Duterte to decline Trump invitation to US-Asean meet
President Duterte is not keen on going to the United States to join the special summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Las Vegas, Nevada in March, as per invitation of US President Donald Trump.
Philippine Star, GMA News, Rappler

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Restore Bato’s US visa or VFA scrapped – Duterte
President Duterte has threatened to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States after the latter invalidated the visa given to Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, a known ally of the President.
Philippine Star, Manila Standard, Rappler, Reuters, CNN Philippines, Manila Bulletin

Bato supports Duterte threat to cancel VFA if his US visa is not reissued
Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said on Thursday he supports President Duterte’s threat to put an end to the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the United States and the Philippines, saying it is not about him but about ending lopsided bilateral relations.
Manila Bulletin

Lorenzana on Duterte’s threat to scrap VFA: Too soon to comment
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday declined to comment on President Rodrigo Duterte’s threat to terminate the country’s Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the US over Washington’s cancellation of Sen. Ronaldo “Bato” dela Rosa’s visa.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Imee Marcos spreads 'tsismis': U.S. 'revokes' Lorenzana's visa too
As if we haven't had enough of it, Senator Imee Marcos on Thursday, January 23, spread some gossip in a media forum.
Rappler

Group slams Duterte: Terminate VFA because of sovereignty issues, not because of Bato
A group in favor of terminating the country’s Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States (US) slammed President Rodrigo Duterte for using the issue as a “bargaining chip” to bring back Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s visa.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Palace: Filipinos worried about Duterte’s health? It’s because they love him
Malacañang said Filipinos must really love President Duterte after the recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed that 72 percent of Filipinos were worried about the health condition of the 74-year-old leader.
Manila Bulletin

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De Lima: SC allowed Duterte to ‘hide like a coward’ with junking of case
Senator Leila de Lima said she is disappointed with the Supreme Court (SC) decision that junked her case against President Rodrigo Duterte, saying that the high tribunal allowed the Chief Executive to “hide like a coward.”
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rappler

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Duterte: ‘Crazy, rich’ people are thieves, should be ‘killed’
President Rodrigo Duterte lashed anew against businessmen involved in water concession agreements with the government, calling them thieves and saying that they should be killed.
GMA News

Palace allays fears of foreign investors on sanctity of contracts
President Duterte continues to respect the sanctity of contracts except for those with alleged irregular provisions that violate the country’s laws, Malacañang said Thursday.
Manila Bulletin

Duterte orders review of UP-Ayala technohub deal
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered a review of the lease contract for the UP-Ayala Land Technohub in Quezon City, following the recommendation of Chief Presidential Counsel Salvador Panelo.
Rappler

MWSS: New water contracts to achieve ‘clean slate’ with concessionaires
The government is hoping to reach a “clean slate” with the two Metro Manila water concessionaires by 2022 by proposing a new water agreement, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) administrator Emmanuel Salamat said Wednesday.
Manila Bulletin

‘Something Stupid’
THE 1997 water deal of Fidel V. Ramos had undergone complete staff work, typical of the cool, studious, hardworking gentleman’s incredible work ethic. Good legal minds worked out the deal, I am told. But, the current Prez has threatened go after the government lawyers who represented the administration.
The Manila Times

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

Robredo focusing efforts on poverty alleviation
The transformation of people in need and those who put others before themselves have kept her going to address the problem of poverty despite the political noise in the country, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Thursday.
Manila Bulletin

VP Leni urges gov’t to take stronger action against coronavirus threat
Authorities should step up efforts on the prevention of the Wuhan coronavirus disease, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Thursday, following reports the family of an infected Chinese national traveled to the Philippines.
Manila Bulletin

ELECTION RELATED

Comelec taps malls for satellite voter registration
The Commission on Elections will again tap shopping malls as one of the venues of their satellite voter registration. Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez said they will re-activate their agreements with various malls for the mall registration.
Manila Bulletin

Bongbong needs mom’s blessings if he runs for senator, VP, or president – Imee
Senator Imee R. Marcos on Thursday said she still does not know whether her brother, former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, will run for a high government office in 2022.
Manila Bulletin

DISASTER

Turbulent mass of volcanic ash, rocks threaten 13 towns, 2 cities in Batangas in case Taal erupts
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Thursday warned that a base surge – a turbulent mass of volcanic ash, rocks, and hot gases that laterally flows away from the base of an eruption column at very high speeds – is a threat to 13 towns and two cities in Batangas, noting that an explosive Taal Volcano eruption is still “30 percent possible.”
Manila Bulletin

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Police conduct house-to-house search in Taal danger zone
Police forces were ordered to conduct house-to-house search within the 14-kilometer danger zone of the Taal Volcano in a massive clearing operation aimed at ensuring zero casualty in case of a hazardous eruption.
Manila Bulletin

Number of families affected by Taal unrest now 81K
As the unrest of the Taal Volcano entered its 13th day on Thursday, the number of families affected has now climbed to 81,067.
Philippine News Agency

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Mandanas: Don’t politicize relief and rehab for Taal eruption
Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas urged people on Thursday to refrain from politicizing the ongoing relief efforts for hundreds of thousands of families displaced by the Taal Volcano eruption.
Manila Bulletin

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Dominguez orders Customs to donate seized food items to Taal evacuees
Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III has ordered the Bureau of Customs to donate all food items fit for human consumption that it had seized to the swelling number of evacuees from Batangas and Cavite following Taal Volcano’s eruption.
Manila Bulletin

Comelec gives P600,000 in aid to Taal eruption victims
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) donated P600,000 worth of aid to victims of the ongoing eruption of the Taal Volcano.
Rappler

Japanese embassy to donate respirators, other emergency items to Taal Volcano victims
Joining several other countries in voluntarily responding to the Taal Volcano eruption, the Japanese Embassy in Manila announced on Thursday that it will provide in-kind emergency assistance composed of anti-dust respirators and other items.
Manila Bulletin

 China donates P7.5M for Taal relief and rehab
The Chinese government has turned over RMB1 million (approximately Php 7.5 million) to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for the relief and rehabilitation of the areas affected by the Taal Volcano eruption.
Manila Bulletin

Over 400 mothers in Taguig donate breast milk to Taal evacuees
Over 400 nursing mothers donated their breast milk for babies affected by the Taal Volcano eruption during an event in Taguig City on Thursday, January 23.
Rappler

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BFAR: Fish from Taal safe for consumption
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has ruled fish from Taal Lake safe for human consumption.
Manila Bulletin

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Teachers urge gov’t to fast-track construction of evacuation centers to avoid class disruptions
A group of teachers on Thursday urged both the national and local governments to fast-track the construction of dedicated evacuated centers (ECs) in their respective areas to help ensure that classes are not further disrupted during natural disasters and calamities.
Manila Bulletin

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MINDANAO

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

CIDG told to reopen cold cases of slain judges
Senator Richard J. Gordon, chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, on Thursday called on the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) to reopen and resolve cold cases of slain judges with accuracy and speed to ensure conviction.
Manila Bulletin

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

Tolentino urges creation of Office of Surgeon General
Amid the spike and outbreak of diseases in the country, Senator Francis “Tol” Tolentino has proposed the creation of an Office of Surgeon General to handle public health communication and information dissemination.
Manila Bulletin

Judicial Marshal service needs initial P2-B funding – Gordon
The proposed creation of a Philippine Judicial Marshal Service to protect the integrity of the Judiciary and its personnel, including justices and judges, needs an initial funding of P2 billion.
Manila Bulletin

De Lima pushes bill to protect volunteers during disasters, emergencies
Senator Leila de Lima has renewed her push for a measure that seeks to protect licensed and qualified volunteers from liability in the performance of their noble duties and functions.
Manila Bulletin

Sotto notes violation of parliamentary ethics in US impeachment trail
The styles of impeachment trials in the Philippines and the US are worlds apart, Senate President Vicente S. Sotto III and Panfilo M. Lacson said Thursday.
Manila Bulletin

House of Representatives

House out-of-town regular session a success, could be done again in future
Encouraged by the positive results in the holding of its first out-of-town regular sessions in Taal-devastated Batangas, leaders of the House of Representatives will conduct similar activities in the future if circumstances require.
Manila Bulletin

Lung Center in Visayas, Mindanao proposed
Bohol Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado is proposing the establishment of a Lung Center of the Philippines in Bohol and Davao to bring quality and specialized medical services and research closer to lung-related disease patients in the Visayas and Mindanao.
Manila Bulletin

Solon pushes for passage of bill providing tenure, benefits to barangay health workers
BHW party-list Rep. Angelica Natasha Co batted on Thursday (Jan. 23) for the passage of a bill seeking to provide security of tenure, benefits, and incentives to barangay health workers (BHWs). She cited the crucial role of BHWs in the promotion of primary health care at the grassroots level, particularly in far-flung areas.
Manila Bulletin

House panel approves bill overhauling imposition of royalties in mining industry
The House Committee on Appropriations swiftly passed on January 22 a bill seeking to overhaul the imposition of royalties in the mining industry.
Manila Bulletin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Guevarra: States can choose who to give visas
The United States has the absolute prerogative to choose who to give visas to, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Thursday.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Philippine National Police

Harvard-educated official named PNP’s ‘general manager’
A Harvard University-educated police official has been chosen to be the number four man of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the latest reorganization triggered by the appointment of General Archie Gamboa as PNP chief.
Manila Bulletin

NCRPO to resume crackdown on cops who play golf while on duty
After Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Gamboa relieved three senior Central Visayas police officers for playing golf during office hours, the leadership of Metro Manila’s police force will resume its crackdown on officers who will play golf during office hours.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

EU business downgrades PH as secondary market
European investors have relegated the Philippines as a secondary market only given challenges in the country. This was impressed upon by Thomas Wiersing, charge d’ affaires of the European Union Delegation to the Philippines, during the press launch of the “Doing Business Handbook in the Philippines 2020”.
Manila Bulletin

Exporter usage of EU’s GSP+ preferential scheme at 25%
THE Philippines’ utilization rate on its preferential trade scheme with the European Union (EU) is estimated to have remained at 25%, Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines Chargé d’ Affaires Thomas Wiersing told reporters at a press conference on Monday.
Business World Online, Philippine News Agency

Palace not worried about 5.9 percent GDP, says economy will bounce back
Malacañang is optimistic that the domestic economy will bounce back after the government reportedly missed its full-year growth target in 2019.
Manila Bulletin

Despite low GDP in past 6 years, PH still one of Asia’s fastest growing economies – Salceda
Despite registering the lowest annual growth in the past six years, the Philippines still boasts of being one of the fastest growing economies in Asia.
Manila Bulletin

Gatchalian optimistic 2020 economy will be better despite slower 2019 GDP growth
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday expressed optimism that the Philippine economy will show an improvement this year despite missing its overall target in 2019.
Manila Bulletin

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS

Seawalls, flood-protection structures completed in various provinces in PH
Structures that prevent overflowing of rivers and disastrous tidal surge on coastal communities were recently built in various provinces in the country to address flooding, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Thursday.
Manila Bulletin

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION

Philippines drops to 113th rank in 2019 Corruption Index
The Philippines dropped to the 113th rank out of 180 countries in the 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index, a 14-notch fall from its standing of 99th place in 2018.
GMA News

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

West Philippine Sea

LABOR

DOLE reminds employers of holiday pay on January 25, Chinese New Year
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said those who will report to work on January 25, which is a special non-working day due to the Chinese New Year, will get full pay plus 30 percent of their basic pay.
Manila Bulletin

TRANSPORTATION

Guevarra: We will consider Senate resolution on Angkas owner
The executive branch would study the proposal of Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimental III to declare persona non grata the Singaporean owner of motorcycle-hailing company Angkas, assured Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Thursday, January 23.
Manila Bulletin

Pimentel: Not after Angkas, just questioning behavior of foreign owner
Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel on Thursday clarified that he is not going after the operations of Angkas in his appeals against its Singaporean chief executive officer Angeline Tham.
Manila Bulletin

HEALTH

New Chinese virus not yet a global health emergency – WHO
A deadly virus outbreak in China and beyond does not yet constitute a global emergency, the World Health Organization said Thursday, January 23, urging China to keep its lockdown of some 20 million people "short."
Rappler

Singapore confirms first case of Wuhan virus
Singapore on Thursday, January 23, confirmed its first case the new SARS-like virus which has killed 17 people in China and spread to multiple countries including the United States.
Rappler

No confirmed case of nCoV – DOH
The Department of Health (DOH) said that the Philippines still has no confirmed case of the 2019 novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) strain, pointing out that the suspected case involving a five-year-old boy from China is still being investigated.
Manila Bulletin

Imposing travel restrictions depends on WHO – Duque
The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said it’s still waiting for the World Health Organization’s (WHO) advice on whether to impose travel restrictions or not amid the spread of the novel Coronavirus.
Manila Bulletin

No ‘encounter’ with Chinese family with novel coronavirus – Bureau of Quarantine
The Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) had “no encounter” with the supposed family members of a Chinese man who was reportedly infected with the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV), the Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday.
Manila Bulletin

Civil Aeronautics Board suspends all Wuhan-to-PH flights due to coronavirus outbreak
The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) on Thursday suspended all flights from Wuhan to the Philippines due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus that has already killed 17 people in China.
Manila Bulletin

Palace: 2019-nCoV under control
Malacañang said there was no reason to panic amid the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) scare that has reached the Philippines, saying the Department of Health (DOH) was already on top of the situation.
Manila Bulletin

Guevarra: BI locates family of Chinese man infected with coronavirus
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has tracked down the family of a Chinese national who got infected by the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCov) strain, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Thursday.
Manila Bulletin

Solons say coronavirus screening on Taal relief workers needed
Makabayan lawmakers underscored on Thursday the need for efficient health screening, surveillance, and monitoring against the new coronavirus for relief workers in order to prevent them from contracting it.
Manila Bulletin

Biazon urges preemptive action vs virus
Muntinlupa representative Ruffy Biazon said that a preemptive action should’ve been done when the outbreak of the novel coronavirus started last December.
Manila Bulletin

Workers’ groups urge gov’t, airlines to implement safety protocols for airport, seaport workers to curb coronavirus risk
As government authorities step up bio-security efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus, the Associated Labor Unions (ALU) has called on the government and airline industry players to ensure that safety and health protection protocols are working not just for passengers but also for cabin crew and airport employees.
Manila Bulletin

CBCP official urges public to ‘exercise prudence’ amid spread of novel coronavirus
Amid the threat of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from China, an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines urged those who have symptoms of the disease to immediately seek medical attention.
Manila Bulletin

Davao City heightens alert vs coronavirus; passengers from China, Hong Kong monitored
Authorities here have heightened the alert against the possible spread of the still-unknown strain of coronavirus by closely watching the arrival of passengers from China, Hong Kong, and other countries aboard direct international flights and port arrivals.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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DOH records steady decline of dengue cases in PH
The Department of Health (DOH) reported on Thursday a steady decline in dengue cases in the past three months.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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DOH lauds Duterte’s signing of higher sin tax
The Department of Health (DOH) lauded on Thursday President Rodrigo Duterte’s signing of Republic Act No. 11467 that increases the excise tax on alcoholic beverages, electronic cigarettes, and heated tobacco products (HTPs).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Public-hospital staffing could be Universal Health Care’s biggest hurdle
NURSES are vital for the successful implementation of universal health care (UHC). The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted the importance of investing in nurses to execute UHC properly. It’s a respected profession that has earned a reputation for also being largely overlooked, to the extent that many practitioners need to move overseas to earn a living.
Business World Online

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Farm-gate price of coffee seen rising by 20%
THE farm-gate prices of some coffee varieties could increase by a fifth, as ashfall from Taal Volcano damaged farms in Calabarzon and created a supply shortfall, the Philippine Coffee Board Inc. (PCBI) said.
Business Mirror

DA inks pact with gov’t, private partners to train agri-fishery technicians, machine operators
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has signed an agreement to train needed farm machinery mechanics and technicians nationwide in a bid to support the modernization of the country’s agriculture sector.
Manila Bulletin

Davao Region's model rice farms identified
The Department of Agriculture in Davao Region (DA-11) has identified rice model farms where farmers within the area can learn, apply technologies, and avail of services that would raise their productivity.
Philippine News Agency

EDUCATION

DepEd to recognize learning-focused schools, field offices
The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to recognize and reward the exemplary contribution of the field and central office in “making authentic learning happen” in the lives of public school learners.
Manila Bulletin

DepEd personnel to receive full service recognition bonus
An official of the Department of Education (DepEd) assured that its qualified personnel – both teaching and non-teaching – will still receive the remaining of their Service Recognition Incentive (SRI).
Manila Bulletin

DepEd-Manila to reinforce hygiene practices amid novel coronavirus threat
Amid the threat of the 2019 novel coronavirus, schools in Manila will strengthen and reinforce hygiene and sanitation practices among its learners.
Manila Bulletin

Thesis for sale: Benilde students say they paid P20,000 to pass
One evening in January 2019, AK Paras met his friend Andy Tan (not his real name) at the gym. Both senior students in the Export Management Program of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (CSB), they had only one topic for small talk as graduation neared: thesis.
Rappler

ENERGY

POVERTY

More Filipinos considered themselves poor in 4-Q 2019 – SWS survey
More Filipinos have considered themselves poor or “mahirap” in the last quarter of 2019, the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey found out, as their number rose to around 13.1 million.
Manila Bulletin, Rappler

SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

HOUSING

TOURISM

Palawan chosen as one of the world’s ‘instagrammable’ places
Palawan Island was named one of the most instagrammable places in the world for 2020 by a popular travel website, Big Seven Travel.
Manila Bulletin

El Nido lands on HuffPost’s ‘awesome solo travel destinations’ list
The town of El Nido, Palawan is included in HuffPost’s list of 50 “most awesome solo travel destinations” this year. El Nido ranked no. 24 on the list topped by Vancouver, Canada.
Manila Bulletin

Tourist arrivals in Siargao, Dinagat islands up in 2019
The tourist arrivals in two well-known islands in Caraga Region increased during the first three quarters of 2019, the Department of Tourism in the area (DOT-13) said.
Philippine News Agency

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

SPECIAL REPORT (2): SMI gears up to mine mammoth Tampakan copper-gold project
Based on Sagittarius Mines Incorporated’s (SMI) exploration studies finished a long time ago, the most viable way to extract the vast deposits is by open-pit mining, a method banned by the South Cotabato provincial government through its Environment Code passed in 2010.
Mindanews

Tampakan Mining 12-Year Extension, a “sweet deal” made of deceit
The Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. demands from DENR Sec. Roy Cimatu an immediate investigation on the 12-Year Extension granted to Sagittarius Mines, Incorporated (SMI) and the Tampakan Mining Group for its Tampakan Copper and Gold Project as executed by Leo Jasareno, former Director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.
Mindanews

DENR hit for extending Tampakan mine operations
Progressive groups were dismayed upon learning that the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources gave a green light to Tampakan project to operate for another 12 years.
Bulatlat

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NBI files raps vs DENR Usec, seven others over Canadian waste
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna and seven government personnel face a criminal complaint before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for allowing the illegal importation of toxic wastes from Canada.
Manila Bulletin

Water crisis

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY