DC42 April 12&15

• The daily wage gap across the country averaged P762 as March

  2024. With the daily average minimum wage only at P440, the think tank Ibon Foundation said on Wednesday.
• •Malaysia is looking forward to establishing more flights to the Philippines, especially Mindanao, as trade and tourism exchanges between the two states grow. Malaysian Ambassador Dato Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino
• DSWD eyes rollout of ‘Project LAWA at BINHI’ in 310 towns amid El Niño

  Over 140,000 families expected to benefit from small farm reservoir construction and adoption of climate-resilient farming methods.
• The Philippines is expected to post the fastest economic growth in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Plus 3 this year and the next, according to the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO).The 6.3 percent growth is a very strong performance, among the highest in the region.
• Comelec is holding a plebiscite on April 13 in the Special Geographic Area of BARMM in North Cotabato. The plebiscite aims to create eight new municipalities, allowing 89,594 registered voters to

  vote in 67 hubs.
• US, and Japan to invest $100B in the Philippines energy and semiconductors. This new initiatives to enhance energy security, economic, and maritime cooperation.
• Over P5.4-M gov't aid distributed to Muslim communities in DavNor under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).
• Gonzalo Varela, the lead economist for the Philippines at the World Bank, highlights the country’s potential growth rate of 5.5 to six percent if resources are efficiently utilized.
• DOH, MIAA, PPA, & DILG- banned the use of single-use plastics in their domains and also extends in some major hubs. Some examples of single-use plastics are plastic cups, drinking straws, coffee stirrers, spoons, forks, knives, and labo or thin-filmed bags
• DepEd reports that over 5,000 public schools have started using alternative education methods due to extreme heat conditions in the country, allowing for a more immediate response to the situation.
• The Phils is poised to generate about USD100 billion in investments in the next five to 10 years as a result of its participation in the historic trilateral summit with the United States (US) and Japan.
• American energy firm Ultra Safe is planning to supply small nuclear power plants in the country.
• White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo would host a discussion with her counterparts from the Philippines and Japan to enhance the trilateral maritime cooperation, trade, and investments of the three countries.
• PAGASA stated this Thursday afternoon that six areas in the country will be under a high heat index on Friday, April 12.

  Dagupan City, Pangasinan 44°C

  Bacnotan, La Union 43°C

  Puerto Princesa City, Palawan 42°C

  Aborlan, Palawan 42°C

  Catarman, Northern Samar 42°C

  Cotabato City 42°C
• 119 Batanes residents joined the Navy reserve forces. About 2/3 are from Itbayat. Cyrus, 60, is the oldest. The Philippine military is bolstering its defense of Batanes, the northern island province that includes Itbayat.
• The Philippines is expected to see a shortage in pertussis vaccines by the month of May.
• Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte has ordered the gradual return to the old academic schedule, with classes for the school year 2024-2025 set to open on July 29, 2024
• PUV operators and drivers have only until April 30 to form cooperatives or corporations to operate legally. PBBM directed the DILG to enforce regulations, citing that 30% of PUJs operate without

  proper franchises.
• The Philippine labor market is improving with a decrease in unemployment and underemployment rates. Labor force participation rate decreased to 64.8 percent in February 2024, from

  66.6 percent last year, with young people (-669,000) and women (-404,000) withdrawing from the labor force.
• Nearly 30,000 farmers and fishermen were affected by the P1.2 billion agricultural damage caused by the El Niño phenomenon, according to a report released on April 3 by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
• The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) announced last week that the nation's rice inflation rate increased to 24.4% in March, from 23.7% in February.
• Claire Dennis Mapa, head of the Philippine Statistics Authority and

  national statistician, rice inflation is predicted to increase through July.
• GoNegosyo is bringing its mentorship program for students and youth in Bataan after a successful leg in Pasig on April 8, its founder Joey Concepcion said.
• The Malaysian Ambassador Dato Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino noted the growing interest in Mindanao flights, driven by its vibrant Halal tourism sector in cities like Zamboanga and Davao.
• Collaboration within BIMP-EAGA focuses on promoting Halal products and advancing Muslim food tourism between Malaysia and the Philippines.
• The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is investigating reports of China-based firms recruiting active and retired military personnel as part-time jobs.
• The Department of Information and Communications Technology has warned of similar recruitment attempts. The AFP believes the recruitment is to obtain data from the armed forces, and is working with other government agencies to prevent leaks and policy violations.
• The MMDA and MMC urge LGUs to adjust working hours from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. to address persistent traffic congestion in Metro Manila, aiming for a unified schedule across national government agencies in the NCR.
• Livestock Philippines and Aquaculture Philippines 2024 aims to propel the country's livestock, poultry, and aquaculture sectors through innovation and technology.
• Fishing and aquaculture jobs declined in February due to the lean season for fishing.
• Over 1.829 million Filipinos were out of the labor force in February, choosing not to work for household and family duties.
• The government aims to attract more investments to create jobs, particularly in sectors like renewable energy and critical minerals.
• US Ambassador for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Matt Murray, mentioned that the Trilateral Summit will be a platform to highlight the Luzon economic corridor as part of US economic engagement with the Philippines.
• US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo expressed the US's commitment to help the Philippines double the number of

  semiconductor facilities.
• Malaysia’s readiness to help Manila tap the multi-billion dollar Halal market, which is expected to reach USD7.7 trillion in market value by 2025.
• SENATOR IMEE MARCOS extends the term for barangay officials from three years to SIX YEARS.
• SENATE BILL 2629 was filed on APRIL 8 which reads all elected barangay officials shall serve six years and shall not serve for more than two consecutive terms in the same position. The bill sets the next barangay elections on the last Monday of October 2029 and every six years after.
• The Department of Health (DOH) emphasizes on Wednesday the importance of maintaining proper food preparation and hygiene among food vendors.
• There is a hospitalization of at least 8 individuals is Kidapawan City,

  Cotabato after suffer from stomach aches and vomiting over the weekend, allegedly due to consuming halo-halo from a local food stall.
• Muslim communities in Davao del Norte received over PHP5.4 million under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program. • 2,710 beneficiaries received PHP2,000 each. Davao del Norte Vice Governor De Carlo Uy.