Palace outraged by death of another OFW in Kuwait
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo conveyed the Palace’s indignation about the death of another overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Kuwait, after the departments of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed that Jeanelyn Padernal Villavende was killed, supposedly by her female employer.
Manila Bulletin

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Duterte consistent in his inconsistency
President Duterte does not always play by the same rules for similar situations, rendering many of his statements and actions puzzling to those who try to guess his game plan.
Philippine Star

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

VP Leni plans to build more classrooms, dormitories
Vice President Leni Robredo is looking forward to build more classroom buildings and dormitories for public schools in 2020, funded through Angat Buhay and its private partners.
Manila Bulletin

ELECTION RELATED

DISASTER

Persons injured due to 'Ursula' climb to 362: NDRRMC
he number of people injured by the effects of Typhoon "Ursula" last week has climbed to 362, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said. In its update released 6 a.m. on New Year's Day, the agency said this is considerably higher than the 143 reported injured as of December 31, 2019.
Philippine News Agency

Duterte orders quick reconstruction of quake-ravaged towns in Mindanao
President Duterte on Monday ordered the speedy reconstruction of damaged shelters and infrastructures in the areas ravaged by the series of strong earthquakes in southern part of Mindanao.
Business Mirror, Philippine Daily Inquirer

DILG to fund repairs of quake-damaged gov’t halls
President Rodrigo Duterte has directed the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to fund the repair and reconstruction of local government unit buildings damaged by earthquakes that hit North Cotabato and Davao del Sur.
Philippine News Agency

MINDANAO

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

IBP renews vow to uphold rule of law, contribute to faster service of justice
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) has vowed to continue to uphold the rule of law and help in the expeditious service of justice.
Manila Bulletin

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

Gordon, two other senators propose Philippine Marshal Service to protect judiciary
When it resumes regular session next week after a month-long Christmas break, the Senate begins public hearings on bills proposing the creation of a Philippine Marshal Service that would ensure the security and protection of the members of the Bench.
Manila Bulletin, Business Mirror

Villanueva to pursue bills protecting workers’ rights when Senate resumes
Senator Joel Villanueva vowed Wednesday that he will work on the bills aiming to strengthen workers’ rights when the Senate resumes session later this month.
Manila Bulletin

House of Representatives

Abante files bill to make bibles, other religious items tax- and duty-free
House Minority Leader and Manila Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr. has asked Congress to exempt Bibles and other religious articles and certain merchandise from taxes, duty fees, and other charges.
Manila Bulletin

House bill wants restaurants to do calorie count
Keeping track of your calories during the holidays? A bill pending in the House of Representatives would ensure diners won’t be kept guessing about the nutrition contents of their meal by requiring restaurants to disclose how much fat and sugar their food contains.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION

BIR drastically changes waiver procedure
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has drastically changed the procedure on taxpayer’s waiver application extending the prescriptive audit period.
Manila Bulletin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Jail bureau notes peaceful, ‘zero incident’ New Year celebrations in jails, lauds personnel
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) reported on Wednesday “zero incident,” meaning that persons deprived of liberty (PDL) marked peaceful celebrations of the New Year in the bureau’s jail facilities nationwide.
Manila Bulletin

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Philippine National Police

NCRPO implements biometrics to monitor cops' attendance
As part of an intensified internal cleansing program, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Wednesday started the full implementation of biometrics system initially within the regional headquarters of NCRPO and its support units.
Philippine News Agency

PNP airs warning as celebratory gunfire downs 7; ’cracker injuries up
Harsh sanctions await policemen who will greet the New Year with celebratory gunfire, the Philippine National Police officer in charge, Lt. General Archie Gamboa, said on Tuesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

PNP says 2019 holiday season revelries ‘safest, most uneventful’
The recent New Year revelry is 'record breaking' as there were no recorded deaths and injuries from stray bullets and illegal discharge of firearms, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday.
Philippine News Agency

Firecracker injuries down by half – PNP
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded more than 50 percent reduction in cases of firecracker-related injuries and indiscriminate firing this New Year revelry compared to last year.
Manila Bulletin

Cop nabbed over New Year revelry shooting
A police officer was arrested for shooting two men in Imus City, Cavite during the New Year celebration on Tuesday. The suspect was identified as S/Sgt. Rolando Luzana, 50, assigned to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
Philippine Star

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS

Nograles cites Duterte’s infra achievements in 2019
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said government infrastructure accomplishments of the administration will be felt in 2020 and beyond––a reflection of President Duterte’s commitment to implement programs and projects that will improve the lives of Filipinos.
Manila Bulletin

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION

Ex-PNR officials plead guilty in court, fined P500 each
Former officials of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) have entered into a plea bargaining agreement with the prosecution and pleaded guilty to a lesser offense instead of graft and were fined by the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division with just P500 each.
Manila Bulletin

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

DFA monitors fate of 2 Filipino seafarers seized in Cameroon
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday said it was closely monitoring the reported kidnapping of eight seafarers, including two Filipinos, from a Greek-flagged oil tanker, in a Cameroon port on Tuesday.
Manila Bulletin

West Philippine Sea

LABOR

Locsin expresses disappointment to Kuwaiti envoy over latest OFW killing
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. expressed his disappointment to Kuwait Ambassador Musaed Saleh Ahmad Althwaikh over the killing of another Filipino domestic worker purportedly by the employer’s wife.
Manila Bulletin

After Villavende killing, workers’ group calls for temporary ban on sending household workers to Kuwait
The Federation of Free Workers has called on the Duterte administration to review the 2018 bilateral agreement with Kuwait following the killing of Filipino household service worker Jeanelyn Padernal Villavende allegedly by her Kuwaiti employer.
Manila Bulletin

Villanueva calls for justice in Villavende death
Senator Joel Villanueva on Wednesday expressed anger over the death of another Filipina in Kuwait despite an existing agreement with the Philippines on the protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Manila Bulletin

Bishop: Ban OFW deployment in Kuwait anew
Due to the reported death of Filipino worker Jeanelyn Padernal Villavende allegedly at the hands of her employer in Kuwait, a Catholic prelate said the government should again consider banning the deployment of overseas Filipino workers there.
Manila Bulletin

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DOLE warns against bogus electronic solicitation letter
The Department of Labor and Employment on Wednesday warned the public against a bogus electronic solicitation letter purportedly from the department asking for monetary donations.
Manila Bulletin

Labor groups: 2020 spells doom for workers due to lack of job security
A coalition of workers warned on Wednesday that the labor sector is headed for doom in the new year due to lack of job security and the state's pro-capitalist policies.
GMA News

TRANSPORTATION

Ports serve 48,000 departing passengers on New Year’s Day
Thousands of passengers were seen departing various port terminals around the country on New Year’s Day, the Philippine Coast Guard said.
Manila Bulletin

HEALTH

DOH reports 164 fireworks injuries due to New Year revelry
The Department of Health (DOH) reported 164 fireworks-related injuries (FWRIs) at the end of the New Year revelry which is 87 cases lower than the 251 cases reported during the same period of December 21 to 6.m. of January 1 of 2018.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine Star

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DOH seeks LGU, AFP help for 3rd round of Mindanao polio vaccination
CITING difficulties faced by their personnel in the two previous rounds, the Department of Health (DOH) is looking to tap local government units (LGUs) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to assist in the third round of the Synchronized Oral Polio Vaccination campaign in Mindanao later this month.
Sunstar Manila

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FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

House panel to probe alleged price manipulation of rice
The House Committee on Agriculture and Food vowed on Wednesday, January 1, to look into the alleged rice hoarding and price manipulation of unscrupulous traders in the country that fired up the wide price gap between the farm gate and retail prices of rice.
Manila Bulletin

EDUCATION

Classes in public schools resume Jan. 6
Classes in elementary and secondary public schools nationwide are set to resume on Monday, January 6, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).
Manila Bulletin

DepEd to intensify efforts to uplift educational standards in 2020
The Department of Education (DepEd) vowed to intensify this year its efforts to achieve its goal of quality education for all Filipino learners.
Manila Bulletin

Gatchalian: Challenge for 2020 is improving quality of education
The Philippines should take on as a challenge for 2020 its ranking in a recent international assessment on mathematics, science, and reading comprehension to improve the quality of education in the country, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said.
Manila Bulletin

Education as the premise of progress
The Philippine Constitution clearly states that “the State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels of education and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.”
Business World Online

ENERGY

Gatchalian prods DOE to monitor effect of last round of TRAIN hikes on fuel
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday called on the Department of Energy (DOE) to create a task force to monitor the implementation of the new round of increases in fuel excise tax, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2020.
Manila Bulletin

POVERTY

SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

HOUSING

TOURISM

Tourism dep’t calls for responsible, sustainable tourism to preserve PH destinations
The Department of Tourism (DOT) urged both local and foreign tourists to help preserve the different destinations of the Philippines by practicing responsible tourism.
Manila Bulletin

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

New Year’s Eve revelry ups air pollution levels
Air pollution in Metro Manila soared to “hazardous” levels at the height of the celebration welcoming the New Year.
Manila Bulletin

De-commodifying natural resources: Resurrecting the public sector
President Duterte continues to berate the two giant water companies—Manila Water and Maynilad. He fumes as to why these companies are able to treat water, a natural resource, as a commodity and as an object of endless profit-making exercises, made possible by onerous or one-sided water concession contracts forged by the water twins under the Ramos and Macapagal-Arroyo administrations.
Business Mirror

DENR to LGUs: Impose stiffer fines vs. garbage-segregation violators
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is calling on local government units to slap stiffer fines against those who will fail to segregate their garbage.
GMA News

DENR wants one sanitary landfill in each of PHL's congressional district
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources aims to put up sanitary landfills in each of the 248 congressional of the Philippines in a bid to address issues on solid waste management and achieve its “zero waste” goal.
GMA News

Water crisis

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY  

Like, share, retweet: A decade of social media
The decade began with 1.11 billion users across four social networking sites — Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, and Twitter. But as the decade drew to a close, Facebook alone boasted of 2.38 billion users. 
ABS-CBN News