Philippines Morning News For November 16

Philippine gov’t, Facebook partner for ‘ultra high-speed’ broadband
The Philippine government teamed up with Facebook to build “ultra high-speed” broadband infrastructure, which would make the government virtually a 3rd major player in the telecommunications industry.
— Rappler

Remittances drop by 8.3% in September amid Saudi repatriation
After hitting a 5-month high in August, remittances coursed through banks by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) fell again in September this year.
— Rappler

China pledges P1B for Marawi rehab
CHINA has pledged 150 million renminbi (RMB) or about P1.15 billion in grants to the Philippines for the relief and rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi City.
— The Manila Times

PH gets 5 surveillance planes from Japan
The Philippines will be getting five surveillance and patrol aircraft units from Japan for a token fee, the Department of National Defense (DND) said on Wednesday.
— The Manila Times

Donald Trump repeats discredited stories about Barack Obama’s Philippines trip
Donald Trump’s political career owes a great deal to conspiracy theories. The US president’s ascent into the world of politics was partially fuelled by pushing the totally erroneous theory Barack Obama was not a natural-born US citizen and it was therefore unconstitutional for him to be president.
— The Independent

Japan, Philippines Boost Defense Ties in Duterte-Abe Summit
Over the weekend, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was one of many foreign leaders who descended on the Philippines for this year’s round of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings, which Manila has been chairing. Abe’s visit, which came just weeks after Duterte’s own trip to Tokyo, saw a summit meeting with the Philippine president, which consolidated some gains in the defense relationship.
— The Diplomat

PH, US to start FTA talks end Nov.
The United States is expected to seek further investment access to Philippine infrastructure, public utilities as well market access for its frozen meat under a planned free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries.
— Malaya

PH, China ink $7.3-b deals
LIKE the temperature in Manila, ties between the Philippines and China are “pretty high,” Chinese Premier Li Kequiang said, as both sides signed 14 agreements Wednesday for $7.34 billion in Chinese loans and grants to finance 10 big-ticket projects here, on top of a 150 million renminbi ($23 million) grant for reconstruction and rehabilitation of Marawi City.
— Manila Standard

Trump pledges $16.3 M for Philippines drug war, Marawi
Despite concerns over drug-related killings, US President Donald Trump announced Washington’s $2-million support for drug demand reduction programs in the Philippines.
— Philstar

Gov’t challenges telcos
Government agencies signed yesterday a landing party agreement for the Luzon Bypass Infrastructure, a 250-kilometer corridor giving Facebook the “right-of-way” to build an undersea telecommunication infrastructure that bypasses typhoon-prone areas, at no cost to the government.
— Malaya

Philippines internet freedom worsened in past year — report
Despite improvements In internet access in the Philippines under the present administration, overall internet freedom in the country has slightly worsened in the past year, according to a report released by human rights advocacy group Freedom House.
— Philstar

Agri grows 2%
Agricultural output rose 2.32 percent in the third quarter from a year earlier, propped up by crops, livestock and poultry production, the statistics agency said on Wednesday.
— Malaya

Gov’t teachers say bonuses will go mostly to pay debts
As government employees receive bonuses starting today, public school teachers lamented that theirs will probably end up as payment for their debts.
— Manila Bulletin

Duterte: Chinese rifle that killed Hapilon going back to China
President Rodrigo Duterte told Chinese Premier Li Keqiang that a Filipino shooter using Chinese rifle killed Isnilon Hapilon, the reported emir of all Islamic State forces in the Philippines who was among the leaders of terrorists involved in Marawi seige.
— Update Philippines

PH military thanks Australia for help in Marawi battle
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) expressed its gratitude to Australia Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for the technical assistance Australia provided during the five-month battle against Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Marawi City.
— Update Philippines

CHR tells Duterte: Don’t give special treatment to Russian drug suspects
The Commission on Human Rights on Wednesday reminded President Rodrigo Duterte that there should be no “special treatment” for 2 Russian nationals suspected of drug trafficking.
— ABS-CBN

Senate to finish debates on budget
The Senate will hold sessions today and tomorrow to try to finish plenary debates on the proposed P3.7-trillion national budget for 2018 to make up for lost session days owing to the country’s hosting of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings.
— Philstar

Leni backs Duterte’s policy to boost MSMEs
Vice President Leni Robredo has backed President Duterte’s policy of boosting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which account for more than 99 percent of the businesses and provide more than 65 percent of employment in the country.
— Philstar

Philippines suspends exit permit processing
Employers looking to hire talent from the Philippines may have to wait three weeks as persistent reports of illegal recruitment have prompted the government to suspend the processing of exit permits.
— Human Resources Director

PH leads call for innovative climate finance for vulnerable countries
Senator Loren Legarda, the head of the Philippine delegation at the 23rd UN Climate Change Conference (COP23), called for a more innovative climate financing on Tuesday, November 14, in Bonn, Germany.
— Rappler

Feature photo Andy Maluche
Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

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 November 16 added by Leakhena Khat on November 16, 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.