Duterte to provide additional incentives to Filipino medalists in SEA Games
President Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to provide additional incentives to Filipino athletes who would emerge victorious in the upcoming 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games on top of the incentives provided by law.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Malacañang hails Senate approval of 2020 budget bill
Malacañang welcomed on Wednesday the Senate’s unanimous approval on third and final reading of the proposed P4.1-trillion national budget for 2020. Twenty-two of 24 senators voted to approve the  2020 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) with no abstentions or negative votes.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Southeast Asian Games (SEAG)

Indonesian football team official claims to have accidentally eaten pork
A Muslim official from the Indonesian delegation claimed to have accidentally eaten pork because the food served by the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) organizers were not labelled as halal compliant or not.
Manila Bulletin

Hotel says PH coach apologized for ‘kikiam for breakfast’ claim
Let Dizon, the coach of the Philippine women’s football team set to participate in the 30th Southeast Asian (Sea) Games, has “repeatedly apologized” to the hotel for earlier claiming that she and her team were served kikiam, a sausage-like dish made of ground pork, but as part of their breakfast.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

SEA Games 2019 chef vows to serve athletes 'best and safest food'
Bruce Lim, the chef in charge of food preparation for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, assured athletes from the Philippines and rival countries will be served with "the best and safest food."
Rappler

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‘We cannot afford to fail’ as SEA Games host – Duterte
We cannot afford to fail. ’Di tayo pwedeng mapahiya.” Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, former presidential aide, said this was what President Rodrigo Duterte told him amid logistical issues hounding the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast (SEA) Games.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

POC mulls hosting Asian Games in PH amid SEAG woes
Despite controversies surrounding the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, the president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) said Wednesday that it also plans to have the Asian Games hosted in the country.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Improvements seen at Rizal Memorial for SEA Games football matches
The changes were noticeable and of course – welcome. After drawing flak for putting the post-match press conference at the unfinished squash hall venue, organizers of the Southeast Asian Games men’s football competition have relocated it to the media room inside the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Phisgoc: SEA Games issues ‘resolved’
The organizers of the Philippines’ Southeast Asian Games on Wednesday assured that the concerns raised by several participating countries have been ironed out.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DILG: Show Filipino hospitality, set aside other ‘issues’ on SEA Games
The Department of the Interior and Local Government appealed to Filipinos to show the country’s hospitality to foreign athletes and delegates and set aside issues on this year’s Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DILG favors suspension of NCR classes during SEA Games
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday said it favors the suspension of classes in all schools and universities in Metro Manila to give way to the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

‘We are too hospitable,’ says Sotto amid SEA Games woes
Compared to his  past experience, the Philippines is “too hospitable” to people participating in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said on Wednesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

Reject trivial matters, support our athletes – Dela Rosa
Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa urged Filipinos to stop making a big deal of “trivial matters” concerning the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) games.
Manila Bulletin

Senator Go bats for ‘bayanihan’ and calls for unity
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Wednesday called on Filipinos to uphold the ‘’bayanihan’’ spirit following several hiccups or ‘’mistakes’’ by organizers of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Manila Bulletin

House leaders come forward to defend Cayetano on SEAG mess
House leaders have come out Wednesday to defend Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano from criticisms regarding the chaotic staging of the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in the country.
Manila Bulletin

‘A complete lie:’ Drilon refutes ‘blabbermouth’ Salo’s claims
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon slammed a House member for alleging that he slashed the funding for the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and transferred it to his home province of Iloilo.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Don't blame media for SEA Games woes – NUJP
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) slammed attacks against journalists over their coverage of the 30th Southeast Asian Games. In a statement released Wednesday night, November 27, the NUJP said “attempting to dictate how the media should report the news has no place in a democracy.”
Rappler

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National shame
As first impressions go, we’re f—ked. The 30th Southeast Asian Games have yet to officially commence, but the facepalm-inducing developments of the past few days are generating the not-unfounded fear that the Philippines’ fourth hosting of the friendship games may end up remembered as an epic fail.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Games
The 30th Southeast Asian Games are upon us. Although we may endure increased traffic congestion and other related discomfort, this is a moment to be proud. We are hosting a major sporting event with thousands of athletes and coaches coming to town to compete. Regional camaraderie will be at its best. Our capacity to be hospitable will be put to the test.
Philippine Star

Bishop urges public to ‘set aside bitter criticism’ on SEA Games
An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has urged the public to “set aside bitter criticisms” amid some issues surrounding the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Ethel Booba on hotel’s clarification that ‘kikiam’ is ‘chicken sausage’: ‘Kung di pa pansinin, baka isipin nila ok lang’
“Chicken sausage” not “kikiam.” Comedienne Ethel Booba corrected her former post about the “kiksilog” (kikiam, egg and fried rice) meal allegedly served by a hotel hosting the members of the Philippine women’s football team. The team is competing in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Ai-Ai delas Alas on SEAG woes: Wala na munang nega
Comedienne Ai-Ai Delas Alas appealed to the Filipino people to be thankful and welcome the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian (Sea) Games and not focus on the logistical problems.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Imee to Bong Go: Investigate SEA Games foul-ups without cover-ups
Senator Imee Marcos said Senate sports committee chairman Christopher ‘Bong’ Go must get to the bottom of the numerous Southeast Asian (SEA) Games-related foul-ups that are embarrassing the Filipino people even before the biennial sports event has begun.
Manila Bulletin

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SEA Games: PH still winless in netball after loss to Thais
The Philippine netball team remained winless after losing to Thailand, 64-29, in the 30th Southeast Asian Games Wednesday at Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

ELECTION RELATED

DISASTER

MINDANAO

Mindanao to export mangoes to Malaysia, Indonesia
Farmers from Mindanao will soon export mangoes and other agricultural produce to Malaysia and Indonesia as senior officials and ministers among these countries recently agreed to intensify trade beginning early next year.
Mindanews

Dream train for Mindanao still in the doldrums
More than halfway into President Rodrigo Duterte’s six-year term, the dream train that he promised to build in Mindanao, potentially using Official Development Assistance (ODA) from China for the first phase, has yet to gain steam.
Mindanews

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

17 persons vie for SC post
A total of 17 persons are vying for the position as Supreme Court Associate Justice which became vacant upon the appointment of Diosdado Peralta as Chief Justice.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

SC rules banks not liable for checks dishonored for ‘differing signatures’
Are banks liable for damages, lawyers’ fees and litigation costs when they dishonor checks with depositors’ signatures which are different from those kept on the files of the banks?
Manila Bulletin

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

Senate approves P4.1-trillion 2020 national budget on final reading
Voting 22-0, the Senate approved on third and final reading Wednesday the proposed P4.1-trillion national budget for 2020. Senator Juan Edgardo Angara read the committee amendments to House Bill 4228 and no senator raised their individual amendments.
GMA News, CNN Philippines, Philippine News Agency

Senate OKs bill on gov’t workers’ night differential pay on second reading
The Senate on Wednesday approved on second reading a bill seeking to grant night shift differential pay to employees in the government service as well as those in government-owned or controlled corporations.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Lacson backs proposal to elect president and vice president in tandem
Senator Panfilo Lacson supports the proposal to have the president and vice president elected in tandem, just like in the United States.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Lacson: 2019 budget delay due to P75-B House ‘insertion’
Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday refreshed memories regarding the reason for the delay in the approval of the 2019 national budget, which some lawmakers now blame for the snafus in the Philippines’ hosting of the 30th SEA Games.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Grace Poe files bill to protect govt teachers from malicious accusations
Senator Grace Poe has filed a bill seeking to protect public school teachers and personnel from malicious accusations of child abuse as well as provide them with support on matters of student discipline.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Transfer of gov’t funds to foundation irregular — Lacson
Senator Panfilo M. Lacson said on Wednesday the transfer of P1 billion of government funds kept by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organization Sports Committee (PHISGOC), a private foundation, is legally questionable.
Manila Bulletin

House of Representatives

National Authority for Child Care pushed at House
Lamenting that there are 1.8 million “abandoned and neglected” children in the country, leaders of the House of the Representatives are seeking the creation of the National Authority for Child Care (NACC), which will serve as one-stop-shop on alternative childcare.
Manila Bulletin

OFWs, other stakeholders may still propose changes in proposed Dept. of OFWs
Batangas Rep. Mario Vittorio “Marvey” Mariño has assured overseas Filipino workers (OFW) groups and other concerned stakeholders that their concerns and amendments to the proposed creation of the Department of Filipinos Overseas and Foreign Employment will still be considered in the plenary.
Manila Bulletin

BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION

New and ‘modern’ BIR building to rise by 2022
To better serve taxpayers, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) next year will start construction of a new, high-rise national office building expected to be operational by 2022.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

BIR padlocks 11 colorum POGO outlets which owe gov’t P1 billion in taxes
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) padlocked Wednesday 11 more branches of a Philippines Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) outfit in Paranaque City for alleged non-registration.
Manila Bulletin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

BREAKING: Corrections officer shot dead in front of Bilibid
A Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officer was shot dead in front of the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa on Wednesday morning.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

Malcontento warns prosecutors against engaging in corrupt practices
Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento has warned prosecutors not to engage in any corrupt practices. “Do not destroy the entire organization,” Malcontento warned.
Manila Bulletin

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Jordan delivers on promise: 2 Cobra choppers now in PH
The Philippine Air Force will have two units of one of the most lethal attack helicopters in the world, the Bell AH-1S Cobra, courtesy of a donation from the Jordanian government.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Royal Thai Navy delegation visits PN headquarters
A Royal Thai Navy (RTN) delegation visited the Philippine Navy (PN) headquarters at Naval Station Jose Andrada, Roxas Boulevard, Manila Tuesday.
Philippine News Agency

CA panel recommends ad interim appointments of 113 senior AFP officers
The ad interim appointments of 113 senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have been recommended for confirmation by a panel of the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Philippine National Police

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

PSEi may hit 9,000 next year – BPI Securities
The local stock barometer may climb to as high as 9,000 in the coming year, setting a new index record as robust earnings and macroeconomic growth fuel investor optimism, said the local stock brokerage arm of Bank of the Philippine Islands.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star

Peso climbs on US-China deal progress
THE PESO strengthened on Wednesday as US President Donald J. Trump said Washington’s “phase one” trade deal with China is inching closer to completion.
Business World Online

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

Japanese gov’t commits P30 million in grants for grassroots human security projects
The Japanese government has signed five grant contracts totalling $590,781 (roughly P30 million) for the construction of a school dormitory, a health station, and classrooms, as well as the procurement of medical equipment and agricultural machinery.
Manila Bulletin

AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION

Enrile trial for graft, plunder moved anew to January
The graft and plunder trial of former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile before the Sandiganbayan Third Division, which was supposed to start this November, was moved to January 14 and 15, respectively, next year.
Manila Bulletin

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

Bringing Israel closer to Filipinos
A simple photo of a kindergarten pupil dressed up like Miss Asia-Pacific Israel 2019 during a United Nations event in their school has piqued the interest of Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Rafael Harpaz.
Philippine News Agency

Hong Kong drops case vs Filipino arrested during protest
The Hong Kong government has dropped the unlawful assembly case filed against a Filipino who was arrested in the middle of a protest last August.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

West Philippine Sea

LABOR

Over 22K local, overseas jobs available at DOLE anniversary job fair
Over 22,000 local and overseas jobs will be available for job seekers in several job fairs in various areas in the country, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced Wednesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

TRANSPORTATION

MRT-7 depot construction starts as courts grant DOTr, SMC right of way
The construction of the 20-hectare depot of the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) has finally started, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Wednesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

HEALTH

DILG maintains vape users may be arrested for violation of Clean Air Act, anti-smoking laws
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) warned vape users they may be arrested for using electronic cigarettes (e-cigarette) in public for violation of the existing Clean Air Act and anti-smoking laws.
Manila Bulletin

Regulate use of vape to protect youth – PLCPD
A group has called on Congress to pass a law that would regulate the usage of e-cigarettes and vape products to protect youth in the Philippines.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Health officials in NAIA in tight watch to prevent entry of ‘black death’ virus in PH
The Bureau of Quarantine at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is now monitoring arrivals in the country to prevent the possible entry of passengers who may be afflicted with the dreaded “black death” virus.
Manila Bulletin

Polio virus detected in Metro Manila, Davao City samples, DOH says
The polio virus was detected in some two dozen samples from the environment, indicating that its carriers are continuously "shedding" or spreading the disease in their communities, the health department said Wednesday.
ABS-CBN News, Business World Online

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

ASF-infected pigs 'secretly buried' in U.P. Campus
Atop a mound of newly-shoveled dirt along an Arboretum Forest trail, children run around and play, carefree. Little do they know: more than a hundred pigs infected with a viral disease were buried underneath the ground they were standing on.
Rappler

PH, Korea expand maritime ties
The Philippines and South Korea agreed to broaden cooperation in maritime and fisheries segment, South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced.
Manila Bulletin

EDUCATION

Filipinos studying in US increase in 2019
The number of Filipinos studying in the United States (US) has increased in 2019, according to an annual survey. Citing data from the Open Doors Report of the US-based Institute for International Education released this month, the US Embassy in the Philippines said that 3,320 Filipino students have enrolled in US universities in 2019.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Educator creates opportunities, promotes cultural relationships
THIS week, Envoys&Expats has British Council’s Pilar Aramayo-Prudencio. The country manager describes the institution’s decades-long presence as one of the leading cultural-relations organizations in the Philippines.
Business Mirror

ENERGY

Duterte urged to order review of all power deals with generation firms
House Deputy Minority leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Isagani Zarate on Wednesday called on President Rodrigo Duterte to order the review of all power supply agreements (PSA) that power utilities entered into to see if they are the best deals for local consumers.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

PH military to look into China’s possible security threat to power grid
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday said it would look into the possible security threat of China’s co-ownership of the country’s lone power transmission line.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Bayan Muna leader asks Congress: Stop China’s advance into key PH industries
A leader of the militant Bayan Muna party-list group asked Congress to block the advance of China into two of the Philippines’ most vital industries—power and telecommunications—which could make the Philippines hostage to Chinese interests.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

POVERTY

SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

HOUSING

TOURISM

‘Kain Na!’ festival features Mindanao food to promote travel to the region
The different unique food of Mindanao was featured during the ‘Kain Na!,’ food and travel festival of the Department of Tourism, that was recently held at the Ayala Centrio Mall in Cagayan de Oro City.
Manila Bulletin, Business World Online

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Green groups, Quezon locals file petition vs Atimonan coal plant ECC
Environmental advocates and Quezon residents this week filed a petition at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to cancel the Environmental Compliance Certificate issued to Atimonan One Energy (A1E) Incorporated’s coal-fired power plant project or CFPP in response to “breaches to environmental and community education requisites.”
Philippine Star

Water crisis

Time and water is running out
These days, even with the onslaught of typhoons, monsoon rains, and tropical depressions, water shortages and rationing in Metro Manila continue to happen, something that had been unheard of in previous wet season months.
Philippine Star

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

DICT kicks off 1st free Wi-Fi site in Baguio
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) launched on Wednesday the first free Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) site here.
Philippine News Agency

Lawmakers urge Pinoys to register in PhilSys
Lawmakers who took part in the pilot registration of the Philippine Identification System, conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, urged Filipinos to register during the scheduled PhilSys nationwide registration in July 2020.
Manila Standard

DEVELOPMENT SECTOR