THE free trade agreement (FTA) between the Philippines and European Free Trade Association (Efta) member states—Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland has been working well with no critical implementation issues since the FTA’s implementation five years ago. Both are currently enjoying preferential utilization rates of 31 percent for the Philippines and 30 percent for Efta member […]
Tag: philippine
Marcos urged to seek out more allies to deter China aggression
By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter SECURITY and foreign policy experts on Wednesday urged President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to partner with as many countries as possible to deter China’s aggression in the South China Sea. “Multilateralism will counterbalance too much dependence in the United States,” Chester B. Cabalza, who studied national security and policymaking […]
Manila files diplomatic protest over China ‘harassment’ at sea
By Alyssa Nicole O. Tan, Reporter THE PHILIPPINES on Tuesday filed a diplomatic protest against China after accusing it of trying to block a resupply ship at the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it had filed the protest before the Chinese Embassy […]
ASEAN trade show generates over P100M in sales leads for Philippine tourism industry
THE Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) said a regional trade show generated over P100 million in sales leads for 16 exhibitors from the Philippine tourism industry. The TPB, the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism (DoT), was reporting the result of Philippine participation in the ASEAN Tourism Forum. In a statement on Monday, the TPB […]
Philippine Coast Guard accuses China of blocking resupply ship
THE PHILIPPINE Coast Guard on Monday accused China of trying to block a resupply ship at the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, prompting lawmakers to seek more joint patrols with security allies to deter China’s militarization of the waterway. A China Coast Guard vessel had tried to blind the crew of BRP […]
Editorial: Teenage pregnancy problem
Two neophyte senators, Robinhood “Robin” Padilla and Rafael “Raffy” Tulfo, have a somewhat simplistic solution to the complicated problem of teenage pregnancy—limiting teenagers’ access to social media. It could be true that various social media sites, famous among them Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, have effects on the sexual behavior of teenagers, both males and females. […]
Philippine police seized P30B of drugs last year
PHILIPPINE police seized P30.9 billion worth of illegal drugs in 37,000 raids last year, according to the presidential palace. It did not say how many died. They arrested more than 53,000 drug suspects, the Presidential Communications Office said in a statement, citing a report from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). Majority of them were […]
Filipino lawmakers back greater US access under defense pact
By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter PHILIPPINE congressmen on Monday welcomed the Marcos government’s decision to give the United States access to four more military bases, saying it would help deter China’s aggression in the South China Sea. The decision to expand the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which was signed in 2014, is in […]
UN to boost Manila’s investigative capacity
THE PHILIPPINE Justice department has invited a forensic expert from the United Nations (UN) to improve local capacity in investigating extrajudicial killings in connection with the government’s war on drugs. In a statement on Sunday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said Morris Tidball-Binz, the UN’s special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, had […]
Philippine chess team grabs bronze in FIDE Olympiad for disabled people
THE PHILIPPINE chess team quietly left the country a week ago with nothing in mind but a miracle in the 1st FIDE Olympiad for People with Disabilities in Belgrade, Serbia. They’re coming back with their prayers answered. Drawing strength from Darry Bernardo’s late heroics, the Filipinos battled their way from the jaws of defeat and […]
Musk’s Starlink PHL service expected to start in Q1
Starlink, the satellite internet unit of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is on track to enter the Philippine market this year, with its broadband service to be introduced within the first quarter, its local partner said in a statement on Friday. “We are excited to finally introduce Starlink to the Philippine market by Q1 2023,” said Anthony […]
US gets access to 4 more bases in Philippines amid China doubt
By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter THE PHILIPPINES has given the United States greater access to its military bases, their defense chiefs said on Thursday, amid mounting concern over China’s increasing assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea and tension over self-ruled Taiwan. The US would be given access to four more locations under the […]
Manila may get more defense gear with Austin visit
By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter US DEFENSE Secretary Lloyd J. Austin’s visit to the Philippines would probably lead to Manila getting more military hardware from its top ally, political analysts said on Wednesday, citing his ties to the American defense industry. Mr. Austin, who arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday night, would likely echo […]
Mayor proposes bill amendment allowing gov’t to directly buy onions from farmers
THE MAYOR of Bongabon town in Nueva Ecija, tagged as the “onion capital” of the Philippines, recommended to include a provision in a proposed law that will allow government to buy onions directly from farmers and handle distribution to markets. At a House committee on agriculture and food meeting on Wednesday, Bongabon Mayor Ricardo I. […]
Nutrition groups push for law banning trans fatty acids
GROUPS in the nutrition sector reiterated their call to enact a law banning trans fatty acids (TFAs) in processed and pre-packaged food after a substitute bill recently passed a House panel. ImagineLaw, a public interest law group, along with nutrition groups Nutrition Center of the Philippines, Nutrition Foundation of the Philippines, Philippine Association of Nutrition, […]
Smart Digital Retail Philippines Moving to Another Date
MANILA, Jan 31, 2023 – (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) – Smart Digital Retail Philippines would like to extend the opportunity for sponsors, attendees and partners to join the biggest event in the Philippine retail ecosystem. Hence, we made a decision to move the event to April 13, 2023. The event will take place at the […]
Report cites overcrowded Philippine oil market
PHILIPPINE DEMAND for oil would probably grow at an average 3.4% between 2022 and 2031, according to Fitch Solutions Country Risk and Industry Research, citing the country’s overcrowded market. “Net imports are anticipated to grow at around 3.5%, more or less closely in line with demand growth,” it said in a report dated Jan. 25. […]
Marcos wants to beef up maritime security duties of PHL Coast Guard
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. wants the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to go beyond its sea rescue mission and maritime patrol duties to strengthen the country’s territorial defense, according to the presidential palace. Members of the PCG should become “frontliners ready to confront whatever threats are coming through the country’s coastlines,” Mr. Marcos said during […]
ILO urged to look into plight of Filipino contractual workers
PHILIPPINE labor groups on Wednesday called on the International Labour Organization (ILO) to look into the plight of contractual workers who lack job security. “We call on the ILO to look into the plight of job order workers to ensure their rights of association and security of tenure,” Gian Siapo, a representative from Kawani Laban […]
Search continues for missing plane with 6 on board; Air Force plane crash kills 2
THE CIVIL Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said a Cessna single-engined general aviation aircraft went missing after departing Cauayan Airport in Isabela on Tuesday afternoon. RPC1174, a Cessna 206 type aircraft, took off from the Cauayan Airport at 02:15 p.m. on Jan. 24 and was expected to arrive at an airport in Maconacon, Isabela […]