trip to Japan, which the analyst thinks has reached a "golden age" of bilateral relations with the Philippines.
GMA News

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Palace: ‘Comfortable life for all, is the overarching socioeconomic goal of the administration’
Poverty cannot be addressed overnight but the Duterte administration is committed to implement programs to bring a comfortable life for all, Malacañang said Tuesday.
Manila Bulletin

Gov’t targets to lift 1M Filipinos out of poverty every year — Palace
The government has targeted to lift 1 million Filipinos out of poverty every year, Malacañang said Tuesday. Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued the statement after the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed fewer Filipino families labeled themselves poor.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Netizens tell UP-Visayas cheerleaders to be fair with gov't
Netizens on Monday prodded the University of the Philippines (UP)-Visayas cheer dance group to be fair in discussing social and political issues in the country.
Philippine News Agency

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One year of Panelo, the showbiz spokesman
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo always begins his Malacañang press briefings with a smile. No matter the outrage of the day, Panelo exudes amiability and ease, a buoyancy, missing in the two Duterte spokesmen before him.
Rappler

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

Spokesman warns public against text scam using OVP’s name in vain
The Office of the Vice President warned the public of a text message scam in wherein people are informed they won cash prize from its supposed poverty alleviation program.
Manila Bulletin

ELECTION RELATED

DISASTER

Kidapawan extends aid to Tulunan quake victims
Although it also suffered from the magnitude 6.3 quake last October 16, the Kidapawan City government extended assistance to families affected by the calamity in Tulunan, North Cotabato.
Philippine News Agency

MINDANAO

MinDA forms task group to speed up rehab, repair works
The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) has organized a task group to accelerate the rehabilitation of quake-stricken communities in the island. MinDA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol appointed Executive Director Janet Lopoz to head the Earthquake Rehabilitation Task Group, which was organized on Monday to ensure a faster delivery of assistance to the victims of the 6.3 magnitude earthquake that hit the southeastern part of Mindanao on October 16.
Philippine News Agency

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Pangasinan holds Constitutional reform roadshow
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Center for Federalism are conducting a roadshow to educate Pangasinenses on the relevant features of the constitutional reform and solicit their views from Oct. 20-23, 2019.
Philippine News Agency

Constitutional reform: Where are we now?
As of this month, the Duterte administration has reached three important milestones for 2019. The first is the passage into law of the Bangsamoro Organic Law and the inauguration of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. These are significant steps that shall hopefully increase our chances for peace in the country,
Manila Bulletin

JUDICIARY

SC rules revival of case vs. Sulpicio exec 'final and executory'
The Supreme Court (SC) handed down an entry of judgment in connection with the criminal cases against an official of Sulpicio Lines Inc. (SLI) over the sinking of the M/V Princess of the Stars nearly 10 years ago.
Philippine News Agency, Manila Bulletin

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NCRPO to probe 16 cops caught with contraband at NBP
The acting chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas on Tuesday ordered to investigate the 16 police officers deployed inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City after they were caught allegedly trying to slip contraband in and out of the national penitentiary.
Philippine News Agency

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DOJ ends preliminary probe of kidnap raps vs. Trillanes, 3 others
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday (Oct. 22) concluded its preliminary investigation of the kidnapping complaint filed against former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and his co-respondents for allegedly forcing a woman to make false testimonies against President Rodrigo Duterte.
Manila Bulletin

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

House of Representatives

Solons weigh in on term-sharing at House
Two ranking House members on Tuesday expressed their personal views on the term-sharing agreement brokered by President Rodrigo Duterte for the Speakership, with one saying the continuity of the current leadership is for the best interest of the country while the other saying fresh elections are needed to determine the issue.
Philippine News Agency

Senior PDP-Laban congressmen slam House colleagues over talks about term sharing scheme
Senior PDP-Laban partymates of President Rodrigo Duterte Tuesday slammed “premature talks” of granting Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano the license to abandon a term-sharing agreement for the speakership that President Rodrigo Duterte proposed and that Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco accepted.
Manila Bulletin

Solon also wants pay hike for private sector nurses
Following a Supreme Court ruling that raised the minimum base pay for government nurses, Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Michael Defensor on Tuesday said he will also push for an increase in the salary of nurses working in the private sector.
Philippine News Agency

BUDGET, FINANCE and TAXATION

CTA orders BIR to refund SMC of uncollected excise tax
The Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) has ordered the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to refund or issue tax credit certificate to San Miguel Corporation (SMC) worth P28 million for the erroneous collection of excise tax from the sale of bottled and canned San Mig Light (SML) beer for the year 2012.
Manila Bulletin

DOF backs more taxes for online gambling firms
The government agency tasked to look for cash to fund the Duterte administration’s projects is looking at gambling revenues to further boost collections.
Rappler

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DILG issues show cause orders to 99 Manila villages
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has issued a show-cause order against 99 barangay chairmen in the city of Manila for not maintaining the campaign to clear roads and sidewalks in their area.
Philippine News Agency

Año calls on low performing LGUs to exert more effort, sustain road clearing operations
With the release of the validation results of the national road clearing program, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)  Secretary Eduardo M. Año asked the local government units (LGUs) with low compliance or failed ratings to improve their performance in clearing all public roads from all obstructions.
Manila Bulletin

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Vice Adm. Joel Garcia is new Coast Guard commandant
President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Deputy Commandant for Administration, Vice Adm. Joel Garcia, as commandant.
Philippine News Agency

US Coast Guard chief assures continued support for PCG
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday welcomed US Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Karl Schultz, who assured continued support for the PCG.
Philippine News Agency

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Solon urges PNP chief candidates to submit to lifestyle check
A party-list lawmaker is urging the three high-ranking police officials shortlisted for the position of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief to submit to a lifestyle check to help President Rodrigo Duterte make his choice.
GMA News

New PNP-11 chief vows to focus on 'internal cleansing'
The newly designated acting chief of the Philippine National Police in Region 11 vowed to focus more on internal cleansing, a "zero tolerance" policy among police personnel involved in illegal drug activities and other crimes.
Philippine News Agency

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PH has right to develop submarine force: Russian envoy
Being an archipelagic nation, the Philippines has the right to develop its submarine force, Russian Ambassador to the Philippines, Igor Khovaev said on Tuesday.
Philippine News Agency

Russia eyes joint weapons production with the Philippines – envoy
The Philippines may soon be making and exporting Russian-type guns if a proposal from Moscow pushes through, said Russia Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev on Tuesday, October 22.
Rappler

2 Indian Navy ships in PH for goodwill visit
Two ships of the Indian Navy, the INS Sahyadri (F-49), a Shivalik-class stealth multi-role frigate and INS Kiltan (P-30), an anti-submarine warfare corvette, will be docking at Pier 15, Manila South Harbor Wednesday (Oct.23) for a goodwill visit that will last until October 26.
Philippine News Agency

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS

CALAX to open by end of October – Villar
The first sections of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) spanning Mamplasan Barrier onto Laguna Technopark Interchange, Laguna Boulevard Interchange, all the way to Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Interchange is 90 per cent complete, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark A. Villar announced Tuesday after doing a final inspection of the project.
Manila Bulletin, Rappler

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

PH gov't ready to help Japan after 'Hagibis': Go
The Philippine government has expressed readiness to provide assistance, particularly disaster response deployments, to Japan in the aftermath of the powerful Typhoon Hagibis.
Philippine News Agency

Russian envoy tells PH allies, partners not to interfere in Manila-Moscow relations
Traditional partners and allies of the Philippines should not interfere in the country's bilateral relations with Moscow, the top Russian envoy in Manila said Tuesday.
ABS-CBN News

West Philippine Sea

China ‘antagonistic, coercive’ in disputed waters – US Coast Guard chief
China’s behavior in disputed waters such as the West Philippine Sea was “antagonistic” and “coercive,” the commandant of the United States Coast Guard said Monday. In a teleconference with reporters, Admiral Karl Schultz said China’s recent actions in the West Philippine Sea showed their “expansive intent.”
GMA News

LABOR

Qatar labor reforms, a leap toward freedom: DFA
A ranking Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official on Tuesday hailed the latest reforms in Qatar's labor market, seen to end the kafala system, as a leap toward freedom.
Philippine News Agency

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Over 19,000 jobs available to K to 12 graduates – PBED
The Department of Education (DepEd) and the private sector urged Senior High School (SHS) graduates to apply for jobs with at least 20,000 job positions made available for them.
Manila Bulletin

TRANSPORTATION

LIST: NAIA preparations for Undas 2019
People flying home to their provinces or going on vacations abroad during Undas 2019 can expect more efficient operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), which is implementing Oplan Biyaheng Ayos to prepare for the larger influx of travelers.
Rappler

HEALTH

Defensor tells private hospitals: Sabotage the UHC program, face the risk of penalty
Anakalusugan partylist Rep. Michael “Mike” Defensor warned yesterday private hospitals against “sabotaging” the Duterte government’s implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) program, saying their failure to renew their accreditation with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) can be considered as a “crime” and should be meted with penalties.
Manila Bulletin

PhilHealth recalls suspension of GenSan hospital's accreditation
The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has temporarily recalled the suspension order it issued early this month on the accreditation of a hospital here, after finding the medical facility of being involved in “fraudulent activities.”
Philippine News Agency

Duque hopes PHAPi members change their minds about cutting ties with PhilHealth
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Tuesday said it is hoping that Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPi) members will not push through with their threats to withdraw their Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) accreditations.
Manila Bulletin

Heightened increase in HIV cases is a national concern – Duque 
Health Secretary Francisco Duque said on Tuesday that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in the country is a concern.
Manila Bulletin

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Organic rice program to boost Iloilo’s yield in 2020
The Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) said here Tuesday that its organic rice production project will increase the yield of Ilonggo farmers in 2020. Elias Sandig, PAO assistant department head, said that for this year, a total of 344 areas in the province had been dedicated to the organic rice program.
Philippine News Agency

DA, LBP provide cash assistance to Agusan Sur farmers
Rice farmers in the province of Agusan del Sur, whose incomes were affected by the decrease in the prices of palay this year,  were provided cash assistance by the Department of Agriculture in Caraga Region (DA-13) through the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).
Philippine News Agency

House leader cites need for urgent solution in rice farmers’ plight
House Deputy Speaker, ABONO Party-List Rep. Conrado Estrella III has underscored the urgency in coming up with a form of relief for local rice farmers amid the prevailing Republic Act (RA) 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law.
Manila Bulletin

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367 hogs culled in ASF-affected Pangasinan barangays
Some 367 hogs from four barangays in this town were culled on Tuesday as part of the implementation of the 1-7-10 protocol of the Department of Agriculture (DA) following the positive result on African Swine Fever (ASF) from tested hogs in Barangay Apalen here.
Philippine News Agency

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Infestation spread in Davao banana plantations feared
A group of banana growers and exporters is concerned that the plan to remove the biosecurity installations in banana plantations operated by the Tagum Agricultural Development Co. (Tadeco) could worsen the fusarium infestation in the province.
Manila Bulletin

EDUCATION

Gender segregation not realistic – DepEd chief
For the Department of Education (DepEd), segregating boys and girls in schools may not help to curb rising cases of teen pregnancies and HIV cases in the country.
Manila Bulletin

Ombudsman orders CHED exec's suspension
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) reiterated Tuesday an order from the Office of the Ombudsman to serve the three-month suspension without pay of CHED executive director Julito Vitriolo for "simple misconduct".
Philippine News Agency, Manila Bulletin

Solons back review of K-12, but air caution on moves to abolish it
Senior administration lawmakers Tuesday backed Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano’s call for an oversight review of the K to 12 education system but rejected calls for its abolition.
Manila Bulletin

ENERGY

DOE urged to study increase of biofuel content in diesel
The chairman of the Senate Energy Committee on Tuesday urged the Department of Energy (DOE) to study the proposal to increase biofuel content in diesel to ease the oversupply of local copra.
Philippine News Agency

Team from Russian energy firm visited Manila for oil exploration talks – envoy
A team from Russian energy giant Rosneft arrived in Manila last week to discuss the possibility of joint offshore oil exploration with the Department of Energy (DOE), said Igor Khovaev, Russia’s ambassador to the Philippines, on Tuesday, October 22.
Rappler

POVERTY

Duterte admin to step up efforts to address poverty: Nograles
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on Tuesday said the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte would continue to step up efforts to address hunger and poverty in the country even as he welcomed new data that shows that self-rated poverty and food poverty have fallen in the third quarter of 2019.
Philippine News Agency

SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

Solon urges probe on ‘PWD card for sale’ scam
ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Eric Go Yap on Tuesday urged Congress to investigate the sale of identification cards for a person with disabilities (PWDs) to “unethical” individuals who want to enjoy discounts and privileges reserved for PWDs.
Philippine News Agency, Manila Bulletin

HOUSING

TOURISM

DOT vows to continue to provide training for tourism frontliners
The Department of Tourism (DOT) has vowed to continue providing significant training programs to tourism frontliners in order to further enhance their knowledge and skills in accordance with the National Tourism Development Plan.
Manila Bulletin

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Kaliwa Dam project earns environmental clearance despite alleged violations
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued the Kaliwa Dam project with an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC). This is despite strong opposition from the Agta-Dumagat-Remontado tribes in Quezon and Rizal due to threats of displacement and alleged violations in procedural requirements for ECC application both by its project proponent, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).
Rappler

Water crisis

Dry days loom as Angat Dam water level drops again
Maynilad Water Services Inc. announced on Tuesday that it would bring back daily rotational service interruptions starting on Thursday, Oct. 24, as the water level at Angat Dam continued to fall.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

National Privacy Commission bans 26 online lenders
Following an order released on October 18, the National Privacy Commission (NPC) imposed a ban on 26 online lenders. These bans are the result of improper use and processing of personal data by those companies, which are accused of publicly shaming borrowers late on their repayments.
Rappler

DEVELOPMENT SECTOR