Philippines Morning News For October 20

Pres. Duterte vows to cleanse PH of corrupt, tax evaders
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Thursday, October 19, expressed zero tolerance for corrupt public officials and tax-evading businessmen who are shortchanging the Filipino public.
— Philippine News Agency

Mega Rehab gives hope to lost souls
As a subtle approach to the war against illegal hard drugs, President Rodrigo Duterte proposed the use of a portion of the Fort Ramon Magsaysay military installation to construct the Mega Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (Mega DATRC).
— Philippine News Agency

International education fair to offer Filipinos study abroad opportunities
In partnership with Muntinlupa City Government, Edukasyon.ph will hold the first and largest international education fair in Southern Metro Manila at Festival Mall Alabang on October 21-22 wherein 18 foreign schools and 5 embassies will be offering study abroad scholarships to Filipino students and professionals.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

PH welcomes aid sans strings attached: DFA
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday said the Philippines would not accept conditional European Union (EU) grants, but is confident this would not affect its ties with the bloc.
— Philippine News Agency

Few Filipinos impressed as Duterte changes tact in drug war
Irked by criticism of campaign against illegal drugs, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the police be removed as the lead agency in the anti-narcotics war.
— UCAnnews

Philippine banana exporters call for militiamen to protect plantations
A group of banana exporters in the Philippines have appealed to expedite the deployment of Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) members to protect their plantations from the New People’s Army (NPA) because “time is of the essence”
— Fresh Plaza

Govt looking to set up exclusive Chinese ecozones
The government is considering the establishment of exclusive industrial parks for Chinese firms planning to locate in the Philippines, a Cabinet official said.
— The Manila Times

When ‘The Donald’ meets ‘Duterte Harry’
They both have authoritarian tendencies, salty tongues, questionable histories with women, an affection for dictators, problems with Barack Obama and the Pope, the folks at Amnesty International in a whirl – and Donald Trump and Rodrigo Duterte are about to meet.
— Asia Times

P330M needed to rebuild livelihoods
The Trade deparment is looking to spend P330 million for programs aimed at assisting Marawi City residents displaced by five months of conflict.
— The Manila Times

Tariff removal helps boost Philippine ag exports to EU
The European Union (EU) expects exports of the Philippines to the trade bloc to exceed US $10 billion this year as a result of the preferential tariff access on its products, EU ambassador to the Philippines Franz Jessen said.
— Fresh Plaza

Metrobank buys ANZ stake in credit card firm
Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. will be taking full control of its credit card subsidiary, on Thursday announcing the buyout of Australia’s ANZ Funds Pty. Ltd.’s minority stake.
— The Manila Times

Jeepney drivers urged to form cooperatives
Jeepney operators should form cooperatives and consortiums so they can acquire at least 10 new jeepneys offered at P1.4 million each under the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program, transportation officials said at the House of Representatives on Thursday.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Cimatu wants ‘too little’ mining excise tax hiked
Mining companies, beware. The government is eyeing to increase excise taxes on mining as part of the Duterte administration’s campaign to maximize profit from the sector.
— BusinessMirror

Duterte’s tax reform plan: Consumers brace as TRAIN passes
Like a fast-moving locomotive, the Philippines’ own version of TRAIN, otherwise known as the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion, has traveled from the halls of Department of Finance to Congress with no intention of stopping in its tracks. Lest we forget, more trains are set to leave the station.
— Philstar

Growing tourist arrivals a boon to resdential market
The rising number of tourist arrivals in the country is creating opportunities for the Philippine residential market, a property analyst said.
— Philstar

Malaysian terrorist killed in Marawi
Dr. Mahmud Ahmad, Malaysia’s most wanted terrorist who joined the Islamic State-linked Maute Group, is believed to be among the 20 terrorists killed by government troops in assault operations in Marawi City on Wednesday and Thursday, Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año said.
— The Manila Times

No port congestion in Manila during Christmas season
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) on Thursday assured that there will be no port congestion in Manila during the holiday season.
— Philippine News Agency

Philippines AirAsia flying to Bali, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh soon
MANILA, Philippines – The local unit of Southeast Asia’s biggest budget airline AirAsia Berhad is set to fly from Manila to Bali and Jakarta in Indonesia as well as to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam soon. This will give Philippines AirAsia enough muscle to face to regional competition just before it goes public in 2018.
— Rappler

Neda, AIIB want to see Pasig River rehab on list of 75 flagship projects
The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) is keen on including the rehabilitation of the Pasig River, estimated to cost $4 billion, on the administration’s list of game-changing projects.
— BusinessMirror

PH welcomes foreign aid to rebuild Marawi: Diokno
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Benjamin Diokno said Thursday that the Philippine government welcomes any help from foreign countries for the rehabilitation of Marawi City.
— Philippine News Agency

PHL bent on regaining education-hub status
The Philippines is keen on regaining its education-hub status—now held by Malaysia—in the region through the liberalization of the education sector in the upcoming amendments to the Regular Foreign Investment Negative List (RFINL), according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).
— BusinessMirror

Metro condos selling like hotcakes amid rising cost
HOUSING demand in Metro Manila will continue to rise, as foreign investors from Southeast Asia, China and the Middle East infuse more capital into the Philippines, according to real-estate service provider Santos Knight Frank (SKF).
— BusinessMirror

Asean way’ needs reassessment—experts
The 50-year-old Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is seen entering the “middle age” crisis especially in the face of new challenges such as growing doubts on globalization and fast-changing socioeconomic landscapes, raising questions on whether the so-called “Asean way” or the slow process of decision-making would still work in the years ahead.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Congress, PRRD asked to avert collection of ‘unconscionable’ water rates
Lawmakers called on Congress and the executive department to address alleged overcharging of water consumption by private concessionaires operating in Metro Manila.
— Manila Bulletin

Duterte admin rates ‘very good’—SWS
MOST Filipinos remained satisfied with the “very good” performance of the Duterte administration despite double digit drops in Metro Manila and Balance of Luzon, the latest Social Weather Stations survey revealed Thursday.
— Manila Standard

Funding the Marawi rehab
With the virtual liberation of Marawi City, the Philippines must now initiate a quick massive rehabilitation plan involving the reconstruction of the entire Muslim capital in the south. The reconstruction will require billions of pesos as fighting in the city practically razed all building structures in the area.
— Manila Standard

Martial law to stay in Mindanao – Rody
Despite the liberation of Marawi City, Mindanao will remain under martial law until the last terrorist is killed, President Duterte said last night.
— Philstar

Feature photo Andrew and Annemarie
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 October 20 added by Leakhena Khat on October 20, 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.