Elago's ‘no-show’ in Senate hearing disappointing
A ranking official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) on Wednesday expressed disappointment over the absence of Kabataan Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago at a Senate hearing convened to look into the cases of minors who reportedly went missing shortly after being allegedly recruited by militant group Anakbayan.
Philippine News Agency

Dela Rosa rues how minors are being recruited by leftist groups
Neophyte Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Wednesday vowed to clamp down on all leftist groups recruiting minors to become its members and fighters.
Manila Bulletin, Tempo

513 minors recruited by NPA have been ‘neutralized’ — Bato dela Rosa
A total of 513 minors recruited by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army have been neutralized in the past two decades, Senator Ronald dela Rosa said Wednesday.
GMA News

Painful to see kids' future taken away by leftists, parents say
Several parents of missing students who were allegedly recruited by leftist groups decried the progressive movements' actions before the Senate, saying it was not the future they want for their children. 
Philippine News Agency

PUP to file case vs. teachers requiring students to join rallies
After hearing from parents of missing Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) students on Wednesday, PUP president Emanuel de Guzman assured that professors who require their students to attend protest activities will face charges. “If proven, administrative cases will be filed against them. They will no longer be qualified to teach in PUP,” de Guzman said in an interview with Philippine News Agency (PNA) on the sidelines of Senate hearing on missing minors who have been allegedly recruited by organizations with links to the communist movement.
Philippine News Agency

CIDG files complaint vs. Anakbayan over 'missing' senior high school student
A complaint has been filed against members of Anakbayan over a "missing" senior high school student whom the group allegedly recruited, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said Wednesday.
GMA News

CIDG complaint a desperate move to discredit activism — Anakbayan
The complaint filed by the Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) against Anakbayan on Wednesday over a missing student is a desperate move to discredit activism, the youth mass organization said.
GMA News

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Unified approach best strategy to end insurgency: NegOr guv
Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo expressed confidence on Wednesday that a unified approach to end insurgency is the best strategy to address the 50-year rebellion of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
Philippine News Agency

LGUs crucial in ending insurgency in NegOr: Centcom chief
The role of the local government units (LGUs) in Negros Oriental is crucial in the effort to end insurgency that resulted in a recent spate of killings in the province, a ranking military officer said on Tuesday.
Philippine News Agency

Christian churches fear more PNP, AFP in Negros may mean more deaths
A major group composed of Christian churches expressed fear that the plans of the government to increase the number of law enforcers to address the ongoing violence in Negros Island will make matters worse.
Philippine News Agency

Terrorists have no human rights
AS communist terrorists tried to reestablish a foothold in Negros, the country’s fourth largest island, by staging ambuscades and other terror activities, initially killing 15, including four policemen, I remember the late Gen. Guillermo Pecache, a distinguished Philippine Military Academy alumnus (Class of 1951) and himself a respected lawyer, who wrote an enlightening subject on terrorism and human rights.
Business Mirror

NUPL to SC: Stand by your lawyers
The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) has asked the Supreme Court to reverse the ruling of the Court of Appeals junking their plea for protection through the issuance of a writ of amparo and habeas data.
Philippine  Daily Inquirer

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Military: Zero violence in Paquibato in a year
A MILITARY official said that it has been over a year since there was no reported violence in Paquibato District, Davao City, which used to be the hotbed of communist rebels in previous years.
Sunstar Davao

2 Brgys declare NPA persona non-grata in Surigao Norte; 215 pledge loyalty
Another 2 Barangays in Malimono town of Surigao del Norte province declared the Communist – New People’s Army Terrorists (CNTs) and its political wing, the National Democratic Front (NDF) as ‘Persona Non-Grata’ or unwelcome in Barangay Cagtinae and Barangay Binucaran last, August 03, 2019.
Kalinaw News

Peace Talks

Incidents/ Operations    

AFP says Northern Luzon ‘terror plot’ negative so far
Ongoing verifications of the supposed terrorist plot to attack cities and churches in Northern Luzon have so far yielded negative information.
Philippine News Agency

PHL, Indonesian armies vow to strengthen cooperation vs. terrorism
Officials of the Philippine Army and their Indonesian counterparts on Wednesday agreed that cooperation between the two countries must be maintained and intensified in order to combat terrorism.
GMA News, Manila Bulletin

Owner of 8chan website has left PH – justice secretary
The American co-owner of the Philippine-based website linked to the recent mass shooting in El Paso, Texas in the United States has left the country, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Wednesday.
Manila Bulletin

MARAWI

More Army troops to boost debris clearing in Marawi
Two years after Marawi City was devastated by the five-month-long war between the government and the Islamic State-inspired Maute group in 2017, a hundred more troops will arrive here in September to reinforce the battalions tasked with debris cleaning and management of the city’s ground zero.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Australian Counter-Terrorism Ambassador visits Marawi
Australian Counter-Terrorism Ambassador Paul Foley and six other members of the Australian delegates visited Marawi City on Wednesday, August 7, and pledged continuous support to the government's effort to thwart terrorism.
GMA News

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD     

White House invites tech companies to discussion of violent online extremism
The White House will host top tech companies to discuss the rise of violent online extremism on Friday, marking the Trump administration’s first major engagement on the issue days after a mass shooting in Texas left 22 people dead.
The Washington Post, CNBC, CNET

How big tech and policymakers miss the mark when fighting online extremism
Why is it still so easy to find violent white supremacist content online, even though social media companies keep claiming that they are working overtime to delete it? Last weekend, the El Paso shooter—just like the San Diego and Christchurch shooters back in April—posted his manifesto to the same extremist website and claimed to take inspiration from what he had read there.
Brookings Institute

How do we beat 8chan and other far-right sites? The same way we beat Isis
Copycat terrorism is on the rise again, this time from the far right. Over the past few months, we have witnessed a series of lethal terrorist attacks against minorities in places of worship and other public spaces that are said to have been carried out by white supremacists. 
The Guardian

Understanding the neurobiological processing of violent extremists
Radicalisation is a spectrum graph where the mass of non-violent extremists have accumulated at the bell curve on the horizontal axis. A smaller number, the violent extremists, bundle on the tail of this horizontal axis, are involved with the most heinous events in the human history.
Observer Research Foundation 

UK police chiefs say PM should agree to definition of Islamophobia
Two of Britain’s most senior police officers have called for clear safeguards around the adoption of a cross-party definition of Islamophobia in a letter that said Prime Minister Boris Johnson could embrace the term.
The National UAE

China, Kyrgyzstan hold anti-terrorism drive
The China-Kyrgyzstan “Cooperation-2019” joint counter-terrorism exercise was launched Tuesday at a training base in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
The Manila Times

August 12 is regular holiday to observe Eid’l Adha
August 12, Monday, has been declared as a regular holiday in the whole country in observance of Eid’l Adha. This was announced by Senator Christopher “Bong” Go based on the statement of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Wednesday night, August 7, according to a report by Radyo Inquirer. 
Cebu Daily News

MILF official, aide slain in Tacurong City
An alleged field commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and his companion were shot dead by still unidentified gunmen at a gas station here Tuesday afternoon.
NDBC News, Philippine News Agency

BARMM

Lidasan: To sacrifice for the Bangsamoro
FOR this week, I want to discuss a different aspect of the Bangsamoro. Eid Al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice, is commemorated on August 11 to 12 this year and is one of the feasts that Muslims all over the world share. As one of our commonalities, it is important for us to look at the essence – to dig deeper – regarding our faith and traditions.
Sunstar Davao

MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY

Ex-BIFF rebels get aid from Maguindanao prov’l gov’t
Twenty-nine former combatants of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were chosen as beneficiaries of a livelihood package extended on Tuesday by the Maguindanao provincial government.
Philippine News Agency

Army ends offensives vs. BIFF in Maguindanao
The military here announced Wednesday the termination of surgical operations against the Islamic State-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao, paving the way for the return of internally-displaced persons back to their homes.
Philippine News Agency

IDPs call for an end to war if gov’t can’t effectively handle displacement
Residents from marshy village of Dasawao in Shariff Saydona, Maguindanao who crossed the marshland toward in Pikit, North Cotabato has demanded the government to halt offensives if it cannot not handle well the situation of evacuees in shelter areas.
NDBC News

Maguindanao village chief escapes ambush, colleague hurt
A village chief escaped unscathed, while his companion was wounded in an ambush perpetrated by still unidentified gunmen in Datu Saudi Ampatuan (DSA), Maguindanao Tuesday.
Philippine News Agency

Maguindanao lawmaker cries justice for staff
A Maguindanao provincial lawmaker is crying for justice for his supporter who was murdered in Koronadal City last week.
NDBC News

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SC lifts 2018 TRO on Mamasapano case at Sandiganbayan, Ombudsman
The Sandiganbayan may now act on the motion to withdraw the graft and usurpation of authority cases filed against former President Benigno S. Aquino III in connection with the Mamasapano massacre after the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday lifted its temporary restraining order (TRO) issued in February 2018.
Manila Bulletin, Business World Online, The Manila Times

Palace keeps hands off on SC rule lifting TRO on Mamasapano case vs Noynoy Aquino
The government is committed to defer to and uphold the rule of law regardless of the political and social status of a person, who is facing a case before the court, Malacañang said Wednesday.
Manila Bulletin, ABS-CBN News

NORTH COTABATO

LANAO PROVINCES

BASILAN

AMIN, Basilan gov’t provides hospital with power facility
The Anak Mindanao (AMIN) Party-list and the provincial government provided this week with standby power generator the district hospital in Lamitan City. Lamitan City is the capital of Basilan, a component province of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
NDBC News

SULU 

TAWI-TAWI 

DRUGS

Duterte stands by PNP drug war data
President Duterte on Tuesday said that he would stand by the data provided by the Philippine National Police (PNP) on the government’s drug war rather than listen to the ranting of human rights groups whose own anti-drugs war data he called “a lie.”
Manila Bulletin

Duterte threatens to behead drug lords
As the government sustains the crackdown on the narcotics trade, President Duterte has threatened to behead big-time drug traffickers regardless of their nationality.
Manila Bulletin

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So what if Bato heads the Senate panel probing drug war?
The President's choice as his first top cop is now a senator. And he's off to lead a Senate panel that will hear probes into the drug war. As an erstwhile chief of the Philippine National Police, Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa is a good fit as chairperson of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs.
Rappler

Operations/ Incidents

PDEA-12 seizes P340-K shabu in NoCot town
Anti-narcotics agents and policemen arrested Tuesday a suspected big-time drug peddler in Pikit, North Cotabato. Backed by local policemen, agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Region 12 arrested Fahad Edwin Manukil, 23, during the 10 a.m. drug buy-bust operation in Sitio Manding, Barangay Gli-gli, Pikit.
Philippine News Agency

3 nabbed in Pasay drug sting; half kilo of shabu seized
Authorities seized PHP3.4 million worth of shabu and arrested three suspects in a buy-bust operation in Pasay City early Wednesday. Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, National Capital Region Police Office director, identified the suspects as Graciano Rombo, 34; Roderick Pisig, 35; and Alican Pagayaw, 31.
Philippine News Agency

Recovery and Rehabilitation  

ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND AMMUNITION

CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING  

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

KIDNAP FOR RANSOM

ILLEGAL GAMBLING

ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS/ EXTORTION

Press Freedom/ Freedom of Expression

Police claims shooting of journalist in Ifugao not media-related; task force to continue probe
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) on Wednesday said they will continue the investigation into the shooting of journalist Brandon Lee in Ifugao despite police claims that the case is not media-related.
GMA News, Philippine News Agency, Sunstar Baguio

Group reports continuing surveillance on wounded journalist
Brandon Lee, the journalist and human rights activist shot and seriously injured by unidentified assailants in front of his home in Lagawe, Ifugao Tuesday night is being surveilled at the Baguio General Hospital, the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) said.
Davao Today

Martial Law 

Editorial: Lifting martial law
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23, 2017. This developed after government forces and members of Maute Terror Group clashed in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.
Sunstar Davao 

Eastern Mindanao Command chief supports lifting of martial law in Davao City
A regional military commanding general on Wednesday said he supports lifting martial law in Davao City, but added that it is still up to higher authorities to decide on the matter.
GMA News

Martial law won’t address poverty
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo’s facile insinuation that President Duterte might impose martial law to curb the  violence in Negros Island is irresponsible and simplistic, given the gravity of what is at stake and the complexity of the issue of land ownership.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Tired Duterte looks for reason to resign the presidency
Feeling tired from work, President Duterte recently admitted that he was looking for a reason to leave the presidency. The President said he would “go gladly” if the military believes that he was no longer performing well in his job. He reiterated that the military need not launch a coup just to oust him from power.
Manila Bulletin

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Duterte renews calls for fraud-free poll technology provider for 2022 elections — Palace
President Duterte has renewed his appeal to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to tap a new technology provider in time for the 2022 presidential elections.
Manila Bulletin

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Duterte to turn erring Customs personnel into fishermen
President Duterte said Tuesday that if he cannot remove Bureau of Customs (BOC) personnel allegedly involved in corruption because of security of tenure, he will transfer them to the Office of the President (OP) to fish in the Pasig River instead.
Manila Bulletin

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

Robredo asks gov’t to implement measure to ensure inclusive economic growth
Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday underscored the need for the government to implement various measures that will ensure inclusive economic growth in the Philippines.
Manila Bulletin

ELECTION RELATED

Duterte Youth submits new set of nominees; Cardema still first nominee
The group submitted their new set of nominees, August 6, a day after the Comelec First Division granted the petitions seeking the cancellation of the nomination of Ronald Cardema as Duterte Youth partylist first nominee.
Manila Bulletin

Commissioner Guanzon accuses Cardema camp of threat
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon on Wednesday accused disqualified Duterte Youth partylist candidate Ronald Cardema of threatening her.
Manila Bulletin

9 out of 10 Filipinos prefer automated elections – Pulse Asia
Based on the June 2019 Post-Election Assessment Survey conducted by Pulse Asia, 91 percent of respondents said they would like to see automated voting continued in future elections while 7 percent said they don’t want it to continue. The remaining 2 percent answered they don’t know.
Manila Bulletin

More Filipinos satisfied with May 2016 polls than May 2019 – SWS
More Filipinos were satisfied with the conduct of the May 2016 elections than the May 2019 polls in the country, a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed.
Manila Bulletin

There is consensus to postpone Barangay, SK polls — Imee Marcos
Though there is no exact date yet, Senator Imee Marcos said Wednesday there seemed to be a consensus to postpone the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections scheduled in 2020.
GMA News

DISASTER

DILG estimates 3 million Typhoon Yolanda-affected households benefit from 308 rehab projects
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) bared that close to three million households are now benefiting from the 308 repaired and rehabilitated municipal facilities worth P1.278-billion in five regions which were totally or partially damaged during the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.
Manila Bulletin

MINDANAO

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

With ‘collective support, cha-cha will become top priority’ – Rep. Rodriguez
Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez expressed optimism Wednesday that the House leadership will soon include Charter Change in its top priority list.
Manila Bulletin

OPINION: What further decentralization?
Let’s call a spade a spade. There’s no such thing as further decentralization! At least not in the current context, not under the current political system and governmental framework. Whenever I hear someone say, let’s just further decentralization, I can’t help but think perhaps they simply can’t be that forward and say, let’s preserve the status quo as we are benefitting from it, or (which to me is worst), there has been no effort to understand the current political and governance setup reflected in the policy process and public administration.
ABS-CBN News

JUDICIARY

High court disciplines 3 lawyers
The Supreme Court has imposed disciplinary actions against three erring lawyers for violating the Code of Professional Responsibility and court rules, particularly the Rules of Notarial Practice.
Manila Standard

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

Hontiveros seeks passage of bill raising age of sexual consent to 18 yrs old
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday pushed for the passage of a measure that would raise the age of sexual consent from the current 12 years to 18 years old.
Manila Bulletin

Marcos seeks Senate inquiry into LBP’s failure to provide more service to farmers, fisherfolk
Neophyte Senator Imee R. Marcos sought Wednesday an in-depth Senate inquiry into the failure of Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) to address the ‘’abject lack of accessible and affordable credit in the countryside.’’
Manila Bulletin

Go files bill criminalizing prank calls, especially those made on emergency hotlines
Prank callers must be thrown in jail, and fined for mischievous and malicious calls, especially if done using emergency hotlines, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said Wednesday.
Manila Bulletin

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Spare Jesus Christ from death penalty debates – Sotto
Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday appealed to his colleagues not to use Jesus Christ in arguments against propositions to reinstate death penalty in the Philippines.
Manila Bulletin

Annulment is not easy, is ‘anti-poor’, says Hontiveros
Divorce advocates have said that annulment was expensive, and that its scope was limited. On average, annulment proceedings would require at least seven hearings.
Manila Bulletin

Hontiveros: Divorce would mean respecting the institution of marriage and family
“In considering the divorce bill, ito ay isang paraan na respetuhin ang institution ng marriage, ang institution ng pamilya.” (Considering Divorce Bill is a way to respect the institutions of marriage and family.) said Hontiveros in an interview on ANC.
Manila Bulletin

Church braces for tough battle vs. divorce, death penalty
The Catholic Church is bracing for a tough battle against divorce and death penalty in the 18th Congress. Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo explained that when it comes to these issues, the fight has never been easy.
Manila Bulletin

Pimentel on his way out? 'About time' PDP-Laban elects new leaders, senator says
A change of leadership in the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) may happen in the next few months, as some reportedly dissatisfied congressmen members moved to the National Unity Party (NUP).
Rappler

Pacquiao: ‘No problem’ if I become PDP-Laban president
Sen. Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday night said he would have “no problem” with being elected as president of ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) if a leadership change should happen.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

House of Representatives

Velasco seeks amendments to economic provisions of 1987 Constitution
Another resolution seeking to amend the supposedly antiquated economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution has been filed at the House of Representatives.
Manila Bulletin

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Pulong willing to join more political groups in the Lower House
Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte on Wednesday said he is willing to join other political parties other than the National Unity Party (NUP) that took him in recently as its adopted member.
Manila Bulletin

Romualdez says Lakas eyeing expansion
Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez says his designation as House Majority Leader in the 18th Congress bodes well for the potential expansion of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party.
Manila Bulletin

BUDGET, FINANCE and TAXATION

DOF Usec: ‘Agriculture has to grow, or else, we cannot feed our own people’
Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua said that agriculture has to grow by at least 1.6 percent in order for the country to feed its own people.
Manila Bulletin

Customs taps ISA to improve facilitation services
A non-profit organization that works on transforming the public sector was tapped by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to provide strategic planning for its facilitation services to “gain the trust of stakeholders” amid the mission to reform the corruption-ridden agency.
Manila Bulletin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

EDITORIAL - National security and economic gains
At least some government officials sounded the alarm. Several security officials have expressed concern over reports that the government intends to grant Chinese investors the right to develop three Philippine islands ostensibly for tourism.
Philippine Star

Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan in Manila
The USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered American aircraft carrier, docked in Manila Wednesday for a brief port call to highlight the “strong community and military connections” between the Philippines and the United States.
Manila Bulletin

182 police-athletes to compete in China for the World Police and Fire Games
The Philippine National Police (PNP) will be sending a total of 182 of its top athletes to participate in the biennial World Police and Fire Games (WPFG) that will be held this year in China.
Manila Bulletin

Albayalde tells PNP officials to look after health of cops, dependents amid dengue alert
General Oscar Albayalde, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), ordered Wednesday all police commanders to monitor the health condition of all policemen and their dependents amid the declaration of national dengue epidemic in the country.
Manila Bulletin

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

Construction of bridge linking Iloilo to Guimaras under feasibility study
Traveling from Iloilo to Guimaras will no longer entail a risky boat ride that can even lead to tragedy once inter-island bridge connecting the islands of Western Visayas is completed.
Manila Bulletin

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

Marcoses, cronies win P102-B court case
More than 30 years since its filing, a civil forfeiture case that demands P102 billion in moral and exemplary damages from the Marcos family and their cronies was junked by the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan due to insufficiency of evidence.
Philippine Star

I’m helping Digong clean up the Augean stables
 CONVERSATION recorded on video between two officials of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) — Assistant Commissioner Teresita Angeles and Don Samson — that was featured in this column and on my Facebook account on Tuesday has gone viral on social media.
The Manila Times

Sandiganbayan affirms graft conviction of ex-Laguna Gov. Ejercito
The Sandiganbayan Fourth Division has affirmed its decision convicting former Laguna Governor Emilio Ramon Pelayo “E.R.” Ejercito of his graft charge involving the anomalous insurance deal that the Pagsanjan municipal government entered into with First Rapids Care Ventures (FRCV) back in 2008.
Manila Bulletin

Duterte urges Filipino-Chinese businessmen to report any extortion attempt to gov’t
President Duterte appealed to the business community, especially Filipino-Chinese businessmen, to help in the government’s anti-corruption campaign by reporting any extortion attempt that could be made by government officials.
Manila Bulletin

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

PH signs UN convention on mediation
The Philippines signed Wednesday an agreement with 45 other countries concerning the enforcement of settlements over commercial disputes.
Manila Bulletin

West Philippine Sea

Heydarian's take on upcoming Duterte-Xi meeting this month
President Rodrigo Duterte has announced his plan of raising the arbitral ruling on his upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month, according to GMA resident political analyst Richard Heydarian on Wednesday.
GMA News

Wither strategic ambiguity
As the US Indo-Pacific strategy evolves, the notion of strategic ambiguity, which has guided the US-Taiwan relationship since mid-1950s, is withering. After the Taiwan Strait crisis of 1954-1955, the US brought into force the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with Taiwan. 
The Manila Times

Philippine EEZ almost as big as China’s
IF you want to understand why the South China Sea issue matters so much to our country and our people, I suggest to my readers to take time to read the article of Wikipedia on the subject, “Exclusive Economic Zones.”
The Manila Times

LABOR

DOLE making sure next SOT bill will pass Duterte’s muster
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III said that his office was in the process of “re-formulating” the Security of Tenure (SOT) bill to ensure that it will pass into law the next time it is presented to President Duterte.
Manila Bulletin

Worker deployment to Hong Kong remains normal
Despite the protest actions in Hong Kong, a recruitment consultant said there is no need for the Department of Labor and Employment to impose a temporary deployment ban for overseas Filipino workers there.
Manila Bulletin

TRANSPORTATION

Provincial bus ban dry run fails as operators snub trial
Only 24 out of 3,000 provincial buses participated in the voluntary dry run of the controversial provincial bus ban on EDSA, with most bus operators opting to snub the trial.
CNN Philippines

LTFRB sets consolidated fare rates for TNVS
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has issued a memorandum setting consolidated fare rates for transport network vehicle services (TNVS) depending on their body types.
Manila Bulletin

‘Give provincial bus ban a chance,’ MMDA pleads with lawmakers
The Metropolitan Manila Development (MMDA) appealed yesterday to lawmakers to give the provincial bus ban on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) “a chance” for the benefit of the riding public, insisting that it was “pro-poor.”
Manila Bulletin

Vacant lots converted into parking spaces are long term ‘win-win solution’ to traffic – DILG
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has described the conversion of vacant lots into pay parking spaces as a form of long term “win, win solution’’ even as it continues to look for viable options to resolve the country’s perennial traffic congestion problem.
Manila Bulletin

Grab to hire drivers, motorcycle and bicycle riders belonging to urban poor communities
Ride-hailing firm Grab Philippines inked on Wednesday a partnership with the Presidential Commission on Urban Poor (PCUP) to provide livelihood opportunities to at least 1,000 potential drivers, motorcycle riders and bicycle riders from urban poor communities.
Manila Bulletin

HEALTH 

DOH expects dengue to linger until September
The Department of Health (DOH) said that it was expecting that the increasing number of dengue cases in the country will mostly likely prevail until September.
Manila Bulletin

DOH encourages ‘4’oclock’ habit to prevent dengue
The Department of Health (DOH) urged the public on Wednesday to practice the 4 o’clock habit to lower the risk of dengue.
Manila Bulletin

Ex-Health Secretary, Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin continues to bat for Dengvaxia
Former Health Secretary and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin called on the Department of Health (DOH) Wednesday to pursue the dengue vaccination program to prevent future outbreaks and save lives.
Manila Bulletin

DOH won’t rush review on Dengvaxia
The government is not about to recommend the possible return of the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine even after the Department of Health (DOH) declared a national epidemic of the mosquito-borne disease.
Philippine Star

Families of victims ask government to carefully study the use of Dengvaxia
Families of the Dengvaxia vaccine victims called on government authorities to carefully examine all avenues before allowing it to be injected to dengue afflicted patients to determine its efficacy.
Manila Bulletin

Año calls on LGUs to strictly enforce enhanced 4S strategy against dengue
Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo M. Año on Wednesday called on local government units (LGUs) to strictly enforce the Enhanced 4S Strategy in their areas after the Health Department declared a national dengue epidemic.
Manila Bulletin

COA chides PhilHealth officials for delaying audit of P62 billion in transactions
The Commission on Audit (COA) chided officials Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) for delaying full access to government auditors on its New Claims (NClaims) system that prevented the conduct of “substantive testing on All Case Rates (ACRs) transactions amounting to P62.693 billion.
Manila Bulletin

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

American students express interest in studying PH corn industry
The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. has welcomed six students from the Kansas Corn Collegiate Academy who have expressed their interest to learn more about the Philippine corn industry with a specific focus on policy and trade.
Manila Bulletin

DA cautions LGUs on agri-land conversion to ensure food security
The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Central Visayas has advised local government officials to be careful in approving applications for land reclassification and conversion that may have a negative impact on the region’s food security.
Philippine News Agency

Solon calls for review of rice tarrification law, says it’s causing misery for farmers
The Rice Tarrification Law may have been a factor in controlling inflation rate, but its economic benefits have not trickled down to local rice farmers, a neophyte partylist lawmaker said Wednesday.
Manila Bulletin

LandBank agri loans exceed P219B as of June
STATE-RUN Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) remained aggressive in supporting the country’s agriculture sector over the years, with robust growth in loans and focused implementation of lending programs.
The Manila Times

Correcting flaws of rice law’s year 1
The first year of the Rice Tariffication Act, passed last February, should be regarded as an opportunity to check on loopholes, recommend remedies, and further strengthen the whole rice import and export liberalization process to protect our farmers from more worries and losses.
Philippine Star

EDUCATION

Briones vows to strengthen K-12 program
Education Secretary Leonor Briones assured that the Department of Education (DepEd) will continue to strengthen the implementation of the K to 12 Program to help ensure that the country’s learners are able to get quality education.
Manila Bulletin

ENERGY

How government restricts energy development
The subjects within energy vary but there is one common trend in them — there are government agencies involved in all issues, which implies that electricity and petroleum concerns remain highly politicized until now.
Business World Online

POVERTY

HOUSING

TOURISM

Tourism stakeholders weigh value of having Chinese tourists; only 8.2% got visas on arrival
TOURISM stakeholders in destinations like Boracay Island underscored the economic benefits of the growing number of Chinese tourists in the country, even  as some government officials, lawmakers and netizens clamored for tighter visa rules for the market.
Business Mirror

DOT throws full support behind Manila’s tourism development
The Department of Tourism (DOT) has expressed its full support for the tourism development in the country’s capital Manila.
Manila Bulletin

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