Government to stop NPA efforts from accessing funds overseas
Efforts are now underway to restrict New People’s Army rebels from accessing funds they have acquired abroad. This was disclosed by Armed Forces of the Philippines public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato when asked on whether the government is doing something to stop the rebels from receiving funding abroad.
Manila Standard

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DILG urges provincial governments to create own task force vs insurgency
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday urged local governments in the country’s 81 provinces to create their own task force against insurgency, following the creation of a national task group to end armed conflict with the communist rebels.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Joma says task force vs Reds won’t work
Exiled communist rebel leader Jose Maria “Joma” Sison has downplayed the government’s plan to create a task force against the insurgency in the country’s 81 provinces.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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CHR asked to probe red-tagging of human rights groups
A human rights group on Tuesday filed complaints before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) over the alleged practice of the Duterte administration to tag organizations as communist fronts and label them as terrorists.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

ACT Teachers files complaint vs PNP for electioneering
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT Teachers) on Tuesday filed a complaint before the Commission on Elections against the Philippine National Police (PNP) for alleged electioneering.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Officials in arrest of ‘Morong 43’ allowed to contest charges
The Sandiganbayan has allowed police and military officials tagged in the alleged illegal arrest and torture of the “Morong 43” or the 43 health workers in Morong, Rizal in 2010 to contest charges against them.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

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TESDA to train former rebels in South Cotabato
At least 100 former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in South Cotabato province are set to undergo skills trainings as part of the national government’s enhanced reintegration program.
Mindanews

Samar cops’ attack sparks online outrage vs. NPA
The savage attack on a patrol car in Motiong, Samar on Monday has sparked online outrage against the New People’s Army (NPA) among relatives and friends of the slain police officer.
Philippine News Agency

Police, army condemn Samar ambush
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Army in Eastern Visayas condemned the ambush in Motiong, Samar that killed one policeman and wounded another on Monday, March 11. “The Police Regional Office deeply condemns such act of violence. Thus, the public is encouraged to be of help and be cooperative to the authorities in reporting unusual movements in their places,” said Eastern Visayas Police Director Dionardo Bernardo Carlos. 
Sunstar Tacloban

Include AFP in planning dev’t projects: Official
THE 302nd Brigade of the Philippine Army (PA) proposed during the joint Regional Development Council (RDC) and Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) meetings to include the security sector in development planning. Brigadier General Ignacio Madriaga, 302nd Brigade commander in Region 7, said if they are involved in development planning, they can harmonize development and security programs especially in rebel-infested areas. 
Sunstar Cebu

Peace Talks

Incidents/ Operations   

NPA rebel nabbed in Zambo Sur town
AN ALLEGED member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was arrested in an operation in Zamboanga del Sur province, the police said Tuesday, March 12. Police Brigadier General Emmanuel Luis Licup, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula director, identified the arrested NPA rebel as Saturnino Calayca, 39, a member of the Section Committee Kara of the NPA’s Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee. 
Sunstar Zamboanga, Philippine News Agency
 

They spoke to dozens of jailed extremists, and here's what they learned
Many academics studying prison reform believe that imprisoned extremists spread their doctrines to other prisoners once they are kept in a shared facility over the years. This has led to many countries preferring to isolate extremists and terrorists from other inmates to limit their exposure to potential recruits.
Rappler

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Around 100 ISIS-inspired foreign bandits now in PHL, expert says
Foreign ISIS-inspired terrorists continue to enter the Philippines and immerse with local armed groups, a security analyst said on Tuesday. According to Jun Veneracion's report on "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho", Professor Rommel Banlaoi said most of the foreign terrorists in the country were Indonesians.
GMA News

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Raging offensives in Sulu, Maguindanao kill 22 IS-affiliated terrorists–military
AT least 22 terrorists affiliated with the international terrorist group Islamic State (IS) were killed in ongoing offensive operations in the provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, the military reported on Tuesday.
Business Mirror, Manila Standard

Singaporean bomber, 20 others killed in Maguindanao clash: military
At least 20 terrorists, including 2 sub-leaders of the Daesh-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and a Singaporean bomber, were killed in bombardment and ground assault on a BIFF lair in Maguindanao since Monday, the military said on Tuesday.
ABS-CBN News

Military believes 3 high-value terrorists among those killed in Maguindanao clash
Three high-value terrorist targets from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were believed to be among the estimated 20 fatalities in the clash between government troops and terrorists in Maguindanao on Monday night, according to the military.
GMA News

12 dead, 16k displaced as military goes after ISIS-inspired groups in Bangsamoro
Twelve people died in clashes between the military and ISIS-inspired groups in the Bangsamoro region since Monday. Of the fatalities, three are government soldiers, eight are from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and one from the Maute group.
GMA News, NDBC News

Army Clashes with Daesh-Inspired Group in Lanao Sur
Army’s 55th Infantry Battalion, 1st Infantry (TABAK) Division clashed with more or less 22 members of DI-Lanao group under Abu Dar in Brgy Calaludan, Pagayawan, Lanao del Sur 4:20 a.m. Monday, March 11, 2019.
Kalinaw News

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Palace: ISIS allegedly eyeing Mindanao as stronghold a ’cause for concern’
The reported recruitment of international terror organization Islamic State (ISIS) in southern Philippines is a “cause for concern,” Malacañang said Tuesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Manila Times

Government to stop Islamic State at all cost
The government is determined to implement measures to thwart the notorious Islamic State from establishing a stronghold in Mindanao.
Manila Bulletin, GMA News

Albayalde gets invited by FBI for counter-terrorism talks 
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde on Tuesday went to the United States (US) to attend meetings and seminars on counter-terrorism efforts upon the invitation of the powerful Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Manila Bulletin

Lack of spy equipment has hindered PNP’s capabilities to go after drug lords, terrorists
For the longest time, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has repeatedly lobbied and pushed for the upgrade and modernization of its high-tech surveillance equipment to improve its intelligence-gathering and operational capabilities.
Manila Bulletin

MARAWI

DFA to issue Hajj passports in Marawi to residents joining 2019 Hajj
Intending pilgrims from the province of Lanao del Sur will no longer have to go to the regional offices of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Cotabato or in Cagayan de Oro to secure Hajj passports to go for a pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They can now apply for the needed passports right here in the Islamic city of Marawi. 
Ranao Star

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD      

Malaysia has its eye on all terrorists, says IGP
Malaysia’s fight against terrorism is not only focused on citizens from certain countries but in totality, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said. He said the police’s focus was not solely on terrorists from Syria but also citizens of any countries with links to the Islamic State (IS), al-Qaeda, Boko Haram and other splinter groups.
New Straits Times

China Vows to Continue Crackdown Fueling Muslim Detention Camps
Officials from China’s predominately Muslim region of Xinjiang defended mass detention camps as necessary to fight terrorism and vowed to maintain the crackdown for a “long time.”
Bloomberg

US reassures Kenya of continued support in war against terrorism
The US has reassured of its continued support for Kenya in the war against terrorism. Incoming US ambassador to Kenya, Kyle McCarter, Tuesday said he will do everything within his power to help prevent Kenya from being used as a terrorist gateway by enhancing the two countries’ strategic alliance to defeat terrorist threats.
Kenya Broadcasting Corporation

Youth join al Shabaab to take revenge
Mombasa youth are joining radical gangs including al Shabaab to take revenge for police brutality, a survey indicates The survey released on Monday by the United States Institute of Peace says that insecurity has increased because co-operation between law enforcement officers and the community is weak.
The Star Kenya

European Remembrance Day for Victims of Terrorism
Today the European Commission marks the 15th European Remembrance Day for Victims of Terrorism – an annual event to commemorate the Madrid bombings of 11 March 2004 which took the lives of 193 EU citizens and injured thousands more.
Modern Diplomacy

People attend event to commemorate victims of terrorism in Brussels, Belgium
A woman attends a commemorative event near the Park of the Fiftieth Anniversary in Brussels, Belgium, March 11, 2019. The event was held here to commemorate the victims of terrorism, with a dozen of terrorism victims and family members taking a parade and paying tribute to the dead. 
Xinhua 

Pakistan urges gender perspective in counter terrorism strategy at UN
As the annual session of the UN Commission on the Status of women got underway in New York on Monday, a senior Pakistani diplomat told delegates from around the world at a well-attended side-event of the steps taken by Pakistan to inject a gender perspective in its counter terrorism strategy.
The Nation Pakistan

Saudi Arabia agrees to increase counter-terrorism efforts with India
India and Saudi Arabia have agreed to increase co-operation on combating terrorism through the formation of a strategic partnership council. Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al Jubeir is in India to follow up on Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit last month.
The Nation UAE

Terrorist Khaled Sharrouf's frozen assets sought by 'enslaved' Iraqi women
The group of women, who are originally from northern Iraq and have never lived in Australia, were with Khaled Sharrouf during his time in the Islamic State's de-facto capital Raqqa in Syria. The landmark international compensation case is set to begin with a directions hearing this week in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, which covers NSW Victims Services.
ABC News

How the media is helping the region reject extremism
The contributions by so many global coalition governments to the military defeat of Daesh in Iraq and Syria is understood and deeply appreciated across the Arab world. However, we all know that the collapse of Daesh’s final outpost will not be the end of this story.
Arab News 

Hundreds Of ISIL Fighters Surrender In Syria’s Baghouz
The U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have captured 400 ISIL fighters in northeastern Syria. The fighters had been trying to escape one of the group’s last strongholds, near the village of Baghouz, according to a commander of the Kurdish forces. This latest apprehension follows a recent uptick in surrenders by ISIL fighters this past week after a particularly ferocious assault over the weekend by the SDF.
The Organization for World Peace

5 Facts on America’s First Domestic Deradicalization Program
America’s first domestic deradicalization program comes out of Minnesota. In 2016, the Terrorism Disengagement and Deradicalization Program was formed after a small group of  Minnesota men were accused of planning to join ISIS. U.S. District Judge Michael J. Davis ordered the men to undergo evaluations by Daniel Koehler, a widely-respected director of the German Institute on Radicalization and Deradicalization Studies (GIRDS).
Clarion Project

Japan: Main driver of Mindanao’s growth
Opening statement of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. on the inauguration of the Consulate General of Japan in Davao, on February 10, 2019 at Waterfront Insular Hotel, Davao City.
Business Mirror

BARMM

BARMM launches Fatwa or Islamic Ruling on immunization
The Ministry of Health in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) launched Tuesday morning a Fatwa or Islamic Ruling on immunization to promote the importance of vaccination and improve the campaign against preventable diseases.
NDBC News, Business World Online, Philippine Daily Inquirer

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In Mindanao, BARMM Is Only the Beginning
In January 2019, residents of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) overwhelmingly voted to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), paving the way for the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), which will replace the earlier ARMM. 
The Diplomat

Lidasan: Writing a new Bangsamoro narrative
IN ANY new government, there will always be a fair share of opinions regarding its inception. As public servants, we are beholden to the will of the people. My fellow members in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority are all trying to find their way in this new space that we are in – meeting and greeting with Ministers, sharing our ideas in what we envision as a model Bangsamoro state.
Sunstar Davao

Arm in arm with BARMM
THE people have spoken. By an overwhelming “YES” vote of 1,540,017 as opposed to only 198,750 “NO” votes, the Bangsamoro Organic Law was ratified in plebiscites held last Jan. 21 and Feb. 6.
Tempo, Manila Bulletin

MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY

NORTH COTABATO

LANAO PROVINCES

Maute group’s haven in Lanao del Sur now a tourist attraction
In a far-flung village here, the birthplace of the extremist Maute group, a small piece of paradise has sprung up, heralding a new beginning for a town mired in its violent past. Located in a lush valley, where Maute fighters had trained in guerilla and urban warfare, a resort-type weekend getaway, simply called Butig Nature’s View, has risen, providing a fresh scenery for locals who have gotten used to seeing the ugly images of war.
GMA News

BASILAN

SULU 

Jolo Church leader warns public vs. unauthorized fund drive
The administrator of Jolo Vicariate today warned the public against a man claiming to be a priest and soliciting funds amount January 27 blast victims and for the rehabilitation of the bombed Our Lady of Mount Carmel cathedral. NDBC News

TAWI-TAWI 

DRUGS

Stop Funding Southeast Asia’s Brutal Drug War
In the fall of 2015, I witnessed a late-night kidnapping. The perpetrators weren’t seeking cash, gold or any kind of ransom. They didn’t bother to wear masks.
The New York Times

DOJ wraps up probe on smuggled shabu inside magnetic lifters
Panel of prosecutors from the Department of Justice (DOJ) has wrapped up its preliminary investigation into the complaints filed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for the 2018 smuggling of billions worth of shabu using magnetic lifters in Manila and Cavite.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, GMA News

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‘No legalized medical marijuana under Duterte administration’
President Rodrigo Duterte will not allow the legalized use of medical marijuana during his term, Malacañang reiterated on Tuesday. “I asked him outright. Sabi ko, Mr. President, ‘yung sa legalization of marijuana? Absolute yes, he doesn’t like [legalizing it],” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Proof of therapeutic benefits of medical marijuana could convince Duterte to change his mind
President Duterte might reconsider his position against medical marijuana if there will be conclusive scientific evidence about its therapeutic effect, Malacañang hinted Tuesday. “Kung definitive na ang finding siguro [If there will be definitive finding maybe], he might change his mind,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said during a Palace press briefing.
Manila Bulletin

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NCRPO chief: Not drug-free, but 'drug-resistant' PH in 3 years
For National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Guillermo Eleazar, ending the drug problem in the Philippines within the term of President Rodrigo Duterte cannot be done. He offered an alternative: a drug-resistant Philippines.
Rappler

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Bato: Oplan Tokhang imperfect but not wrong
“It was not wrong but it was imperfect.” This is what former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and now senatorial candidate Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said Tuesday as he stood by the Duterte administration’s anti-drug program “Oplan Tokhang.”
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Bato on cop nabbed for extortion: I could’ve smashed his head on the wall
If it were him, former police chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa would have done worse than slapping and pulling the hair of a policeman arrested for alleged robbery-extortion in Pasig City.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Operations/ Incidents

Suspected top supplier of party drugs killed in Manila
One of the suspected top suppliers of party drugs in Metro Manila was killed during an operation by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Sta. Cruz, Manila on Monday night.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

PDEA looking at 2 celebs linked to top party drug dealer
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said it was investigating two “celebrities” whose names were found on the phone of a slain big-time party drug dealer.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, GMA News

Drug suspect slain in Nueva Ecija
A drug suspect was killed while another managed to escape during a buy-bust operation in Gapan City, Nueva Ecija on Tuesday morning. Senior Supt. Leon Victor Rosete, chief of Nueva Ecija police, said Greggy Liwag, a resident of Barangay Matadero in this city, was shot dead after engaging policemen in a shootout in Barangay Sto. Cristo Norte about 4:30 a.m.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Shabu worth over P500k seized in Zamboanga port — PCG
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has confiscated over half a million worth of illegal drugs in Zamboanga City. The agency said Tuesday that coast guard personnel in Zamboanga conducted a buy-bust operation inside the Zamboanga Integrated Port last March 7.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Recovery and Rehabilitation  

ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND AMMUNITION

CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING  

KIDNAPPING

NBI collars 7 Chinese nationals for kidnapping
Seven Chinese nationals were arrested for kidnapping a fellow Chinese in Parañaque City, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Tuesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS 

Palace: Duterte’s ‘very good’ rating shows ‘unshakeable trust’
The rise in the satisfaction rating of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration showed the Filipinos’ “unshakeable trust” in the Chief Executive and his government, Malacañang said Tuesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

Opposition solons dispute SWS survey 
Opposition congressmen on Tuesday assailed the truthfulness of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey that showed a huge bump in President Rodrigo Duterte’s public satisfaction rating, as well as big scores in areas such as the promotion of women’s rights.
Manila Bulletin, GMA News

Mahathir-Duterte Summit Puts Malaysia-Philippines Ties Into Focus
Last week, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte met with visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad for the second summit meeting between the two leaders in less than a year since Mahathir reassumed the premiership after a shock election win in May. The meeting spotlighted some of the ongoing activity in the bilateral relationship, which both sides continue to try to develop amid their wider domestic and foreign policies.
The Diplomat

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Duterte steps in 2019 budget ruckus as meeting with Congress leaders set
President Rodrigo Duterte is finally stepping in the 2019 budget rumpus as he decided to serve as “moderator” during the meeting between Senate and House leaders on Tuesday night. The meeting is aimed “to thresh out” differences on the ratified 2019 national budget, according to Malacañang.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

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6M Pinoys to receive national IDs in September – PSA
About six million Filipinos will receive their national identification cards when the first batch will be released in September this year. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) gave this assurance during a hearing conducted by the House Oversight Committee on Population and Family Relations in Dumaguete City, Negros Occidental.
Manila Bulletin

ELECTION RELATED

Comelec Spokesman confident with more secure ballots and vote-counting machines
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reiterated that it beefed up its security measures to ensure a clean and honest election this May. Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez said this amid growing concerns that the agency’s move to release online the images of the official ballot’s faces will aid others in copying and distributing fake ballots.
Manila Bulletin

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On campaign trail, candidates always sweep through public markets
With sure crowd, public markets have become one of the preferred places where candidates for the May 2019 senatorial race campaign for votes. According to Cedric Castillo's report on GMA's 24 Oras, several candidates toured public markets on Tuesday, March 12.
GMA News

Poe asks voters to choose mix of bets for balance in Senate
Senator Grace Poe is urging the public to put a balance in the Senate by voting for a mix of candidates who would really work for the good of the country.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Dynastic kleptocracy
MY previous column discussed a “negatives list” of candidates who “must not be elected” to a Senate seat in May 2019. I mentioned three who are making a mockery of what is left of our fragile democracy and of the electoral process. I am expanding my list to include members of political dynasties (poldyns).
The Manila Times

Oppositions

Macalintal: PPCRV can help form debate vs HNP if Comelec can’t
The debate between the rival senatorial slates of Otso Diretso and Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) can still proceed even if the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has thumbed it down.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Opposition bets call out Duterte over death threats vs priests
Opposition senatorial aspirants under the Otso Diretso coalition have called out President Rodrigo Duterte for the death threats received by Catholic priests, especially as more have come forward to say they had been threatened and feared possible surveillance.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Gov’t was unprepared to deal with water shortage in Metro Manila – Otso Diretso
Otso Diretso senatorial candidates lambasted the unpreparedness of the government in addressing the current water shortage in Metro Manila due to the prevailing El Niño phenomenon.
Manila Bulletin

Door-to-door campaign
After a month of shaking hands, doing “selfies” with every Pedro, Juan and Maria, the rag-tag senatorial ticket of the opposition collectively called as Otso Diretso have found themselves now easily recognized by the people. Although the ticket’s name “Otso Diretso” has already stuck in the minds of Filipinos, their individual names though remain difficult to recall for many of their potential voters.   
Philippine Star

Administration

Bato on debate with opposition bets: ‘Anytime, kahit sa loob ng CR’
“Bring it on.” This is what former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and now administration senatorial bet Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Tuesday said about the possibility of a debate with opposition senatorial candidates.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Election-related Violence, Incidents and operations

Village chief hurt in Masbate shooting
A village chief was seriously wounded in a gun attack by unidentified gunmen in Balud town in Masbate province on Tuesday, police said. Joseph Eswan, 36, village chief of Palani, was inside his house in Barangay Poblacion around 7 a.m Tuesday, when two men accosted him and suddenly fired.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DISASTER

Philippines, US kick off Pacific Partnership mission
The US-led multilateral humanitarian mission kicked off this year’s iteration of the Pacific Partnership 2019 on Monday. The Philippines is one of the mission stops, along with Malaysia, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Thailand, Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Vietnam.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

MINDANAO

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

LEGISLATIVE

Senate to stay firm on their stand against House’s post-bicam amendments
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the Upper Chamber will stand firm on its position against the “itemization” done by House of Representatives to the proposed 2019 national budget. “Our stand is that, we send to the President what we ratified…That’s the only way, that’s the only legal way. There is no other legal way. You cannot touch the budget or any law after it was ratified by both Houses already,” Sotto said in a phone interview with reporters Tuesday afternoon.
Manila Bulletin

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Gatchalian cites need to accelerate passage of legislative reforms
Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian on Tuesday called on the Senate to accelerate the passage of much-needed legislative reforms designed to make the country more adaptable to current and future business demands and trends.
Manila Bulletin

BUDGET, FINANCE and TAXATION

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

Water catchment areas to help LGUs during dry season – Poe
Reelectionist Senator Grace Poe has encouraged local government units to establish catchment areas or water cisterns to help communities during dry season or droughts.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

US-PHL Balikatan set for April
The 35th annual bilateral exercise between the United States and the Philippines called the "Balikatan 35-2019." The facilities were inspected while activities monitored on Monday by Major General Evin B. Velasco
GMA News

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

PH exports to Japan hit $884.95M in January
The country’s exports to Japan reached $884.95 million in January 2019, surpassing the United States of America as the top export market of the Philippines, according to data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority on Tuesday.
Mindanews

2 big US funds keen on rescuing Hanjin Heavy
Two very big American funds are keen on rescuing the bankrupt Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines (HHIC-Phil), a subsidiary of the Korean shipbuilder, a top official said.
Manila Bulletin

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

Panelo: Ombudsman must investigate Balutan 
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Tuesday said it is the Office of the Ombudsman that should investigate the corruption allegations against former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Alexander Balutan.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

West Philippine Sea

LABOR

Angara: Establish more welfare attachés for OFWs
Additional welfare attachés should be established in countries where there are many overseas Filipino workers (OFW) suffering or confronted by various problems, according to Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara. Angara who co-authored a bill for the creation of additional attachés recently guested on Radyo Inquirer’s Bantay OCW program.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Sen. Leila de Lima slams Ramon Tulfo for branding Filipino workers as lazy slowpokes
Ramon Tulfo, special envoy to China, should resign from his post if he cannot stop insulting Filipino laborers in his justification of the hiring of Chinese workers in the Philippines, so said Senator Leila de Lima. De Lima, who is currently detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP), was referring to Tulfo’s oppressive and offensive language when he branded Filipino laborers as inefficient and slowpokes.
Manila Bulletin

Labor group wants special envoy to China fired; younger brother urges Tulfo to apologize
A labor coalition has urged President Duterte to fire Ramon Tulfo Jr. as special envoy to China, after his recent criticism of Filipino construction workers. “Mr. Tulfo is not fit for the job. President Rodrigo Duterte should fire him. Alternatively, if at this point he has realized his sins, he can still save face and just choose to resign,” said Nagkaisa Labor Coalition Chairperson Sonny Matula.
Manila Bulletin

Mon Tulfo flashes the finger at labor group’s call for him to resign
President Rodrigo Duterte's special envoy to China Ramon Tulfo forcefully—and visibly—rejected calls for him to resign after saying Filipino construction workers were lazy and slow compared to Chinese laborers.
GMA News

Nobody will listen to Mon Tulfo as regards Filipino workers —Bello
President Rodrigo Duterte's Special Envoy to China Ramon Tulfo's low opinion of Filipino construction workers doesn't carry much weight, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello said on Tuesday. Tulfo over the weekend said some developers preferred Chinese construction workers over Filipinos, whom he described as lazy and slow.
GMA News

TRANSPORTATION

PRRD signs Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act
President Rodrigo R. Duterte has signed into law a bill that requires motor vehicle owners to use child restraint systems when traveling with children.
Manila Bulletin

MMDA: No law barring motorcyclists from wearing shorts
There is no existing law prohibiting motorcycle riders from wearing shorts, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Jojo Garcia said on Tuesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

PPA waives weighbridge fees on RoRo trips on Arroyo’s prodding
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) gave in Tuesday to the House leadership’s recommendation for the agency to scrap the weighbridge fees in the transport of goods through the Roll On Roll Off (RoRo) system.
Manila Bulletin

HEALTH 

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

El Niño destroys P464-million rice, corn
The early onset of El Niño has damaged 22,298 metric tons of rice and corn crops, with losses amounting to P464.27 million, as of March 8, 2019. Retailers, according to a dzMM radio report, have already jacked up prices of water drums and pails by as much as P20, now ranging from P90 to P100 each. Purified water, which previously cost P95 per seven liters, is sold at P100 to P105.
Manila Standard, Manila Bulletin, Philippine News Agency

El Niño’s daunting challenges for government
The state weather bureau said the latest El Niño episode is “weak,” but it has already destroyed millions of pesos worth of crops. If it will not rain in the next few weeks and water in Angat Dam—the main source of drinking water for Metro Manila—falls to a critical level, farms in Bulacan and Pampanga will stop getting irrigation water. Metro Manila households are prioritized over agricultural land whenever El Niño, which causes below normal rainfall, hits the country.
Business Mirror

Drought  stresses need to save rainwater
It was just a few short weeks ago when  we had to face the problem of floods and landslides because  of a series of storms and low-pressure areas coming from the Pacific, then dumping rains as they swept on towards   Asia.
Manila Bulletin

Piñol orders cloud seeding to raise La Mesa Dam water level
Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol has ordered the start of cloud-seeding operations to help mitigate the declining water level at the La Mesa Dam. In a Facebook post on Monday, Piñol said he already sent a directive to Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Ariel Cayanan to coordinate with the Philippine Air Force for the cloud-seeding operations over Bulacan, Pampanga and Rizal to  help fill up La Mesa Dam.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

EDUCATION

ENERGY

POVERTY

HOUSING

TOURISM

Chinese, Koreans still top foreign visitors to Boracay
Boracay Island has maintained its reputation as a prime tourist spot in the country for visitors from China and Korea, despite the challenges posed by its temporary closure and ongoing rehabilitation.
Rappler

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

Research highlights true impacts of plastics on our planet, ecosystems, people
The global fight against plastic pollution comes into sharp focus at the Fourth UN Environment Assembly this month in Nairobi, Kenya, with the launch of three reports each addressing different aspects of, and solutions for, the growing impact of plastics on the world’s marine environments.
UN Environment

San Miguel Corporation to build roads out of recycled plastic
Reducing man’s impact on the environment is one of the main advocacies of environmentalists. San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is one with environmentalists in this endeavor and has been pushing for ways to recycle materials that they themselves use in their products particularly: plastic.
Manila Bulletin

San Juan in La Union declared coal-free
The San Juan municipal council on Monday, March 11, passed an ordinance declaring the town coal-free via a unanimous vote. Authored by councilor Miguel Corleone Magsaysay, Resolution No. 03-2019 declared the municipality of San Juan environment-friendly and coal-free.
Rappler

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

DEVELOPMENT SECTOR