Philippines Morning News For October 25

PH gov’t committed to achieve deficit ceiling of 3% of GDP
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III on Tuesday said that government remains committed to its deficit ceiling of three percent of gross domestic product (GDP), even as gains under the proposed tax reform program were seen to bring in revenues and attract more investors.
— Philippine News Agency

PH confident to achieve SDG by 2030
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the government’s goal to ensure that the Philippine’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) commitments are pursued and achieved by 2030.
— Philippine News Agency

Philippines agricultural trade rose to $4billion in 2nd quarter.
The country’s external trade in agricultural commodities in the second quarter grew 2.6 percent to $4.011 billion, from $3.910 billion during the same period last year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
— Fresh Plaza

S&P: Global risks to drive more funds from Philippines
RISING global uncertainty could prod more foreign capital outflows from the Philippines, S&P Global Ratings said, even as upbeat growth prospects and benign domestic inflation are expected to remain intact in the near term.
— BusinessWorld

Lorenzana: Terrorists in Iraq could move to PH
The government has tagged more than 60 terrorists in Iraq who could attempt to slip into the Philippines.
— CNN Philippines

Software industry eyes $5.9b in revenues
The Philippine Software Industry Association said Tuesday it expects software and IT services to deliver $5.7 billion in revenues by 2020, almost double the $2.9 billion worth of service exports it generated in 2016.
— Manila Standard

Australia to train PH in urban warfare
Australia will train Filipino soldiers in urban warfare to combat the spread of Islamic extremism after months of fierce fighting against militants in the southern Philippines, it was announced Tuesday.
— The Manila Times

Duterte vows full support for PAF
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Tuesday, October 24, enjoined the Philippine Air Force personnel to remain committed to their duties as he vowed the government’s full support to the men and women of the Air Force.
— Philippine News Agency

Implementing rules of new money laundering law to cover casinos
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will lead today the signing of the implementing rules and regulations of the expanded anti-money laundering law that now includes casinos, Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said Tuesday.
— Manila Standard

Govt tightens watch on PH-bound IS men
DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Tuesday the government is closely monitoring Filipinos returning from the Middle East after fighting for the Islamic State to guard against potential acts of terror following their defeat in Syria and Iraq.
— Manila Standard

Many Filipinos doubt cops’ shootout tale—SWS
A GROWING number of Filipinos are doubting claims made by the Philippine National Police that suspects killed in the government’s bloody drug war had put up a fight and resisted arrest, the latest Social Weather Stations poll revealed.
— Manila Standard

PH seeks new tack on NKorea crisis
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Tuesday called on global powers to come up with a new approach to resolving the North Korean nuclear crisis, saying the sanctions imposed on Pyongyang were not working.
— The Manila Times

De Lima wants Tolentino cited in contempt
Sen. Leila de Lima’s camp is asking the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) to cite Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Francis Tolentino in contempt of court, after the latter claimed that 2013 ballots were found in ballot boxes used in the 2016 polls.
— The Manila Times

PH has most ISIS-claimed attacks outside Iraq, Syria – report
The Philippines has the most attacks claimed by the Islamic State (ISIS) outside their stronghold in Iraq and Syria, data gathered by the Terrorism Research and Analysis Consortium (TRAC) showed.
— Rappler

PH urges nations to conserve intertidal wetlands for migratory species
The Philippines on Tuesday, October 24, made a pitch for the conservation of critical intertidal and other coastal habitats for migratory species at the sidelines of the world’s largest wildlife conference for the year.
— Rappler

PH a target for foreign citizenship programs
Contrary to what has been depicted of the Philippines as a poor country, the country must really have a good roster of wealthy individuals with a thirst for global mobility either for business or as a lifestyle.
— Manila Bulletin

NY digital payments firm registers triple digit growth in PH
Global digital payments company Payoneer has registered a triple digit growth in monthly payment volume among its clients — mostly freelancers and outsourcing firms — here in the Philippines.
— Manila Bulletin

Duterte’s Unfinished Wars in the Philippines
Over the past few weeks, we have seen a number of bold announcements from the government of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte about the state of conflicts in the country that may in fact belie their actual status and broader significance.
— The Diplomat

PH ready to host ASEAN Summit next month
The Philippines is prepared to host the heads of government and state coming to the Philippines for the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings that will be held from November 10 to 14.
— Philippine News Agency

Fake News Floods the Philippines
Yen Makabenta, a veteran journalist now at The Manila Times, wrote a prominent column last month about the American ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, who enthusiastically praised President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines. “The Philippines is suffocating,” Mr. Makabenta quoted the ambassador as saying. “We must give President Duterte the space to run his nation.” Ms. Haley, he reported, warned of “destructive forces” that “have calibrated their plot to ouster movements” against Mr. Duterte.
— The New York Times

Duterte thanks 4 countries for help during Marawi terror war
President Rodrigo Duterte cited the assistance provided by China, Russia, the US, and Australia in defeating terrorism in Marawi when he spoke to defense ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Tuesday, October 24.
— Rappler

Marawi mayor asks for initial P92-B rehab fund
Marawi Mayor Majul Gandamra has asked the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) for an initial P92 billion to rehabilitate the city left in ruins after five months of battle with the terrorist Maute group.
— Philstar

2 firms fined over illegal promotion of dengue vaccine
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has imposed a fine of P5,000 each on French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Pasteur Inc. and drug and wellness chain Watsons Personal Care Philippines for illegally promoting and advertising the dengue vaccine Dengvaxia.
— Philstar

PH lacks professional counselors to deal with troubled youths
Bullying in school and depression that may lead to suicide are the youth’s latest problems, but guidance counselors are so few to deal with them, a top official of the Philippine Guidance and Counseling Association (PGCA) said here on Monday.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

‘Adventurous’ millennials boost PHL travel business
PURPLE ROSE, 35, describes herself as a “corporate slave” with limited vacation leaves. She works in a large universal bank, shepherding inward remittances from Filipinos all over the world. But when she can get away, she flies abroad for vacations.
— BusinessMirror

Feature photo Marcin Gabruk
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 25 added by Leakhena Khat on October 25, 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.