Philippines Morning News For December 15

Martial law spread to entire PH feared
COMMUNIST leader Jose Maria “Joma” Sison yesterday said the martial law declaration covering Mindanao, whose effectivity was extended by Congress to a year starting January 1, may be expanded to cover the entire country.
— Malaya

Government infrastructure push to boost GDP growth for next year
The government’s rollout of 12 big-ticket infrastructure projects, which would create more jobs and spur consumption, would allow Philippine GDP to expand by 7 percent next year, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said on Thursday.
— BusinessMirror

Noy on vaccine: We wanted to save lives
They were presented with an opportunity to save lives, and they took it.
— Philstar

PH scores win for MSMEs in WTO
The Philippines considers a victory the support gained at the World Trade Organization (WTO) of the agenda towards inclusive and sustainable globalization by including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in global trade.
— Malaya

‘No immediate impact’ from Philippines’ new coal tax
The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has said that the Philippines’ plan to significantly increase its coal import tax in 2018 will not hamper coal trade between the two Southeast Asian countries in the immediate future.
— Hellenic Shipping News

Foreign investment pledges down
The total foreign investments (FI) approved by the country’s investment promotion agencies fell 10 percent in the first nine months of the year to P84.1 billion from P93.3 billion in the same period the previous year, data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority showed.
— Malaya

Senate approves resolution increasing military, police base pay
The Senate on Wednesday approved on third and final reading a resolution seeking to increase the base salary of military and uniformed personnel (MUP) starting January next year.
— Update Philippines

No repeat of Marcos dictatorship – Palace
Malacañang yesterday assured the public that there would be no return to a dictatorial government amid the possibility that the extended imposition of martial law in Mindanao for one year may be expanded outside the region.
— Philstar

Terrorism expert: M’sians among members of new pact in Philippines
Foreigners, including Malaysians, are among members of a new pact of pro-Islamic State (IS) groups and communists that have closed ranks in southern Philippines, an expert says.
— Free Malaysia Today

Amnesty: Martial law extension signals more rights abuses in Mindanao
An international rights group blasted on Thursday the extension of military rule in Mindanao for another year, saying that the decision is an “ominous move” that signals more human rights abuses in the coming months.
— Philstar

DOST appeals for the passage of space technology bill to raise annual budget
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is appealing to the lawmakers to immediately pass the proposed bills on space technology to augment the program’s meager budget.
— BusinessMirror

Rody’s extended martial law to be challenged at SC
Opposition congressmen vowed yesterday to question before the Supreme Court the Duterte administration’s Congress-approved extension of martial law in Mindanao by one yea
— Philstar

Buying, selling of relief goods prohibited — DSWD
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has warned evacuees that buying and selling of relief goods are prohibited by law.
— Philstar

Duterte calls on media to promote federalism
PRESIDENT Duterte on Wednesday night urged media networks to help promote and explain to the public the issue of federalism, which he had been trying to advocate since he assumed the presidency last year.
— Malaya

DOT hopes for P5 billion in receipts from Indian tourists
THE Department of Tourism (DOT) is looking forward to higher visitor receipts from India, with arrivals projected to hit 100,000 by year-end.
— BusinessMirror

PH, Japan ink P23-M school project
The Japanese government and five stakeholders have signed on Wednesday grant contracts on classroom constructions worth a total of PHP23 million. In a ceremony held at the Embassy of Japan, Ambassador Koji Haneda said the signing signifies the “golden age of strategic partnership” between the two states.
— Update Philippines

Q3 FDI pledges end 4 quarters of decline
FOREIGN direct investment (FDI) commitments rose in the third quarter, partially recovering from four straight quarters of decline.
— BusinessWorld

Former Health Secretary claims to have been pressured to expand vaccine’s coverage
Former Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Paulyn Ubial implicated two members of the House of Representatives as pressuring her to expand the coverage of Dengvaxia, a vaccine whose maker, Sanofi Pasteur, had admitted posed serious health risks to those who had never contracted the disease.
— Manila Standard

Faking your own death: How the Philippines became the global leader for a macabre trade
Ever considered faking your own death and starting out from scratch in some foreign land? No, us neither – but it does happen. And there’s a booming trade for it in the Philippines, of all places.
— Telegraph

TRAIN to yield lower revenue of P90B
The Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN) ratified by Congress is expected to yield around P90 billion in net revenues in the first year of implementation, significantly lower than what the Department of Finance (DOF) initially expected to raise.
— Malaya

Philippines holds rate; economists predict hike in 2018
The Philippine central bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at a record low, with economists forecasting it will start tightening policy in 2018 to curb inflation risk.
— Bangkok Post

Philippines to face days of life-threatening flooding from Tropical Storm Urduja
Tropical Storm Urduja is expected to unleash life-threatening flooding rain and mudslides as it slowly crosses the Philippines into Monday.
— Accu Weather

Feature photo Brian Evans

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Philippines morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Philippines news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

Philippines Morning News For December 15 added by Leakhena Khat on December 15, 2017
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Leakhena Khat

Leakhena is a junior journalist at AEC News Today who is also currently studying International Relations, which she finds adds perspective to her work reporting on the Asean Community.

“I love what I am doing so much as it gives me a lot of great experience and provides challenges to my mind.