Tag: philippines

PHL rejects Php 380 million aid from EU; another P2.4 billion in EU aid for renewable energy to be turned down next

QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) — The Philippine has formally rejected P380 million or 6.1 million euros worth of aid from the European Union. This was confirmed by European Union Ambassador Franz Jessen who said that the Philippines rejected the EU-Philippine Trade-Related Technical Assistance (TRTA) worth 6.1 million euros when it returned the agreement unsigned. “It was formalized after they returned the financial agreements of the TRTA that should be signed by end of the […]

DOF: 75 gov’t flagship projects to create 1.7 million jobs by 2022

(Eagle News) — Department of Finance (DOF) Undersecretary Grace Karen Singson  said that the government’s 75 flagship projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program of the Duterte administration are expected to create 1.7 million jobs by 2022. She said the Duterte administration intends to spend around $158 billion over the next five years for the program, so that infrastructure spending would reach 7.3 percent of Gross Domestic Product by the end of the President’s term. […]

Pernia: PHL one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia

(Eagle News) — National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said on Tuesday that the Philippines was again one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia, only after China and Vietnam. Pernia made the announcement after the Philippine Statistics Office announced the Philippine economy hit a 6.6-percent growth rate in the last quarter of 2017. The PSA said this brought the overall growth of the country’s economy in 2017 to […]

Mayon volcano sends out another 5-km high ash cloud as explosions continue

  (Eagle News) – More ash explosions were seen this morning, January 23, in Mayon Volcano as volcanologists warned of continuous explosions after it raised the volcano’s alert level to number 4, meaning hazardous eruption is imminent. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said that as of 8:54 a.m. Tuesday, another phreatomagmatic eruption occurred in Mt. Mayon sensing an ash column five kilometers high. This was similar to yesterday’s 5-km high ash cloud […]

Philippines to deport Hamas ‘rocket scientist’

  MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — The Philippines said Monday it would deport an elderly Iraqi man described as a scientist for Hamas and accused of helping the Palestinian militant group lob missiles at Israel. Iraq tipped off the Philippines about the presence of Taja Mohammad Al Jabori, who was arrested on Sunday, national police chief Ronald Dela Rosa told reporters. However, the arrest was due to visa problems rather than any evidence of militant activity, […]

“You have abused press freedom!” – President Duterte raps Rappler for its latest “fake news”

  (Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte rapped Rappler for its “fake news” citing its latest report accusing Presidential Assistant Christopher “Bong” Go of allegedly intervening in the acquisition of warships by the Philippine Navy, and called the online news site as a “fake news outlet.” “Sumobra kayo. You are not only throwing toilet paper. You are throwing s— at us!” said an angry President Duterte as he faced the media in Pasay City on […]

Mayon volcano ‘fireworks’ draw tourists as residents flee

  LEGAZPI, Philippines (AFP) — Spectacular lava “fireworks” shooting from its crater are drawing tourists to the Philippines’ most active volcano, authorities said Tuesday as scientists warned of a potential dangerous eruption within days. Lava spurting from Mayon volcano lit up the sky overnight Monday in what scientists said was a sign of increasing activity that prompted official calls for evacuation of areas under threat from a major eruption. But even as thousands of residents […]

Sanofi to reimburse Philippines for unused dengue vaccine

  MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi is to reimburse the Philippine government for leftover doses of an anti-dengue vaccine whose use was suspended due to health concerns, the two parties said Monday. The manufacturer said the refund had nothing to do with safety issues and was meant to improve ties with the Philippine health department, which is investigating the deaths of more than a dozen children injected with Dengvaxia. Philippine regulators stopped […]

Philippines’ Mayon volcano alert raised as eruption feared

MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — The Philippines raised the alert level for the country’s most active volcano twice in 24 hours Sunday, meaning that a hazardous eruption is possible within days. A bright glow from Mayon volcano’s summit crater indicated the start of lava flow, while steam and ash plumes were produced by three steam-driven eruptions, according to the country’s volcanology institute. Mayon’s status was raised late Sunday to Level Three, meaning “increased tendency towards hazardous […]

PNP relaunches “Oplan Tokhang”

(Eagle News) — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said Friday he had ordered his ground commanders during Monday’s command conference to resume the anti-drug operation Oplan Tokhang this month. The police chief said he instructed the commanders to implement the “true spirit” of Tokhang, and not the corrupted one being done by some erring policemen. Tokhang—derived from the Visayan words “toktok” (knock) and “hangyo” (plead)—refers to the police officer’s practice of […]