‘Deadly recruitment’: AFP chief says 18 UP students who joined NPA killed in clashes with soldiers
The University of the Philippines is “one of the rich sources” of New People’s Army recruits, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Gilbert Gapay said on Wednesday (Jan. 20), expressing support for the Department of National Defense’s (DND) decision to scrap a 1989 agreement requiring prior notice to university officials for security operations on UP campuses.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Lorenzana to UP: Explain deaths of students alongside communists, then we talk
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has set one condition before talking with University of the Philippines officials about reconsidering the termination of the 1989 accord that prevented troops from freely entering UP campuses.
Rappler
‘What if there’s a shabu lab in UP?’ AFP uses drug war to justify termination of accord
What if there’s a shabu lab inside the University of the Philippines (UP)? This was the hypothetical situation presented by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Spokesperson Major General Edgard Arevalo in justifying the Duterte government’s abrupt termination of the 1989 accord between the state university and the Department of National Defense which prevented the military and police from freely entering UP campuses.
Rappler
Inciting people to rebel, not academic freedom: solon
Academic freedom does not include “freedom to commit sedition or inciting people to rebel against the government,” Duterte Youth Party-list Rep. Ducielle Cardema said on Tuesday.
Philippine News Agency
‘Bato’ on deploying cops, soldiers for anti-Red operations on campuses: ‘What’s so special with UP?’
“What is so special with UP?” Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa made this remark as he questioned the agreement between the Department of National Defense (DND) and University of the Philippines (UP) that required prior notice to university officials for police and military to conduct counterinsurgency operations on UP campuses.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
PUP president urged to uphold agreement with DND
Militant group Anakbayan called on the president of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Wednesday to uphold the agreement between the university and the Department of National Defense (DND) that bars the presence of the police and military in its campuses.
Manila Bulletin
Fisherfolk to military: Patrol West Philippine Sea, not UP campus
A militant fisherfolk group on Tuesday said Defense chief Delfin Lorenzana should deploy troops in the disputed West Philippine Sea and not in the University of the Philippines.
Manila Bulletin
Youth groups call UP campuses ‘hunting grounds’ after scrapping of pact by DND
Various youth groups and student organizations warned on Wednesday that the University of the Philippines campuses will become “hunting grounds” for the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Manila Bulletin
UP community online fights DND red-tagging with humor, memes
Iskos on social media fight back using the language they know best – wit and memes Once again, the University of the Philippines (UP) puts the "fight" in #UPFight.
Rappler
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF Gensan’s Gift Giving to 13 Former Rebels
The Task Force Gensan together with the Local Government Unit of General Santos City facilitated the “Task Force Gift Giving” to thirteen Rebel Returnees held at the Multi-Purpose Hall, Task Force Gensan on January 14, 2021.
Kalinaw News
Peace talks
Incidents/Operations
Another Communist Terrorist Killed, High Powered Firearms and Explosives Captured as Gov’t Troops Hunt Down CTG who Murdered Barangay Officials in Masbate
A communist NPA terrorist (CNT) was killed while high powered firearms and explosives were captured after two separate armed encounters broke out between the government troops and the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) in Masbate province, Wednesday, January 20.
Kalinaw News
Civilian tip leads to encounter, yields firearm and war materiel
One firearm was recovered during a clash between the Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) and troops under 58th Infantry Dimalulupig Battalion this morning, January 20, 2021.
Kalinaw News
6 CTG Members Surrendered in Sultan Kudarat
Six more ‘disgruntled’ communist terrorist group – New People’s Army have surrendered to 37th Infantry Battalion in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat on January 13, 2021.
Kalinaw News
NPA supporter surrenders in Iloilo
A former village chief who claims to be a member of the Milisya ng Bayan, a local military unit of the New People’s Army (NPA), has turned himself in to the military last Jan. 18.
Philippine News Agency
‘NPA rebel' killed in Surigao City shootout
An alleged member of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in a shootout with police officers during a predawn law enforcement operation in Surigao City on Wednesday.
Philippine News Agency
Alleged NPA rebel slain; high-powered guns seized in Masbate clashes
An alleged member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed while high-powered firearms were recovered in two separate encounters with state forces in the towns of Baleno and Mandaon in Masbate province on Wednesday morning.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
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DND chief appeals to UP community to safeguard youth against violent extremism
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana on Monday appealed to the University of the Philippines (UP) Community to work together with the government to protect students from violent extremism and destructive armed struggle.
Philippine Information Agency
MARAWI
SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD
New terror prevention plan must not lead to rights breach, Muslim groups say
Indonesia’s two biggest Muslim mass organizations have urged the government to provide details of a new policy that aims to tackle violent extremism and terrorism, which includes community policing, warning that it could become a new source of societal conflict in the country. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo signed on Jan. 6 a presidential regulation on a five-year national action plan for the mitigation and prevention of violence-based extremism that could lead to terrorism.
The Jakarta Post
Have You Witnessed Far-Right Extremism Inside the Military?
The violent mob that swarmed into the Capitol on Jan. 6 contained people from many backgrounds and with varied affiliations. But as federal authorities have accused more people, and their back stories have circulated, it’s been clear now for two weeks that among the insurrectionists were military veterans, along with at least two people who remain in active or part-time military service.
New York Times
Why right-wing extremists’ favorite new platform is so dangerous
Telegram’s lax content moderation and encrypted chats make it a convenient tool for extremists.
VOX
Extremists exploit a loophole in social moderation: Podcasts
Major social platforms have been cracking down on the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories in the leadup to the presidential election and expanded their efforts in the wake of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. But Apple and Google, among others, have left open a major loophole for this material: Podcasts.
New York Post
Right-wing extremists and their supporters use Christian website to raise funds
Before Proud Boys member Nick Ochs was arrested and charged in connection with the insurrection at the US Capitol, he raised $300 on the Christian-oriented website GiveSendGo.com to help get him to DC.
CNN
FAR-RIGHT EXTREMISM IN SLOVAKIA: HATE, GUNS AND FRIENDS FROM RUSSIA
ar-right extremism in Slovakia is not limited to Marian Kotleba, though the neofascist leader has, more than anyone else, helped radicalisation go mainstream.
Balkan Insight
French Muslim groups deal blow to Macron's anti-extremism charter
Three Muslim groups refused on Wednesday to back an anti-extremism charter pushed by French officials following a spate of jihadist-inspired attacks, dealing a blow to a flagship initiative of President Emmanuel Macron's government.
France 24
Jihadist Terrorism: Italy the Next Target?
An often-overlooked aspect of Jihadist terrorism in Europe is Italy’s exceptionalism in avoiding it. Does this come down to mere luck, or is Italy taking a different, more effective approach to counter-terrorism? And, most importantly, how long is Italy going to be able to keep this up?
Global Insight
Al-Qaida terrorist captured in Turkey, jailed in Italy
A 24-year-old Italian suspected of fighting in the Middle East since 2014 with al-Qaida-affiliated groups was arrested in Turkey and jailed in Italy, Italian police said on Wednesday.
Daily Sabah
Liberty launches German terrorism cover
Liberty Specialty Markets, part of Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., has launched a terrorism insurance cover for small and medium-sized enterprise German corporate buyers.
Business Insight
UN Launches Global Program To Counter Terrorist Threats Against Vulnerable Targets
The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), in partnership with several other agencies, on Tuesday launched a global program on countering terrorist threats against vulnerable targets to help UN member states deal with this scourge.
Business World
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BARMM
Extension is not about power – Iqbal
Bangsamoro Government top executives Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo and Mohagher Iqbal faced the press on Monday, Jan. 18, to answer their inquiries including on the proposed extension of the Bangsamoro transition period.
Bangsamoro Government
BARMM solons push for transition extension to enact pending bills
Regional lawmakers are pushing for an extension of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao's transition phase up to 2025, saying more time is needed to pass important measures.
Philippine News Agency
BTA Parliament adopts official seal, elects additional officers
Members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority on Tuesday, Jan. 19, voted to pass Bill No. 24 adopting the parliament’s official seal that is reflective of “its functions, and the struggles and aspirations of its people.”
Bangsamoro Government | NDBC News
On 2nd year, Bangsamoro gov't struggles to deliver governance 'felt' by people'
2021 is the year the Bangsamoro people will feel the care of the transitional government, vow its officials
Rappler
Bangsamoro's deputy chief minister dies
A deputy chief minister of the Bangsamoro autonomous region in southern Philippines passed away on Wednesday, the government announced.
Anadolu Agency
Foreign donors donate P30 million worth of COVID-19 equipment to BARMM
Three transnational benefactors turned over Tuesday to the Bangsamoro government P30 million worth of equipment essential to regional COVID-19 containment initiatives.
Philippine Star
DTI-12 office in Cotabato City now under BARMM
Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI-Region 12) office in Cotabato City is now under the control of the BARMM’s Ministry of Trade, Investments, and Tourism (MTIT) following an official turnover held Monday, Jan. 18 in the city.
NDBC News
MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY
BARMM to construct 5 town facilities in Maguindanao
Aiming at enhancing delivery of governance services to the public, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will construct executive halls, public markets and legislative buildings of five towns in Maguindanao.
Bangsamoro Government
BARMM ministries converge to bring services in Maguindanao
Ministries of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) brought its services to Maguindanao province as part of celebrating its foundation anniversary on Tuesday.
Bangsamoro Government
Residents stand against BIFF in Maguindanao in peace rally
Hundreds of residents of a town in Maguindanao frequently harassed by Dawla Islamiyah gunmen have stood up on Tuesday against the groups’ lawlessness and terror activities.
NDBC News
Mayor Amping Cuan laid to his final resting place
Thousands joined the family of Mayor Christopher "Amping" Cuan in send him to his final resting place today.
NDBC News
Kidapawan City village exec survives ambush
A village chair in Kidapawan City miraculously survived an early evening ambush by still unidentified gunmen in his own village Tuesday, police said today.
NDBC News
Cotelco: Mlang village to experience 9-hour power interruption Jan. 21
Cotabato Electric Cooperative (Cotelco) announcement: To our valued Member-Consumer-Owners, we will have a scheduled power interruption on the date and affected areas, to wit:
NDBC News
LANAO PROVINCES
Bangsamoro transition needs more time, Lanao del Sur execs say
After initially opposing calls to extend the period of transition for the Bangsamoro government, officials of Lanao del Sur have expressed full support for the proposal to give the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) three more years.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Lanao del Sur’s new COVID-19 isolation facility now operating
Officials launched Tuesday the new P22 million worth 100-bed capacity COVID-19 isolation facility in Lanao del Sur province that the Bangsamoro government built using regional funds.
NDBC News
Lanao del Sur allocates P100 million for vaccine procurement
The province of Lanao del Sur has allocated P100 million for the acquisition of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines.
MindaNews
Teenager drowns in Lanao Norte coastal village
A teenager who went missing in a coastal village in Baroy in this province on Tuesday was found dead early the next day submerged in the sea not far from the shore where he was last seen.
MindaNews
BASILAN
SULU
6 cops in Jolo shooting send surrender feelers
Six of the nine former police officers accused of killing four Army intelligence officers in Jolo, Sulu last year have sent surrender feelers, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas said yesterday.
Philippine Star
MNLF declares Abu Sayyaf persona non grata in Sulu
A senior leader of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) had denounced the Abu Sayyaf and declared members of the terrorist group persona non grata in the town of Kalingalan Caluang in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, security officials said Wednesday.
Manila Times
Troops seize war materiel of Abu Sayyaf bandits
TROOPS have seized war materiel while on combat operation against Abu Sayyaf bandits in the island province of Sulu, military officials announced.
Sunstar Zamboanga
TAWI-TAWI
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DRUGS
Operations/ Incidents
P6.1-M shabu seized in Makati sting
FOUR drug suspects were arrested in a Makati sting which led to the confiscation of a huge cache of crystal meth or “shabu”, authorities said on Wednesday.
Manila Times
Over P331,000 shabu seized in Bacolod
AN ESTIMATED P331,800 worth of shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride was seized in separate drug bust operations of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) in Bacolod City from January 19 to 20, 2021.
Sunstar Bacolod
Cop, girlfriend, nabbed in Camarines Norte drug sting
A police officer and his girlfriend were arrested in a search operation in Daet town in Camarines Norte province on Wednesday morning.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Recovery and Rehabilitation
ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES, AND AMMUNITION
Pangasinan cops nab 4 men with firearms, explosives
Four men were arrested at a checkpoint here on Tuesday night after authorities recovered firearms, explosives, and suspected shabu from them.
Philippine News Agency
CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING/ COUNTERFEIT GOODS
P70-M medicines, cigarettes, other smuggled goods seized in Parañaque
Various smuggled items, including Chinese cigarettes and medicines, worth P70 million were seized in a warehouse in Tambo, Paranaque City, the Bureau of Customs said Wednesday.
Manila Bulletin
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
South Korean fugitive arrested by BI
Bureau of Immigration (BI) operatives have arrested a South Korean wanted by his government for operating an online prostitution advertising site.
Manila Bulletin
KIDNAPPING/ ABDUCTION
Asia piracy incidents highest in five years
Total piracy incidents in Asia have risen by 17% for 2020, marking the highest level in five years, according to an international watchdog. The number of actual incidents also rose by 32%.
Insurance Business Magazine
ILLEGAL GAMBLING
ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS/ EXTORTION
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Southern Tagalog farmers march to QC, call to stop land grabbing and peasant killings
Over 100 farmers from Southern Tagalog region marched to Quezon City on Wednesday to protest land grabbing and peasant killings in the country.
Manila Bulletin
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Groups condemn police’s shoot-to-kill order against Igorot leader
Indigenous people’s groups denounced the shoot-to-kill order against an Igorot leader who has been slapped with fabricated murder charges.
Bulatlat
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CHR conducts own probe on Legazpi City ambush
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Wednesday said that it has started its own initial investigation on the ambush involving members of the Philippine Army and of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Legazpi City, Albay, which killed three soldiers.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Press Freedom/ Freedom of expression
What makes The Accord* special?
The military is getting us stuck in this sticky (non)debate about the University of the Philippines being “special” or not, implying that the Accord grants us special treatment. “What is so special about UP, why can’t military and police troops occupy your campus?” is their absurd and impatient question.
Bulatlat
Martial Law
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COVID-19
Cases
DFA tally: 19 new COVID-19 cases among Filipinos abroad
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday announced 19 new confirmed cases and three new fatalities due to COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) among Filipinos in the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa.
Manila Bulletin
13 test positive after contact with Filipino infected with COVID-19 UK variant
Thirteen persons who came in contact with the country’s first case of the United Kingdom variant of coronavirus have tested positive for COVID-19, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday.
Manila Bulletin
Department of Health
IATF/NTF COVID-19
PH to receive COVID-19 vaccines through COVAX Facility within 1st quarter of this year
The country is set to receive COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX Facility within the first quarter of this year, government officials said on Wednesday night.
Manila Bulletin
Regions
Luzon including NCR
Visayas
Mindanao
World
UN agencies warn economic impact of COVID-19 and worsening inequalities will fuel malnutrition for billions in Asia and the Pacific
The economic impact of COVID-19 on the world’s most populous region is threatening to further undermine efforts to improve diets and nutrition of nearly two billion people in Asia and the Pacific who were already unable to afford healthy diets prior to the pandemic, says a new report published today by four specialized agencies of the United Nations.
Manila Bulletin
Partial lockdown in Beijing over Covid-19 outbreak
A partial lockdown was imposed on the Chinese capital Wednesday, with 1.6 million residents banned from leaving Beijing, after a handful of cases were detected.
Manila Bulletin
Foreigners without face masks punished with push-ups in Bali
Foreigners caught not wearing face masks on the Indonesian resort island of Bali are being subject to an unusual punishment: push-ups.
Manila Bulletin
Diplomatic, Development and Private Sector
Health experts urge massive COVID-19 testing
Worried that the implementation of the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program could suffer serious delays, some health experts called for a new wave of massive COVID-19 testing in the Philippines.
Manila Bulletin
Incidents and Violations
Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features
Unease and confusion
Norway shook the global community with a report that 33 of its elderly citizens had died shortly after getting inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech. While Camilla Stoltenberg, director of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, stressed that a direct causal link between the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and those who died, who were “elderly, frail, and had serious diseases,” is “not a given,” the development has nevertheless jacked up widespread concerns over the safety of vaccines that had been developed at breakneck speed in an attempt to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
PH looks forward to forging closer ties with US under President Biden
The Philippines looks forward to forging “close and friendly” relations with the United States under President-elect Joe Biden, Malacañang said Wednesday ahead of his inauguration.
Manila Bulletin
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
Robredo ready to get COVID-19 vaccine in public
Vice President Leni Robredo is “more than ready” to take a COVID-19 shot in public to encourage Filipinos to be inoculated, her spokesperson said Wednesday.
Manila Bulletin
VP Leni rallies LP to continue fighting for principles, advocacies
Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday urged her allies from the Liberal Party to continue fulfilling its long time vision of upholding democracy for Filipinos.
Manila Bulletin
AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION
BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION
Experts find Bloomberg’s funding of Philippines FDA ‘troubling’
Public health policy experts asked authorities to dig deeper into the alleged transfer of funds by Bloomberg foundation to the Philippines Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and determine if there were laws violated in the Philippines and the United States.
Manila Bulletin
Duterte authorizes DOF to firm up US grant for BIR digital transformation
President Rodrigo Duterte has authorized the Department of Finance (DOF) to enter into talks with the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) for a possible $809,450 or about P39-million grant to assist the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in its digital transformation program.
UNTV
BUSINESS, ECONOMY AND INVESTMENT
Ant-backed Mynt eyes more funds for Philippines fintech fight
Mynt, the Philippine fintech company backed by China's Ant Group, is eyeing a further round of fundraising to secure a $1 billion valuation as the race for scale intensifies in the country's fast-growing digital banking market.
Nikkei Asia
Merger of BPI, BPI Family set in motion
Ayala-led Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is set to merge with its thrift bank arm, BPI Family Savings Bank (BFSB), to unlock synergies that will benefit stakeholders.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
DTI business registration jumps 41% in pandemic year 2020
Year 2020 could be well remembered as the pandemic year, but it did not dampen the entrepreneurial spirit of Filipinos as shown by the 41 percent increase in business registration, the highest since 2010.
Manila Bulletin
Shangri-La temporarily shuts biggest local hotel in Makati
Hotel operator Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts is closing its biggest hotel in the Philippines starting next month as part of a bigger “reorganization” that will also see some layoffs nearly a year since the pandemic brought tourism down to its knees.
Philippine Star
BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS
MinDA to convene Mindanao gov’t officials to tackle delayed projects
The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) will convene Mindanao leaders and other national government officials next month to address long-delayed and other vital infrastructure projects as the Duterte comes to its last 18 months in office.
Manila Bulletin
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
IBON debunks economic Cha-cha movers’ claims on FDI
Claims that changing the supposedly restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution and liberalizing foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country will help economic recovery and lead to development are unfounded. On the contrary, said research group IBON, further FDI liberalization will have long-term adverse impacts on national economic development.
Kodao Productons
Garbin: Charter change will not divide the House, remains focused on passing economic recovery measures
Despite its preoccupation with the economic Charter change, the House of Representatives will continue to flex its muscles to pass measures that would help the economy recover from COVID-19 pandemic.
Manila Bulletin
DISASTER AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DOJ may adjudicate on UP-DND Pact termination – Guevarra
The Department of Justice (DOJ) may end up adjudicating on the ongoing dispute between the University of the Philippines (UP) and the Department of National Defense (DND) relating to the abrogation of an agreement that has, for decades, barred the entry of government troops into UP campuses without prior coordination, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said.
UNTV
655 posts vacant in trial courts nationwide
There are 655 vacant posts for judges in trial courts nationwide, from the Shari’a circuit courts to the Regional Trial Courts (RTCs).
Manila Bulletin
DEFENSE AND SECURITY
Armed Forces of the Philippines
AFP Chief pays homage to East Mindanao Command before his exit in February
Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief Gen. Gilbert I. Gapay bade his farewell to the troops of Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) as he sets out to end his more than three decades of military service in 04 February.
Kalinaw News
Philippine National Police
Dacera case: Sinas orders relief of Makati’s top cop, medicolegal officer
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas on Wednesday ordered the relief of the Makati City police chief and a medicolegal officer of the Southern Police District (SPD) over their alleged lapses in overseeing the death case of flight attendant Christine Dacera.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
EDUCATION
INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY
ELECTION RELATED
Senate starts hearings to ensure holding of 2022 local, national elections
Senator Imee R. Marcos, chairwoman of the Senate electoral reforms committee, has kickstarted congressional hearings to ensure that the national and local elections scheduled for 2022 would push through, echoing President Duterte’s instructions against their postponement.
Manila Bulletin
Comelec, DFA eye online voting for overseas Filipinos
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) are eyeing online voting as an alternative means of voting for overseas Filipinos.
Manila Bulletin
Comelec sets one-day plebiscite in Palawan
The coming plebiscite on the splitting of Palawan into three provinces will be done in one day instead of two days.
Manila Bulletin
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Climate Smart Philippines: Science for service
CLIMATE change has been deemed to be an environmental pandemonium that has accosted political, economic, social and human systems. It has created a daunting challenge and dismal innervation to humanity. However, its catastrophic impacts and risks have been staved off either by adaptation solutions or mitigation approaches conducted by different institutions, agencies and centers.
Manila Times
P145M set aside for construction of bike lanes in Davao City
At least P145 million will be allocated for the construction of dedicated bicycle lanes in Davao City this year.
MindaNews
LABOR
LEGISLATIVE
Senate of the Philippines
Senators assured COVID-19 vaccines won’t be overpriced
National Task Force against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. assured senators that there will be “no room for overpricing” of the coronavirus vaccines that the government will purchase.
Manila Bulletin
Gordon touts bill creating Office of Judiciary Marshals
The happy days of criminals will soon be over when Congress passes a measure creating the office of Judiciary Marshals under supervision of the Supreme Court through its court administrator.
Manila Bulletin
House of Representatives
Comprehensive course on road safety being pushed in Congress
Expressing deep concern over the rising number of road crashes in the country, the House Committee on Transportation moved for the swift approval of a bill mandating comprehensive education course on road safety and proper courtesy for drivers applying for license renewal or have been apprehended for violating land transportation rules and regulations.
Manila Bulletin
House approves amendments to Anti-Money Laundering Act
With less than a month left for the Philippines to dodge inclusion in the gray list of the global effort to fight money laundering, the House of Representatives quickly ratified Wednesday the bicameral conference committee report that will amend the current anti-money laundering law in the country.
Manila Bulletin
House approves creation of new legislative district in Caloocan City
The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill that will create a new legislative district with the re-apportionment of the existing first district of Caloocan City under Rep. Dale “Along” Malapitan.
Manila Bulletin
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)
LGUs fear lack of contact tracers may lead to spike in COVID cases
Some localities fear that COVID-19 cases may spike in their areas with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) being able to rehire only 15,000 contact tracers (CT) due to budgetary constraints.
Manila Bulletin
OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
FOREIGN RELATIONS
West Philippine Sea
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
Importation not solution to rising food prices –food producers
For farmers and food producers, the Department of Agriculture (DA) must focus on boosting local food production instead of resorting to importation as solution to the soaring food prices.
Manila Bulletin
HOUSING and SETTLEMENT
POVERTY
SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT
On its 70th anniversary, DSWD assures strengthened delivery of social protection services
As it marks its 70th founding anniversary this month, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said the public can expect “strengthened” delivery of social protection services to the country’s poor and vulnerable sectors.
Manila Bulletin
TRANSPORTATION
Transport sector asks House to pass Magna Carta of Commuters
Leaders of the transport sector on Wednesday called on the House of Representatives to swiftly pass the proposed Magna Carta of Commuters, saying that protection of commuters should be considered as a legislative priority.
Manila Bulletin
TOURISM
WATER and ENERGY
DoE clears six firms to serve customers who opt for ‘green’ energy
SIX suppliers of renewable energy, including entities led by Aboitiz and Ayala businesses, have been granted permits to participate in the country’s “green energy option” program, giving them the lead in offering electricity to consumers who prefer cleaner power sources.
Business World
PCC OKs SN Power buyout
The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has cleared the entry of a Norwegian green energy firm into the Philippine market.The antitrust regulator approved last week the acquisition by Scatec Solar ASA of 100% shares in SN Power AS from Norfund of the Norwegian government. Scatec decided to purchase SN Power in October 2020 as part of its goal to improve capacity to 1.9 gigawatts across the globe in 2021.
Power Philippines
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